AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

About a month back some 13 settlers resident on the. Peninsula were charged before Mr Widdowson, S.M., at Port Chalmers, with contravening the Noxious Weeds Act, and after some evidence had been taken tho cases were adiourned. His orship has since heard the rest of the cases, and ordered one offender to pay a

At the meeting of the Balclutha branch of the Farmers' Union on Saturday Mr John Christie, in urging the claims of the freehold, stated (says the Free Press) that he had been informed that some of the settlers on Greenfield had said that as soon as they made a bit of money out of their holdings they intended to clear out and buy "a freehold elsewhere. The result of this would be that these men would take the best out of the land, the improvements they would put up would be flimsy and the fences poor, and the gain to the State would b© very problematical.

A butter factory in the New Plymouth district, which about August, 1903, paid out £600 by way of bonus, and £150 last year, expects to have £700 to divide this year. This experience is expected to be pretty general ; if so, the last signs of the alleged depression should disappear early in the spring.

Says the Waimate Witness: — "Apropos of dry milk, a butter-making concern, the operations of which extend all over Manaia district, has just been approached' by a Home firm to enter into a contract to manufacture dry milk for a period of three years. The price offered, we understand, is such as will allow of Is per lb being given to suppliers. The offer is still under consideration."

The Government has been offered the Mudgway Estate, Petone, for workmen's homes. This fins block of land extends from Jackson street to White's lime, and is equally suitable for Hutt or Petone woi-kers. The estate, which has just been subdivided for sale, consists of nearly 500 sections, and is considered to be specially suited for workmen's homes.

A large number of lambs on a station in the Kaikoura district has died recently, and the Agricultural Department is endeavouring to ascertain the cause of the mortality.

A representative of the Wairarapa Daily Times reports -that the disease which has attacked the potato plant this season is very much in evidence in the Lower • Valley, and many crops are almost worthless in consequence of its ravages. As a sequel to th& recent prosecutions under the Noxious Weeds Act, the Wyndham Herald is informed that a petition is about to be circulated amongst landholders to have ragwort eliminated from the act. Farmers hold that as sheep eat the weed readily it is more a benefit than a nuisance.

A number of cattle in the Carterton district is suffering from foot-rot, and it is likely the Department of Agriculture -will b3 oomaminicated with on the subject.

It transpired at the Magistrate's Court at Palmersto-n North recently that a lad of 16 years was working on a farm in the Sandon district, from 4.30 in the morning' till after 6 o'clock at night, for the munificent wage of 6s a week.

Among threshing- machine owners in Canterbury the present season is considered to have been one of the best for many .years. It is said that the grain is coming away well from the straw, and in most instances the samples are better than were expected after a wet harvest.

It is evident (says the Lyttelton Times) that merchants entertain an opinion that potatoes will shortly advance in price. For the past few dayp some of them have been scouring the country, and are- buying or maii.4ic tempting offers for any potatoes suitable for table use, regardless of variety.

So far as tho quality of the crop is concerned, the hop harvest at Nelson is reported on as the best for a number of yea.vs past, although the crop is below the average in volume, being estimated at about 3800 bales. Of this quantity about 2000 bales will be used "by New Zealand brewers ; the balance will be exported to Australia ana England. The market pries is Is 3d to Is 4d per lb (f.0.b., according to quality), and the price paid to growers was from Is to la Id per lb. The cost of picking, which was done by women and children, amounted this season to between £10,000 and £12,000. Growers state that the cost of labour, cultivating, etc., and putting the bops on the market, amounts to about 8d per lb. The crop averages a-bout 15cwt to 20cwt to the acre, and every year sees an increase m the area devoted to the cultivation of hops in the Nelson district.

The Timaru Post of the 15th inst. says : The judges appointed by the Mackenzie Agricultural Society to award the prizes in connection with the turnip-growing competitions concluded their labours on Friday last. The competitions were two in number, and were the outcome of two special' prizes given, the one by the Christchurch Meat Company and the other by the National Mortgage and Agency Company. The Christchurch Meat Company awarded a ton of Islington manure for the best plot of turnips grown with that manure, having an area of not less than 10 acres. The National Mortgage and Agency Company's prize, one ton of Cross's manure, was for the same area grown with any manure. It was not permissible to pick out a plot of 10 acres in 'a paddock. The whole paddock had to be inspected, but was to be not less than 10 acres in extent. The judges, Messrs H. Brien and J. E. Goodwin, hacf a. good deal of country to travel over in order to see all the entries in the competitions. Mr W. Bain, Fairlie, was awarded first prize in each of them. The entries of the Christchurch Sheep Dog Trials have closed with a total of 42 for the heading, bringing back, and yarding class, -which is a. record, and is four more

than list year. There are 29 entries in the huntaway, which is the same as last rear. Of the total number of 71 dogs entered, 17 are from Otago and Sbuthland and 10 from the North Island, the remainder being from Canterbury. Nearly all the bestknown trial dogs will be competing at tire meeting.

Arrangements for the winter show at Waimate, which takes place on June 8, are well forward. The business firms and a number of private individuals have responded liberally to the committee's request for special prizes, and these, added to the combined societies' prizes, should go to increase the exhibits at the show. The committee met on the 13th inst., and arranged a number of details, Mr M'Gowan in the chair. All the judges notified that they would act, and it was intimated that Mrs Hertslet and Miss Hayes would take charge of the refreshment stall. The show piomises to be a big success.

A meeting of the committee of the Timaru A. and P. Association was held on the 13th inst., Mr A. Scott (president) in the chair. A firm of solicitors in Oamaru wrote in reference to the cup presented for the buck-jumping contest, that unless Mr Twist received it, proceedings would be taken to recover either the cup or damages. The association resolved that, having already awarded the cup, it could take no further action. — The Atlas Milling Company offered its customary prize of one guinea for scones made from its flour; Messrs T. Teschemaker and Priest and HoJdgate and the executors of the late C. Or. Tripp again presented a special prize ; Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co. offered a trophy value for 3gs, to be allotted as the committee thought fit. Accepted, with thanks. — The Auckland A. and P. Association sent a circular asking that in the event of the biennial conference not being given up, and one being held in Wellington this year, this association should Bend a* delegate and suggest subjects. Delegate to be appointed at next meeting.— Mr W. A. M'Naughton, technical instructor in wool-classing and kindred subjects, addressed a .lengtily letter urging the association to assist him in getting the Department of Agriculture to help the small woolgrower. After some discussion it was decided that the letter be "received." — An offer was received to sell to the association six acres of land in a narrow strip adjoining the show grounds at £75 "per acre. This matter was considered in connection jvith the Ground Committee's report. The Ground Committee recommended that the strip of land above-mentioned be purchased for £50 per acre, but considered that £75 was too much to give for it. It also recommended an expenditure of up to £50 in improving the show ring and making a proper driving track; that £50 be spent in additional sheep pens, £200 in building 40 more horse stalls, the latter to be provided from the sale of the life memberships lately conferred, of the proceeds of which about £220 was in hand. The matter of purchasing the six acres was discussed at some length, and it was^ decided to adhere to the committee's recommendation. The report and its recommendations - were adopted in toto, and will be carried into effect at once. — The Catalogue Committee's recommendations were adopted, as follows : — That classes be inserted for Oxford Down sheep and for fine fat wethers, any breed or age; that the selling price for Border Xieicesters be 6gs instead of sgs. Horses : That the age in the progeny classes for draughts be increased to five years ; that in the driving competition there be three entries at least or no prize ; that a prize be given for best imported hackney stallion, eligible for the Stud Book ; that classes be inserted for best mare, gelding, and stallion driven in harness ; and for pony stallions under 12£hds ; that the quantities in produce classes be all reduced (for cereals from four to one bushel, and othei classes in proportion). In other respects the catalogue will remain as before. — The Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association offered a very substantial prize for the best collection of general farm produce, such as root-crop, eggs, bacon, honey, scones, or anything a farm can produce. The Secretary reported that most of those who gave prizes last year had already expressed their willingness to renew them for the coming show.

A conference of delegates under the Small Birds Nuisance Act was held in Timaru on Saturday, 13th inst., when there were present— Messrs J. Talbot (representing the Geraldine- County Council and Temuka Road Board), O. N. Orhell (Levels County Council), P. Sfcudholme (Waimate), W. S. Maslin (Geraldine Borough Council), and J. Holwell (Temuka Borough Council). Mr Talbot preside^. A long- discussion took place on the small bird nuisance generally, and on the offer of Mr W. King to catch 125,000 small bir.ds at Is per dozen, the local authority to purchase from no one ■ but him while his contract was in force ■ from May 15 till October 15. 1905. Members spoke very highly of Mr King's new trap for small birds, but considered that it would be wrong on their part to give -n or anyone else a, monopoly in terms of his suggested contract. The final outcome of the conference was the passing of the following resolution : — " That this conference expresses its satisfaction with the trap invented by Mr W. Kme for the destruction of small birds, considering it a most efficient method of dealing with the pest, and recommends the local bodies to

discontinue the purchase of eggs and headL of young birds in summer, and to devot« their funds to the destruction of the ok birds in winter." The conference also decided that old birds should be bought all the year round.

As there is at present existing a very unsettled state in the potato market a representative of the Timaru Herald waited or Mr Buxton, grain and produce merchant^ of Temuka, who courteously gave the following mformnt ' — Astterl -.ihether the

.ico blight had had a<3 bad an effect on the local crops a& .•.a ;> anticipated, Mr B,uxton replied that at Urari, Geraldine, Winchester, and Milford the crops were generally bad, and would result in a considerable financial loss to the growers. In the Seadown district, however, the blight had done but little havoc. Mr Buxton thought that/ the present prices would not be maintained, as there was a plentif li supply of potatoes both in the OaTiaru and North Canterbury districts. He had received advice from Auckland only that day to the effect that there was a slump in the market there, and buyers could not be found at ruling prices The present flooding of tho market was due to both producers and dealers fearing that the tubers would not keep, and of course there could only be the inevitable result of a fall in prices. Concerning this fear Mr Buxton thinks that most farmers are labouring under a wrong impression, for the export of potatoes from the colony ia piohibited There was certainly a larga quantity of blight-infected potatoes in New Zealand, but he thought that the majority of the crops would keep, and if farmers were prepared to take the risk there was every prospect of high prices being obtained? in the spring. , Mr Valder, the New South Wales Com mercial Agent for South Africa, sends in" his report to the Minister on the frozen, meat trade' of that country for 1903 and 1804. It goes to show that Argentina sent more beef there by 6,000,0001b than all other countries put together, their proportion being 35,303,5851b out of 67,506,8641b, and in -mutton they sent more than twice as much as all other countries — viz., 37,308,9311b out of 54,887,4051b. Most of the frozen pork came via Canada, 6,291,1181b, the next country sending the largest supply being the United States with 598,5501b j then comes New Zealand, Queensland, New South Wales, Argentina, with nearly the same quantities from each — 96,5101b in the first instance to 82,4471b in the last. Nearly all the poultry came from Russia and Canada, that reported from the United States being mostly Russian; in fact, Russian fowls at 3s 5d per pair of 31b each are of high quality, and are considered the best for that market. This is not palatable reading (observes the Australian Meat Trades Journal), but only what we reported was coming to pass years ago. If other countries can supply equally good produce at a lower price, we must come down or lose the trade. It is so with coal, and it is so with everything. Our high cost of production is seriously injuring ua everywhere. It is absolutely impossible for our short hours of labour and high rate of wages to la&t for ever ; either they must, change or our export trade will further reduce.

Reports from the agricultural instructors in different Irish counties testify to the advantages derived by farmers who tried lasb season the mixtures of manures recommended by the Department of Agriculture. For potatoes, the mixture consisted of 4-owt of sviperphosphate and lcwt each of sulpl'ate of ammonia and muriate of potash. If without farmyard manure, the quantities of the two latter ingredients might well have been .doubled For barley and oats the dressings were 3cwt each of superphosphates and kainit, with lewt of sulphate ol ammonia or nitrate of soda. On other than light land the kainit might be omitted, as potash manures for corn rarely pay. For mangels 15 tons of farm manure, 4-cwt of superphophate, 2icwt of nitrate of soda, and _2cwt of kainit are recommended. For turnips without farm manure the prescription is for 2cwt each of superphosphate, dissolved bones, and kainit, lcwt of bone flour, and icvrb of sulphate of ammonia. This is an expensive dressing, and it is surprising to see the dissolved bones and bone flour recommended, very numerous tests having proved that they are much less efficacious in proportion to their cost than superphosphate and basic slag. The following story was tola at an American farmers' institute meeting: — One farmer in discussing the care of farm machinery said that a neighbour of his had a mowing machine nearly new two years ago. Year before last when he got done mowing it was in the corner of a clover field. He completed his work just as a rainstorm began. He unhitched his horses and started for the house, and left the hired men to take care of the wet olover the best they could. Then he forgot all about the machine he had left in the fence corner. The next year the clover grew up again, and was rank enough to fairly cover the mowing machine. When time came to mow the farmer was unable to find his mower, and asked his wife if she had loaned it to anyone. She assured

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fclm she had not. He searched the whole farm over without finding the machine, and phen concluded that it had been stolen. So he went to town and bought another machine. The clover was getting heavy by that time, and the man was anxious to get it cut, so he started in with a vim. The • first swathe he cut he ran into the lost ; fcnower and broke both machines. i The grass grub has made its appearance | in old pastures throughout the Ashburton County, and is damaging oats. An exceptionally nice crop (about 70 iacres) of kale is to be seen just before entering Waimate Gorge, the property of |&fr E. O. Studholme. So far (says the Timaru Herald) the kale has fattened a •• large number of lambs, and at present is carrying a large percentage. Even now the stock has made little impression on the crop, as the lambs are almost hidden in it. The following items are taken from last Thursday's- Lyttelton Times: — Further ■jMoof of the. capability of Cheviot to produce fat lambs was seen at Addingtan. "Yards on- Wednesday in the value of a line «f 500 from Mr R. O. Wilson, in one lot, at £1 ahead. Tney were, of course, bought for export.— An- excellent indication of the ligh value at present ruling for fat lambs is furnished by the fact that at Wednesday's A-ddington market the New- Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association sold a total «f 1552 iambs, including 422 shorn, at an Average price of 18s lid each. TOTES OX RURAL TOPICS. Owing to the ravages of the blight the price of potatoes is likely Ab*nt tie to rule pretty high, and as Fctato, a result there will be a decrease in the quantity consumed in both town and country. Our .forefathers had to live without potatoes, .and when the plant became known in Englandj about the year 1586, people did not aealise that anybody could grow them, and i "" for about 100 years after its introduction ' ■the potato was only produced for the tables 4(>f the rich and luxurious. It was treated as a sort of precious exotic, and sold at a.shilling a pound. In 1663 the attention of the Royal Society was drawn to the value of this root, and the matter was referred -to a prominent writer on agriculture, with a. request that he would take some notice of it if he ■ thought it worth while. He, apparently, did not think it was of much account, and the potato -was not mentioned in print until abou.t 1700, wheri 1 the first gardeners' calendar was published in Great Britain-, and the author- said: "Plant potatoes in your worst ground; take them irp in the autumn for winter use ; though ever &o carefully gathered there will be enough left in the ground to stock it again." Another writer about the same time says: "I do not hear that it has yet been essayed whether they may not be jpropasated in great quantities for the use ,

of swine and other cattle." Some years later, in Mortimer's Garden Kalendar for 1708, directions, are given as to the time for planting potatoes, from which it would appear that very little was known about them. It is said of it that "the root is vei*y near the nature of the Jerusalem artichoke, although not so good and wholesome, but that it may prove good for swine." In the "Complete Gardener," by London and Wise, 1719, no mention of the potato is made by those eminent nurseryi men. A popular writer of that time and a diligent observer of novelties writes about i potatoes thus : " They are 1 of less note than ! horse-radish, scorzonera, beets, and skirret, but as they are not without their admirers I will not pass them by in silence." That | was damning them with faint praise, and no mistake. I have no idea as to what is meant by scorzonera or skirret, but the potatoes of that day must have been a poor vegetable indeed to be classed as being no better than horse-radish. I have an old farm book written 70 years ago, and the author says that in his young days (that would be about 109- years ago) he remembered being- told by old Lincolnshire farmers that when young lads they used to go of a Sunday afternoon to a neighbouring village and procure a basket of potatoes as a very especial dainty ; and it nevej seems to have occurred to them for many years that the cultivation of the potato was such a simple matter that every farmer could grow as many as he wanted. It was about that time that a certain squire's lady had a i pound of tea presented to her, and she boiled the whole pound, poured off the water, and served up the tea leaves with melted butter! Mention has been made of the scarcity of potatoes in Lincolnshire rather more than a century ago. That country is now the great potato-producing one of England, and if the tubers of that time could be seen beside those of the present day there would be an astonishing contrast in size and quality k While upon the subject of ancient history, it may interest my readers About Other to know that Harrison, a Products. writer in the early part of last century, said that the use of wheaten bread in his day was confined to the gentry, and that labourers and artisans were " driven to content themselves with horse-come, beanes, peason, ctffs, tares, a,nd lentils. " As late as the beginning of George Ill's reign barley, rye, and oat-en bread were universally the food of the working population. So little was the quantity of wheat used 100 years ago that it was only the rich families that used a peek of wheat in the course of the year, and that was used at Christmas. At that time poor people rarely tasted meat, if at all, but as time went on the consumption of meat and wheat-flour became more general among the lower ranks of the people, and of late years the consumption

has increased in a greater ratio than the population. It was the ignorance of the farmers and their neglect to provide winter food that made meat so dear and scarce. Turnips were almost unknown, and, of course, ethere was no artificial food such as oilcake and cotton catke, and the numerous other foodstuffs that are now available. Until the beginning of last century turnips were only grown in gardens for table use, but when Lord Townsend accompanied George I on one of his visits to Hanover on the Continent he noticed turnips being cultivated in open fields as food for cattle. Tn spite of the prejudice and ridicule which beset this enterprising nobleman le succeeded in persuading some of his tenants in Norfolk to sow the turnip seed he brought from Germany. The turnip caught on, and quickly became a popular crop, "and a statistical writer 70 years ago estimated the annual turnip crop of England at 14- million sterling. He says : "It is a curious fact that gentlemen farmers have introduced our best and greatest agricultural improvements. To them we- owe oiir turnips, clover, sanfoin, lucerne, and cabbages."

May is a winter month, according tc tho calendar, but, as a rule, it Antnmn is not a wet or cold month, Cnltiration. and allows of good progress

being made with field work. Up to the time of writing the weather has been dry and mild, and the soil in splendid order for getting the early wheat sown. Every possible effort should be made to take advantage of good weather for getting ground turned over for a winter fallow and in skim-ploughing stubble land that requires weed destruction. The more that, can be done before midwinter the less the rush of work in the spring, and it is often the case that the land is too wet in early spring for Being worked with advantage. More work and better work can be done in the autumn if the rainfall is moderate. The warm and dry weather we have had of late has been most suitable for ploughing and scuffling dirty stubbles, for covering the weed seeds and causing them to germinate. When they have all sprouted a deep ploughing later on will bury them beyond the chance of reappearance — that is, in th-e case of annual weeds. Couch grass, Californian thistle, and such-like perennial pests are not disposed of so easily.

I like to see the^ autumn wheat sown early, while the soil is in a favourable condition for free worting, and there is sufficient warmth in the air and soil to enable it to sprout, take root, and get well established before midwinter weather puts a stop to growth. In warm situations the young wheat will grow- all winter, and in that case it is often too rank in the spring, and requires feeding off to make it tiller out and make stronger stools. Dun oats for spring feed should be sown in April at the latest, or they will not furnish much feed until late in the spring. Much depends upon the soil and aspect. On free soil and a sunny face or ridge growth is fast, and oats will bear sowing much later than on a cold flat. I fancy the indications point to a mild A^inter. As a rule- a severe winter shows itself in a bad burst of weather early in "the autumn ; but nobody can tell much about weather prospects in this country. In July of 1903 mild weather prevailed until 24- hours before one of the worst snowstorms ever experienced.

Breeders,, like poets, must be born to the art. for they cannot be Breeding as a made. For a man to sueBusiness. oced as a breeder of any

kind of animals he must have a. natural gift for the work, besides being endowed with great patience and perseverance. An arohitect can see in his mind's eye the style of building he proposes to design, and draws his plans in accordance with the ideas he has in view. Slo with the builder: he has the plans to guide him, and has only to shape his materials so as to carry out the design. A breeder, however, has to deal with living animals which are shaped and fashioned under influences which are only under his control in an indh'ect manner ; he has to try to build what he cannot see, and yet, like a good architect, he has an ideal or model in his mind, and patiently works towards that year after year until he attains as near his ideal as" he can hope to obtain. No ideal can be reached in one generation, and as Nature is^at times very fickle the work is sometimes thrown back by the reappearance of a stain in the breed. What the true breeder aims at is uniformity in the whole flodk, or the whole herd, if he is a breeder in cattle. Uniformity and excellence can never be reached by any haphazard process, nor yet by accidental means : they are the outcome of perseverance in a well-considered oourse planned by one who is thoroughly well acquainted' with all the conditions with which he will have lo deal. The nation is indebted to many such men, who have, in times gone by, devoted the whole of their life's energies to the improvement of some particular kind of animal. Bakewell and Ellman were among the master breeders of sheep, and Booth, Bates,, and pollings of cattle, and it would be very difficult to estimate the immense benefit conferred upon agriculture by the efforts of these master spirits. Such men are not numerous, but the few that have oome to the front have shown the world wonderful results from patient and persistent effort in the right direct-ion. Men of heaven-born genius work in the right lines and with a certain end in view, but many so-called breeders of stud sheep and cattle proceed at random, and en no well-defined lines. A high authority on these matters has said that if we aro to perfect living animals it can only be done by intelligent action and not a chance conclusion, and that the results of mating animals together are controller! by certain definite principles, and it should be our constant study to discover what they are. The subject ought to be more frequently discussed, so that by a comparison of ideas from different individuals wise conclusions may be more rapidly reached. After all you can do, the faofc will remain that the most successful breeder must depend on his own judgment and intuition for success. So mucJi must be taken into, consideration ; such nice balancing of points. An unlimited number of problems are always facing you, and • that close, keen judgment which always chooses the best under the circumstances is seldom found in one man. It is so natural for most men to see always one or two points, and miss altogether others that may be of greater value. The colour of the horn or its peculiar shape seems to> some more important than the covering of flesh. Others he enamoured of a level rump, while they do not ace & narrow chest; and etill others

with entirely different points, which are always in- view while others are unnoticed. The whole animal must be considered, and as none are absolutely perfect, the greatest ability to evenly balance the various points always wins in the result.