AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 23

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

An exchange says that at one dairy factory the want of a metalled road to the railway line at Stratford this last season lias made a difference of 2d or 2£d per 1b in the returns for the suppliers' butter-fat. If their output was 40 tons, here was a sum of about £800 lost to a few farmers for ■want of a road, snd that would pay interest on £20,000. In addition to this, it has cost the settlers two or three times as much to lake their milk to the factory as it would if they had a metalled road. Fat sheep are scarce m the Wairarapa, and farmers are holding back for a rise. The grass grub is already working in old pastures throughout the country (says • $he Ashburton Guardian), and its appearance is also noticeable to no small extent in early sown oats. The potato disease is said to fae now general throughout the Wairarapa, and a, •Caxterton paper estimates that 25 per cent, ©f the. crops has been* ruined by the rot. - At the annual meeting of the Palmerston branch of the Farmers' Union the retiring President (Mr James Ross) said that those •who closely followed the business transmitted by the union during the past 12 mouths would admit that excellent work -3had been, accomplished. The mutual fire insurance scheme was, in itself, a great undertaking, and it would prove a great !benefit to those -wishing to take advantage pf cheap fire insurance. The exorbitant commission charged for selling horses had Ibeen considered by the Provincial Executive, and although no reduction had yet been obtained it was understood that an alteration would be made on the terminaof the present agreement between the

auctioneers. A deputation from one of the branches^pf the union had waited on one of the firms interested, and he (Mr Ross) believed that a reduction in the selling commission would shortly be made. The union had been responsible for arranging the lectures on veterinary matters that had been delivered in various centres by the Govern>ent veterinary surgeons, and it was generally recognised that tho lectures had been very beneficial to stock owners. In reference to the pro-posed reduction in the size of grain sacks, he ventured to say that had it not been for the strong protest against the proposed change raised by the union, the reduced size of grain sacks would have been forced upon them. The question was not yet definitely settled, and it behoved every branch of the union and every farmer to bring pressure to bear on their parliamentary representatives in the direction of retaining their present size of corn sacks. The correspondence laid on the table at th-s annual meeting of the Tapanui branch of the Farmers' Union included a letter urging all farmers to unite— to lay aside the apathy that seems only too natural to them — and join the union, and thus help themselves, their, neighbours, and every farmer in the colony, by building up a strong and powerful organisation — one that will at least be able to dictate some of the terms and conditions of their life and work. Farmers would do well to bear in mind how the colony, through its entire length and breadth, was reoantly stumped by active agents in the interests and formation of the Political Labour League. Let farmers keep before -them the objects of this political body. One of its platforms reads : "Abolition of sale of Crown lands, and a periodical revaluation of all lands held on lease." It demands an increase of the land tax, and abolition of the exemption that helps the small settler to make a home on the land. Witb such prospects before them,, then surely no intelligent farmer could remain blind to the inevitable results of such parnjeious legislation. They would do well, therefore, to take such an injurious problem seiiousiy, and before it is too late. Their one safeguard was the union that worked in their interests, and eschewed party politics. At tne commencement of the harvest 1904-1905 the proprietor of the far-famed Longbeach Estate, with a view to supplying his requirements for next season (19051906) and so as to be in a position to practically judge the quality and durability of binders now on the market, ordered a machine .from each of the following makers — namely, M'Cormick, peering, Osbome, and the Massey-Harris Company. Mr Grigg gave one and all most clearly to understand chat he wanted no favours, as he wished to be totally unfetterd when making his selection. It was a most severe but fair test that each binder was put to during the harvest operations. To give an idea of the extent of area which had to be manipulated by the binders, it may be mentioned here that no less than 3300 acres of crop had to be cut by some 20 machines. The Massey-Harris stood the test best, and an order for 20 6ft binders for forward delivery has just been placed with Messrs Friediland'er Brothers by Mr Grigg. No better testimonial could have been obtained in favour of the MasseyHarris Company than this independent ■ practical • test. The crops at Longbeaoh are well known for their great length, thickness, and -sometimes also for the great difficulty binders have in handling them. Every farmer is well aware that thick, heavy crops are frequently laid and become entangled. To have successfully gone through such a severe ordeal speaks volumes for the Massey -Harris machine, and is unquestionably a greater reward than all the gold medals at shows or exhibitions. It is also most pleasing to record that the British-made machine gained this desired victory.