AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

In view of the information, which .was recently published concerning^ phos* phorescent mutton, the following paragraph, taken from a Sydney paper, the Town and Country Journal, may be ofi interest:— "A country paper sa.ys that in many p«fcts of the Staio the sheep are eat-> ing the phosphorus baits intended for the destruction of rabbits. The sheep evidently do not consume sufficient of the poison to kill them right out, but it has affected their flesh. A cooked piece of mutton was noticed to glow in the safe*

of a family; ifc appeared in the night like a fungus, and those who' touched it saw a glow on the finger. This is the testimony of £uite a number of consumers of mutton in districts where, the poison is laid „on .the "station runs. Those people ■who have eaten hearty meals from the phbsphoxised mutton generally feel sick for -some time, after."" Jfu'dge Gill, " of the' Native Land Court, Auckland, has completely lost the sight of both eyes. He~ was operated on for cataract some -.time ago, and one eye had to be removed altogether. The trouble appeared in the other eye, and robbed it of its power. Judgo Gill has been in the service of the Government since the middle sixties.

Mr- E. J. Ridfliford has .informed the Mayor of Lower Hutfc that he will give a handsome donation -to the cost if the Government will establish a veterinary college -in the Wellington district. The test of whether the offer .will be accepted by the Government is whether the donation will

be sufficient to compen§ate for the additional cost of establishing a college in Wellington as -compared with the south. The 'Chief Veterinarian's view is that the best work could be done by a veterinary, school connected with Ofcago University. It »is • computed -by the Chief Government

Hemp ' Grader, Mr 'Fulton, that the loss to _the colony on the year's working caused by the production of low .grades of hemp is estimated at upwards. of £50,000, the calculation being based on the ~ difference of prices 'for " common " and " fair " grades as against- -those for "good fair." Not only ,is there a direct loss in the output of a "low-grade article, cßutc ßut an- indirect one, caused, he maintains/ by the prejudice created 'in the minds of manufacturers who, , perhaps being unaware of- our better and -best Qualities,"" discard New v Zealand fibre under 'the. impression that they have seen ouF.best. " . ' . % , Mr. 'William . 'Hawkins, the. well-known ibuyer for the Indian market, purchased up-wards-of 160 horses at theiorse sales which haive .'been .held "in Cambridge duriiig the past fortnight.

It* is- stated -by a contemporary that the representatives -of large -houses -in -Xondon -Sealing -in »butter- arid' cheese are '.chasing - one another round Taranaki on motor-cars in quest of ; business. Seven new buyers from Home are in the 'field this season. The .North Ofcago Times is informed on good authority that the Government has purchased 40 acres of land near Kurow with the intention of making a nursery there. -The land selected is a portion of that purchased last year by the Kurow iJockey Club, and lies well sheltered on

the east side of the Kurow Hill, with a very suitable aspect. It is understood that- the intention is to cultivate native trees largely, with the ultimate intention of planting these- on the bare hills overlooking'the township.. The price paid for .the land was a very satisfactory one to ■ the Jockey Club, and from the Government's .position the land is 'also .likely to prove" a- satisfactory -investment. At . a recent meeting of Taranaki dairy farmers the suggestion was made that an expert should be" appointed by the butter company to inspect regularly all the herds supplying milk to the factory. It was stated that the expense would not be more than £200 a year. If only one man supplied bad milk .it spoilt the whole supply. Herds in the. Old -Country gave up to 3001b .of milk, whilst in New .Zealand the average was 1301b. JThe suggestion was approved, and the .butter .company was asked to provide the farmers with free testing at the .factories. Amonsrst the passengers- for South America, hy the Turakina on Sunday was a party of 16' mien from, various parts of Australia who Irave been engaged to proceed to Buenos Ayres to fit up agricultural machinery in. that part of the world. The men are experts at the business", and are going to SoutJi America with the offer of liberal wag-as. It is surprising (says the Hastings Standard! ihe amount of ground that is being reserved by the local farmers for planting potatoes this year, in anticipation of a good price next season. The Dannevirke correspondent of the Hawke's Bay. Herald reports that Mr A. Barron, of the Land Purchase Board, has been instructed to inspect the Otanga block, with a view to its -purchase by the Government for close-settlement. Owing to the reo&nt wet weather farmers in the Wairarapa district have bcsn unable to get their crops in (pays the Age). Much land intended for wheat will 1-f.ve ■*<> be sown down in oats, the general opinion being that October is too late for wheat

A grower of potatoes on the Napier hills became suspicious regarding certain symptoms on his plants, and immediately sent a sample to Mr T. W. Kirk Government Ibiologist, who telegraphed:— Potatoes foadly attacked Irish blight; spray at once Mr J. G.'Mitchinson, a member of the IDhristehurch Meat Company's staff, in conversation with a Jimaru Herald representative, said that next -season will probably see a change in the system of buying lambs *or the export trade. " The firms which deal -in this line have for the past few years been paying the same price per lb for iambs of all weights, but they have to take less in London for the heavy carcases than for lambs of suitable weight. In .self-defence, therefore, they will have to

adjust prices at this end. The system of buying by the pound will probably continue — in fact, it can hardly bo abolished now; — but what will happen v/ill be that buyers will establish grades according to weight, and the price per lb will vary according to the weight. When thie is done, a" "lamb weighing 481b will probably be worth no more than one weighing, say, 361b, and growers will therefore find it to their advantage to send their stock into the factory when they are at the stage desired by th© English consumer. .Naturally if a farmer can get the maximum value for a lamb which has only reached the weight of <56ib he* will noc keep and feed the animal till it puts on another 1211>. It will be to his advantage to get his crop of lambs away at the lower weight, and use his feed foiv fattening up stores which he can purchase from some locality insulted for finishing off lambs for the factory. Mr MitcLinson added that nis company h^J not, as was sometimes asserted, originated the practice of buying by the pound, but it had adopted it in order to keep pace with ooaipetition. With reference to the cable message which has been received by his Excellency the Governor regarding the supply of 500 horses lor the South African Constabulary, a representative of the New Zealand Herald, on making inquiries, was informed that it was unlikely that any Auckland breeders would tender. Ifc was pointed out that this was owing to the great risk imposed under the conditions, which give power tc the South African Constabulary to reject the- whole or any of the cons ; gnment 15 days after disembarkation.

The Pleasant Point branch of the Farmers' Union, it will be remembered (says ihe Timaru Post of the 2nd inst ) advertised for offers for a stallion to travel ■their aistnct. A number of horses were jpffer-sd, and the guarantors' choice fell on 'Jtfr W. GuildfordV Highland Lad, a horse which, was thought very highly of by farmers generally, at the parade.

A meeting of traction-engine owners p.nd importers was held at Ohristohurch on !<epternber 29, Mr H. Holland, of M'Laren and Co. presiding. Mr A. H. Anderson moved, and Mr J.» Duncan seconded, that £5 5s be subscribed by each importar of engines to the funds of the New Zealand Tractionengine Owners' and Users' Association for the purpose of removing the case of Orboll V. Wigley and Thornley to the- Court of Appeal, as recommended by Mr Justice Denniston. The resolution was approved of and carried, after which other business in connection with the association was transacted.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather experienced -lately, tho percentage of lam js iii the Cheviot disttict promises to be very high. Twins are exoaodirigly numerous, states the lecal paper, and even triplets are not uncommon. One gentleman who owns a flock of 300 ewes is now the lucky possessor of 400 lambs.

Mr James Little, chairman of directors, presided at the eighth annual meeting of the Hwardcn Saleyards Company. There was a" good attendance. The report stated that 31;904-, sheep, 171 cattle, 126 pigs, uid 84 horses had been entered in the yards during the year. A decrease in the numibcr «jf flieep sold, compared with the previous year, of about 30,000 was due to some of fchs large estates changing owners. The position of the company was sound, and £100 had been repaid the mortgagees, leaving only £100 .to pay. A dividend of 5' per cent, was recommended. The balance sheet showed receipts of £297 18s 7d, and expenditure of £251 8s 6d. The balance in hand amounted to £41 10s id. The assets (£958 12s lid) exceeded the liabilities by' £14b 15s 4d. . The report and balance sheet were adopted. — It was agreed to lea.se a sports* track to the Athletic Club. — Messrs W. Neeve, H. Tomlinson, and F. "W. Compton were directors. Mr Tomlinson was appointed secretary in place of Mr J. W. M. Cox, who resigned after 10 years' service. A cordial vote of thanks and £10 honorarium was voted to Mr Cox. — At a subsequent meeting of shareholders MiLittle was re-elected chairman.

The annual horse parade under the auspices of the Timaru A. and P. Association was held on Saturday, September 30, when 35 stallions came under review — 24 draughts, 4 thoroughbreds, and 7 under the heading of trotting, coaching, and hackney horses. It was not the best parade that has been held at Timaru, nor was it as good as that of last year, several horses being shown which should never find a place outside of a plough or dray team There were some, however. »eally good horses, Mr Robert Irving's Brownhill, a six-year-okl horse (by Reformer), Mr W. Guilford's Highland Lad, and Mr R. Kelland's British Lion being the pick of the draughts, while Mr J. D. King's Gipsy Grand and Mr R. Mahoney's Deerstalker ranked first among the thoroughbreds.

Tho use of permanganate of potash as a fungicide is recommended by Signor Bragato, who, in writing to a correspondent on the subject, says : "This is an excellent; fungicide, and I have foundi it better adapted for spraying in many cases than the orthodox Bordeaux mixture, and I have frequently advocated its use. It is most useful in combating mildew, whether indoors or in the vineyard, and, in my opinion, it would prove very efficacious against the blight which is doing so much damans to the potatoes. The best eolu-

tion I have found to be 4oz cf crystal to 22gal of water. Wnen used for i^otatoes the seed should first be disinfected by soaking aiter cutting for 10 or 12 hours m the solution, and afterwards spraying the plants a* they grow, say three or four times a season."

Tne- Timaru visitors to Albivy and Fairlie or Thursday (says the Herald cf the 6tli mst.), travelling by the morning train, had tho pleasure of seeing the country under very pleasant weather conditions. !ihe yas-t-uies are becoming pleasantly green, and the young wheat crops generally are looking pretty well, but at numerous points on the flats are to be seen, unfortunately, large patches of black ground where the young plants have been completely di owned. Another deduction from the generally pleasing outloo-k ia the bareness of the gum plantations on the Levels plains and downs. A favourable set-off to the less of crop is the evidently sjood percentage of lambs to be seen in the railvde paddocks.

A surv3y of the American crop situation by tlie Chicago Daily Record-Herald Jeads that journal to rile following conclusions: — "Bumper crops are in prospect throughout tbc west. Every farmer this year is a golden farmer. Granaries and elevators are groaning in anticipation of the loads they will have to be>ir. Railroad officials are preparing moving facilities from figures that break records. Wheat, the finest crop in 10 years and in some areas surpassing any previous yield, now past all danger fiom rust and other ills earned by tl-e weather, is in the hands of the harvesters or practically ready for them. Harvesting will be- general to-day (7th August) throughout South Dakota. Corn, several days ahead of the crop at this time last year, and its percentages of bushels to the acre running ahead of the 100 mark, is bursting to maturity in the broad belt in Illinois and beyond the Mississippi like a potted plant under a magician's wand. It is a moving picture, it h growing so fast out in lowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. Danger from frost is remote, owing to its advanced stage. Small grains generally throughout the so-called Granger States promise exceptional yields, while the hay crop is above the average in most sections. There never was a time in the memory of the statisticians when, prospects have been so bright for all manii": 1 of crons taken together."

The Director of Agriculture for the Transvaal states that well-bred animals of all kinds are greatly needed in that country, bur thai until diseases arc got more under control and local conditions better uuderistood their importation -will always fee attended with considerable risk, and should only be undertaken on a limited i_.ea!e, and -under circumstances which ensure the animals being suitably accommodated and attended to on arrival. A great interest is taken in live stock, and only shortness of money and the risks attendant upon acclimatisation prevent the farmers from importing largely. Later on, when these difficulties are removed, a good trade may be expected for pedigree stock of all descriptions.

Various comments have been made in different quarters of late about the damage cone by birds io farm crops, and it is thought by some that we (Mark Lane Express) are growing a little too sentimental in our views about the" protection of the so-called "farmers' friends." We have no sympathy with ruthless destruction of feathered life purely for 'he sake of doing it, but crops have to be protected, and we have little patience with those individuals who persist in contending fin spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary) that the birds which the farmer complains about are more Ms friends than his enemies. As a rule, these well-meaning persons are not either farmers, gardeners, or fruit growers, or they would know fhat under certain circumstances common birds represented in excessive numbers can be the cause of considerable damage to crops. Just to show what different views are taken of this matter, we may add that we visited a plum plantation some time ago, in which nearly every bud on the trees had been taken by bullfinches. When we asked why no measures had been taken to check the damage, we learned that the owner of the plantation is a bird lover, and will not have one killed on any account. Perhaps the cosmopolitan sparrow is the greatest offender, and it must be said of him that he is protected ihe least by sentiment, but in their several ways finches, larks, starlings, and looks ar-o sources of considerably loss and annoyance. Of course, a good veal can be said to show that birds are farmers' friends, but it is largely a question of numbeis, and when injurious members of the feathered tribe get too thick on the ground some combined effort must be made to thin their ranks.

"Back to the land" 5-s a cry we arc all pretty familiar with of late ; it is the watchword of those who seek to repopulate our rural districts, and so thin out the c-\er-peopling of the towns. But back to the land hardly scorns to apply to certain Scottish dtstrict3. where in jix crofting localities the area of the dear forests has increasecl by ovar half a million acres since 1899. Half a million acr-cs turned into deer forests or preserves in about six years would alter the geographical face of Scotland in less than 20, and that is saving a good deal. As it is, the noflors and thrufamilies dispossessed by this absorption of their b.ol<.linjß &i"c driven into the towns

and cities, there to <=eok a living at employment- -which they cannot get, and could but indifferently tackle if they did get it. In these days of increasing population, incieasing value of land; arid advanced ideas as regards modern agriculture, this depopulation of important rura.l districts ia a seri-ou-3 matter, and one that needs thinking about. Whether the deer of rich millionaire sportsmen should oust the tiller of the soil or whether the latter should evict thedesr is a question we are not going into/ Finally, the remedy does not thrust itself •very obtrusively under our. notice, because, after all said and done, as the law now stands even in Scotland, if a millionaire chooses to buy up or buy out and out certain townlands, baronies" or lands of any kind, he can do absolutely what he likes with them once they become his property. <3o long as a man may do what he likes with his own, it is hard to Hee what redress the poor crofters have, and their lot is assuredly a hard one.— Dublin Farmers' Gazette.

The machinery section is, or if it is i:ot it ought to be, one of the most important features of a show. In connection with this subject the Agricultural Implement and Machinery Chronicle significantly remarks : "Ihe primary uses of shows are to promote the welfare of agriculturists, ci courage the farmer and give him object lessons of the best stock to rear, the 'most profitable roots and cereals to grow, and to place before him the implements and machines whereby his labours can be rendered most productive. Are the prizes awarded to implement makers and the inducements given to traders to support the shows proportionate to the large sums given to breeders of cattle, horses, and sheep? In the interest" of the implement agent we are bound to inquire whether the great- societies sufficiently recognise the important work done by the trade in the advancement of agriculture. Implement makers pay heavy fees, and receive but a small portion of the amount back again, the greater part goingi to the stock breeder. All this seems a onesided arrangement."

In this month's letter (says the American Sheep Breeder for August) our English wool correspondent makes a very significant, statement. "It is notable,'" says he, "'that when Australia last depastured the same number of sheep as she did last year, the exports of wool wore in round numbers a milUon bales. This year the exports are 1,200,000 bales, so that, owing to improvements m breed, the same number of sheep have yielded 200.000 bales more wool."

The Duke of Devonshire lias been talking a good deal of common-sfiase at an exhibition of rural cottages. His remarks very naturally tended to the fubject of rural depopulation. He hits tiie nail on the head when he states his opinion that the want of suitable houses has a great deal to do with the scarcity of farm labour. I believe (observes the contributor of "Farm Prospects," in the Scottish Farmer) it has had more to do with it than all the other contributing causes put together. Perhaps if we had had years ago a "housing question" in the country, the difficulty in the towns would not have been so clamant. It is worth recalling that 50 years ago haif the population lived in the country, and now only 23 per cent. do. After the re-n-arks of the Duke, more attention may be given generally to the pressing need for farm cottages in many jarts of the country.

In a late issue of the Fortnightly Review Mr X, F. Harvie gives an interesting account of the British military farms in South Africa. These farms, which number some 70 in all, weie- started in December, 1900, to supply the hospitals and troops with provisions. They were perfectly organised, and have proved a great success. The soil yields three cro]-s of potatoes in less; than a year, and at the rate of three and a-hajf tons to the acre. Nine crops of lucerne are gathered between July and February. The dairy-farming and poultrykeeping also were successful. Irrigation was introduced. Farming by the British ia South Africa is no longer' a problematical tLing. It has been essayed, under th& direction of the military authorities, and it has proved a conspicuous success. The overseers placed on the fariis were rn«n who had served through the campaign, ond had in every ca*e been farmers in. England, Scotland, or Ireland.

The Mark Lane- Express of August 14say?: — No pot?to over introduced caused such a sensation as the Northern Star. Its introduction marked ili-s beginning of the famous boom in varieties, and seed tubers of Stars wore sold at prices unheard of before. Al! this is past history, and we ask what figure is the Nortliern Star cutting in the potato world just now? The boom 's over, things have come down io their normal level again, and while some of the potatoes which came out when fortunes were being 1 made out of new varieties arc working their way into general cultivation, others seem to have dropped out altogether. Though the Northern Star can ha idly bo classed amongst the latter, it certainly has not upheld its early reputation, and its existence promises to bs as short-livod as its advent was exciting. In other words, the Northern Star has proved to be disappointing, and its short reign of popularity appears to be Hearing its end. Lr.st jcar Stars, did not come up to expectation^, and this season is still more in-satisfactory. At the outset the Northern

Scar was a very vigorous giowcr, but we! have noticed several patches this year with weakly, stuntsd tops, showing an obvious v, ant of vigour. Id is, of course, too early to speak of the crop, but no great things can be expected when the growth is so unsatisfactory. Whatever may be the ultimate fate of the Northern Star, its comparative failure so soon after its introduction will tend to shake public faith in any, boomed varieties that may appear in the future. It was urged, when the Northern Star was_ being cracked up to the skies, tint the Up-to-date was worn out and done for, but we have seen a quantity of Datsa of late, grown from Scotch seec£ which, il appearances are anything to go by, will give points to the Northern Star and several other boomed varieties, and beat them hollow.