SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2730, 11 July 1906, Page 9

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide, June 9., Opportune showers have fallen throughout the greater part of the State, and their effect cannot fail to be very beneficiil in bringing on feed, cereal crops, and herbage. At the time of writing a month ago I indicated, without exhibiting too gloomy a picture, that the outlook was not aa bright as it could be wished, but the clouds which were gathering at the time' did not disappear before they had scattered a most welcome rain in places vhere it was vi gently required. This downpour was followed by a week or two of fine weather, some of it being quite warm — so warm, indeed, that repoits began to come in from the country that feed was drying off rapidly. The situation, however, was considerably relieved a few days ago, and the records during 1 the last week are such as to encourage the hope that the season will turn out a good one. The mild weather which has followed the rain is greatly assisting the feod, anJ stockowners arc well out of their troubles for the present. Tho lambing is almost over, but it is too early to give an approximate idea of what the percentage will be Last year it was estimated that the crop was about 80 per oent. for the whole State, as against 9P per cent, in 1904, which was an exceptionally good lambing. Authorities concur in prtting it down at somewhere between SO and 90 per cent for this year. If fche«e estimates (urn out to be correct, it will represent a very considerable addition lo our flocks, whilst at the same tirno it will ensure a faiily good export lamb trade. On some of the smaller estates and farms the percentage is likely to be well over 90. Stock owners at the present time are enjoying a good harvest owing to the high price commanded by fat stock, and on the present basis of tbe wool market they look forward to a good return from their annual clip.

Farming operations are now over, and the general opinion i« that the area put under wheat this year is slightly o\er 2,000,000 acres, or a small increase on the land cultivated last year.

It cannot be doubted by anyone who cares to study the position, or. better still, take a trip through the country, that rural producers generally are in a very prosperous condition at the present time. Stock owners have had the achantage of strong markets during tbe last year or two. whilst wheat growers, by improved methods und mixed farming, have been able to add to their banking accounts. Land owners have bt'en following with a s;ood deal of quiet interest the negotiationsbeing made for the carrying out of the Danyez experiment. Once or twice a voice of protest was heard— generally from some trapper — whilst more or lc-?s anxiety was felt concerning the nature of the disease about to be introduced, and whether it was not likely to spread, and prove another instance where the remedy v, ould bo worse than the original disease. Just at present the rabbit is not troubling stock owners in this State — at least, very few complaints are openly made asrainst them. In the s-ettled districts local authorities arf> enforcing the law, and compelling land owners to keep their prop"rtios clean.

Shearing- will soon begin at the oarly sheds, and arrangements arc being concluded for engaging the men and trotting the clip off as speedily as possible. Machinery i-s being introduced into quite a number of shcd-5 throughout the State, and it i* quite evid-ent that owncis now reali c o that the machines are more profitable rhan the hand-shearing. No difficulty is likely to be experienced in securing sufficient labour, and there is no talk of any trouble on the score of pay, wet shoep, etc. Fat stock of good quality are commanding excellent prices. There was a decidi*d upward movement at cattle sales this week, and prices equal 1o 31s por 1001b were freely paid. Prime wethers fetched up to 30s. Cattle shipments to Western Australia ha-ve been on a laree Pcale. ZO-'X) head going forward in one line and 15G0 :n another.

The committee of the Royal Agricultural Society has decided to incroa=e the prize money to be awarded at the September show. Last year £3061 was offered, but next spring the amount will be £3169. Beside* this, the Government will give gold' medals of the value of £50. The amounts fo- each section will be as follow 6, the figure? in brackets represenrinfr the totak paid last September: — Agricultural, £700 (£6501 ; pastoral, £375 (£375) ; horse. £700 (£660) ; miscellaneous. £192 10s (£192 10s) ; horticultural and floricultural, £609 10s (£609 10s); dog and poultry, £375 (£357

15s); wine, £217 (£217); total, £3169 (£3061 15s).