AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Southern flock-owners are beginning to feel the effects of the drought to such an extent that they are being forced to dispose of some of their stock in order to save the remainder from virtual starvation during the coming winter. Fortunately, however, the North Island has been favoured with, a better rainfall, and consequently pasture is abundant there. North Island flock-owners are taking advantage of present circumstances by purchasing superfluous sheep at comparatively low rates for shipment to the North Island. The first of these shipments was made by the Hawca. which sailed on the 14th for Timaru, where she will load a large consignment of sheep for Onehunga. There is every probability that this shipment will be followed by others, and whilst it is regretted that southern farmers are in such a sorry plight, it is 6omo consolation to know that there is an outlet for their surplus stock comparathely close at hand. The survey of the Totara Settlement (near Oamaru), recently acquired by the Government from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, has now been completed. There are 3135 acres, which, have been divided into 22 ordinary farms and four dairy farms, the areas ranging from 53 acres to 274 acres. The rentals run from 12s 6d to 21s per acre. The settlement will be opened about the end of March. The Union Company's steamer Tarawera proceeded from Port Chalmers on the 15th to Oamaru and Timaru to load a further shipment of about 2000 sheep for delivery at New Plymouth. At a meeting held at Eketahuna on Friday night speeches advcreelv criticising the Land Bill were made by representatives of the Farmers' Union. The following resolution was carried unanimously: — "That this meeting 1 considers that the settlers of the colony should have the option of acquiring tho freehold, and that no Land Bill can be satisfactory which does not embody this principle."' A Timaru grain expert says that the quantity of the grain coming to hand this season for milling is better than it has been for the past 10 years. The biggest farms in the world are in South Australia, where the average squatter holds 78,000 acres. A Romney Marsh shearling ram, imported to the order of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Dunedin, arrived at Lyttelton from London by tho Wakanui on Monday, and was sent to Quail Island lo undergo the customary quarantine. The ram was bred by Mr W. Millin, Syndale Valley, Faversham, Kent. A lawsuit of great importance to the farming community will shortly be heard in South Canterbury. Some months ago a large landowner 6o!d about 4000 lamb* at 12s each for forward delivery, possession to be taken about February 1. The buyer, however, when the time came, refused to take deliveiy, and the owner is suing him. Last week the lambs were sold at tho (Jeraldine yards, and tho best brought 8s 5d and 8s 6d. while 1900 went at 4-s Id. and some as low as 2s 6d. The Smithfield Freezing Works are still kept very busy, killing daily between 4000 and 5000 *heep, including some "boilers." On Monday last there were 48.000 sheep in tho paddocks adjoining the works waiting to be killed. Tins is probably the largest number that has ever been in waiting at one time at the works. Hop-picking has commenced in the gardens at Spring Grove (Nelson). Despite the care taken by the growers to prevent tho depredations of tho red spider (by pulling off and burning the lower leaves and pynnging the be me-) this nc-t, says th'J Colonist, is very prevalent in tho district, and will affect the yield consideiably. Tho agricultural correspondent of the Che\iot News writes :— Threshing operations are now in full swing, and the crops are turning out much hotter than wa9 anticipated. Wheat is turning out splendidly, being bright and plump, and of bettor quality than has been seen for several jear*. The averaeo yields will probably be— Wheat 50 to 60 bushels per acre, oats 76, Capo barley £0. There is not much grass seed, but the quality is good, and will probably average 50 bushels. The committee of the Timaru A. and P. Association met on the 9th inst., Mr A. S. Klworthv (president) in the chair. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister of Railways, in reply to an explanatory letter regarding endloading sheep trucks, stated that the great expense of the alterations would prevent anything being done in that direction at present.— The Manawafu and West Coast A. and P. Associations (Palmerston North) wrote asking for co-operation in petitioning tho Government to declare free from local rates tho lands occupied by agricultural societies for show purposes only. Mr Orbell, speaking as chairman of the Levels County Council, could not see any iuetification for the proposal. It was not like a concession given in railway rates; it would not encourage exhibits. The secretary said the rates paid were £2 17s. " It's not worth talking about." seemed to close the dis-^ cussion ; but the president and Mr Lyall' thought they should help other associat ; ons, and Mr Lyall moved in that direction, Mr Irving seconded, and the motion was carried nem. eon. — Mr M. Maze, in reply to the committee's request that he should reconsider his resignation, wrote that he did nob th.nk that he had been treated fairly by the rommittee in its not upholding the protest he had made. Ho had been connected with the association for 20 years, and he did not think anyone would say he had ever acted otherwise than in the interests of the association. Mr Teschemaker said he was very sorry to eoe Mr Ma2e leave them, but the committee had"" gone into the matter very thoroughly, and he thought it would be 'a. mistake to rake up the matter any j more. Members assented to this view without discussion. The president and secretary explained that a sub-committee had con- j sidered the offer of Mr W. Hay to lease j to tho association for five years an office and a board room in a building he proposed to erect opposite tho Empire. Tho rent would be 45s a week, and ratee ("not; to exceed £10 a year). The secretary would

sublease the office at 20s, and the board! room at 10s a week, reducing the cost to> the association to 15s a weo-k and rates. Its v. as carried unanimously that the combined! offer of Mr Hay and the secretary bo ac« cepted. — The committee fixed on Tuesday, March 26, as the date for the annual ram fair. The annual meeting of the Ashburton A, and P. Association was held on the 9th inst. Mr R. B. Coward (president) occupied the chair, and theie was an attend* ance of 40 members. The balance sheet showed the receipts to ha\o been £159* 13s, the principal items being show re* ceipts £650 5s 3d and members' sub«cr<p"* tions £468 18s. The> expenditure totalled £1173 19s 9d. including prize money £51? 10s. The bank debit balance stood aft £439 5s 3d, while the balance to the association's credit of assets over liabilities was £2974 11s <kl The balance sheet was adopted. Officers were elected for tha ensuing year. Thirteen new members wers elected. — At a meeting of the committee held subsequently Mr J. B. Christian was elected secretary and Mr Joshua Tuokec treasurer. A Timaru farmer writes to the Herald as follows: — "The deer liberated here some years ago are now a perfect curse to 6everal farmers. I lost a lot of turnips last winter, and they have begun already on the new crop, probably owing to the dryness of feed! on the range. They will be extra bad this season. I know a case where a, farmer had to turn on his sheep in the autumn, asl hie turnips were so badly bitten by deep that a large amount of them wouid yot ml the whiter. A nice crop oi wheat is also much appreciated by them. I don't knowj whether a man has any claim on the society, but this may act as a warning to those clamouring for such pests." There is on view at the shop of th.o Christchurch Meat Company (says lasfl Thursday's Press) a carcase of frozen mut* ton that has been branded with a patents impression brand. The brand was explained yesterday to a number of gentlemen interested in the frozen meat trade by Mr G'« \V. Russell, representing the owners of the brand. The instrument is in the form of raised letters on a small mallet, and ib only requires a elight blow .to aiake tha impression. The carcase was branded ati the- Islington Freezing Works after it had left the hands of the slaughterman ancfc was on its way to the cooling chamber*. The carcase was then frozen in the usuafi way, and afterwards thawed out. Tho brand shows quite distinctly on tho fat wherever it has been placed, and would probably disappear on the meat being) cooked. With some slight improvement in the way of enlarging the letters and forming them in such a manner as not to> cut through the skin, and thus prevent a* leakage of juice of the meat on being cooked, the brand should answer all tha purposes requirod. The brand can be mado very cheaply, and with a little practice a man could become expert in applying it, so that its application would not be costly. The General Committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association me-t on Wednesday last, Mr D. D. Macfarlane presiding. Tho president referred feelingly to the death of Mr Peter Duncan. He moved — "That this committee desires to express its keenest sympathy with the widow andi family of the late Mr Peter Duncan, whot for a number of years was a member ofi the General Committee of the association, and at one time vice-president." The motion was carried.— lt was resolved to sup* port the proposal of the Manawatu Association that freehold or leasehold land reserved exclusively for agricultural and pas* toral 6hows should bo declared free from rating powers. — The chairman of the Merino Cup Committee reported that tho ecouring ■competition for 1906 had been completed l and the results tabulated. The winner oE the competition was Mr Charles Goulter, of Hawkesbury, Blenheim, who would hold the. cup for the current year and receive ai gold medal. Mr Goulter was also the winner of the silver cup presented by Messrs Quibell Bros, for tho best average money value of all =coured fleeces of any competitor. The sheep had been grazed during the year on the Springbank Estate, and shorn on tho show grounds on November 10 by the agent of the Wolseley Shearing Machine Company. The wool had been aftevwards scoured by Mr W. Nicholls, Belfast, thei 'coured fleeces being weighed by Messrs H. T. Little., A. Pullan, and E. Richardson. Messrs Thomas Millar and A. Nopennaira had \alued the wool. Tho thanks of tho committee were duo to all those who had assisted the committee in carrying out the competition. — The Sheep Committee reported that at a conference between tho Sheep Committee and the auctioneers on February 12 recommendations regarding the conduct of sales at the ram fair had} been agreed to. Report adopted. — Tha President aaid that he had given 21gs OB a challenge shield for the county obtaining the largest number of points in live stockHowever, the Selwyn County had last yeart obtained 566 points, more than all the othei? counties put together. Every year tha county came out on top. and it would be found that every year it would win tha shield, which would remain with the Canterbury Association, and there would be no> competition. He. wished to know what the committee would suggest as an alternativeOn Air Staveley's motion it was agreed to> award the prize for the largest individual prize-taker in live stock. — Mr J. E. Davenport wrote stating that he was holding the cup presented by Mr Barnebv, of England 1 , and also the one presented by the English Leicester Society, until the next show, there* being no competition for the former, while 1 the Leicester Cup had to be won by a rarri by an imported sire three times before becoming the absolute property of .the exhibi-» tor. The Rothschild Rose-bowl had beert intended as a prize for the best stallion? (Shire) by an imported sire. Tho matteC was referred to the Sheep Committee. Tho Scottish Farmer of Saturday, De-» cember 22, writes: — Mr Sinclair, the Sec* retary for Scotland, opened the West oi Scot land Agricultural College's pew premised on Thursday afternoon. He thereafter re« ceived an influential deputation from th' 4 meeting hel3 on Wedrresdav afternoon, re-» lative to the Veterinary College. Thd groat points in favour of the continuance} of the college in Glasgow are undoubtedly the large number of probable students to be} found within easy radius of the city, thej unique facilities which the city and iti neighbourhood affords for clinical instruct

iron in its large hor3e population and numerous abattoirs, as well as the very large head of stock carried in the south-western counties. The numbers were said by Sir Charles B. Renshaw to be far in excess of the numbers in the other divisions of Scotland. There are something like five millions of animals enumerated by the Board of Agriculture in ite returns for Division 77 — • tße south-western district of Scotland. Certainly no finer field for veterinary practice •exists in the United Kingdom, and this is a, great point in favour of the retention of Glasgow as a teaching centre for veterinary science. Will cheese-making supplant butter-mak-ing in New South Wales? is a question •which not a few people are asking (says the Sydney M«rning Herald). The cheeses produced before the drought af the Hawkesbury Agricultural College were equal to the English. Bodalla cheese was also high in public esteem, but the drought gave both enterprises a severe check. Cheese takes the casein from the milk, as well as the !butter-fat; it uses up more of it than butter does, alicl -when the butter-making boom is over, and prices fall, a little, it is probable that more attention will be paid to cheese-making. If there are any who say that New South Wales is not a cheesemaking country they are only half right, because it can be made one. and the pro--duct can be made good enough to do credit in the world's markets. The value of the wheat and flour exported from Australia to oversea destinations in the year 1905-6 shows an approximate increase of £660,000 compared with the previous year. .The total amount exported was ■37,513,550 bnshels, equivalent to 1^)04,827 tone, valued at £5,960,000. Victoria exported 16,135,251 bushels; of wh%h about 0,000,000 bushels were from -New South 'Wales. The export from South Australia amounted to 14,968,453 bushels and from Jfew South Wales 6,402,6*5 bushels. The figures relating to the frozen and chilled meat export from the Argentine for the 11 months, January to November, 1906. show that 2.751,797 carcases mutton and lamb, 1,439,655 quarters frozen, 416,012 quarters chilled, beef were exported, against 3,219.249 carcases mutton and lamb, H,36c.249 quarters frozen, 379,145 quarters chilled, beef for the same period of 1905. Mutton and lamb show a decrease of 467,622 carcases. On the other hand, frozen and chilled beef show an increase of 110,273 quarters. The export trade in cereals for the 11 months to December 1 was as follows:—Wheat, 2,216,333 tons; maize. 2,447,112 tons; linseed. 495,957 tons: wool ♦9,464 bales. The wheat shows a falling off of no fewer than 574,118 tons ; maize. on the other hand, shows an increase of 251,949 tons; linseed a decrease of 126,851 tons, and wool a decrease of 15,513 hak-s. Butter also shows a decrease of 40,000 cases for the period under review.