AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2784, 24 July 1907, Page 22

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

A.t the L<veston sales during the past two months the supply of potatoes has been limited to a few bags, while during the early part of the season they were fed to sheep, which apparently ate them as readily as turnips. Last season a Parkvale (Wairarapa) dairyfarmer' bought a property a right of purchase at the end of 21 years at £21 per acre. The farm comprises 140 acres, and is 6ituated a mile and a-half from the cheese factory. The dairy herd includes 120 cows. Last week another dairyman gave the farmer £300 in cash and took over the property at an advance of 103 per acre. Coming nearer to Carterton, the farmer purchased a 71-acre property, not so good as the one he had just parted with, at £25 an acre.

As a result of two visits which he paid to the Smithfield meat market when in London the Federal Minister of Customs (Sir Wi'liam Lyne) is determined to introduce an effective method of branding carcases sent from Australia. He has been much impressed (says the Melbourne Argus) by the metal tag used by the New Zealand Government, which is fixed to the carcase by a metal ring, the two ends of which are closed with a pair of forceps, which, at the same time, stamps it with the Government brand. But a new electric carcase-brander has been patented by a New Zealand inventor named Neville. This has been brought under the notice of the department, and is receiving consideration. It is claimed for the new method that it is cheaper and quicker than the tagging process.