INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 8

INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

(From Correspondents of the Pastoralists* Review for' July.) • NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, July 10. The winter is now at hand, and heavy frosts are being experienced throughout the country. In those parts 'where grass ia scarce the cold weather has caused serious mortality in lambing, but taking the State generally the outlook for the winter gives little ,cause for anxiety. It is in the south where the adverse- season has' been so severely felt, and the losses of stock have been seriously heavy. Disquieting reports from about Queanbeyan, Yass, and Junee state that the lambing has practically been ■a failure, and that a very meagre percentage will be marked. When the cokl weather* set in aged ewes and lambs died in a wholesale manner. Quite recently a report from Leadville, v the Mudgee dis-. trict, shows that scarcity of feed prevails in one or two districts further north, quoting; as an instance where one station has lost £200 worth of sheep in three weeks, and they are still dying, though artificially fed. ' The rainfall for the month of June was above the average, and coming on top of the falls of the- previous month did a large amount of good despite the cold weather; All over the New England district the rain: averaged between 2in and 3in for the month, in the north-west from lin to 2in, and over the Central Division about Orange', Molong, Bathurst, etc., 3in was reported-. The Liverpool Plains want rain badly, bufc the falls there were patchy, and several stations are in rather dire straits. In. the Westerni Riverina the rain was very scanty, but over Jie very droughty "country roundr Cootamundra, Burrowa, Yass, Queanbeyan, etc., the month's total was over 2in. ' The* .Southern Riverina got about an inch, and the Monaro about 2in. All this rain came too late to prevent heavy losses, and its very advent caused great mortality, but it had to come sooner Ox* later, and matters would have been much' worse had the rain not come when it did. In the opinion of several experts the bad times experienced over such a large portion of our wool-growing country will have a marked effect on next year's wool clip. There is sure to be a break in the wool*, and the natural increase has been reduced by the heavy mortality of ewes and lambs in the south. Then, again, last year shearing was delayed at least a month by wet weather, so that a large percentage of the clip was made up of 13 months* fleeces, which means that if shearing occurs at the

Visual time this year there will be a large Cumber of 11 months' fleeces taken off. Shearing has started in the northern porlion of the State, and excellent reports of the wool are already coming in, but it must, be borne in mind that the country near the border hae had an abundance of feed all through, and the clip up there must not be taken as a sample of what it will be further south. " The complete Custom-house Teturns show the export of wool for the year just ended to total 897,670 bales. From this must be deducted the 81,208 bales imported from Queensland, which leaves 816,462 bales as the net production of New South Wales. This is an inorease of 140,194 bales over last year, and, taking into consideration the reasons quoted above, it is doubtful if this total will be reached during the eeason just commenced. Though the rains haze benefited the pastoralist by starting a more or less valuable shoot of grass, the farmer has derived great advantage, as he has been enabled to go straight ahead with his ploughing. A few months ago it was feared that a considerably smaller area would be put under crop this yearj but on account of the rains last season's acreage may be reached, though it- is not likely to be exceeded. The rabbit pest still continues as menacing' As ever. Experiments at Broughton Island are proceeding quietly, and Dr Tidewell's report on' those, so far carried out is being awaited with interest. The South Australian detractors'' of the experiments have obtained a; statement from the Federal Minister of Customs that it is not likely that the infected rabbit* will ever be allowed on the mainland, and on this point the continuance o£ the experiments .hinges. Dr Danysz can do nothing more if, at the proper time,' s he cannot transfer his operations into the heart of the rabbit-infested country. The claim made by the Australian Workers' Union against the Pastoralists' Unions of New' South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia has been occupying i&e attention of the Federal Arbitration Court during the past few weeks. Evidence from both sides has been eoneluded, and counsels have, made their addresses,' but judgment has been reserved. The following are the principal articles of export oversea from -Sydney during the firet six months of the year compared with the corresponding period last year: — Six months, 1907. 1906. Wool (bales) .» .. .* 874.238 247,410 Skins (bales) 16,712 16,594 Hides (No.) 82,488 50,121 T*llow (casks) 17,263 22,564 Leather (packages) 4,260 4,367 Preserved meats (cases) .. 20,092 22,744 Frozen mutton (carcases).. 484,173 375,563 Frozen bee? (pieces) .. .. 8,916 19,002 Butter (boxes) 240,636 206,956 Hoofs and bones (cwt.) .. 7,258 4,680 Horns (No.) 473,081 487,040 iWlieat (centals)- 2,685,751 2.454.113 Flour (centals) 484,627 365,182 VICTORIA. ' ' " Melbourne, July 11. The past month has been wintry to a degree. Nearly two weeks of consecutive Iros'ts— the severest for many years—oc•cured over the greater part of the State during the second week in June, and since the thaw set in cold and squally weather has been general. Snow, often very heavy, is reported in- most mountainous districts. The rainfall has only been 6light, and a good soaking downpour, if followed by moderately warm weather, would be very welcome in the country. Grass is still fairly plentiful on the plains, but is getting dry. Lambing is now finished, except in a few late districts, and marking has commenced. The averages on the whole are quite up to expectations, the losses so far not being serious. However, reports are continually coming to hand stating that foxes and blowflies are more than usually prevalent this year ; apparently there must alwav6 be at least one fly in the pastoralist's ointment. The cold snap was very severe on stock in exposed situations, »nd dairy cattle in particular show it by the fallmg-off in milk. Values for fat stock of all descriptions are keeping up well, but stores are inclined to be dull of sale. Shearing commences in Southern Riverina towards the end of July. Since the Arbitration Court announced that its award, when given, should date from 12th June, the shearers have come forward and are booking freely through the Pa6toraliste' Union office. The stations themselves are also obtaining men without any difficulty. Victorian sheds do not start until the middle of September, but no shortage of labour is" as a great many men have already made application for peris. The crops above ground are looking well, althouglj growth . has been checked somewhat by the frosts, and they are hardly as far forward as , usual Still, the critical time is yet to oonie. fallowing, where carried out, is going on apace' just now, and will keep farmers busy for some time. It is expected that a new butter freight contract will be fixed up during the next week or two, it being understood that the committee is at present in treaty with certain shipping companies. The Australian Sheepbreeders' Association hold their show in Melbourne during the first week in August, and this will be followed immediately by the annual stud sheep fair. A very large number of sheep will be- offered by tlie two selling firms, and some high prices are fcure to be realised. There are generally a good' .many plainbodied merinos from the leading Riverina and South Australian studs put up in Melbourne, and in view of the- values recently obtained in Sydney for this type the sales of these will be watched with particular interest. It is worthy of remark here that, Cor the first time, a sale restricted to 6tud longwools will take place just after the Melbourne royal show, in September, at a wool store in Kensington. Some 500 sheep will ba offered then, including many from the show. As the Royal is probably the best show of British breeds in Australia, the sale should draw good sheep and prove a success. Ballarat is to have in agricultural high school. The sum of £1500, half the cost, has been guaranteed locally, and the Government will put up the balance. The •work of establishing "the school will commence shortly, the City Council having undertaken to provide 30 acres of good land for the farm. A deputation from the Municipal Association called on the Minister of Agriculture 3aet month with reference to the lax administration of the Thistle Act in some districts. They asked for v amending and more drastic act, which would compel delinquent municipalities to do their duty in destroy-

1 ing weeds, and also the Government to remove them from Crown lands. In passing, it may be mentioned that all noxious weeds may be declared under the present act. Mr Swinburne promised to bring the matter before the Cabinet. The following is a summary of the value of Victorian >versea exports for May, and the first five months of the year, compared with the corresponding periods of 1906: — May, Five months, 1906. 1907.* 1906. 1907. Grold and specie . . £332.195 £199,525 £2,185,608 £ 450,230 Wool .. 58,497 59,772 1,827,775 2,738,024 Wheat .. 89,144 157,613 1,779,676 1,209,132 Flour ..' 48,609 76,964 234,877 243,218 Buttes. .. 49,179 15,741 478,147 658,942 Frozen mutton, etc. 1,158 4,922 150,816 215,128 All other 339,389 333,740 1,466.020 1,642,509 Total ..£918,17"! £848,277 £8,122,928 £7,157,183 QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, July 6. The winter so far has proved extremely mild, little or no frost having been recorded. Western residents aver that similar conditions have not "been experienced during the past 25 years, and continue to hope that the- warm weather will provide some longed-for rain. Although during ihe month we have recorded ram over practically the whole of the State, the falls were scattered and light, and generally were quite insufficient to do any permanent good., Where the feed was green it has given it a. help, but on the old grass it has turned it black, and done more harm than good. The present need, however, is not feed so. much as water, and what rain we have had has fallen so gently ac not to replenish^ the nearly-exhausted water supplies. The store sheep market fluctuates considerably as regards operations, though the prices remain fairly stationary. Prior to the late rains, about the middle of the month, business was slack, but with »tne rain there was more animation, and some fairly large transactions have eventuated. The firmness of the wool market is inducing stock-owners to hold on until after shearing, when, judging by reports to iand, a very large number of sheep will be placed in the market, . quite sufficient to bring down tiie prices a little. At present there is little margin between stores and fats. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Adelaide, July 10. The weather during the past month has been exceptionally favourable and the outlook Jor the pastorahst and the farmer could hardly be brighter than it is at the preSnttime. It is at least 10 years since the far northern country has been visited by such splendid rains as those which fell aVw weeks ago, and from all parts of the interior reports are coming to hand tnat the bushes and grass are responding to the influence of the moisture. The feature about the rains this year le that they have come just when they were wanted, 60 that although .the total faU |to *j*e * less than what- it was for the first six months of 1906 the showers have been more beneficial because they were more _opportune. There is hardly a dry patch of country in the State, and not a word is heard now of rain being urgently required. A fortnight ago severe frosts were experienced, but although these did more or less damage to some kinds of plant life rt is not expected that the cereal crops suffered any injury-indeed, a check given to the wheat plant at the present time helps it to stool out, and is Tather an advantage than otherwise. Pastorahsts generally report that their country is in good heart, and that a most promising season is before them. A leading pastoral authority when seen on the matter replied, "There is npt a weak spot in out country at present VVe have had good rams everywhere, and the land is looking splendid. In a few places the rain was not heavy enough to fill the dams, but, generally speaking, I do not remember the whole of the State being in such good condition all at the one time aS The B RS£I" Live Stock Show is to be held in Adelaide on 11th, 12th 13th ; and 14th September. The prize list, which is now read- shows that the society is offering in. prizes no less a sum than ±-^00. There are 900 classes in the competitive sections'. . ti, -t _ Some dissatisfaction has been felt by farmers on account of rumours which are prevalent that the wheat-buyers have formed themselves into a. buying ring. A legislator has .riven notice that he intends to ask for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon— (l) liie present method of marketing wheat on the basis of a movable standard of quality; (2) the loss occasioned by the use of bags In handling wheat; (3) the desirableness of adopting a system of transporting grain in bulk; (*) any other matter which may affect the net return to the farmer for his wheat. The following were among the principal items exported during 1906: — Butter (lbs) >*M? £ iKI ■pVpa (doz ) 2, 779 62 ° 106,87 d Gram- Barley (bushels) 152,258 26,795 Bran and pollard (tons) 12.043 52,716 Flour (tons) 76 328 509.050 Oats (bushels) .. .. 137,565 16,061 Wheat (bushels) .. .. 12,306 087 2,012 910 Hay Ind chaff (tens) .. 68.866 165,420 Leather (value) .. .. — Meat— Fresh (lbs) .. •• 136,061 2,60 a F5F 5 (lbs)"? 11 ..""?. 8670,795 133,805 Frozen poultry .... — , n 7?2 Frozen rabbit — 10,417 I Preserved (lbs) .. .. 1,631,988 29,026 Skins and hides (value) — 4 i!'°!9 Tallow (tons) 1.046 27,0&> Wine (gallons) .. .. 562.819 99.247 ! Wool (lbs) 41,771,682 1,561.564 j Shearing ie becoming general in the far north. A start was made at Cordello Downs Station last month. The sheep there are to be shorn by machines. The j Federal Sheep-shearing Company have the i contract, and 50,000 sheet will paes through ! the hands of 30 shearers. As the men are a fast team, it is expected that the cutout will take place within four weeks. This is the first year of machines, and it is expected that hand-shearing will soon be a tKing of the past in that distant part of the State. Arrabury Station began shearing on 21st June. These sheep will be hand-shorn. Nappa Merrie Station, with 9000 sheep, cut out last month. The result was an exceptionally good clip. Woolscouring is in progress, and the wool will be ready for market at an early date. Murnpeowie Station will start operations when Cordello Downs has cut out. The same team of shearers will go direct to Murnpeowie, as the Federal Sheep«hearing [ Company has secured the contract to shear

Murnpeowie sheep. There is every promise of a heavy clip of high-quality wool throughout South Australia, and if prices holdj pastoralists will enjoy a good harvest. It is confidently expected that the local auction sales will account for a large increase of wool this year. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Perth, June 29. * -'Terfect weather" has been the invariable comment during the month, and indeed more ideal conditions would be hard to find. When it has rained it has done so in a downright and convincing fashion. When fine weather has prevailed, genial sunny days of springtide feeling, comparatively free from frost and bleak winds, have alternated cheerily. So mild and warm an early winter has not been known for some years, and present conditions should be an ample compensation for the somewhat late season. Very -few holders of stock evince any indication to take advantage of the tempting prices ruling for store stock, which are scarce and dear. Fat stock is also selling at high prices, and fortunate owners who are in the market are netting fat returns. ' In the southern districts the lambing, it is true, is below expectations, the late rains having come too slowly for AprilMay lambs, but throughout the north and north-west the drop should be good. In the farming country the crops are looking well, and as yet no reports are to hand that any districts have had too much rain, which often, at this time of year, does much harm in the southern districts, where the flat country soon suffers. At Robb's Jetty supplies of fat stock are on the increase, and 'from what one can gather every ounce of available tonnage is under requisition for some time to come for shipments of beef and mutton from north-west ports for the metropolitan market. It is reported that very few stores will be shipped, this season. The imports of the State for 1906 were £6,820,933, equivalent to £26 5e Id per head of population. These include the following items : — Meat and fish, fresh and preserved £195 974 i/ive stock .. .'. .. ' 210,756 Bacon, hams, butter, - cheese, eggs, and tinned meat 656,683 Grain, flour, offal, oatmeal, potatoes, and onions .. 398,092 Jams and fruit 161,258 These total £1,622,763, approximately, all imported from the eastern States. Exportß total £9,P32,679, or £37 16s lid per head of population, as follows: — Gold ' ..£7,348,786 Copper ... x, 36,529 Tin 147,380 Wool 603,080 Hidea and skina 185,704 Timber 708 993 Pearls and shells „ 255,182 Sandalwood 70.958 Other articles 476,069 In 1897 the population was 155,563; on 31st May, 1907, ft had grown to 262,485, while the total trade of the State has grown during the same period from £10,358,663" to £•16,653,612. Concurrently with these increases the amount of land cropped, cleared, and in course of clearing haa increased from 825.411 acres to 2,470,936 acres; and while in 1897 111,738 acres were under crop, the current year will. witness approximately four times that quantity in tilth. The grain yield of 1907 was 10 times that of 1897. On the whole, for an infant community in a timbered country, the record is an. encouraging one, particularly in its showing that the development of the landed industries is decreasing year by year the reliance placed by the community upon its mineral resources. Whatever charges may be preferred against the Samaritan State, it iB abundantly clear that even the Melbourne Age can hardly accuse it of lack of energy. TASMANIA. Launceston, July 4. The season is developing better than was anticipated. Owing to the extreme lateness of the autumn rains it was believed that there would be a dearth of green grass and fodder crops throughout the winter. Fortunately there was an abundance of dry pasture and this, combined with fine weather, has helped along the young grass. There has been an unusual series of frosts, but as there is little or no moisture lying on the surface of the ground these have done comparatively little harm. There is a nice green bite almost everywhere, while in parts of the north-west the new grass has attained excellent length. Stock are, therefore, maintaining their condition, and as the winter is now well forward graziers are hopeful. This is reflected in the prices paid for store stock, there being a good demand at substantial values. During the past few days heavy winds and Tain have been experienced, but as, except in isolated instances, lambing has not begun, they will not hurt. The crops have also benefited by the congenial conditions, and are at least promising. A New South Wales breeder is reported to have declared that buyers in that State would be justified in refusing to purchase Tasmanian merino sheep because we refrain from exhibiting them at the New South Wales Sheep-breeders' Association s show. It may be observed in passing, however, that the Victorians and South Australians have not this year exhibited merinos. Some of our landholders are not satisfied with the classification at the fixture indicated, complaining that their nominations are removed by the judges from the classes for which they were entered and placed in others. It is a question of fine and medium-woolled sheep. Apart from this they hold that our climate seems to bo specially adapted for certain types well suited for "infusion with sheep pastured in warmer portions of the other States where the quality of the wool is apt to fall off. They do not reckon that they gain any distinct advantage by exhibiting, frequently preferring the judgment of the New South Wales buyer 6to chat of adjudicators at shows. Moreover, it is obvious that Tasmanians arc put to greater trouble when exhibiting than are mainlanders. Train and eea journeys have to be considered, with their concomitant expenses. Boiled down, it is a matter of business, end in no 6ense an act of discoiirfcesy. that we are not represented at the Sydney shows.