WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 21

WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

January 30. We are still having droughty weather, but there appears to be some Th« hopes of a change to-night. Weather. There was a bit of a sprinkle early this morn- ' ing jvhich was pretty general, as travellers by the early train from Wanganui report light rain falling all the way to Palnierston. When the pastures get thoroughly dry a i light fall of rain docs more B»in in Time harm than good, as it only 1 ot Drought. bleaches, and takes what nutriment there is in the standing gra^s out of it. Of course, there few places in the province * where the grass is entirely burned up, the bulk of the pastures ha.ving some greenness at the bottom, and where such is the case, even 25 points of ram would have a beneficial effect, and late rape and turnips want rain badly. The first of the annual series of ram. fairs is being held to-day (Thursj Ram day) at Hastings, which will 1 Fain. give a lead as to how prices 1 are likely to rule. But the requirements of the east and west coast are not exactly on all fours, the Lincoln being still the most prominent in Hawke's Bay, although there has been a considerable number of Romney sold privately by Manawatu breeders to run-holders, both in Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay, Mr Donnelly having taken delivery of 200 Romney rams from Mr E. Short last week at Fcilding. The entries for Feilding sale, to bo held next week, are advertised, and tot up considerably more than what wei'e offered last year. To show the trend of , breeding in the district, I give the number of the different breeds to be offered : — 700 Romncys, 458 Jjincolns, SI SJiropshnes, 90 South Downs, 120 English Lcicesters, 30 Border Leicesters, 3 Cheviot ; total, 1422 rams. This seems too big a number for Feilding, seeing that many of the larger 6heep-breeds have bought privately. The fat lamb-getters, however, are not o^er- , done, and should find a market. From what has been seen in the past, the mistake some farmers make Bujrtag is that they have no Bams. definite object or aim in breeding. Fancy a man going to a fair not even knowing what breed '"he wants. This looks far-fetched, but I have come across such in the pa&t. But sheep-breeding is slowly rising to a higher plane, breeders not considering the price so much so long as they get the animal they require. This is as it should be. If the ewes have been classed as they should have been, and they are fairly uniform, the next consideration is in whai way do they want improving. How- ] ever good they may be, still the size and constitution may want building up, or the , fleece may be deficient in some particular. In tho present state of the wool market length of staple is what is required by the manufacturers, the great bulk of crossbred wools now produced being too short and mushy, which can be ascribed to the demand for mutton and lamb. I have come to the conclusion that the dual purpose sheep — i.e., perfect mutton and perfect fleece— is yet to be evolved, so that when meat is the more profitable to raise, wool must hi sacrificed to some extent. Still, there is no reason why so much of our wool should come under the class of nondescript. However, in buying rams the endeavour should be to get rams that are strong in what the ewes are deficient. But, abo\e all, look for healhty, robust, lively sires. Constitution first every time. Another principle in breeding that is tco often I neglected is that breeders do not adhere to one particular strain of blood. In every breed of sheep there is some difference between different stud-flocks, each flock having some strain peculiarly its own. It is, . therefore, wise policy, to make a point of purchasing all the rams from one breeder, and if they give satisfaction continue to do so from year to year. The system of selling rams singly is not in the best interests of the buyer who requires any number, in that it is hardly possible for him to secure, say, 15 or 20 rams of one breeder's *lot. For the reason that a breeder who wants that number has a certain following that depends to some extent >n his judgment, so that they follow his lead and so run this particular lot past their value. This is the reason for so many private sales of rams taking place, whicn is the most satisfactory, and now , many of the best breeders have sold their output for next year. Auction sales are, perhaps a necessity for the small man who only wan^ts half a dozen; still, he would be well advised to select privately also. But there is more than most imagine in stick- '

ing to where you get your rams. Not that such rule should be imperatively imposed. An eccentric old man on Ararat used to impress on us youngsters that there were two things we should never change — the religion we learned at our mother's knee and political opinions. There oan be no -absolute set of rules laid down in stockbreeding, but this amongst others should i always be kept in view — keep to one par1 ticular strain and improve from within by ! selection, father than try to reach the goal by perhaps the quicker but uncertain introduction of foreign blood. This is the season of the year which makes for the improvement or otherwise of the flocks of the Dcminion ; therefore, no pains should be spared by sheep men in trying as much ' a.s lies in their power to mate the ewe and ram to produce the be3t results. , The kye are dry, and there is already a howl of indignation at the The VaJue «f drought. Drought, forthe Plough sooth ! Three weeks within Dairying, out rain ! Only for the sufferings of the dumb animals that cannot help themselves it ( were an advantage if the drought continued another month, as a lesson to dairymen to take heed of the injunction of a former Bishop of Melbourne at a- like season, when he told his hearers that it were better if they "dammed the rivers n»ore and the country less," or, in other words, made provision for periods of stress whioh are ever recurring in every country» no matter how gracious the climate may usually prove to be. Even in our naturally j v/ell-watered district, some farmers are al- ' ready short of w-ater, or what they have in their small puddle holes of dams is getting unfit for any animal — far less a milk cow, which should have an assured supply of pure water above all things. But it is not the water supply that we wish to i draw attention to in this note, but the i almost entire absence of green fodder to tide over such a, dry spell as we are now having. To their credit be it said there has been a great improvement in the way dairymen now make provision against the winter, in most instances hay being the chief stand-by. If milk is not wanted good, well-saved hay fust about fills the bill, but is of little use in producing milk, and at j such a time as the present is of little value. ; Personally, I do not think there is any great scarcity of feed in this district, ex- ! cept with trie greedy men, who endeavour I to keep three cows on land capable of I grazing only two. This question oi over- j stocking is an ever present one even in j the best of seasons. You will fin-d cows and J other animals walking about on some farnis | so poverty stricken that one feels inclined to ask the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Society to take action : they often interfere on less provocation. However, there is little use in wasting ink over such misguided men that ' cannot see they are loosing money by starving their stock. What kb wish to point out is the value of a patch of greenstuff at a time like this, when the grass, although it may be abundant, is beginning to get dry, and although of value for fattening, has lost its milk-producing qualities. A bit of good advice to follow to-day is for dairymen to put up in a, prominent place in the milking ened a memo, to this effect : " Next spring sow something that will be fit to cut as green feed in January." In Australia, dairymen of necessity try to provide green fodder for the summer. When irrigation is possible lucerne is largely grown, giving immense quantities of excellent green feed in the hottest weather. In some situations in the North Island, I believe, it should do fairly well, but it has never been extensively experimented with, there being plenty of other plants that will grow here. Maize will give the best results, if not, required before the end of February. If the 90 days' variety can be got (I have been j told it was unprocurable last year) it i 6 the best, as if anything like warm weather it will be fit to cut as green feed in nine or 10 weeks from time of sowing. The trouble with maize is that it will not stand frost, being even more sensitive than potatoes in tha* respect, and although we never get severe frosts at any , time, sometimes they occur as late e>s December, and even during this | period of heat it is reported that the frost was so severe last week up Kimbolton way i as to destroy tomatoes and blight potatoes. Not being able to insure against the vagaTics of the weather, the best plan with maize is to sow a plot at the end of Novemi ber, and make other sowings at intervals till the first of the year, thus giving a [ succession of cuttings at whatever time a j dry spell may occur. Tares or vetches are seldom seen up here, but if mixed with oata and sown at intervals, Ba-v. from the end of October, cuttings would be available all through the summer. Red clover is also a good summer plant, and grow 3 well in most places where sown, and is too much neglected. Some form of cheap carriage being a pressing necessity if the large Light extent of back country is Railways. to be utilised, I make no apology for drawing attention to what has been done in Queensland. In the last number of > the Pastoralists' Review, "A. W. P." gives a description of a tramway constructed up the T&lley of the Logan River from the main line of railway. The length of the tramway is about 15 miles, the same gauge as the railway line, and was constructed by the shire council. The Government gave them ■

/safe - ' * a grant for 40 years at 4 per cent, interest, and with the annual redemption payments this is brought up to £5 Is Id per cent, per annum, and in 40 years' time the team will belong to the shire. The total loan and cost amounted to £57,475 9s, and every year brings tho result earned nearer to the amount required to be paid to the Government. The line earned last year £4.07 per cent, on the capital, and every £100 earned from the date of the official i opening has cost on an average £63 19s lOd. At the expiration of the 40 years, or directly the earnings are over the amount required annually by the Government, the shire will pay back to those ratepayers who | have assisted in the project the money they have advanced, with interest added. 'What has been done in Queensland would and could be done equally as well in many districts in the Dominion, and it would handsomely pay the ratepayers in many counties to find the money themselves to erect railways if the Government would allow them to do so. This is a question the Farmers' Union should take up, and try to bring pressure to bear on the Government to extend the borrowing powers of local bodies, so as to enable them to undertake such work, or the Government find the money at a reasonable rate of interest. ' The message that came over the wire yesterday reporting the The Late death of .Mr J. , Holms will Mr Jas. Hnlms, be received throughout this Waimahaka. district with regret. He had many friends up here, more especially in the ranks of the Romney and Hereford breedeis, by whom he was universally respected. Mr Helms *was respected, by every one with whom he came into contact in- his visits to" the district as a judge of stock, and his place will be hard to fill. J ANTIGUA OVIS. AGRICULTURAL A3D PASTOBAL SEWS. The 109 th annual show of the Smithfield Club was held in the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, during the week ending December 14. The weather was 6howery and mild, but, on the whole, favourable for the comfort of the animals and the financial success of the meeting, although not so conducive to trade for the exhibits. The show was of about average proportions, but the quality was scarcely up to the average, more especially that of the leading exhibits. The King, who was a successful exhibitor in the cattle classes, visited the show. He was accompanied by King Haakoh of Norway, the Prince of Wales, and Prince Christian. The attendances were satisfactory, and the success of the show is assured. The Ayrshire breed of cattle continues to meet with a spirited demand in different foreign countries (says the- Field). One Scottish breeder has shipped nearly 200 head during the past season, and the importing countries included Canada, the United States, Japan, Finland, South Africa, Uganda, Australia, and Chili. Japan, which is as progressive in agriculture and stockbreeding as in other directions, took no fewer than 40 head, and the results of this introduction of the Scottish dairy breed will be watched with interest. It is rather remarkable that a breed which is restricted to a well-defined area at Home should be found so suitable abroad under diverse conditions of climate and soil. The Ayrshire, however, readily adapts iteelf to circumstances, a-nd it will be a etrongj point in n» fa\our if it should answer a 6 satisfactorily in Uganda as it does in Sweden and Norway, or in Japan as in Canada. Mr L. A. Woll=, who recently returned to Adelaide after a two years" surveying I trio in the Northern Territory of Australia, stated to an interviewer that the Northern Territory has an enormous area of land suitable for grazing and cultivation purposes, and in the vicinity of Victoria River, Sturt'e Creek, and the Ord River he is of the opinion that sheepfarming over a large extent of country capable of carrying 2,000,000 sheep could j be profitably carried on if means of transit were facilitated. A large tract is at pre- , sent waterless, but water can be obtained Iby well-sinking. " The Victoria and Ord Rivers country is ideal grazing land, and I think these localities would hold their own with any others in the world at beef producing. The natural advantages, I where all waters are provided by Nature, splendid grasses, and an assured rainfall over rich 'soil make cattle raising easy, and up to the present time it has rarely, if ever, been found necessary to shift stock for feed or water. Ord River, chiefly in Western Australia, has approximately 100.000 head of cattle; and Wave Hill and Victoria River Downs about 70.000 head each. About 17,000 head of calves were branded at each of the latter runs this . past season ; but, owing to want of horseflesh, Ord River were unable to complete their muster. However, the previous sea- < son 1,8,060 head were branded. . . . The Northern Territory will, in my opinion, be a great producing country when opened ( up end required by the rising generation, j At the present period there are large tracts ! of land equally as good in Queensland, where markets for produce are within easier reach."

Year by year it is becoming more fully recognised by stock breeders all the world over that British-bred jurimiajs, whether

T they be horses, cattle, sheep, or even pig< are superior to all others in quality and stamina. There is some strange and admire able power in our soil and climate which puts a stronger fibre and more enduring stamp of excellence into the live stoclf bred in our islands than are found in th< same breed or species in any other part ot • the world.— Times. There was a large assembly of buyer* drawn together in Slousrh Cattle Market on Tuesday, December 10. to try to secur< some of the 35 prime Devon and blue-grej bullocks, the 340 choice Hampshire and Southdown wethers and tegs, and the 130 bacon hogs and porkers from the King'A •farm at Windsor. There was a good de--mand for the Devons, the top price J^aid^ being £43 for a very weighty one. Only/ four out of the 25 offered went below £3IA each. For the blue-greys the demand was] I not so eager, and two of these made top ; value of £22 10s each, and two went et ! £17 each as bottom value. The 35 head* ! made a total of £1044. The demand for I weighty sheep was not quite as keen as.iiu | previous years, the ton figure being £21'\ ss, given for a pen of five. The inquiry and the bids were better for the Hampshire Down tegs, the first pen of these realising £20 15s ; the Southdown tegs , made from £10 to £11 10s per pen, the ; 340 sheep offered making £1046 15s. As usual, the pigs were much sought after. ; The top price was £10 for a Berkshire baconer, £10 10s being paid for a pen o? 'three porkers. The 131 pigs made £565 17e 6d, and the total of the ale was £2654 12s 6d. . ' The potato blight has not made its ap« j pearanco to any extent in South Canterbury this year — that is, in the tops. Ac* cording to a Timaru grower, however, the tubers are badly affected, and though sound when lifted, 6opn develop the disease, and fall away into the last stages* of decay within a few days. The digging of the main crop will therefore be attended with considerable anxiety, if this experience of earlier lot 6 proves at all' general. Considerable trouble has arisen this year (writes the Dominion travelling cor-; respondent) in the "forward delivery") business. Many men bought lambs in No-; vember for delivery in January, at values based on the prospects at that time, which; 1 were distinctly good. Lamb fatteners who 1 had rape coming on had to make arrange-) ments for getting their etock, and paid up>' to 10s 6J. Now that there is practically, no rape, the buyers are in a fix. Oil tho other hand, the sellers arc eliakinfir hands with themselves at having 6old before tho '"bottom dropped out" of the market. I heard of a line bought at 9s 6d being pufc into the sale yards and sold for 6s 6d. The same thing applies to store sheep, bought for forward delivery. There are very few turnips in these part 6; they are quite at a standstill. The annual meeting of the Shropshire Sheep'breeders' Association was held at Birmingham on December 2. It was reported that good prices had ruled for mut-> ton and wool throughout the year, and so - far as Shropshires were concerned the shipments had been on a huge ecale; in fact, it had been a record year. Amongst the most important markets were North " America and Canada^ South America, Australia. Tasmania, and New Zealand. The total number of sheep ex nortec] durinsr the year was 2314. as compared with 1902 in 1906. Thn President (Mr Bowen Jones* commented unon the stable condition o! the €ocietv'= finances, and said it was satisfactory to know that during the past nTne years export* of Shropshire "sheep had yea* by year gradually increased. The champion cheese in the Chester Dairy Show was sold for 145s per cwt, the highest' prire ever obtained. Several first prize lots sold at 90s to 100s per cwt.