AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 20

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Welcome rain began to fall about midintermission till noon on Monday, being then succeeded by occasional showers. The succeeded by occasional showers. The downfall was just of that description calculated to be of the most benefit, being copious and warm. It will do a great deal of good in the city and vicinity. There comes ako news that the raintall has been general. Our correspondent at Naseby, writing on Monday, saya: "Splendid rains' are falling here, and they appear to be general over the district. Although somewhat late, they are not too late to do an immense amount of good, and have practically saved the situation, which was beginning to look serious. The weather is much colder, & small quantity of sleet and 6now failing with the rain." From Tapanui also we learn that a splendid rain fell over the district on Sunday night, doing an immense amount of good to grass, grain, and turnip crops. The moisture was much needed, as recent dry winds had parched the land. Turnips, which are now being sown, will get a good start, and if heat follows, growth should be very rapid. The oat crops in the district look promising, and are oomin-g'on rapidly. Mr Wm. Charters, of the Taieri, is thus quoted on the typical draught horse : "The draught horse that I believe in is not of the heavy type of tiie old school, but of the type that is active enough for farm work. Now that deep ploughing and three-furrow ploughs are increasing in favour, the farmers are turning from the comparatively light hor.ses of previous years to- the draught. But the horse must be active — not the straight-legged kind one used to see, but an animal with adequate bone and abundant, shapely muscle." The largest shipment of dairy produce to London this season was made by the Uorinthio, which left Wellington on the srd inst. It consisted of 45,072 boxes of Dutter, valued at £119,440, and 18.156 ;rates of cheese, valued at £68,085. The otal value of the shipment is £187,525. The payments made for butter fat by the S T evr Zealand Dairy Association (Ltd~.J to nilk suppliers on the 21st ult. totalled 819,174 12s, this being an increase of £4791 Is 5d on the similar payments made by ihe assooiatior for the corresponding month >f last year. Seventeen million sheep were slaughtered i n Australasia during the past year, but ' levertheleas there has been a net increase , n the flocks of 5,000,000. Figures relating to the number of sheep ' 2i the world make it evident that flocks re ou the decrease in the Northern Hemiphere, but increasing in the Southern, hiefiy in Australia and South- Africa j