AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

In consequence of the heavy mortality fimong lambs in the North Auckland district, Mr Hickman, Government Veterinary Surgeon, paid the Northern. Wairoa a visit yesterday. Mr Hickman proceeded to Rehia, where a large number of sheep and lambs are affected, in order to thoroughly investigate the cause of so many deaths. Two lambs of one flock were killed and an autopsy was made. The result proved, as was suspected by Mr Hickman and others, that the seat of the whole trouble was stomach worms, which were present in myriads. There was also an affection of the lungs. One trouble seems to be part and parcel of the other, and the best treatment. Mr Hickman says, is to first get rid of the worms, and then the lungs can be successfully treated. The primary cause is apparently want of drenching, which has not been systematically done. Mr Hickman has inspected several flocks, and he has found the same trouble prevalent. Acting under his instructions, flock masters are doing their best to prevent further mortality. The settlers are very grateful for the prompt arrival of Mr Hickman, and for his valuable help in the hour of need. Bathurst burr, ragwort, pennyroyal, and gorse have been declared noxious weeds by the Wcodville County Council. It is said that pennyroyal tainted the cows' milk very badly. Up to £6l per head was paid recently for draught horses in the Riverina district of New South Wales. At the clearing sale at Yong, in the same State, £32 was paid for a draught yearling colt, _ and) £4l for a two-year-old draught gelding.

At the annual _ meeting of the Timaru A. and P. Association Mr R. H. Rhodes was re-elected president, Mr H. Elworthy vice-president, Mr W. Priest treasurer, Mr K. G. Turner auditor, and last year's committee was re-elected with the exception of Messrs J. Austin, jun., and A. Bissett, who did not stand again, and in their stead Messrs D. H. Edgar and Frank Smith were elected. A «um of £ISOO was placed at the disposal of the committee for' the ensuing year to carry out various improvements. On the invitation of the

president to bring up for discussion any proposals for the good of the association various natters were discussed and suggestions made which will be considered by the committee.

Maize has been largely grown this season for autumn feed i the Eltham district, Taranaki. but the grasr being plentiful the maize is being converted into ensilage. The dairy-farmers around Feilding are also growing maize as feed for their stock. The Feilding Star states that Mr James M'Far-; land has a growth of over 13ft in height, and Mr E. Milsom also has a very fine field. In other parts of 'Jie district the dairymen are looking on maize with increasing favour, and there are signs that before many seasons are over it will take the place of root and other crops grown for the dain herds.

Ten lots of ten pigs "were tested against each other in some feeding experiments at the Colorado Experimental Station, andi the greatest profit shown on the ten lota was just £lO. made on the lot fed on maize and "tankage." The next largest total profit (£9 3; 2d) was made by the lot fed 1 with a mixture of barley, maize, and lucerne; white very close to this was the lot fed with barlev and tankage.. The smallest profit (£1 13s Id) was made from the lot fed with maize and : beetroots. This latter lot also cost most (5.70 cents) per ib of grain, while the lowest cost per lb of KM in (3.50_ cents) .vas in the case of the barley, maize, and lucerne. According tc the Pastomlists' Review, practically feed for the winter is now assured over nearly every part of Australia. The wonderful mon.soonal storm reached almost every part of the Commonwealth wanting "rain. Such a magnificent fall ir tne very driest parte is one that constitutes almost a record. In three days more rain fell in parts than, as a rule, falls during a whole year. This means "thai the wool clip nex+ season should again be an excellent one in every way. and points to another good harvest for the farmers.There was a considerable falling off In the entries for the Amuri A. and P. Association's annual show as compared with the previous year, chiefly in draught horses, produce, and the flower sections. The feature of the show was the exhibit of lieht horses, the hacks, hunters, and carriage borSes b.?ing in strong force. A fair lot of sheen, and lambs was penned, and the Hereford and shorthorn cattle were of good qualitv. The draught horses were weak in numbers, but good in quality Tt m estimated that in Holland there are not. more than 2.500.000 acres of first-class land', yet on this over 5,000.000 people make their living. Last vear the export of butter n-nd cheese totalled within a trifle of Si 500.000. On each of the farms, which nm to about 60 acres, there is carried live stock to the extent of 22 cows, 9 heifers, 40 "••been, 15 pigs, and one or two horses. Of the holding some" 24 acres is in. grass, on which the' cows are fed, and the balance piveh to sue h cultivation as is called for. The secret of the success of the Dutch dairy-farmer is in efficient cows, excellent care of them, co-operation, and sunerioi- ouality in butter and cheese. It seems the motor for use in-the work or the farm is a success, at anv rate according to the statements of Mr Nash, who farms *SO acres at Little Canfieldi /Ens-land). Interviewed as to the usefulness and reliability of the motor. Mr Nash said that as the result of a year's experience he felt as the motorist would when +o so back to a buggy and" team. With the motor haulage he ploughed in an eight hours' day five acres of stubble on heaw e'av land, and though the motor has its disadvantages—it, will not, for instance, dodw- a stone or root—it "gets there" at the end. of the week. In the "hai-vest time he used the motor for all the reaping—used it for everything, including beans, and made an average cutting of an acre an hour. Also he had cut an acre and a-.ialf of clover and rather more sf grass, and this in bad'weather: in good weather he is of ooinion be could do better. He says the motor makes a one-man job of a twoman fob, and is equal to six' horses and two men. His machine cost £SOO. No animal en the farm is to he depended on to turn feed: into marketable goods as is the Dig, and none will give a better return from the business standpoint for a discriminating system of . feedimr. The pig is._ by nature, planned to use the leasx expensive foods, and will make good pork of a lot of stuffl which, but for him, might well be 'isted with the waste of the farm, and more especially of the dairy, for there is nothing at, all about a dairv which is waste from the point of consideration of <he pig. _ Tn any phase of farm economv the oig is a feature, and his proper feeding h'is ofssn been the factor which has Vent the balance of the hard-driven farmer froir. getting on the wrong side of the bank ledger.