AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

One of the district rabbit inspectors of Victoria has hit upon a new way of clearing off rabbits. Previous to the trial trappers had been on the ground fiight weeks, and had taken about 5,000 rabbits. Under the inspector's direction a trail four miles long was made, and for two nights apples cut in small pieces were laid along this. On the third night strychnine poisoned apple's were put down, and next morning 720 dead rabbits were picked up. The cost to the land-owner was about £2, but against this he had 720 skins. A Forty-mile Bush farmer, noticing his calves nibbling the burr, or bid-a-bid. tried the experiment of boiling some of the heads of the weeds and feeding the liquid to his young stock. He was surprised at the result. The calves thrived as they had never done before, and were absolutely free from "scour." The dry weather is giving some concern to farmers. The wheat that was put in early is coming away so irregularly (says the North Otago Times) that it has been found advisable in some instances to' plough it up and resow. The extra ploughing, however, may lead to a better ultimate yield, so that all the farmer's labour may not bo lost. A Manaia farmer was fined £5. with costs, for leaving stock in the saleyards from Tuesday until Friday without sustenance. Lambs have already made their appearance in Hawke's Bay. " The name of New Zealand," said a member of a deputation which waited on the Minister for Customs at Melbourne a few days ago> in regard to the meat export trade, " makes all the difference in England. New Zealand mutton brings id per lb more than Australian meat, which we consider to be just as good. It is due to conservatism that New Zealand mutton is preferred." Some time ago a farmer residing on Boundary road, near Willowby, Ashburton, had a valuable mia.re running in his paddock which suddenly went lame, and had at last, to be destroyed; An examination showed that the mare had received a bullet wound in the hind leg, which had broken a small bone, denting the large one, and entered the intestines. The owner valued the mare at £3O. Cattle ticks havn latelv been discovered further south in New South Wales than ever before recorded. An information has been laid against a settler in the Stratford district charging him with stealing sheep. South Australia, reports the driest April on record, and the area under wheat next season will not in consequence exhibit as preat an increase as was at first exnected. Tasmania has also had an unusually drv spell. J It is declared bv a Canterbury member of the Union that the draft, allowance o.n v/00l costs the farmers of New Zealand £47.000 per annum. Amomrst. the pies offered at the Mafnwhero sales, in the Povertv Rav district, were a number of weaners which had had their snoii+s cut off. and wh'Vh raw them a vptv sickly appearance. This had artpaventlv been done to prevent, them rooting, Hut the practice (says the Herald) seems to be a cruel one.