AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 19

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

For some time past several of the leading draught horse breeders of Otago have been of the opinion that the time has arrived for the formation of a New Zealand draught horse breeders' association in this district, and in order that the question may be fully considered a meeting of breeders is to be held at the offices of the Otago A, and P. Society in Vogel street on Thursday evening. As pointing out the unwisdom of a Farmers' Union party in Parliament attaching itself to either of the existing political parties (says the Auckland Star), Mr L. Schmitt, at the Provincial Conference last week, stated that within the union throughout New Zealand were some 18,000 Government voters and about 22,000 Opposition supporters, as computed at last election. If the union made itself identical with either political party it would immediately lose the support of the largo number of members who supported the other party, and consequently bo seriously weakened. As a matter of fact, in his organising experience, he had discovered that even now very many farmers refrained from joining the union by reason of a suspicion that the union was moving towards one or other of the political parties, and this had been a big factor in hampering the work of organising. That was, in his opinion, a very weighty reason why the union should keep aloof from party politics, as distinguished from farmers' politijs. The conference decided to act on those lines, and to accept pledges from candidates, irrespective of whether they professed Government or Opposition views generally, provided they bound themselves to further and protect farming interests in Parliament. The annual winter show of the Clutha A. and P. Society, to be held on Friday, promises to outstrip its predecessors in general attractiveness and excellence of exhibits. The Department of Agriculture is sending for exhibition a magnificent display from the Government experimental farms and an exhibit of white, yellow, and swede turnips—s 4 varieties in all—-grown in the Clutha district under State supervision. The turnips, which were grown on the properties of Messrs R. Houliston (Kakapuaka) and Jos. Smith (Stirling), were shown at the Auckland show, and attracted universally favourable comment. To farmers the exhibit should prove a valuable objectlesson, as the conditions under which th«»

turnips were grown—such as the nature of the ground, the manures used, and the class of crops grown on the ground, for five years previously—have all been carefully noted and detailed.

Mary, the noted crossbred cow at the State farm at Wereroa, has given for four complete seasons, and the .present season bo end of April (she is still milking), 62,1891 b of milk, from which have been taken 2350.71 b of butter-fat.

The total membership of the South Canterbury branches of the Farmers' Union is 617, an increase of 141 during the past year. The membership of the branches is as follows :-r-Waimate 263, St. Andrews 77, Geraldine 69, Timaru 62, Temuka 54, Pleasant, Point 31, Mackenzie County 61. In the Stirling and Inch-clutha districts the potato crops this year have turned out very well, and by the probable rise in the prico of these tubars (says the Clutha Leader), and the reported failure of the Australian crops, farmers who have planted a quantity are expecting to obtain a rich harvest. One specially fine paddock of potatoes- is that grown by Mr Weir, sen., who planted a large- area. They are turning up at about 14 tons to the acre Mangolds are also doing very well, but suede turnips have been rather severely blighted, and all round the turnip fields are not so good as in past years. Mr G. W. Morrison has disposed of a particularly fine crop of turnips in a paddock adjoining Wallacetown railway siding. Mr F. A. Price, who purchased the crop at £3 10s per acre, intends feeding it off with cattle.—Southland Times.

Mr F. J. King has disposed of 520 acres at Mossburn to Mr Cliff Beer, who owns the adjoining property. At a meeting of the Edendale Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, on proposal to appoint organising secretaries—one- for the North and on© for the South Island —was negatived. The suggestion to inoreasa the levy so as to entitle members to receive a copy of the journal free of change received ho support, and the proposal to relax the regulations concerning the eradication of Canadian thistles was strongly condemned. A motion in favour of forming a farmers' political party received no support. During the discussion at the annual meeting of the Southland Provincial Council of the- New Zealand Farmers' Union, on the subject of the Canadian thistle, as an amendment to the remit that where the Canadian thistle is- thoroughly established in rough bush lands, the regulations compelling its eradication should be relaxed, but in districts comparatively clean strict

i measures should be taken to enforce the act, Mr John M'Queen moved —"That, as the Noxious Weeds Act has been a total failure in so far as the eradication of nOMOUS weeds is concerned, .and more particularly in connection with Californian thistles, the act be repealed."—Mr M'Queen I said that tho thistles did no harm, and last I season sheep would have had a bad time I were it not for them. ' Stock kept them down, and they were good food for stock. Nature thought a lot of the thistle, as was shown by the supplying to them of prickles. No act of Parliament would- <e.n;ove noxious weeds, but the stock would. They ate them, and the best way of getting rid of an enemy was by eating it. He agreed that in time the Californian thistle would die out. Mr A. Wayte seconded the aimend- . ment, and Messrs J. Y. Cook and W. Couser supported it, Mr Cushen opposed both motion and amendment. On the question b&ing put the amendment was carried by 19 votes to 5. At. the annual meeting of tho Wyndiha.mEdendale Plousrhing Association, over which Mr Charles Milne presided, the annual report stated that the judging on the point 3 system did not meet with the approval of the judges,' they preferring the old system. The late Mr Robert Patterson, of Waikiwi, won the champion event. The balance sheet showed a credit (balance of £7 9s sd. - The election of office-bearers resulted as follows :—President. Mr Charles "MVrilrre ; vice-president, Mr R. G. Carson; secretary, Mr A. W. Orosbio; auditor, Mr B. Sutherland (all the foregoing were re-elected); committeeman present, with power to add to the number. Those present, in addition to those elected as above, were:—Messrs J. Trapski, J. Woods, A. Todd, T. Dougherty, Alex. Bell, D. Irvine, Craig. Cook. Alex. Clark. The date cf the annual match was fixed for Wednesday. June 21; and the president and Messrs Bell, Irvine, and James Cushine were deputed to secure a suitable field for holding of same, and report thereon to next meeting on the 27th inst. Tho secretary was requested to consult a solicitor as to the legality or otherwise of having refreshments in connection with the annual dinner, to be held on tha evening of the match. Several gentlemen were nominatd as judges, and they are to be. communicated with. A bonus of 2gs wi.s voted to the secretary. It was resolved to forward letters of condolence to the families of the late John Angus Mitchell, Thomas W. Sfcroudi, and: Robt. Patterson. At the annual meeting of the Drummond Ploughing Match Association the balance sheet showed a credit balance of .+'2s. The following were elected office-bearers for the . ensuing year : —President, Jphn Ewan; vice-president, Mr C. Clark: seoretarv, M>r T. Buckingham; treasurer, Mr J. O'Brien. A strong committee was formed to carry out this year's programme. A. motion was carried that the rules regarding ploughing in Class B be altered so as to allow, a ploughman taking a first prize to compete next year in the same class. The following were the judges appointed: — ! Ploughing and specials—Messrs J. R. Hamilton, T. W. James, and P. M'Dermid; ! horses and soecials —Mecsrs -Johr» Wm. Affleck," and D. Marshall. The match will bo held en Wednesday, July 5. i The New Zealand Sheepbreodsrs' Association (South Island) has decided, to publish ! annual returns in tho Flock Book of all ! Conriedale and halfbred flocks established between longwcol and merino breeds. T!b<* | owners of such flocks must be members of i the association, and must pay a fee of £1 j f&* ontrv of their flock'.

The New Zealand Sheepbreedcrs' Association (South Island) has decided to offer a number of gold medals for competition at this spring shows- in Ohristchurch and Dunedin. The medals, which will be given for ram over 18 months and under 28 months, will be allocated as follows: —At Ohristchurch show, in English Leicester. Shropshire, Southdown and merino fine and strong combing; at Dunedin show, in Border Leicester, Romney Marsh, a,nd Lincoln,. All registered sheep will be eligible to compete. A Dunsandel correspondent of the Lyttelton Times -writes: —"A number of far. triers are sowing artificial manure with wheat and barley, while others intend to try lime, but at present it is impossible to get any quantity of this mineral. _ It is thought bv sowing lime with grain, that the grubs will not interfere so much with the grain. Another experiment which so far has been only fairly successful is dissolving a quantity of agricultural salt when dressing the grain with Milestone, a simple and inexpensive remedy. But unless the climatic conditions are favourable it seems almost hopeless to deal successfully with the grub pest."