AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2996, 16 August 1911, Page 19

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The following further communication has been received by the Otago branch of the New Zealand -Farmers’ Union from the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, in reply to representations recently made to him by a deputation on the subject of railway facilities for the conveyance of stock from Dunedin to Otago Central; —“With reference to the representations that were

made by the deputation that waited upon

me recently in regard to the conveyance of livestock from Burnside to the Otago Cen-

tral, I have the honour to inform you that I find on inquiry that, owing to the distance from Burnside to the old Cattleyards Station, it is not practicable to lift stock by the early train from Dunedin to Omakau. As a rule, however, consignments are taken into Dunedin the night before, and are forwarded by the early train from that station. The number of such consignments is small, and would not average more than one or two trucks per month. In the circumstances I am of opinion that less inconvenience is

caused by the present arrangement than

would occur if the train were delayed at Burnside while the engine ran to the Cattleyards Station to lift stock. —J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways.” The rabbit-trappinig season is now nearly ended, and trapper® are happy after, the very good winter which they have had.

During the season there were only from 12 to 20 days on which the weather, by severe frosts or heavy rain, interfered vyith trapping, and the catches have been generally goad. The rabbit trapping season will finish in a week or two. Trappers are con-

gratulating themselves on account of the ■"splendid season they have had. During the winter there were only about 12 days on which the weather interfered with trapping, and (says the Clutha Leader) the catches have been generally good. Settlers in the Masterton district intend devoting themselves more largely this season to the breeding of dnanglhit horses than in previous years (says an exchange). The demand for draught stock for export has depleted the district of a great many of the most serviceable horses. Mr Samuel Holland, Tinwald, has lifted! close on half an acre of potatoes that yielded at the rate of 30 _ tons per acre. The seed came from Teneriffe. A farmer within easy distance of New Plymouth has kept a tally of the sheepworry ing dogs that he and his men have shot. Up to date they number 63. Only two were registered, and the owners were traced and compelled to pay for the damage donft. Eighteen cattle out of 902 slaughtered at the Christchurch Abattoirs were condemned during July,' and of 10,450 sheep killed seven were certified a< unfit. There were no failures among the 545 lambs killed, but of 1349 pigs that passed through the municipal slaughterhouse 41 were rejected. Two calves out of 145 killed were condemned. The Tokormiriro Farmers’ Club has resolved to place £SO of its credit balance of £llß on fixed deposit as a reserve fund. This it is hoped will form a nest egg to which yearly additions can be made for buildings and other improvements. The recent snowstorm has been responsible for a fairly heavy mortality among sheep in Midi-Canterbury. Feed is scarce, and ewes heavy in lamb, being in a weakened condition, suered most severely. Those who have turnips and mangolds can almost command their own price. Farmers in Ashburton County are in a

quandary. Fears of the ravages of the grass grub have raised doubts as to the wisdom of destroying the small birds whole sale; but it is now found! that the small birds are destroying the autumn-sown crops. At the annual meeting of the Cheviot A. and P. Association Mr D. _ Archibald, the president, being in the chair, the balance sheet eihowed that there was a surplus on the year’s operations of £B3 3s Bd, with £6 16s owing to the association. Mr R. Blackley was elected president, with Messrs M‘Queen, J. Fleming, T. I. C. Robinson as vice-presidents, and Mr T.

Gee secretary. . The Canterbury Sheep-breeders’ Union, at their annual meeting-, passed a resolution urging the Government to take steps to establish an experimental farm in Cantorbury. Waimate is distant 111 miles from Dunedin and 129 miles from Christchurch, so that the 100 miles free return of empties by rail is of no advantage in sending small fruit to these centres. To send a single crate of raspberries by rail to Invercargill costs the Waimate producer 4d, but to get back tire empty crate costs from Is to Is 3d At a monthly meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society in Sydney it was . build a new agricultural haJl 250 ft long" and 100 ft wide, and if Government co-

operation can be secured to increase the Length to SOOft. The secretary reported that entries had come in well for the horse parodo s/how, ain>d thiat arrangements bad! been, completed for holding 1 a motor show during the first week in October. Tlbe leading export "varieties of apples are stated by the Government experts to be Cox’s Orange Pippin, Cleopatra, Lord Wolseley, Rowe Beauty, Stunner, and Jonathon. Most of these apples do well with us in good sheltered exposures, and should be cultivated' by anyone beginning or enlarging an orchard. The Southland Times reports that Mr Macdonald, of Eden dale, has repurchased the well-known. Clydes dale sire Bancor from Mr Morris, of Wanganui. Commenting on the fact that the Government Veterinarian had lately advocated that lambing ewes should be kept on short feed at lambing time, Mir A. Matthew®, of Fcatberston, who has had some 50 years’ experience in the Wairarapa and is one of the oldest Romney breeders in New Zealand, told the Dannevirke A. and P. Association that he _ did not think it was light, as his experience was that if they were well fed they would not have paralysis. Ewes would often mope about, and lataer the wool would start to come out and the sheep would die, and a postmortem examination would show that such sheep would be carrying two dead lambs If ewes were put on good feed at lambing time this would be obviated.. In an address at the annual meeting of the Stratford Dairy Company, Mr Fulton, of the Agricultural Department, remarked on the absolute necessity for having cowsheds in such a condition that clean milk could be supplied. There were some sheds in the district from which it could not be expected to get clean milk, considering the hurry in which milking was carried on. There were a good many people who were trying to make as much as possible out of the-land in the shortest possible time,; but those properly in the industry should' take* steps which would bo good for all_ time. If he found anybody taking no notice of his recommendations he would have to speak more-straight to him. There were _ a good number of farms in the district which had not improved to the extent they should have. ' There were farm dwellings and buildings which were no credit to the district. The land had greatly increased in value, and it was high time the old style of buildings was Some farmers said they would not improve their buildings because they were about to sell out. Sometimes they sold out and sometimes they did not; but he (Mr Fniton) would take the man in possession as the responsible party.