OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 19

OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

(FEOM OUB Owtf COBBESPONBENT.) THE WEATHER AND GENERAL. Spring lias been characterised this year by most uncertain and unseasonable weather, the conditions that have prevailed up to the present time being unparalleled in the memory of the oldest settlers. Notwithstanding all these changes—for the most part adverse —the condition of the country is not causing any grave concern to the farmers. Indeed, after the experience of a most trying winter and the almost continuous working of the grass grubs, the country has made a wonderful recovery, and,' in the circumstances, there is no cause for complaint. Feed for stock is now fairly plentiful, and although the lambing percentages are below the average, and the condition of the growing wool has suffered deterioration, all classes of stock are now beginning to thrive in a very satisfactory manner. The crop 3, too, are shooting up, and " stooling " out very encouragingly,, and there is every prospect at the present time that the turnover of farmers this year will compare favourably with that of any of the past four years. The rainfall has teen ample, but, of course, spring was ushered in very late — indeed, last week quite wintry weather was experienced 1 , there being snow, hail, and rain even on the flat country. This was followed by several heavy fiosts, and as a result of this early varieties of .potatoes and fruit crops suffered fairly severely. Yesterday (Sunday) the weather was typical of mid-summer, and should it continue for a week or so there will be an abundance of feed.

Farmers throughout the province complain that the land sown in cereal crop during the winter has become, very solid and caked as a result of the heavy rains. This is to some extent intefering with the growth of th/! cropland in many instances farmers have been obliged to .harrow the growing crops with a view to loosening the soul and breaking the crust that has formed on the surface. Late oats are still being sown on the swampy country, and a large area of land is now being prepared for root and forage plants. • , Reports to hand show that small birds are inflicting much damage on crops that are coming through the surface by pulling up the young plants wholesale. _ _ . Apropos of the small bird question, it is worthy of mention that Mr Lainbie, Kyle, recently shot &ome sparrows while ho was engaged sowing grass seed and clover, with a view to ascertaining whether the birds were devouring grubs and worms. On dissecting the birds he found that their crops were full of grass seed, but contained no grubs or worms. t THE LAMBING SEASON. Judging by the increases in the flocks offered for sale at public auction, and from returns I have collected, the lambing over the whole of the province—at least, oh the flat country—will not exceed 75 per cent. In the northern end it will probably be 10 per cent, higher; but the heavy mortality of ewes and lambs' during severe weather when the season was at its height in the south and central districts will reduce the general average to the mark I have indicated. One farmer informed me at the latter end of la3t week that he had secured a yield of 90 per cent, of lambs from a flock of 1200 four-tooth ewes, as against 110 last year; while another farmer in the same locality (" Springfield ") said his percentage from a flock of 1000 ewes would not exceed 50 The lambs have boon mostly docked, and as they are now able to gain a better milk supply, they are thriving satisfactorily. When the serious deplenishsnent of the flocks and the comparatively low lambing returns are taken into consideration, it follows that the lamb export trade next season will not be up to the usual standard by a very large margin. THE STOCK MARKET. Since my last letter there has been a marked improvement in. the sheep market, the remark being applicable to both fats and stores. A fairly large number of ewes and lambs are being offered at auction for speculative xaurposes, and a goodi proportion of these are changing hands at firming rates. This fact, _ t have observed, is inducing dealers to import a large number of sheep from Otago and Southland.

Several big lines ©£ hoggets axe coming to South. Canterbury j:-om Southland (says the Timaru Herald). One day last week a line of over 3000 was nailed to Smithfield and another to "Winchester. A line of

2000 went to Ealing, and several have gon« Ashburton way. Now that dry ewes are beginning to fatten i there is every indication that the high prices now ruling will suffer a sharp decline at no far distant date; but I venture to say that this class of sheep will remain at a highly payable level to vendors for several months to come. Fat cattle are easier, and supplies are still coming to hand from the North Island. Dairy cows are commanding high prices* but young stores are dull of sale* and values have not shown any improvement up till the present. Pigs are firm in price, and baconers and porkers are in keen demand.

THE LABOUR MARKET. In view of the fact that the bulk of farm work has been completed, many casual workmen have been discharged, and I have noticed an unusually large number of men of late carrying their swags. There is also a good many men out of employment in Christchurch and the main provincial towns. Industries denendent on agriculture are also working slack, but when the shearing commences during November matters pertaining to labour should brighten up considerably. THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY. The late spring- has* had a bad effect on the dairying industry in many parts of the province; but with the improved feed supply the milk delivered at the factories and creameries is daily increasing. Reports have reached mo lhat abortion among cows has been Very prevalent this year, and this fact has had a prejudicial effect on the. industry. However. aJI things considered and favourable weather during the next few months, dairy-farming should prosper, and the output this season should exceed that of any past season,. as. the industry ha 3 expanded very extensively. i DISEASED CATTLE: NEED FOR GRFATER INSPECTION. A revelation that has an important bearing on the future health of the community was made at Springfield, Ashburton County, on Friday last, when Mr Ussher I Government district stock inspector, of Hornby) and Mr Finch (Government veterinary surgeon, of Christchurch) condemned upwards of 12 milch cows and a bull in thw herds of Mr Thomas Dowiing, of the Springfield Estate, and Mr John Moorhead. au adjoining farmer. Certainly the farmers referred to do not keep large herds of cattle, but the fact of 12 well conditioned cows in comparatively small herds being condemned for tuberculosis shows that if the whole of the cattle in the county or province ,were subjected to a, sin.'ilar striot inspection there is a rvossibility that a startling revelation would be rr.adte, and that, hundreds of milch cows full .of the germs of that dread disease would have to be. destroyed! For many years etathsiics have shown that consump-' lion is spreading and claiming Jresh victims at an alarming rate, and in the circumstances ind'eated when- the product of in* fee ted oattle is. permitted to be so;d indiscriminately to the public the question naturally arises, "Is there any wonder why this fell disease is making -such appalling inroads inro the formerly good health _of the community, and is yearly claiming hundreds of fresh victims?" Such neglect as it refers to the Government inspection of dairy cattle cannot be otherwise cbailjvcterised than as being criminal, and, in the interests of public health, it is to be hoped that the (xovernment will take very strict li-easures in the future, and that the whole of the cattle' in the Dominion will be put under the most rigid test; and in this respect the people have a right to demand that such step 3 should; be carried out on the most systematic lines. Indeed, dairy factory companies should positively insist that suppliers' cows should be tested for tuberculosis, and should go further by declining -to accept. delivery of milk from non-tested herds.. Speaking to your representative on the matter at issue, Mr Dowling said he had not the faintest idea that his cattle were diseased. In his own words: "My cattle are half-bred shorthorns, and axe worth between £l2 and £ls per head. They were rolling fat, and showed no signs of being affected. The condemned cattle will be sent to Islington to be destroyed, and the inspector ha* ordered me to isolate the remainder- of the herd for one month, and during that period the paddocks on which the diseased oattle have been depastured will have to be closed. In addition to this, I havfl been instructed to thoroughly disinfect the cowsheds and yards and to whitewash the interior of the buildings. "While I will be a loser to the extent Of £4O, I would sooner lose a much greater sum than jeopardise the health of my family and employees. I consider," concluded Mr Dowling, "that the would only be doing its duty by compelling every oow and bull in the Dominion to undergo the test." MISCELLANEOUS. At a recent meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association a letter was reosived from Sir George Clifford, stating that with Mr O'Halloran he had waited on the_ Prime Minister with regj.ird to the establishment of Canterbury experimental stations for in« vestigating under proper supervision tba

spread of the various pests which hampered the farmers and the methods by v--hich such pests might be best resisted. The Minister had promised his early and favourable consideration to the plea for action, but four weeks had elapsed since the deputation had been accorded the interview, and nothing more had been heard of the matter. He suKQ?ested that the Government should again be approached The letter was received, .and it was decided to act on Sir George Clifford's advice and endeavour to hasten the establishment of the farm. Statistics regarding the agricultural and pastoral industries, which have not been collected for three years, will be compiled this year. Mr James Oraigie, M.P. for Timaru, has been informed by the Minister of Agriculture that instructions will bo given to officers of the department immediately to prepare the necessary schedules. The census will be taken through the agency of the post, the schedules being delivered to farmers, sheep-farmers, and settlers Iflroughout the Dominion by post, and retiv=*ied by them to the department. Provision will be made in the schedules for the statement of the acreage sown in cereal, grass roots, eto. They will be issued next month, and are to be returned

in November. The taking of the census by means of the post will effect a saving of over £6OOO, the expenditure required when the schedules were delivered and collected by enumerators.