AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 19

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

At the last meeting of the Clutha branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in Balclutha the chairman (Mr Jos. Mosley) referred to the question of appointments to the Board of Agriculture, condemning tho nominative system He considered the board should bo directly representative of tho farmer, in tho same way as the Labour Department was representative of the labour unions. Ho also disagreed entirely with having the officers of the Agricultural Department under tho Public Service Commissioners. The whole scheme would be unworkable if the board had no power to dismiss an officer who was incompetent. Tho present scheme was only fit to bo a refuge if at any future time a Minister wanted to shelter himself behind the board. Another matter brought up was that of the importation of stud stock, the chairman referring to the difficulties placed in the way of people who wished to import stud stock. They were made to pay duty through the Customs, which was not right. In South Africa, in Australia, and in Canada there were special facilities given to importers of stud stock, and the Governments of those countries had some agreement whereby tho importer had little or no freight to pay, and no Customs duty.

With the object of carrying out experiments in their districts several branches of the Farmers’ Union in the Auckland province have decided to co operate with the Department of Agriculture. A small committee of active members of each branch (says tho New Zealand Herald) has boon chosen to interest itself in and supervise the experiments undertaken by individual farmers. Eleven branches are going to work in this connection. A varied selection of experiments will be carried out, including the testing of root and forage crops, the renovation of pastures, and the growing of maizes, sorghums, and millets. The committee of the Papakura branch is going to work with the local school, and will plough up and cultivate a section of land for school plots, putting it in perfect order for seeding. Tho school will then take entire charge. A report concerning a new forage plant has been made to the Queensland Minister of Agriculture by Dr David Thomatis, well known in connection with the culture of Caravanica cotton m the Cairns district. In a letter forwarded frem tho Agricultural Experiment Station at Tapanatepec, Oaxia, Mexico, Dr Thomatis says that the plant referred to is in appearance very similar to maize, and grows in both humid and dry land. It can be cut down two or three times a year. Like sugar cane, it sprouts up with hardly any cultivation. Each cut can yield over 15 tons per acre of green fodder; when reduced to hay it loses half its weight. Dr Thomatis states it should be grown easily in all parts of Australia north of Sydney, and. ho added, it should be tho salvation of growers in the northern districts. It is at present propagated only by cuttings like sugar cane, as seed docs not appear to germinate easily, owing to its hard skin

Lambing is now fairly general in iho Mast or ton district. The weather is all that can be desired, and a record yield is expected. It is stated by Cheviot residents that they have not known such a dry, mild winter during their experience of the district. Since early May teams have not lost a day’s work from bad weather. The effects of the mild winter are evident in an early sprhig. The advantages that are enjoyed in the Marlborough Sounds as an early producing district have been well evidenced this season. At Endeavour Inlet strawberries have already been gathered, and peas arc forward enough to be used for tbe table, while potatoes are at an advanced stage. The Fairfield Freezing Works, Ashburton district, have now closed down for the season. The past season was a particularly good one on the whole, and the bulk of the large numbers of stock slaughtered were sent forward in very prime condition. The contract has l>cen lot to a Wanganui firm at £ISOO for the erection of {he casein factory at Frankton in connection with the New Zealand Dairy Association. The buildincr will be about 50ft. square. A number of cows which have been purchased by Mr J. F. Mulder, of Java, wore shipped by the Wimmera on Monday (says

the New Zealand Herald). Last year Mr Mulder purchased a number of Holstein cattio, but on the present occasion most of those purchased are snorthorns. New Zealand cattle appear to stand the climate of Java very well, and Mr Mulder is very favourably impressed with them for milking

purposes. The sea voyage is very trying to tho animals, and Mr Mulder found'' 1 it rather difficult to secure beasts in a sufficiently good condition —owing to the severe winter—to stand the trip. Satisfactory progress is being made with tho experimental plot fenced off on tho 70.000 acres of manuka scrub lying between tho Eyre and the Waimakariri Rivers (says the Lyttelton Times), and it is hoped that what is now a uselotss area will bo converted into productive land. Experiments are being conducted l with emerald rye, crimson clover, Bokhara clover, white and tree clover, and other plants, some of the plots being limed and others not limed. Half an aero of orchard has also been laid down, and tho whole is surround'ed with bolts of trees. A dairy factory case in Taranaki, law points in connection with which have just been settled in plaintiff’s favour, will, it is estimated, cost the company about £7so—a high phico to pay for attaching a footnote in a book that to certain milk water had been added. The plaintiff got a verdict of £35, against which the company appealed. The balance of tho amount is made up of costa. A rather ambitious exhibition of grasses, clovers, deep-rooted and forage plants is to be carried out by the Agricultural Department at tho Auckland Exhibition this year. It will cover about 150 plots, laid out in ornamental design round a high dome that will bo covered l with creeper.

Messrs Dalgety and Co. shipped the other day to Durban, Natal, a number of sheep purchased in South Australia by South African buyers. From the stud (lock of Mr L. W. Gebhardt, of Mokota, Mount Bryan, they selected ta special ram at 135 gs; another at 120 gs and lines of selected rams at 10gs and sgs; in all 80 sheep. From the stud of Mr Albert Gebhardt, of Macerodo, a splendid selection of 30 two and four tooth rams of high quality was made. From the stud of Mr T. Sand land, Koo-owie, Kooringia, they purchased two stud rams at 50gs, five very promising two-tooth rams, and 30 fourtooth high class stud ewes; and from Messrs Murray Brothers, of Rhine Park, 15 selected and 15 flock rams, of the 1912 drop. Breeders of Clydesdale horses (says the Field, London) are beginning to realise that they have gone beyond the limits of prudence in cultivating quality of limb and action at the expense of weight and substance. The modern Clydesdale possesses many of the attributes of the ideal farm horse —fine flat bone, silky hair in no excessive profusion, and free, clean action, all of which make for endurance and economy. For street work, however, something more than quality is required, and those buyers who pay the I>rst prices for draught geldings contend that the Clydesdale falls short of their standard in weight and hauling power. 'There is eomo truth in the argument that the Clydesdale gelding is relatively a deeper bodied and more muscular animal than the stallions and maros, as is shown by the fine type of dray horses to be seen on the streets of any of the Scottish cities. In comparison with the Shire, however, the northern breed is at a disadvantage in competing for the custom of the best buyers. Hitherto the Scottish breed lias hold a strong position in North America, and especially in Canada, but there are indications that neglect of size and weight may lead to its subordination even in the Dominion. This year the exports to Canada have fallen short of that of reepnt seasons, and it is stated that although a number of buyers have now arrived, they have made the journey to Scotland via France, the Percheron breed of which

country has boon claiming attention. This fact is hold to bode no good for the Glydes-d-alc. and ; ts supporters would do well to lay to heart the lessons inculcated. The Christchurch Meat Company intends closing down ite freezing works at Burnside for the season on August 16. This is somewhat early when compared with last year’s closing date of September, but it must bo taken into consideration that operations were not commenced till well on in the season last year. Mr James Edgar presided over a meeting of 14 milk-suppliers of the Tapanui Dairy Factory last week. The chairman, after stating the object of the mooting, asked Mr Gray to speak. Mr Gray stated ho had | carried on last season at a loss. Ifc was willing to give Is Id per lb for butter-fat to make the ehec.se, and put it on trucks at 1 l-16d per lb. It was agreed to accept Mr Gray’s offer, and duo notice would bo 1 given when the factorj' anticipated opening. | The chairman’s motion that those present ’ should show thojr appreciation of Mr Gray’s pluck in carrying on last season at a loss was carried with acclamation, j As showing the rapid development of ! the Wellington Farmers’ Meat Company’s '■ business, Mr J. C. Cooper stated at the I annual meeting that the company put through 139,925 sheep. 116,250 lambs, 2270

cattio, 2727 bales of wool, 1625 casks of tallow, and 534 casks of pelts. The company sent away 1100 cases of tinned meat for export. The correspondent vd the Mataura Ensign states that tho Pukerau Dairy Factory's output of cheese for the season has been sold to a Dunedin firm at 6gd per lb on trucks.

The number of employees at the Waingawa Freezing Works numbers 200 in the busy part of the season, and, apart from the salaries to staff, the wages paid last year wore £22,768 17s lid.