AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Intending exhibitors at the Otago A. and P. Society's horse show are reminded that the entries will close on Wednesday. The show will take place on* Thursday the' 27th inst. Clydesdale stallions competing for the Clydesdale Horse Society's Wright, Stephenson Challenge Cup will be examined by the Government veterinary officers ail the Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association's Horse Bazaar on Wednesday, 26th inst.

Mr Rcakes (Director of the Live (Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture), in his annual report, states that statistics colleoted during the year show that the apprehension expressed in a former report as to a possible shortage of cattle is minimised. The number of cattle recorded in the dominion in January, 1916, was 2,329,292, being an increase of 309,121 on the figures shown when the statistics were colleoted in 1911. The farmers of North Otago (says the Oamaru Mail) have given a substantial response to the appeal of the Government to 60W wheat. Practically all the wheat-sow-ing has now been completed, though a small airea may yet be put in. The total area under wheat will, we believe, be found to be between 22,000 and 23,000 acres. Last year's total was about 17,500 acres, so that the increase will be equal to 30 per cent. The harvest was an indifferent one, the total wheat production being only about 490,000 bushels, and thus, with fairly good yields all round at the next harvest, the wheat thrashed should reach about ,780,000 bushels, or an increase of something like 290,000 bushels. The directors of the iSouth Island cheese and butter factories will learn with a great deal of satisfaction that thero is every prospect of the great proportion of their accumulated stocks of both these commodities being shipped away within the next few weeks. The advice of shipping space available also presumably covers the stocks awaiting freight in the North_ Island. _ A company is being formed with a capital of £6OOO for the establishment of a rabbitcanning factory at Miller's Flat. With the support fothcomin>r from local residents and business men in Dunodin, it is anticipated that the factory will be in readiness to commence operations next season. The annual meeting of the Waitahuna. Farmers' Club was presided over by Mr D. M'Donald, who, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, said that he considered the club to be in a satisfactory condition. The total receipts for the year amounted to £234 19s 9d, and the expenditure £lßl 5s 2d, leaving a credit balance of £53 14s 7d. The office-bearers for year were elected _ as foLlows:—President, Mr D. M'Donald: vicepresident, Mr J. Crone; treasurer, Mr R. M'Caw; committee, all the members. The question of providing adequate shelter for next season's wheat crop was discussed recently by the Victorian Minister for Agriculture (Mr Hagelthorn) and officials of the wheat commissions of South Australia and Western Australia. Mr Hagoifjhorn stated later that the price of galvanised iron was exceedingly high, and # it seemed impossible to a sufficient supply for next season's requirements. In the carcumstancea it had been decided t*

erect permanent sheds of a lig-lit character in the country in Victoria and to cover them with malthoid or ruberoid. The cost of erecting these sheds would be considerably cheaper than that of providing galvanised iron protection. . The officials of the other States had agreed with his view. According to a statement by Mr Hughes, the Federal Government intends to go on immediately with the construction of wheat silos, unless strike conditions make it absolutely impossible. The Central Wool Committee of Australia has issued an instruction to the wool-selling houses that- they should notify their clients that until furh&r advice, and until overseas shipments have resumed normal conditions, all woolgroweis throughout the Commonwealth should hold back their wool. The members of the Melbourno Wool-brokers' Association are communicating with clients on the subject, urging them where it is at all possible to comply with the instruction. In some oases, contracts for carrying which have been entered into, or other similar causes, may render the- holding of the wool impossible, but it is hoped that the growers will make every endeavour to assist the brokers in the matter.

A circular letter has been sent to all tho municipal councils of the State of Victoria from tho Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Imperial League, suggesting that suitable trees should be planted in avenues, g-ardens, reserves, and streets. It has been proposed to plant 550 acres of reserves under the Melbourne City Council, with the medallion containing the name of a soldier affixed to each tree. Ballarat, Chelsea, Northoote, and other municipalities a-re said to have fallen into line with the movement. Councils are urged to lose no time, and .to take advantage of tho tree-planting season, and thus provide work for returned soldiers. Fifteen stud Romney ewes, belonging to Mr G. E. Allen, "of Tipua, have given birth to 46 lambs between them.

A start has been made with the erection of tho cold storage building at tho South Otago Freezing Company's works at Finegand (states the Clutha Free Press). The structure, when completed, will have a holding capacity of 90,000 carcases, and It is being built by the company. Farmers in the Cheviot district who have already tailed their lambs report a very good percentage, as high as 124 in some cases.

There is one farmer in the W-averley district (pays the Patea Press) who is carrying on intensive farming on 42 acres of land. He has 750 sheep, nine acres in mangolds, and the remaining 33 acres in grass. Between 20 and 30 tons of mangolds are carted out and fed to the sheep each week. This has been carried on for six weeks, and he estimates he can go on for another six weeks. So far he has not lost a single sheep. The Mayfield correspondent of the Ashburton Guardian states that some farmers in that district are losing good ewes from paralysis, which seems to have attacked them while on green oats feed.