AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3316, 3 October 1917, Page 11

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Apparently the causes for complaint regarding losses through short-weight cheese are now fewer than they have recently been, and our London correspondent mentions that "The Grocer" accounts for this fact thus: "Possibly, owing to the numerous protests regarding short weight in Now Zealand cheese in the first distribution, the Board of Trade have decided (with reference to New Zealand cheese only) to allow an extra 2£ per cent., making 6 per cent, in all off marked weights. That this allowance was essential in the interests of justice to the retailers has been shown by the letters and reports of discussions on the matter." An Oxford correspondent " complains of a shortage on fivo boxes of Canadian cheese, representing a loss to him of 10s 2d." " The Grocer " recognises that "tho justice of the retailers' claim lias been recognised in the extra allowance on New Zealand cheese, and Ave hope that similar concessions will be made in respect of other descriptions of Government controlled cheese." Mr James Patrick, of Outram, has received a cablegram from Dr Cameron (head of the Victorian Agricultural Department), stating, with regard to two mares which ho had selected from Mr Patrick's stud

lastv November, that Bay Patrica, ris:'ng three years, had taken first place in her class and champion of the show, and that Lucillia, the other mare, out the imported had come first in brood mares. Both these mares are by Baron Bold, and were bred by Mr Patrick. At a sale of dairy stock at Menzies Ferry (near Wyndham) recently a herd of 47 cows, of which 21 had come to profit, realised the very satisfactory average of £l3 2s 6d per head. Ihe highest individual price reached was £lB 2s 6d, and -the lowest £7 12s 6d for a heifer.

Mr Alex. Peat, of Dipton, whose _ stud farm already contains many fine animals, brought the pick of tho imparted Friesian cows at a big dispersal sale at Palmerston North recently. Ono of the imported American cows has taken a number of championships in the North Island and in this cow and—his imported American sire, Canary Paul Fokes Oak, Mr Peat will have two fine representatives at the next Southland Metropolitan Show. Answering a question at tho lucerne meeting at the Workers' Educational Association rooms* on Saturday (says the Lyttelton Times), Mr A. Macpherson, Fields Supervisor in tho South Island, declared that instances had been quoted of lucerno providing food for eight cows or 12 sheep to the acre on inferior country. Twenty breeding sows could be kept on an acre of lucerno, which an American, has styled "the hog's idea of heaven." Representations have been made to the Department of_ Agriculture that many of the thrashing plants in the country districts commence the season's operations in more or less faulty condition, resulting in serious loss of grain in the straw. There seems to be no doubt that a, certain percentage of loss, amounting to a good deal in the aggregate, is caused by defective beaters in the machines, especially where tight-glumed varieties of wheat such as solid-straw Tuscan are "* largely grown. Theso conditions mean a loss to both farmer and thrashing-mill owner, and, moreover, have an appreciable bearing on tho wheat supply of the country. It has been suggested that the Government should inspect thrashing plants. This, however, would necessitate/legislation, and probably also the appointment of additional inspectors to undertake the work. The present circumstances of the country are unpropitious in _ regard to each of these factors. The Minister of Agriculture, therefore, earnestly appeals to thrashing-plant owners to ensure that their machines are in firstclass order for next season's operations. By so doing they will be rendering good service in the cause of national efficiency.— Journal of Agriculture. What must surely be almost a record prico for yearlings was secured by Messrs J. E. Watson and Co. at Wallacetown on Tuesday (says the Southland Times). A lino of -22 mixed-sex Hereford yearlings, bred and marketed by Mr Percy Deschler, of Moki Mold, were sold at £7 per head. Messrs Dalgety and Co. recently shipped to Samoa, to the order of the Government, fivo grade Hereford bulls from the herd of Mr J. O. Bid will, of Pihautea. It is understood that the Prime Minister will ,visit Tuakau next month to officially open tho Waikato Co-operative Dairy Company's new factory, which is nearing completion. At a special meeting of the Ashburton Farmers' Union the following motion was carried:—"That this meeting strongly protests against the unjust provision of the Government's taxation measures in the matter of charging income tax on amounts paid for land tax. Tho committee is of opinion that tho amounts paid by way of land tax should not be assessable for income tax."

Tho superabundance of rain has produced an abnormal growth in the autumnsown grain, so that it is feared' it will become too rank (says the Timaru Herald). It is not possible to cat tho young grain off in the usual way, as tho paddocks are generally too soft to put stock on, and apart from this there is such an abundance of grass this spring that other green feed is not wanted to anything liko tho extent it usually is.' The grass is very sappy, owing to the wet, and dry weather is required to harden it. Tho rain has been responsible for heavy mortality among lambs, but this is fortunately counterbalanced to somo oxtent by the unusually high percentage of lambs this year. Tho prospects of a bountiful harvest in the Ashburton district havo never looked more promising at this season, and a very largely increased area has been put under grain crop. s A lambing return of 135 per cent, has been reported at Kiwitea. Tho average for tho district is from 110 to 120 per cent. Colyton farmers are getting an average of 110 per cent., Sandon reports 110 to 120, and Beacoiisfield 120.