AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 9

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

In consequence of the shortage of slaughtermen at freezing works, the Canterbury Efficiency Commissioners are circularising district suggesting that steps be taken to ascertain whether the dimoulty could not bo largely met by co-operation on the part of those supplying fat stock. If deliveries could be arranged for in some sort of continuous order, it is estimated the number of slaughtermen available would be sufficient, and tho interests of all parties duly conserved. To hold back stock in order to utilise feed is desirable under normal conditions, but under the abnormal conditions now ruling it is open to grave question whether tho necessity for utilising labour whilst available is not probably of more importance than the utilisation of feed. If arrangements are not mado for a continuous supply of stock serious disappointment and loss may occur. Tb,o imposition of the amusement tax on A. and P. Associations was (the Manawatu Standard says) the sxibjcefc of considerable correspondence read at a meeting of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, the various bodies pointing out the dissatisfaction that existed in connection with the tax generally. It was considered that there should bo unanimity among associations regarding the tax, and the sooner a conference was held the better. It was decided that a conference be called through tho Council of Agriculture, and failing it taking action, tho Manawatu Association should convene a meeting to consider the tax. "I am willing to stake my professional reputation and say that wo have the situation in hand, if the States will back us up." This definite statement was made recently by Professor Lefroy, member of the British Wheat Commission, now in Sydney, in regard to tho control of the weevil in wheat and tho safe stacking of grain in the future, says the Australasian. Professor Lefroy continued: "A method of stacking has been devised which will eliminate the weevil as a factor in future. The principles of this method are an layer below the stack, aerated flooring, and independent roofing. Little if any more material need bo used than at present." Professor Lefroy went on to say that as the wheat under this method could be kept free from insect pests indefinitely he considered it had an important bearing on the question of future wheat cultivation, and ho held that it would be a great mistake for Australia to rostrict tho area under wheat. To restrict wheatcultivation in favour of stock-raising would, ho said, be a suicidal policy. It had been thoroughly demonstrated that * wcevil-in-focted wheat could bo thoroughly cleaned at a cost of ono penny or less a bushel. The first two machines for cleaning wheat were now being made to the order of the British Government, and would shortly ba working. They would treat from 500 to 1000 bushels nn hour. Professor Lefroy added that if wheat were stacked dry under the new method there would be no

further trouble. If wheat was delivered in a moist oondition it would have to W dried before stacking. It is reported from Zurich that Germany'! stocks of potash are exhausted, and manufaar turers are unable to meet the demands of agriculturists. Owing to the shortage cJ labour and ooal and the difficulties of trani« portation production has almost ceased* Financial oircles are apprehensive that GoiW many will have no potash to export whan* the war ends, which will prove a serlou* matter to Germany, as potash is the mosl important and valuable of .all the so-called "compensation" products which the Ger> mans have to offer, and the lock of it will' greatly retard the betterment of the ratal of exchange. Mr A. Watson, of Steward Settlement has grown a'remarkably fine crop of Dreadnought wheat (states the Oamaru Mail), Every head is well filled with a berry that is about one and a-half times the size of the ordinary berries of other varieties. The straw is a beautiful colour, and. the heads are free from any form of disease. Altogether the crop 13 a remarkably fine one. and should yield a great crop of splendid grain. Mr Watson nas 65 aores in thia variety of wheat. v The New Zealand Dairy Association distributed amongst its suppliers last week ;" £118,663 13s 10d. This amount represented 1,732,21?i1b of butter-fat supplied during December. Many of the oat crops In the district lying between Fairfield and Ohertsey are very disappointing, and those that have been thrashed have averaged as low as 25 bushels per acre. In the Kyle district a : crop of Algerian oats yielded 40 bushels per acre. Consternation was canoed a day or two ago amongst dairy factory people by a rumour that the 'Egmont Box Company, which supplies' almost all with boxes and oases, was closing down for want of white pine timber (says the Taranaki Herald's Stratford correspondent). The position is not so desperate as that would mean, but that there are great difficulties owing tQ the impossibility of procuring expert bushmen in sufficient numbers. Mr T. E. Barr-Smith's Hummocks Station, near Snowtown (South Australia),, comprising nearly 30,000 aores, and carrying 22,000 sheep, horses, : and.oattle. including a valuable stud flock, has been purchased by the State Government for £151,000 for subdivision for returned soldiers. Mr W. Wilson, fields inspector, recently conducted a rabbit-poisoning campaign on the Frankton Flat (says the Wakatip Mail), employing the new system of decoyine "brer* rabbit with toothsome oats and molasses for three consecutive nijrhts and then introducing another sweet in the shape of strychnine on the fourth. Result —900 victims. During the lost week or two a number of cattle have died in the Masterton district from the effects of eating ergot. There will.be a great shortage of potash owing to war conditions, and the Marine Department is instituting inquiries, said Mr Ayson to an Oamaru Mail reporter, regarding the possibilities of the commercial utilisation of kelp, largely for the extraction of potash, in which it is very rich, and also for manures, eto. The kelp beds of the southern coast produce kelp in abundance and of remarkable length. Kelp leaves, extending for several yards on the surface of the extreme southern coast, have : been found to be rooted to the bottom in 20 fathoms of water. Reaping of cooksfoot (states the Akaroa correspondent of the Lyttelton _ Times) ia about'finished all over the peninsula, and some of the seed thrashed and bagged, bus owing to the variable nature of the weather lately thrashing is proceeding very slowly, a bright nor'-west day being essential for tho effective use of the flail.