AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 11

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphs that exceptionally dry weather continues in the country, which is parched, and that the district is badly in need cl rain. The Agricultural authorities state that the report that Californian thistle lias been deleted from the list of noxious weeds is not correct. There has been no amendment of the Act, and the plant is still regarded with strong disfavour. Potato-growers throughout the dominion are making special efforts to improve the growing and marketing of the crop. Last year in the South Island there were considerable losses, and this year growers accepted early prices much lower than they could have afterwards obtained. In the Canterbury district the growers are organising, and it is understood that they willendeavour to persuade the Government to appoint potato inspectors so that New Zealand potatoes may be accepted on the Australian market. A meeting of the Canterbury Provincial District Lucerne Campaign Committee, which was set up towards the end of last year to promote competitions in lucerne growing in Canterbury, was held on the 18th inst., Mr Bruce presiding. Mr Macpherson submitted the text of a proposed pamphlet explaining the necessity for a lucerne-growing campaign, and outlining the conditipns of the competitions. Emphasis was placed on the necessity for increasing production and the suitability of lucerne to assist in attaining that end. The proposed conditions provided that the soil be classified: —(1) Medium and heavy soils; (2) shingly and poor light soils; (3) loams with clav subsoil; and (4) sand areas. In all cases the area for competition to be 10 acres; the sum of £315 to be offered in prize money for each competition. Messrs Bruce, Sloman, and Macpherson were appointed a publicity committee, with power to add. The committee was empowered to get Mr Macphersbn’s pamphlet printed and to take steps to form campaign committees throughout the provincial district. A new company, named the Woolgrowers’ Manufacturing Go., has been formed in South Africa for the purpose of manufacturing woollens on a large scale. The plant will be able to handle 16,000,000 pounds of unwashed wool per year, and the estimated value of the output is £1,000,000. The capital of the company is £300,000. With efficient management, reports U.S. Consul Dye at Port Elizabeth, this project should succeed, as the raw material and the market are at hand, and all imported woollens are now at almost prohibitive prices. At first it is planned to manufacture only blankets, rugs, tweeds, and flannels. The factory will be located near Capo Town, and the erection of the plant and installation of the machinery will bo undertaken by a Cape Town company. The New Zealand Refrigerating Company’s Pukeuri freezing works opened for the 1921 killing season at the beginning of this week. There was a board of 20 butchers, and it is hoped that the number will be increased to at least 25. There was a good yarding of fat stock considering the weather conditions of the past few weeks. With regard to space, this season is starting with practically empty stores, as anything that is at present in the stores will be shipped shortly. The New South Wales Commercial Commissioner in the. East says that the Japanese woollen interests have formed a textile manufacturers’ association, and have agreed that no further purchases shall be made by any itiill in Japan until present stocks aro used up. “The Government has also agreed

that no purchases shall be made outside Japan until stocks held by the mills are consumed, which really means that any requirements for Government mills will be first met by buying up stocks held by the 1 mills forming the association. It is estimated that Japan has still sufficient wool in stock to carry on for the best part of a year. In these circumstances, Japan will not, I fear, be very prominent at the Australian wool sales during the remainder of this year and the early part of next year.” The Bay of Plenty Times. Tauranga, says that cattle tick is prevalent throughout the district. At a stock sale at Te Puke 250 head of cattle were found to be infected. The sheep farmer is not in such a happy frame of mind this season as the dairyman. An Ohau breeder (says the Levin Chronicle) stated that the sheep men were getting hit with both barrels—wool was down, and fat sheep had gone back 10s per head to what they were 12 months ago. Skins, also, were not near the price under the commandeer. Only a short time ago some first-class pelts were sent to the Wellington sales by a local farmer and brought 4s 6d each. Under the former conditions these would have realised 18s each.