IN AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 803, 28 April 1910, Page 10

IN AUSTRALIA.

: > . '• : OUTLOOK FOR THE SEASON,

The break in the weather; in New South Wales last week lias done'a great deal of good over a large portion of the State, .but unfortunately in other parts-most in need of it there has been either no rain or light showers of no practical uso. This applies chiefly to the central-west, south-ivcst, and Riverina, where, as a'general thing, rain is badly needed. Pastoral advices from practically the whole of. Victoria indicate that the long spell of dry weather is causing some, anxiety, especially in all the northern areas. The good effects' of the splendid rains early in. March are now fast disappearing, and .unless there is an early and beneficial break-up - of the present droughty conditions, lambing, which is now proceeding jn the earlier districts, will be seriously affected. Stock are so far reported as being in good condition, and plenty of dry feed is available, although in some districts hand-feeding has been recorted to in some cases. A shortage in water is also being experienced, and an early rainfall would much improve the prospects for the nest clip, ,which with, "favourable conditions promises to bo quite equal to last year's record. Ruin, is urgently needed in' South Australia if the season is not to be an exceptionally late one. Ploughing cannot bo continued' witli the ground iri its present condition. Where advantago was taken of the March rains to iiet in the .seed, . the crops are well up, nnd while the grass in them is dying, oft .'fast,-the wheat does not appear to He in any way affected:

JOTTINGS PROM YESTERDAY'S MAIL. '.. , Inquiries, for irrigation . farms aro being, received, in '-Victoria from Germany,.Canada, and other parts. One who- has been, .farming ' in South-western Canada in an irrigation district, 'gives his opinion unhesitatingly: ill ■ favour of Victoria; as offering greater advantages; to irrigationists. . Prospects in, Queensland for a big sugar crop havo never been so bright. The rains which-; have occurred since December; have, \ caused remarkable growth in the cane, which ,is declared to bo at least two'-mouths further for--'ward-than at the same time last year. . Consequent]}'," crushing is, to start earlier-than; usual, many of the mills being prepared to .crush cane' on .-May Bii • v'l'llb Victoriin dairy expert contends ■that'to bo on the .sate side tho factory manager should not exceed an average of 13 per cent, moisture in his butter. The experience in Victoria was that thero was a, tendency ,to approach tho maximum ~pf 16;. pet cent. He blamed the buttermakers to ari'extent, and favoured the imposition of-heavier penalties at this end, .ty. prevent' ovci'load- ■ Some of the shearers are forming cooperative companies to carry on shearing by; contact-in-' Queensland, and where this has been tried the result has been' most satisfactory: Amongst tlje places which were to have started shearing ,in. April Downs, ):with 130,000-i sheep;' Sesbariia, with: 100,000; Coreeria,' with from 80,000 to-90,000; Albilban,'with from 60,000 to 70,000 f and Ayrshire Downs, with 50.000.: iMr ■ •; , The old ;Illawarra : type of dairy cattle has . been, admired , for its high-class qualities- for nearly. 70 years in New South 1 Wales, 'An lilawarra CattleBreeders'" Association-has:.now been formed. Mr. ; F. M'Caffery, founder of the. association', said . that experience had taught them 1 that the lilawarra animal was of a special quality. Men who have tried, to bs wiser had said that -the lilawarra .cowj.was' - h 'cross-' bred. ' In that case the English racehorse was a crossbred at. a certain period of its history.; Tho best types of Illawarra-bred - • cows and bulls had -beyond doubt a large percentage of Shorthorn .and, Ayrshire, with, in many instances, Devon blood .in. their.,,veins'.

The hVictoriair State authorities intend to niake. .extensivenise of lantern views and literature in the campaignfor new settlers which they are .about to open, ill Europe'and 'America. 'About 5000 lantern views of scenes in Vicr toria are now being prepared, ai»d 40,000-co'pies of an illustrated pamphlet on the State's irrigable areas are being printed. Another pamphlet on settlement in' Victoria is also being,compiled. It is probable that both of "these will be printed in.several languages. 'The Victorian oversea fruit export seasdn has practically come to a close; only one more consignment remains to be- sent 'to the United 'Kingdom, --and this will bring the, total for the. season to 149,570 cases. The priccs realised this season have 1 been satisfactory, and though the output: is'over 20,000 cases less than, in 1909, it his to be remembered that the yield last year was exceptionally prolific.