IN AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 8

IN AUSTRALIA.

JOTTINGS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAIL.

Victoria has benefited by a long-de-sired general rainfall. The downpour if stated to have saved the pastoral situation, the growth of feed necessary for a good lambing being now assured in many districts, whilst in those more severely affected some recovery will be practicable. With regard to agriculture, though it may not be possible to seed fully the area anticipated a couple of; months ago, the sowing of cereals will proceed under very favourable condition!!.'. .' . ■

Timely rains fell last weok over good portions of tho- Western and Southern districts ol New South Wales, but the . eastern coastal districts did not benefit V to anything like the same extent as those inland. In most cases, however, the rains were too light to do lasting good. Eecord quantities of cattle are being dnven overland between Eastern Australia and the Northern Territory, and the industry is becoming very important to North Australia. Another step forward has been taken in Victoria in regard to the new reafforestation scheme.' The land is ' Bified as maUee,'. 'plain, irrigation, anij' forest.; A sum of J £SOO will bo set apart as prizes to those in each district who do the best in. the way of tree-planting on their holdings in a period of three years. PDliga scrub, lands in Now Sout'n ■Wales are now selling at £6 an acre. 'A low roars ago the Government was offering them on lease at less man a farthing per aero per year without finding tubers., . The present season has been a rvmarkable one for the yield of sorghum in. New South Wales. In some eases the quantity cut has been as high as 15 tons per acre. Cattle ticks have lately been discovered further south in New South Wales than ever before recorded. It appears that tho South Australian vintage this year will not be a very .good one. The fruit did not set well 'in the first place; then the rains in March large quantities of grapes, and now it. is estimated that instead of having 3,100,000 gallons of wine manufactured, as was done last year, the total quantity will bo under 1,000,000 gallons. Tho rabbit-trapping industry Is in Ml swing now throughout the country Now South Wales, and operations appear to bo on as large a scale as oyer. In many towns rabbiWdlling and freezing has proved an asset of great value. Men who have worked during the busy season have found it imperative to find new means of raising some cash during the winter months This industry, says the "Telegraph, has enabled them to reside almost permanently in their own towns It is a factor in' preventing the'drift citywards, and each winter there is an exodus of some thousands from the citv to the country. South Australia reports the driest April on record, and the area under wheat next- season will not in consequence exhibit, as great an increase as was at first expected/ Tasmania has also had an unusually dry spell Foxes and dingoes' are again' verv troublesome in many parts of tho State and serious losses of sheep aud lambs we reported.