THE RABBIT PEST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2379, 8 February 1915, Page 8

THE RABBIT PEST

• ' ''Bunny' was a topic of discussion by ..members-of the; .committee of the Gore Agricultural , and Pastoral Association on Saturday (reports the "Mataura iinsign"). Mr. John Tumbull said he ■ had. noticed that some of the exoprters of rabbits were getting up an agitation to stop: poisoning operations. He was opposed to such a suggestion. So long as there was trapping for export so long would they have rabbits. He .pre-' ferred to have trapping stopped and poisoning continued. Mr. Macara said he was satisfied that if they stopped poisoning operations for two years the rabbit nuisance would be as great a curse to. the country as ever it wa5..... Mr. Cullen said he knew some farm managers who would not allow trappers on the farms under their control. _ They kept the rabbits/clear by poisoning. It was the opinion of members that consideration of the matter should be held over until it was seen whether: any effective movement was likely to -be ir.ade by the Dunedin exporters and then they could take action i • ■' A recent <• visitor to Blenheim J who travelled by car from Itangiora stated to a Cliristchurch' reporter that " the country north of the Clarence is suffering from a' drought more severe ■ than any experienced in the memory ■of • the";earliest.' settler. No. rain worth speaking of has fallen during the past eight or nine months, and the hills are - entirely bare of grass. Sheep are ' dying or -being killed' by, the scores/ and many of the settlers liave to cart water for ; stock and household 1 purposes for many miles. It has been a trying season for the many thousands of apple and other trees planted last winter ,on the fruit farms-in the vicinity of Blenheim. The trees, however, especially those on the Wairau orchard lands, have withstood the drought remarkably well. Those that have not made very considerable growth of shoots have root-ed well, and with favourable weather conditions next-season should make rapid headway. There iB a fine show of fruit in the older established orchards, the apple crops being particularly good. The actual benefit of the recent rainfall in the Auckland Province to the dairying industry cannot yet be gauged, but it may be taken for granted that the milk supply will have increased in consequence. The appearance of the country has changed, and it is now reported to be looking much ■' better after the saturation of the ground experienced at the end of last week. A further improvement would, of course, • result from occasional showers. In the meantime the butter-fat supply has not been appreciably influenced by the breaking of the drought, though the returns from butter factories due at the beginning of next week are expected to show an improvement.. Half-an-hour's inspection of the Richmond Oil Engine will convince you of its great simplicity—perfect finish, and handiness. One years use of the Richmond will demonstrate its wonderful efficiency, and, what is of great importance just now, its fuel economy. You should get details. Write to Mr. A. J. Parton, Plumber, Carterton.—Advt.