LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1033, 12 August 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The news received from Home during the past -week or two lias been of a very encouraging nature to colonial grain-growers. The great damage done to the crops of Great Britain by the continuous wet weather, aided by similar results in nearly every part of Europe, America, and Cauada, has caused a very decided advance in the price of wheat, which wont up 3s per quarter in a few days. A late cable message would, however, lead to the supposition that a slight fall took place a few days later, for the quotation then given for Australian wheat was 51s per quarter, while it had previously reached as high as 525. The news of the advance should prove highly welcome to those of our farmers who shipped their wheat Home in preference to sacrificing it in the colonial market. One piece of information telegraphed is very gratifying to New Zealand wlieat'growers. We allude to the fact that i at last New Zealand wheat has been placed on a footing of equality with that from the other Australian colonies, the quotations given in a cable message for both being equal. The news receivedj?|of Hate should give substantial grounds for hoping that, the next harvest will prove more satisfactory to growers than that of last season, and should induce them to put in a full crop. There is still time for adding to the land under cultivation, and we hope those in a position to increase their acreage under crop will not fail to do so. Since writing the above we have learned by cable that, consequent upon the large supplies pouring into England, Ausrralian wheat has receded to 50s. per quarter.

Wo are pleased to learn that the residents of Duntroon again intend holding a sheepdog trial. Already the project lias met with considerable support —a support 'warranted by the success which attended the trial last year.

Ploughing matches now form the exciting topic amongst many of our tillers of the soil. Witliin the past month seyferal of these interesting gatherings have been held in various parts; of the country, but so far the only one that has taken place in North Otago was that held at Hampden lately. This proved highly successful, and some excellent work was done. Matches will shortly be held at Papakaio and Duntroon, meetings for the purpose of taking the initiatory steps having already been held.

The residents of Gore are agitating for the setting sside of a centrally-situatcu block of land for the purposes of a show ground for the Mataura Agricultural and Pastoral Association..

According to the balance-sheet submitted by the treasurer, the "Waikouaiti and Shag Valley Agricultural anil Pastoral Association paid last year LIS9 for prizes, including medals, as against LSS for the previous year. In addition to this amount Lls was paid for the reaper and binder contest. The Waikouaiti and Sliag Valley Agricultural and Pastoral Association has a bye-law setting forth that any member of committee absent from three consecutive meetings may be struck off the committee. This was put in force at a late meeting, when the name of Mr. Brunton was struck off, and that of Mr, Coll M'Donald substituted. According to our files from the several grain-growing Australian colonies, the weather of late has been favorable for the young crops, and the prospects of the next harvest are very cheering. A falling off in the quantity of land under cultivation has in many parts, however, taken place, and ia scarcely compensated for by the increase in other places. The members of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society are apparently becoming aware of the fact that the introduction of some English birds into the Colony is not an unmixed blessing. The Lyttelton Times of the 30th ultimo has the following suggestive paragraph:—"lt was freely admitted, during the meeting of the Acclimatisation Society yesterday, that considerable damage was done to grain crops by the skylarks, these birds appearing to be in the habit of pulling up the young corn in large quantities, and so destroying infinitely more than they consumed. The sparrow was also mentioned, and it was evident that this bird was regarded as a nuisance." The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company has given a silver cup as a prize at the forthcoming show of the Canterbury Asssociation, with the object of improving the breed of sheep or the class of wool. This is how the Committee of the Association accepted the gift:—" That the Committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association desire to thank the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company for their liberal offer of a cup, and suggest that it be given this year to the largest prizetaker in merino sheep, and the Committee would respectfully remind the Company that, owing to the permanent position of this Association, the continuance of this prize as an annual event would very materially tend to promote the object in view, and would afford an opportunity to this Asssociation to continue the prize from year to year as circumstances will permit." Land in some parts of New South Wales I seems to have greatly depreciated in value. The Town and Country Journal says that land in the Avoca district for which L 3 17a Gd per acre was refused twelve months ago, is scarcely saleable now at L2 7 J per acre. An effort is being made to establish a special market for dairy produce in Sydney, and the Australasian suggests the adoption of a similar course in Melbourne. This ia suggested more especially in regard to the sale of butter, which, it is argued, is at present placed in the markets in an unsightly form, and disposed of at the option of agents at any price obtainable, rendering it liable to rapid changes in price without sufficient cause. It is added that were such markets established, quality in the article would bring its value, and inferior butter would not regulate the price of good, as it does at present. The Lyttelton Times, says:—"lt ia pleasing to learn that although the' yield of wheat last season was' very small, yet tho quality—in some cases at least—was all that could be desired for shipment. Messrs. Mdles, Hassal, and Co. have sent us a sample of pearl wheat, grown on their land at Chertsey, of which their London housa writes :—' The Chertsey pearl is a very fina sample, being as the brokers say almost perfect, and will, we think, bring a satisfactory price."' The desirability of economising in tha matter of potatoes which may be used for seed is suggested by the Newham correspondent of the Woodend News, who says : '' Potatoes are so poor with us this year that there are a good number of inquiries for seed, and I have no doubt that they will bring good returns to those who hold them over the winter, as generally at this time of the year small potatoes are a great drug, except to those who feed horses and cattle on them." A contemporary says:—"The official registry of mortgages in New Zealand discloses that nearly three-fourths of the agricultural holdings are subjected to liens, bearing interest at rates of from 10 to 15 per cent."'

In reference to the use of salt in wheat culture, the Colac Herald, premising that experiments made regarding its value as a manure for land of certain qualities Invariably point to its usefulness, makes tha following statement : —" Mr. Wilson Martin, who last year used salt on land, sown in wheat, reports that the grain was much fuller and in greater abundance than whew >lO salt was used. Mr. Fletcher will also try the experiment, and intends applying about 6cwt. to the acre. As salt can be obtained in this district in any quantity at a trifling cost, farmers would in many instances b» amply recouped for going to the expenditure of using it with discretion on land allotted for agricultural purposes,"

A farmer tztlhe Kafvtnda district, South Australia, han had 360 acres flf crop eaten otF by locuatth. There were stockholders hi New South Wales ta Meuxh last. These own -j million!, of eitttfir,.9l millions of sheep. ' one-quarter of o<i pigß- - IJaQwaftßtfedy-'Unod crossbred wether* brought per t«e»d. They g&foi/fot Siding pig* Op a somewhat rxt«mife'jHfti > o in, the cmtsfay around Twofuhl Bay (Victoria). Lately, a firm of baeon-eurets iB Sltlbournu purchased 1500 • •nrlten frota one farmer and a simitar nam- ] hiT from theia-—6floo pigs from the locality tisiding their way rntOi the Melbourne mar-kefc.-s within a short period, the average weekly supply being6oo. The Queensland Aifflieultural writes: —It having been stated all the meeting of the Queensland National Association, held a fewdays ago, that Mr. Scholefield, ex-manager of the Ipswich. Woollen Factory, claimed to be in possession of a secret process for caring wool, whereby ft saving of frotn 15 to 20 per cunt. wa:i effected, ifc was decided that three fleeces should be -'girei bwa to operate on, and three fleeces to sWae Brisbane Sran ; so that a comparison might tie'-made between the results of the different processes. The Victorian farmers are taking active measures to obtain relief from the heavy taxation to which they are at present subjected. "Associations of farmers are being formed alt overt the colony for the purpose of taking combined action to secure the etee-1 tion of members of Parliament wilting to assist in • bringing about a revision of the tariff by the removal of duties upon agricultural implements, cornsacks, Sc. We fKtmOre Pioneer) have been informed by an experimental farmer on the Temcks that by ploughing land nine inches deep on his selection tost year he obtained four bushels'of wheat to the acre more than his neighbors; who only ploughed four and five inches deep. By the roots of the wheat plants going deeper into the soil they secure permanent moFstnre, and so destroy the possibility Of tttStfaHectmg the stalks in hot and dry weather^ 1 'Our informant had no sign of rust in his last year's wheat crop. A Times' London special says "The Times' correspondent pubtishes an interview with several Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire landowners', who say that farmers are fail frig-right and left, which failures are only knowrr locally. Many landlords, after reducing, rents,-cannot get tenants. Several large owners Are about to take their farms and work them themselves. Several great Scotch landlords* have reduced rents 20 to3o per ecati 1 To-day the Prince of Wales' agent iit the Duchy of Cornwall gave notice to hi* tenants that in consideration of the present depressed state of agriculture, a remission of 20 per cent, from the rents for a period of three- years would be made. In no man's memory ha» agriculture been so* profitless. This is- owing in part to bad harvests, but chiefly to the vast food importations from America." A writer in the Southern Farmer gays that his cow gives. all the milk that is wanted in a family of eight, and that from it, after taking all that is required for other purposes. 2fio pounds of butter were made this season. Tuis is in part his treatment of the cow:—"lf you destrerto get a large yield of rich mtlk, give ydnr' cows every day water slightly warm and slightly salted, in which bran has been strrtect at the rate of one quarter to two gallons of water. You will find, if you have not tried this daily practice, that your cow will giv6 '25 per cent, more milk immediately under the effects of it, and she will become so attached to the diet as to refuse to drink clear* water unless very thirsty. Bnt this mess she will drink almost any time and ask for more. The amount of this drink necessary is an ordinary pailful at a time, morning, rtoon, and night." Speaking of the purchase of Palestine by the leading Jews of Great Britain, including the Rothschilds, a contemporary says " The plain of Philistia is its best part, the aoil being of a rich, brown loam, without a stone. It is now. as it has always been, a vast fi'ctd—an ocean of wheat without a break or fence. Its extraordinary fertility is shown by the fact that it has produced the same succession of crops, year after year, for •W centnric:!, without artificial aid.' r

The AiL't.rt'.e Observer says t —We learn that a private t' legram. has been received from Mauritius, stating that a murrain has broken out among - V oxen there, and that a good deal of alarm was being created by the fear'that the disease would become general.. The disease, which is causing so much mortally, is that known as epuooty, which is described as a kind of murrain or pestilence among brute animals. It is apprehended' that recourse wilt have to be had to hocsus and mules to do the work of the settlers.

The .barqua Pochra, which arrived at l\y ttultou from Glasgow on the 'Jfith ultimo, brought two celebrated Clydesdale aires shippud bjf !Mr. TC» ilkin while at Olasgow during his late Home visit. The Press says: fc'gui were'shipped, and it is much to be regretted that two died during the passage. The two which have arrived are Merryton and Pjli'y Fairptay. They appear to be in fair condition, and are grand specimens of draught horses. As is shown by their pedigree they are both valuable animals. Billy .[''airplay is by The Gentleman (3-8), who was by Prince of Wales, a horse which •was spUl for LtaOO. Merryton's sire was also Frincu of Wales, and hi/-* dam carried off many prizes at some of the most noted shows in Scotland."

The:.' Wimgwaui Herald thus details the objects* Of ft projected Small Faxm, Aaaooia(ji ola : —The premotura of the aaaociation have in viti'Wf an; application to the Government for tk. postion of a bluet of land lately acnuirpd from the natives, and lying bet-ween the Tu.v9kins.and Kangitikei rivera. The block in ((ueafciort ia 156,000 acres in extent, anil i t ict »oid that much of it ia available for small farm settlement. There is a good deal of li;:lifi Juush f with large open ftata, the bulk of it lining heavy bush. It cart be approached either by the Turakina Valley - road, from Bonny Men, or from Tartorv. When a autlieicnt number of narnea have luci) obtained,. the application will be foeand the assistance of the memt.'era luu)wu.,tp bo friendly to small farm setti munts chested."

Mr. Btobort Wilkin haa given notice that at thu naxt meeting of the Committee of the Canterkracy Agricultural and Paatoral Asao-ciation-fa® will move—"That a new prue in draught *tuok be instituted, to be called the o:ika Sweep* takes. for yearling fillips to be shown 'art the annual show in 1880. That uominationa foe the same be received tip to lat January, 1380, incluaive. That tho fee at nomrnwbiion be LI, and that the touat entry fwrt'b®; charged at the peoper time. That the whole of the nomination fees be given, in prizes to the claas, with or witltoat such additional sum from ordinary funda aa tho committer may determine. That no

nomination b« received unices it contains a minute description of color, markings, ; peculiarities, ami pedigrees of the filly nomi- | nated. That before the judging of this class i takes place, a »uf>-cocnmi«ce should examine I «::> ' entry to teat the accuracy of the dca. given at time of nomination, and that any titty not corresponding with the description given he deemed ineligible and thrown oot of the claa.rt."