INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 8

INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

(From correspondents of the Fastoralista* Review for February.) NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, February 10L January ended and February came in with generous rains all over the State, and in consequence the pastoral and agricultural outlook has very considerably improved. In estimating the benefits of the rainfall, it is well to bear in mind the fact that it fell on that portion of the State carrying the bulk of stook. A good growth of grass and herbage will now take place, and stock will put on condition before the winter seta in. Tanks and dams are now well filled. The whole of the wheat area got » thorough soaking, and as the ground will remain soft for about three weeks or a month, extensive ploughing operations can be carried out* The north coast is enjoying a particularly fine season, and farming, dairying, ami. sugar-growing are booming. The pras6e3 of the district are mostly paspalum and white clover, and it is the former that has made the northern district. Farms four or five miles from Murwillumbah are worth about £30 per acre; indeed, £30 was recently refused for 250 acres, partly, improved, 130 adrea being to an extent cultivated and bearing grass, the balance being solid scrub. The whole cost £5 per acre about twelve years ago. The rental ia somewhore in the vicinity o f £1 and 255. The figures recently b.V th« Bureau of Statistics practically support our previous estimate that this year's harvest will not pan out at more than 8,500,000 bushels. The estimated area which has yielded grain this year amounts to 1,399,930 acrea, so that the average returm is as low as 6 bushels per acre, which ia the- lowest since 1897, if the drought year of 1902-3 is excepted. Considerable indignation is caused throughout the State by the proposal of the Federal Government to reduce the size of grain bags to 2001b capacity. Apart from the fact that such a regulation would add! considerably to the cost of growing?

4nd handling grain, farmers view it ac an ftikjußsifiahle interference pn the part of the Feaer^l Government with State rights. A deputation recently waited on the Premier in r|gar4 to this matter, and Mr Wade Stated without any hesitation tha* it was fio concern of the Federal Government, And it was not the only attempt they had fcjade to interfere with the States. Under the Constitution the Federal Government had no power to do anything in the matter. Mr Bent and he (Mr Wade) had agreed that if the Federal Government persisted in that course they would be given an opportunity of testing their right. The State had power to legislate as to weight and size. It only increased the friction when the Federal authorities stepped into a matter over which they had no control, and which was a State matter only. The State Government were making inquiries into the elevator system, but they had been impressed by the enormous initial cost. The shortage in this season's wool clip is now beooming evidenced in a marked degree. The six months' exports since let July last are now 110,620 bales to the bad, as compared wfth the corresponding period last season. Up to the end of November the wool exports exceeded those of the previous season by 65,950 bales, so tlat in the past two months we have gone back in the comparison to the extent of 176,570 bales. Last month only 28,725 bales were exported, not one-fourth the wool exported in January, 1907. The following are the principal articles of export from Sydney for January, 1908, as compared with the corresponding period of last year: —

VICTORIA. Melbourne, February 11. The middle of January was marked by the visit of one of the most prolonged end severe heafc waves ever experienced in Victoria. For six days, and in some places Snore, nearly every station in the State reported a temperature of over lOOdeg. S&*hr. In some cases the thermometer registered as high as 121deg. during the gay, and the nights were almost as bad. iOnfort'unately, when the cool change did at last oome it was unaccompanied by rain. go pastures have got scorched and dry. y«ry little rain has fallen since last issue. There was a fall of from ±in to l£in juat along the north-eastern portion of the Murray Valley on 31st January, and light general showers during the last few days, out- -that M all. Reports from the north and northern and central Mallee state that $he- country there is almost bare, water is tunning short, and stock very poor. Further south, and through the Western District and Gippsland, there is more feed, although (pretty dry, and cattle and sheep are jfrenerally in fair condition. Elsewhere the ieason is from fair to middling, and a good soaking rain will, be most welcome everywhere during the next month. Needless to say, live stock of all description suffered severely during the hot spell. Butter production fell off immediately, and has not come on again much since, ©till, in one sense, dairy-farmers have not got cause to complain, as Australian butter is now selling in London at the unprecedented prioe of HOs per cwt, which means that they wiE get unexpectedly high returns for recent and present shipments. The frozen lamb trade is almost finished, and shipments are rapidly growing smaller »nd less frequent. There are still about 10 000 a week, mostly from Gippsland. being out through the Melbourne works, but this source of supply will soon orive out, and then slaughtering for export will stop. The late dry spell has particularly favoured rabbit-poisoning, especially on the plains, where grass is dTy and unattractive Just now. Reports from all over the State Bay that rabbits are taking the l^ison feadily, and this should do some little towards keeping the peat in check. In the mountainous districts of the north-east and Gippsland. however, the pest appears to be getting rapidly worse. Only a few years igo this oountry was almost free from the rabbit> but owing to the gradual extermination of its natural enemies-^-foxes, dingoes, etc.— the rodent is increasing to an alarming extent. The trouble there is that poißon i« difficult to lay, and wirenetting fences aTe often out of the question on account of the broken nature .of the land. QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, February 6. 'After the beneficial rains of December, ■which appeared to the average oitizen to havJ benefited the whole of the State, it waTsuroSc to hear during the past few weeks the chorus of complaints that arose— Jrinoipally in the south-eastern quadrant of- the State— of want of -w^r The cream supply, which had "W^^ed euiokly to the November and Do?. emb «£ SSL/has felt equally quick the hlhnK-off in the feed, and the output of some of the Urge? factories has diminished by e ver +™ weekly It may be mentioned that durmTth/weik ending 14th toy J[ Government Department graded wwawta O f 10,200 boxes, this being Ojwem land s record for a week's output, whilst the s.s OrWz lifted a carao of 20.000 boxes this also being a record ehipment for this State. There is no improvement whatever recorded in the etocV markets, either for stores or fats; the uncertainty of the season, the recent fall in the ™ice of wool, and the fact that no meat works are operating have all tended to depress values and to restrict sale,." Really *ocd four and six tooth wetners carry m? five months wool have been ofe-ed on the Downs, and can ecarcelvfind a buyer at 9s. and though breediZ ewe* command a bet'orsale. the mquirr is very limited, and prices asked are shillings below what were ruling six months ago At the metropolitan Yi>rd* the ir.arket, eeema thoroughly disorganised, and eales of sheep and cattle are most unsatisfactory. Beef at 20s per cwt leaves a bier mar<?m to the butcher at the.present retail price, and as ample supplies are available both in the yards and in the fattening districts immediately adjacent to the metropolis, there is not much improvement in prices to be hoped for as regards cattle. Fat Bheep, too, are coming forward plentifully,

and until the meat works commence operations It will be vain to look for better orices. Although details of the actual stock numbers return as at 31st December, 1907, are not yet available, the Government Statistician has estimated that the sheep will approximately total 18,000,000, though it is considered by those competent to form an opinion that the number is far in excess of this. Eighteen million, however, shows a very satisfactory increase, in view of the faot that the high-water mark of our sheep numbers in 1892 was 22,000,000, vhilst, of course, the productive value of the sheep at present in the State is far in excess of the larger number in 1892. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Adelaide, February 10. The outlook for the season has greatly improved as the -result of splendid rains which fell throughout the pastoral end agricultural districts on the 7th and Bth inst. These showers will do a great deal of good. Bural producers are at present marking time. This is the period when the pastoralist and the farmer are between the seasons and it really does not matter what kind of weather they get so long as they do not receive tco much" of the one variety. January was a typical summer month, and although the temperature ranged high, there was an absence of wind while following the heat some nice showers fell throughout the agricultural and pastoral districts, replenishing water supplies and freshening the herbage. Standing between seasons, producers are in tha happy pinion of being able to look back ui>on 1907 as being one of the best ye<ir* ever experienced. The wool clip was the m-*t valuable ever shorn in the State; the wheat harvest was close up to tho record production of two years ago, while the high prices ruling means an addtional value of at least two millions sterling on the exportable surplus. Then the prices during 1907 ranged unusually high for all fat stock. Looking forward the producer recognises that he must be prepared to accept possibly lower prices this year in the live stock mar kets and an intimation has been conveyed to him to that effect by recent stock sales, at which the market has gone back several shillings per head for sheep. The season gives promise of opening early, and the outlook is not without encouraging signs. Good pastoral rains were experienced a fortnight ago, and all through the northwest out from Port Augusta to Tarcoola over an inch of rain fell. The effect of this will be to guarantee a water s«PP|V and give owners more confidence to hold their stock. The process of stocking up country which has been for some time understocked is proceeding on safe lines and one feature of the new methods of management is a tendency to keep a younger olass of sheep than formerly. "We do not keep wethers- now to die of old age," explained one of our largest breeders the other day, and that in a nutshell indicate* that a remarkable evolution haa taken place in pastoral management during recent years. Large sums of money are being expended in fencing in order to keep down the rabbits and wild dogs; while in some places the fox ie constituting himself an additional problem for the stockowner. Whether from the point of view of the large or the small pastoraliat, the dairy-farmer or the cereal grower, the situation in this State ie in every respect full of hope for the future. Opinions have been divided at various times concerning the best outlet for wool. An increasing number of wool-growers contend that it pays better to sell on the spot and not take the risk of the market and all the accompanying charges of shipping. The local auction sales have received J splendid advertisement this year,."^^ as those who sold locally got 2d to 3d more than their neighbours who «»*«£« produce to the London sales. The last sale of the season took plaoe a week ago. and the figures for the year are > no*^avadable. The sales made by the various brokers in South Australia during the pa=t

Th« ouantifes sold in Adelaide for the pjrsixyirs (Ist July to 30th June) have been aSI<TT: ~ •• "-"I TQfrt-4- . •• 00-4** X-7 .. 105-551 IK to'date l H9.813 Prof Perkins, who is in charge of the State Agricultural College, has been conducting % number of experiments in connection with seed selection and cX^Tis shown that farmers are ■ paymg for more attention to **"<>"£* Jr' 'I former years. Whereas m 1890 the area under fallow was 534,000 acres in 1105 it was 1065,000 acres. . . The Register published its annual estimate of the wheat harvest on the 6th inst. Sis shows that the yield exceeded all preharvest expectations. The early November rafns not only saved the wheat crop,, but developed the plant in a remarkable wav fiUina out the heads without cau^njr mvoh growth to the stalks. It is estimated tha f 850,000 acres were reaped for wheat and that the total production was 20,720 000 nu«Lls. or an average yield per acre of 11 bushes 121b. With the exception of he reason 1905-6, when the production via21 045 000 bushels, this i- the largest vio.d recorded for the State After provirhrsr for focd and seed during 1908 thore w«l te I surplus available for shipment «f 17 190,000 bushels," worth., at presert prices £3 438 000 This is the .argest valve ever reached for an amiable V' P Farmer* generally throughout the State ar* ?n aprWro".--. condition. The ma,or.tv of them are improving th*ir metlic. s of cultivation, while a good deal is dee to increase the wheat yield by careful selection of s-ed. Several extjer.ments conducted by farmers with the Campbell system of so: l culture made a difference, they estimate, of 8 to 10 buskeld per acie

in favour of the land dealt with on "dry farming principles. South Australian trade returns lor 1907 show a marvellous increase in interchange. Import* reached! the record total o? £12,120,052, or-.double what they were ten years ago. Exports were £13,970,000, which gives a total trade for the year of over £26,000,000. This represented an increase of no leas than £5,000,000 compared with the trade of 1906 ! Wool was the main factor in contributing to the increase of exports, the advance being no lees than £500,000 on th«.t item alone. The following are some of the principal items of "staple" exports for 1907 in comparison with 1906 : — Staplu Exports.

TASMANIA. Launceston. February 4. Like most other parts of the Commonwealth, Tasmania experienced high temperatures during January. Years have elapeed since there was such sustained heat, day after day passing with the thermometer between 90 and 100. Old identities describe it ac a summer like those of a generation ago. Now and again there have been showers of rain, and on the first day of February there nae about half an inch registration in many parts of the island. Previous precipitations had started a green undergrowth, and the latest fall will keep it going. Speaking generally, the grass situation is satisfactory, and graziers are relieved of concern up to the winter. As a rule the Ta^manian Government Statistician issues his estimates of the crops a couple of months after they are of any value, but this year they are out betimes. Perhaps the good work" will be continued, and we shall get the live stock returns at about the time that the mainland figures are issued. Crop statistics are gathered by means of cards, posted to each farmer, that he is asked to fill in. Only ibout 40 per cent, of useful replies were this season reoeived, and from these a rough estimate is made. There have been curious variations in acreages under different crops. There have been decreases in the areas under wheat of from 32,808 acres to 29,465; oats from 58,320 to 52,263 ; and Cape barley from 1282 to 4-98. English barley increased from 4046 to 4465; hay from 64,965 to 74,409; and potatoes from 34,305 to 35,870. The total area under th« five crops rose from 195,726 acres to 196,970, while there is aleo a substantial increase in the ground under forage crops. The following are the estimates of yields:— Wheat, 21.20 bushels per acre; oats, 31.70 Bushels ; barley, 25.80 bushels; and hay, 1.25 tons. Potatoes arc not included, but they should return from 3 to 5 tons, the recent rain favouring their growth. From 90 to 100 sheep-owners attend^' the meeting held in Hobart on January 8 to discuss sheep stealing and other subjects of mutual interest. It was decided 'that an association be formed, to be called the Stockowners' Association, to embrace all interests of stock-owners." Messrs. H. Reed, E. 0. Bisdee, T. C. Jones, and A. Burbury were appointed a preliminary committee to draw up regulations and terms of membership. Mr A. E. Mansell, the convener, held that sheep men were bound in s If -defence to try and put a stop to sheep-stealing, which was farly general. Thieving was perpetrated, not only near the towns, but also in the remote rough rune, where losses were not discovered for month*. In regard to oth«>r matters, lie *aid it was not neces.>ary at profent to combine to meet any labour trouble, but sheep-owner? should organic to meet any trouble existing oi that might arise. The Launceston ;«d Hobart wool saW had the misfortune to meet a falling market, and 1-once the clearings were not so numerous as was expected. In Launceston about 6000 bales were offered, and only about half were sold. The growers had placed their reserves so high that buyers keoamo disheartened. Of the 12,000 submitted in Hobart more than half wero sold, fm* merinos making to 15±d. It w possiblethat further sales, attended by international buyers, will take place in both centres wnpn the present series in Melbourne closes. Durintr the n^xt few days a State Bank, to render financial assistance to settlers, will be established. One or two small consignments of frozen lambs have been sent out from Hobart and Launceston to London. Durinsr 1907 about 774,578 tons of rotatoes were shipped from North-west coast ports to Sydney. , A. summer school for State school teacher* was conducted for a fortnight at Lonarford the experts attached to the Agricultural Department being the lecturers. Uardra and cereal plots are to he established in the grourds of country schools.

Tool,, bal«s ikinsj packages lidea, No._ .. , T 'allow, casks jeather, packages frozen mutton, carcases .. IVozen beef, pieces .. labbits and hares, pairs .. hreeerred meats, cases . . foofs and bones, No. Coins, No 7iteat, centals 'lour, centals . .. t utter 11^328 2,164 8,899 4,078 779 126,239 2,642 161,414 456 76386,242 866.366 41,751 19,556 1,745 16,760 2,296 759 68,299 158 254,610 4,748 1,857 91,718 47,126 14,658 46,862

ilder. Smith & Co. (Ltd.) ■• lagot, Shakes i Lewis (Ltd.) )alg«ty & Co. (Ltd) -■ ruxmore, Chapman & Co .. ivucmore Bros. (Ltd.) L J. Coombs & Co rther brokers, say 1906-7. 1907-8. (to data). 52,520 58,710 17 293 19,658 13,531 15.231 4,687 5,010 6 070 5,325 4,066 7.180 7,384 8,701 .. 105,551 119,81: Totals

lories . . Butter, lb . . 2j?gs, dozen . fodder, tons., fruits, dried, lb fruits, presv'd Ipples, eent'Js 3rain, pulM— Oato, centals Wheat, bus Dour, tons .. 3ran & poll'rd centals )atmeal,&c lb iay, chaff, tns deats, presv'd Frr. mutton &lamb, lb Babbits and hares, prs. Tin meats.lb Salt, toil* . iides, No. . . tabbitskins.lb Iheepskins No )th«r«kins .. loap, lb.. .. Yin«, gallons ["allow, cwt Vool.gicogylb Vool, scrd, lb „ 190 Quantity. 865 1,806,134 20,658 832 Value. £7,054 89,279 689 2,737 \, 19< Quantity. 6-23 1, 623,9 < 4 59,348 S6 Value. £14,844 79 865 1.C82 323 15,827 35.W7 BSO 1,658 26,688 713,578 10,361 10,012 1,084 9,728 660 12,037,744 57,561 10S 1,968,681 421,271 4,731 1?,613,1«5 49,427 1,476 2,152,842 4C3,9t0 2,860 390,100 85 686 1,867 535 674 4,000 121 101 16 382 8,614,360 132,896 9,898,1 It 170,028 242,006 996,604 7,21» 3,811 1,014,280 1,117,591 10,418 13,800 10,6»3 2,700 46,765 33«,072 7,107 3,781 38,986 26,027 1,828,706 160,072 185,082 21,600 3,6 0 4,691 W2.747 1,892,995 301,800 3«8,351 30, «68 46,629,943 2,391,930| 8,273 160 6,180 4.0C3 85,096 336,204 6,741 2,860 31,980 46,657 1.8V3.14S ! 166,948 571,858 280,380 18,952 88,741,069 2,513,560