AGRICULTURE IN VICTORIA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 242, 14 February 1860, Page 3

AGRICULTURE IN VICTORIA.

(From the Argus, January 27.)_ The markets remain unchanged in , regard to price. Business has not been so brisk this week, up to the present time, as it was

last, nor does it seem likely to improve

aoain for a time. The demand for flour for the interior is becoming slack, owing to the country mills now getting to full work again, with plenty of wheat ready for delivery as fast as it can be ground, or even faster, for the number of steam * threshing-machines has been greatly increased this season, and could, we suppose, turn out the wheat in greater quantity than it could be disposed of by the millers; nor do the farmers seem inclined to follow the example of growers in South Australia, and keep back their produce from market at the commencement of the season, when

a fair average price can be obtained. A rise appears to have been established at Sydney, but on what grounds we do not understand. The crops in New South Wales have been considerably above the

average of late years, and their is every prospect of large arrivals of wheat and flour from California. The surplus in that Slate is very great, and the market price consequently very low, and, on the American traders' principle of clearing an overstocked market to give a moderate value to the due proportion of the goods retained, it was proposed to ship at least Half this surplus to any markets in which it; would be sale•able at cost price, or, if this could not be realised, even below it. Now, Australia offers ihe only market in which there was even a probability of any profit accruing, so that it was seriously proposed to favor us with the superfluous half of* a very large and burdensome surplus. With this prospect in yiew—for the articles and paragraphs conveying the intelligence were transferred from the Galifornian to the Sydney papers very lately—it is not easy to understand why prices should rise just now. At Adelaide the market has been very firm, because the millers wanted to send flour to Melbourne while the demand was good, and the supply of new wheat has been hitherto much below what they were inclined to purchase. Hear wheat has been in better demand during the last few days, but little of our own growth has yet been offered in town. Barley is still quoted at a merely nominal price; and oats remain unchanged. Speculation is talked of, at the very low rates now ruling, but we cannot learn that any large purchases have been really made. The demand for hay has not been quite so good this week, and the supply has been large, but prices remain as they were. We have re-? 1 ceived a letter from "A Small Farmer," pointing out that growers now lose £2 per ton on every load they sell, and, recommending them to combine for once, and establish a system by which they may be able to regulate prices for themselves; but we much doubt the possibility of so raising prices, with such a large supply on hand ai? the farmers now hold. However that may be, the farmers are much too backward in meeting to discuss questions of immediate.interest to them as a body, or for the regulation of such business as ouijht to be transacted at a corn market.

The late very hot weather has caused serious injury to the fruit crops in most parts ofthe colony, withering up the stone fruit, apples, pears, and grapes, where fully exposed to the north winds; but fortunately most of the grain was cut, or there would have been much loss from its being shed in the fields. Great destruction was, however, caused by fire to the property of individuals in some ofthe agricultural districts up the country, but not to the extent," generally, that might have been anticipated from the inroads of this element on two such fearful days for its visitation as Saturday and Sunday last. Those only who have witnessed the ravages of fire on tilled land about harvest-time, and under the influence of a. strong north wind, with everything under exposure to the sun at or above the temperature of 130 degrees, are competent to form an idea of the difficult}*, or utter hopelessness, of checking its progress, so long as any stubble or dry grass remains unburnt before it; and when we read of crops and homesteads having been destroyed in so many different places, the only wonder is that the list of sufferers is not greater. Most damage appears to have been done in the Ballaarat and Buninyong districts. We have not.heard of any fires in the country round Melbourne as yet this season; and too much care cannot be taken for their avoidance, as farmers who buy experience of this sort for themselves usually pay very dearly for it indeed.

The farmers in the Western district, round Belfast and Warrnambool, are getting in their crops at less cost than they anticipated, the rate for reaping averaging about 255. per acre, and the yield is said to be very fine. They have had some broken weather sicne harvest commenced, but nothing to impede' their operations much, and the props will be generally housed in first-rate condition. Up the country the qua.ity of the grain is allowed on all hands to be very superior, and the yield, as far as ascertained, to be well up to, or above the average. The rate charged for threshing is also very much lower this- year—about 4d_ per bushel; so that the farmers have some advantages to counterbalance the extra expenditure in the harvest field. The prize lists for the Port Phillip Society's branch show at Momington are now issued, and may be obtained either at the office in town or from the hon. secretary, Mr. Patterson. -As we mentioned before, the show is to be held at, Cranborne, on Wednesday, the 22nd of Et'bruary, and entries will be received up to the morning of.•that day. The collection oi' horses and cattle is expected to be very good, and although the grain crops and seeds are said to have suffered much this season from the caterpillar and blight, the »how of produce will no

doubt be calculated to sustain the character of the district; The Committee for the I Bacchus Marsh branch ape to meet tomorrow, to draw up the prize-list for their show, to be held sodin after Jhe exhibition at Cranborne, and about the Ist of next month the Gisborne Committee are to meet for the same purpose. It is proposed tpf lipid a show in the Smeaton district, under the auspici.es of the society there, at which the second silver cup ottered by Captain Hepburn for the best 200 bushels of wheat will be awarded. In the report from the judges of crops in ihe Carisbrook district, we find the attention of farmers requiring a change of seed directed to the wheat crop of Mr. Sanders, to whom the first prize was awarded. This is said to be pure and unmixed, and to promise a yield of at least 15 bushels to the acre more than any other crop inspected, but the variety is not named. Air. 11. N. Simson's crop, is also specially mentioned, but only has having been remarkable for | consisting of smut to the extent of at least one-tenth part.

Now that figs are becoming so plentiful in some of the older gardens of the colony, the owners are each year more anxious to try if this fruit cannot be dried here, so as to prevent waste. Tn South Australia, the experiment is said io have been tried with complete success, and in the last number of the Farm and Garden we find an account of the process, which is very simple, and is as follows:—-When fully ripe, the figs are pulled, and the external coat carefully strippad off, to allow of a free evaporaiion of the watery portion of the juice. The figs are then placed on clean deal board-*, and exposed to the sun for 14 days, being taken in at night. After this they are packed in boxes of a few inches deep, and the lid (which is a little smaller than the inside of the box, so as to pass freely up and down) is then placed on top ofthe fruit with a pressure of 201b. or upwards, which forms the mass into the coherent state in which we see the imported figs of commerce. Nothing more is said to be requisite, and if such be the case, we ought to have prizes for ( dried figs offered)" in all. the autumn shows, and plenty of competition even in the first year. The names of the best varieties for preserving were given by a correspondent, whose letter appeared in our columns some months since.

We have received a copy of "An Essay on the Husbandry and Agricultural Capabilities of South Australia," but must defer the review of its contents for the present.