FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 110, 17 August 1910, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

LICENSING STALLIONS. '•SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S POSITION. When a deputation from the Royal Agricultural Society waited on the Commissioner of Crown Lands for South Australia recently, Sir Lancelot Stirling presented a motion carried by the Society uiiging that tlx? regulations providing for examination should not be repealed 1 unless the Government were prepared to introduce a Bill providing for the general licensing of horses plying for hire. He emphasised the possibilities of the horse-' breeding industry if proper protection were granted. Up to the present in Victoria 2004 stallions had been examined, 1973 certificated 1 , and 691 rejected. In New South Wales, where the examination had begun more recently, the figures were respectively 659, 510, and 149. The rejects in each instance had amounted to a quarter. Since September of last year 308 stallions had been examined in South Australia, 233 certificated, and 85 (or one-third) rejected. That comparatively higher percentage was largely accourited for by the number of rejected stallions that had come into the State from Victoria. It was important, too, that they should disqualify mongrels of bad shape or make. The arguments advanced by a northern deputation for the repeal oi the regulations liad been illogical, and, if accepted, would be inimical to the best interests of the industry. Unsound stallions bred in the State could, under that suggested policy, go, forth to the deterioration of their stock. The present system would, to a certain extent, work out its own end.

Fat cattle have been in keen demand in Southland. At the Wallacetown sale the other day up to 34s per 1001b was given, the average .being 30s. A well-known Taranaki farmer has prophesied that within two years there will be no milk or whey not pasteurised. The Southland oat maket shows no improvement. Gartons are quoted up to Is (id, and 'Sparrowbills %d less. The Eltham, Kapoaga and Mangatoki factories are said to have paid out this season about £150,000 altogether. The rural prospect in Victoria and New South Wales lias never been more favorable than it is at the present moment. A crop of 12 tons of carrots, with tops, takes from the soil—Nitrogen, 10011); phosphoric acid, 381b; potash, 1171'bj lime, 991b; and magnesia 321b. The Wanganui Dairy Co. paid out ri.os4d for the past season's fat. It received 723,089.121b of fat from wholesuppliers, and 821,451.151b from home separation patrons. The average test was the high one of 4.07. Land is still on the rise around Bunnythorpe (says the Manawatu Standard). Two sections on the Bunnythorpe-Kai-ranga road have been sold for £4O an acre without any buildings on, which, the correspondent things, is the top price around this district.

The offioial return of the area sown with wheat in Victoria shows an increase of 248,438 acres in the area for grain, which is placed at 2,345,000 acres. This is the largest on record, the largest previous total being 2,277,537 ticres, in the 1904-5 season. Mr. James iStuckey, who is at present in England, writing, to a Masterton settler, states that, owing to the drought in the Argentine having decimated the Shorthorn herds, there has been a keen demands in the Old Country for Herefords for the South American Republic. The Ashhurst correspondent of the Manawatu Standard says: "Nikau Grange has no*v been acquired under the Land 'Settlement Finance Act, and the several settlers are getting to work on their holdings. Milking will start at the end of this month. The property consists of 672 acres. Petitions for the cutting up of this land have been fairly consistent since 1001, and in that connection the following letter to Mr. Pirani, M.P., from the chairman of Lands Purchase Board, was published on April 10, 1902: "With reference to your note of October 11 last addressed to the Hon. the Minister ' for Lands, forwarding a petition signed by J. H., Vincent, of Ashhurst, and others, praying that the Government should purchase under the Land for (Settlement Act the property of Mr. Hudson Davis, situated on the Pohangina road, I have now to state that effect cannot bo given to the request. Mr. Davis has stated that he does not wish to sell, but to retain the I land for his own occupation. Further, upon inspection, it is found that the pi'o- | perty is not suitable for division into i dairy farms."