AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1311, 23 November 1880, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Canada is exporting baled hay to England IJhe first butter-factory in Ireland was started recently at Dungarvin— capacity 4000 pounds daily. Cereals all require silica for straw and phosphates for grain. Peas, beans, lucerne and clover require lime. Root crops all require potash. The Platypus, which arrived in the Richmond river last week, brought a large quantity of machinery for the Colonial Sugar Company's mill now being built at Broad-water. The machinery, which is of the most approved design and make, is stated to weigh not far short Gf 200 tons. Kiama Central Butteii Market Scheme.— The Ulladulla Agricultutal Association's committee met recently, and appointed Mr. W. J. Chapman (secretary of the association) and Mr, Donald Kennedy as canvassers for the above project. The present cattle grazing belt of the United States (wild lands) is said to be about 2000 miles in length, and 350 in width. It stretches from the Rio Grande to Manitoba. In this belt it is stated that the cost of raising a four-year-old steer, whioh will sell at the depots at an average of 30 dollars, will not exceed 3-50 dollars. William Barlow, of Barlow station, above Oregon City, sends the following to the Orcyoitian: — "I have just threshed 3476 lbs. of wheat from 45 lbs. of seed, Bown on the 26th of November, 1879, using just a half a bushel to the acre. This a new variety from England called Mole's White Winter, and only requires half the amount of seed to the ncre that any other variety does.'' The London Evouomht says hundreds of thousands of sheep, if not millions, have died of the plague in England, and the Russian, Turkish and Afghanistan wars, as well as those of Turkey, Syria, Persia, and the Tridan country, have caused tens of millions of sheep to be killed. In fact, woolgrowing in Turkey, Russia, Persia, and India has been almost given up on account of the wars and the low prices current for the past five years. A New Method of Orchard Planting. — Mr William fcannders, the distinguished horticulturist in charge of the public gardens and grounds at Washington City, observes that the outride rows of trees in an orchard always grow move thrifty than the interior rows. He attributes this to the cultivation of the soil in the fields alongside of the orchard giving room for the ramification of the roots in cultivated soil. He thereupon suggests that trees be set in two rows, 25 to 30 feet apart, then a space of 300 feet or more, and two more rows of trees, and so on over the ground — the intervening 300 feet to be cultivated in such crops as may be desired, and the space between the rows of trees to be put in grass as soon as they begin to bear. He thinks the cultivation of the ground would keep the trees healthy, and conduce to their bearing fruit. Mr Saunders thinks double rows of trees would shelter the crops between, and be beneficial in that way.

There have been several recent outbreaks of trichinosis in England. Extraordinary Billiard Playing. — Bell's Life of Saturday says :— "Mitchell, the ' new man, ' has eclipsed all previous performances on an English table. On Thursday night last he gave a -vvell-knbwn amateur and supporter 1,500 start in a match of 2,000 up, in Brighton, before a fair sprinkling of spectators, the table having been specially erected for Mitchells practice by Messrs Thurston, of London. Mr R. Topping, his opponent, began v> ith an attempt at a cannon, but failed, Mitchell following with a break of 50, and subsequently 108, composed of 36 spot hazards. By tins time Mr Topping had strung together 10, and at his subsequent stroke Mitchell holed the red and went for his favourite position behind the spot. Amid breathless excitement he continued to hold the cue until he had pocketed the red ball 012 times, the break which left him withm three of home realising 1,8.')9, the largest nun.ber ever made in England. Reaching 1,000 Mitchell felt a little nervous, and dwelt for quite a minute, until the burst of cheering with which he was hailed had passed. But he afterwards darted the red home time after time like lightning, and often had no occasion to leave his ball, the strong backtwist keeping him in position eight or nine shots consecutively. Three or four times he got too near the cushion, but went round the table and obtained his place again with marvellous precision. The game occupied lh. 3omin. Mr Topping only handled his cue three times."

A Bull after a Bicyclf. — A correspondent writes to the Bombay Gazette :—: — " The following incident which I wit- I noised on the evening of the 2Gth July, will probably herve as a warning to bicyclists. While diiving down Dadur lload in my dogcart on the pvening in question, I suddenly lvard the cries of natives howling in a most alarming in.nincr behind me. I turned 1 ound and great was my surprise to neo a young man on p t;ill bicycle flying along: at the rate of about fourteen miles an hour, with an infuriated bull, head down and tail erect, a few yards behind. As the bieylist passed my dogcart I heard him cry out ' Help !' I pitied the poor fellow, for I could t^e the bull wa3 gaining ground, and apparently nothing could save him. On went the bicycle, but now the bull was only about one yard behind. Suddenly, with surprising skill and dexterity, the rider turned his bicycle round, and as quick as lightning was going in the opposite direction to the bull, amid the cheers of hundreds of natives, who could not help admiring the address of the hunted youth. Alas ! a -worse fate was reserved for him. A herd of buffaloes suddenly turning a corner of the road received him, not with open arms, but with lowered horns. There was a ciy, a groan, and all was over ; the beautiful bicycle, which a few seconds before was flying along at railroad Bpeed, was now so many peices of steel, and the rider, bruised, cut, and bleeding, lay looking at the wreck." The residence of Madame Patti, Craig-y-Nos Castle, Brecon, is to be sold. The Castle is erected in a beautiful \ ale, in the vicinity of majestic mountains and enchanting scenery, and but few, if any, districts surpass it in really picturesque beauties. The streams of the neighborhood are prolific in salmon and trout, and are resorted to by many lovers of angling. The moors afford fair grouse shooting, and the lands and woods abound in game. It possesses valuable properties in its mineral springs. Its healtn-giving climate is proverbial throughout Europe, and an eminent author has written of it no place can surpass the country in w*nich the combination of water, wood, mountain, and ruin assume such exquisite variety.' Madame Patti has spent many thousands of pounds in the enlargement and renovation of the Castle ; that this work has just been completed, and that only a few weeks ago the distinguished owner engaged the services of a leading pyrotechnist, and prepared an elaborate demonstration in honor of her formal entry into her new home. May not the incident be cited as conoborative of the words, "Frailty, thy name is woman." The reason assigned for its disposal is that the "Queen of Song" object i to pay the high assessment, and that fhe has been displeased by depredations made on her estate by poachers, &c, who have offered their spoil for sale at thy doors, of her Castle.