AGRICULTURE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2317, 9 October 1908, Page 4

AGRICULTURE.

INSPECTOR MILLER’S RETORT

A REVIEAV OF 1907. Contained in tho bulky pages of the agricultural report presented to Parliament this week is Mr. Walter Miller's annual review upon tlio Gisborno district ,ovor which ho has charge. Tho following aro oxtracts from tho report: Seasons and Pastures.—ln tho AVuiapu County, Inspector Hingston reports that during ..last winor, although it rained persistently, tho total rainfall was bolow tho average. There was no wet or cold weather to affect stock to any noticeable extent. The summer following was exceptionally dry along tho coastline, but the inland portion of the district did not suffer to such an extent.' Stock were in splendid condition even in the driest parts. The dry season was looked upon as beneficial rather than ns it enabled a number of innholders to get a second burn and clear up dead timber. In Cook County a wet winter was experienced, followed by an exceptionally long period of dry and very hot weather. AA’ater was scarce and stock .suffered owing to the shortage of both feed and water. .The drought broke earlv in. the autumn, and since then there, has been-abundance ot rain, and with tile heat in the ground and warm weather .a strong growth of grass has come away, ensuring a plentiful supply of feed for the winter. f Sheep—ln tho AA'ampu , County hoggets have escaped any serious mortality, and the flocks generally have done well. Many Maoris have turned their attention'to sheep raising. In Cook County sheep 'have kept their condition very well during the drought, but towards :fio end of the summer a. marked difference mas evident ill the flocks that had been depasturing on the country suffering most by tho drought. The sheep maggot, fly has made its appearance in this district. Sheepowners are keeping a very watchful eyo to prevent if possible any very serious depredations by this pest. Wool. —Tlio clip last season was a good one, but somewhat light in districts where heavy and continuous rains wore experienced during the earlv spring. _. Dipping.—ln tho AAhaiapu district dipping has been carried out under aomomhat improved conditions, and the chango must be considered satisfactory. The majority of tho owners are Natives, and they have a gootf (leal to contend with owing to their isolation, and tho difficulty of erecting dips in suitable localities. In regard to Cook County, Inspector Ross reports: I have had considerable trouble with sheep infected with’ lice being brought to the saleyards, as many as thirty convictions being-recorded during January, February, and March. It appears to me there must be some careless dipping done, as tho short spell of dry weather during the early summer is not sufficient to account for the dirty state of the flocks of the district. Owners should know that it is important the heads of the sheep, be completely submerged. Sheepiarmers should exercise great care when mustering for dipping as any infected sheep left undipped may- he the means of contaminating those that have been dipped, and the usefulness of dipping be nullified. Care should also be taken in mixing the proper quantities of dip and mater, otherwise the result will not be satisfactory. The erection of a dip at Matawhero saleyards will be found a great convenience. A considerable increase in the total number, of sheep in Poverty Bay is expected.- The freezing works returns for tho year ending March 31 last show that 231,644 sheep, 87,076 ■lambs, 7644 cattle, and 321 calves were slaughtered for export. Cattle are extensively bred, and some good lines of freezers are forwarded from time to time to the different works 'at Gisborne. A herd of Norfolk Polls is being established. Dairying.—The dairy industry is steadily increasing, and. each year a greater number ot people are engaging in the business. Dairy Inspector AVilliamson reports that tne prevailing disease amongst dairy cattle is tuberculosis, some 35 cows and ono bull having been condemned by him for this malady and destroyed, but on the whole lie considers that the dairy cattle under his supervision are fairly healthy. The milk supply of the town on the whole is good, but not much lias yet been done in the way of testing herds with a view of geting rid ot poor milkers. . - Tho tenant system from month to month largely prevails in this district, and legislation will probably be required to enable occupiers to comply with the requirements of the new regulations as to sanitary conditions of the premises. Diseases. —The inspectors meet with the usual cases of tuberculosis, actinomycosis, and epithelioma, the first being the most general, and have had to condemn a fair number of animals. The condemnations at the freezing works and abattoir would indicate, that in regard to disease the conditions here .are somewhat similar, to those in the neighboring districts, hut it is noted that animals from particular herds are very immune compared with others. . Horses. —An endeavor is .being made to improve the breed of all classos. ‘ _ Swine.—Tuberculosis is frequently found in pigs slaughtered, and as they appear to ho particularly prone to this disease the inspection in every case should bo drastic as in other animals. Slaughterhouses. —These generally are in a fairly satisfactory condition, but .there is room for improvement in some cases. Inspector Hingston reports that the slaughterhouse conducted by the Maoris is kept in perfect order, and the example might be followed with advantage by some of the European licensees. Crops.—The main crop was maize, and some .fine results were obtained. Fairly good crops of Cape barley were grown, the average being 65 bushels per -acre. Tho dry weather caused the potato crop to be a light one, but the blight was not bad. Grasses. —Rye grass crops were light, and cocksfoot crops were not heavy, and the- area harvested was small.

Pests. —The caterpillar was not so troublesome last season; codlin moth gave trouble, but good results were obtained by spraying. Noxious AA’ceds.—lnspector Ross reported that these give a good deal of trouble. Californian thistle is to be found in many parts of the country, and is gaining a hold of outlying places, (dweetbriar and ragwort also require considerable attention. Occupiers of land seem in ta large majority of cases to wait each season for an Inspector to call on them re noxious weeds, or until they receive notice, or until several letters have been sent to them, before they will do anyclearing, and even then the work is done in a very unsatisfactory manner. As this is my first season in tho district 1 have not been able to got as much clearing done as I wished, but next season 1 will have a better knowledge of the district and of those who aro responsible for tlio different properties. Native lands that have not been individualised have given a great deal of trouble with the weeds. Inspector Hingston reports: Good work has been done during tho year in the eradication of sweet briar, both by Europeans and Maoris, and in checking the Californian thistle from spreading. Unfortunately there is a considerable amount of this pest in tho district, which no doubt was imported in tlio grass seed, and I would recommend that stringent measures be enforced to prevent seed being sent here from districts where this weed is known to- exist. The difficulty of dealing with unindividualised 'Native lands still exists, but notwithstanding these difficulties in a district where there are large areas of Native lands fair progress has been made.

Settlement. —Settlement is going on apace; almost every boat brings in people on the lookout for land.