Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Tuesday 5 December 1905, page 9


THE PRODUCER.

COLD WEATHER AT MOUNT

GAMBIER.

HUNDREDS OF LAMBS PERISH.

Mount Gambier, December 4.

. Extremely cold and rough weather prevailed on Saturday. Yesterday it was responsible for serious lost among the sheep at Coola station. The manager (Mr. M.tchess) reports that a large number of lambs had died there. The exact number will not be known until after mustering, the sheep were shorn on Friday, and the rapid change in the weather proved too much for them.

The Mount Schanck station also reports the loss of a number of sheep on Saturday in consequence of the extreme cold.

-a: DUTY ON HARVESTERS.

Horsham, December 2.

At the annual meeting of the Horsham Agricultural Society this afternoon there was a lengthy discussion on the proposal to place a duty of £25 on imported harvesters. Mr. James Giles moved that the society oppose the proposal. Mr. F. Zerbst seconded. An amendment that the society support the duty was moved and seconded. The motion

"was carried.

STOCK MOVEMENTS.

Oodnadatta, November 30.

A. special train is taking 192 head of cattle to Adelaide to-night. The cattle are from Crown Point station, W. Coles being the drover in charge of them. "Mr W. Coulthard trucked 102 horses on November 23 for Adelaide. These horses, which comprise remounts, trophy, and draught horses and hacks were bred by Mr. Coulthard, on Love's Creek, Northern Temcory. Mr. S. Kidman, who has been inspecting the Peake and Macumba cattle stations, will leave by the special cattle train to-night. During the past week he and his partner in the Macumba station (Mr. Bartlett) rode over a good part of that run, which is in splendid condition.

Quorn, December 2.

The stock passing from north to south of Quorn during the week ended to-day were 35 horses, 000 cattle, 800 sheep.

Innamincka, November 28.

Stock are now getting low in condition, and on account of the long distances between feed and water. The only water available at present is in Cooper's Creek, which is fast drying up. It appears that the residents

here will have a difficulty in procur-ing meat in the near future. The mail contractors between Farina and Birdsville have made a few alterations in their time-table, and are still running true to time. All are hoping that rain will soon come.

QUEENSLAND LIVE STOCK.

Charleville, November 28. s Owing to the continued dry weather the well-known Broken Hill Butchering Company closed up last week, and the horses and carts started a few days ago for Broken Hill Several more horse buyers have arrived here from various parts of the Commonwealth, but they decline to operate until further rains fall.

FOXES AROUND KAPUNDA,

, Kapunda, December 4.

Since the disbandment of the Kapunda Fox's Club a few weeks ago foxes are becoming more numerous in the ranges surrounding the town. At one time the fox paid his attention to the sheep flocks alone, but he is now invading the poultry yards. half-grown foxes have been captured frequently, and in some instances fitters have been unearthed. Some sheepowners are viewing the pest with, considerable concern, but others appear indifferent in the

matter.

KERSBROOK, December 4. The weather has been very rough lately. It will do harm to the young fruit, which is from three weeks to a month later than usual.

Some of the gardeners have a record crop, while others have but very little. This does not seem to interfere with spraying, however as most of them are very busy at intervals wich that work.

MAITLAND, December 2. - Haycarting is the order of the day. Some very fine crops have been cut. "There is a plentiful supply of hay this year. Oats and barley are being reaped on many farms, and in a few instances early wheat is already being harvested. Reaping will not be general, however, for about a fortnight. The yield promises to be good; but in some paddocks the results will be^otnewhat small, in spite of the fine growth here. Some very optimistic estimates have been given of the average for the _d.istxic.tu»_By.,someJ.t has been fixed as high as fifteen bushels. To judge merely by, the Kilkerran land, this estimate would probably be somewhere near the mark. But, taking a radius of, say; 13 miles, the average cannot be above eleven bushels. There are some paddocks in the hundred of Kilkerran which will give fully six bags per acre. These are the fields which make the former smile and feel

generous.

NORTHFIELD, December 2. The farmers have finished binding, and are busy carting hay. The weather has been all that could be desired, and the crops have yielded good returns. Reaping will soon be starting, but the crops ripen very slowly.

. REYNELLA, December 3 The weather

during the past few weeks has been all that could be desired for harvesting the hay crop, and operations were in full swing. The fields of waving corn are rapidly giving place to neat and symmetrical rows of stooks. The yield this year is quite up to the average of last year, ranging from, to 2 tons, and in some cases even 3 tons per acre. The vines are also looking reremarkably healthy and vigorous, and should they Continue growing as they have done during the past three months the prospects for. the coming vintage will be one of the best on record.

STRATHALBYN, December 4. - Discoveries

' of Jitters of foxes are becoming quite common about the district and Mr.' P. McAnaney added another to the list by

capturing half a dozen, including the vixen, on Friday last, on his estate at Mosquito Point, near the lakes. While walking - through, some mallee scrub he came upon a

burrow, which had the remains of poultry, rabbits,- and lambs strewn around the hole. ' He soon had some men on the scene, with the above result The first load of this season's wheat was delivered to Messrs." W. & A. Johnston's Angas mill this morning by Mr. S. Leslie, of Angas Plains. It was King's Early and weighed 62 lb. to the bushel. Mr. Leslie is reap-ing ft 16-bushel crop. The sample is fair.

PORT VICTORIA, December 3 The first load of new wheat was delivered on Thursday by Mr. Krieg, the variety being Early Blue, and it averaged five bags per acre. The storms blew out quite a bag; the sample turns the scale at 6d lb.

OODNADATTA, November 23. Messrs. Field and Chambers, of Menzies Western Australia, arrived by last night's train. They have come here to buy donkeys, and may go farther north to secure these useful animals, which they require for the west.

STOCKPORT, December 4. Hay cutting in this district is almost finished. Reaping

has not been commenced, but several farmers intend starting next week. Most of the wheat is green yet. The hay is well up to the standard this year, and some fine crops are to be seen. This year's sample of wheat promises to be in every way as fine as that of last season.

QUORN. December 1. Farmers are push-ing on with reaping. At the monthly market to-day most of the stock was sold, and fair prices were realised.

HAWKER, December 1. Harvesting is now in full swing, and farmers are hoping to get through with the work without having their sample bleached by thunderstorms or spoiled by adverse weather. Notwithstanding the dry spring, the sample of wheat is turning out better than was expected, although the yield will not be

heavy.

HAMLEY BRIDGE, December '4. The first load of new wheat was delivered here to-day by Mr. N. D. Smyth. The sample was excellent, weighing 67 lb. to the bushel. It was reaped from a crop averaging seven bags to the acre. The load was purchased by Messrs. Deland and

Black. , '

CONDOWIE, December 4. The first load of this season's wheat was delivered here to-day by Mr. J. Andrews, jun., to Messrs. J. Darling & Son. The sample was a good time, weighing 63 lb. to the bushel. The crop is averaging 16 bushels to the acre.

BORDERTOWN, December A party, including some of the oldest and most exincreased farmers in this district, journeyed last Wednesday to Wirrega to inspect Mr. S L. Fry's farm, in the misnamed desert." Mr. Fry has an area of 10,600 acres there. This year he has got under crop. 180 acres. The wheat is looking well, and a yield of from 12 to 16 bushels per acre b anticipated. There are also 20 acres under oats and 60 acres under lucern the late<er being in splendid condition, and in places over 2 ft. in height, without irrigation. The party were astounded with what they saw. a

MOUNT GAMBIER, December 2. This morning a strong wind did considerable damage to the early potato crops, and the onion fields also suffered. Shearing operations have again been retarded by rain, but Copies "cut put" to-day.