The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-07-29
4 Toss Of Sheep In Australia

Il last seven years from about 81, 900. 600
i 70 about 40,00O,00O, the natural in
crease also being lost. 1t will require
sIseyeral good years in succession to re-
j pair the damage. The districts prin-
clpally affected have almost literally
become a desert, large masses Of sand
snlftlng from point to point, according
10 the prevailing wind Boundaries
are In many cases obliterated; dams
ana tanks, constructed at great ex-
pense, are choked up and frequently
buried. The sheep and the rabbits, in
their last extremity, have eaten the
roots of nearly all the natural vegeta-
ton. Doubtless the climatic influences
will once more become favorable and
for few years resettlement will pro-
coed. But the truth is forcing itself
upon the Judgment of capitalists in
terested in squatting, that the climate
of> the central districts of Australia is
ttoo precarious to justify outlay, and a
great extent of country is likely to be
i abandoned. But the wide coastal dis
tricts of the continent Of Australia
will, as they are improved, more than
make amends for the recession from
I an arid country that affords no en-
couragement fer permanent settlement
Notwithstanding the losses of sheep in
New South Wales, the total Of the
Australasian docks shows slight in
crease as compared with ten years ago.
At the close Of 1888 the total was esti-
mated at about 97,000,000, and three
years later at about 124,500,000 It is
now, about 100000.
| Owing to the effects of the drought
the aggregate annual wool clip has
fallen off. For the year 1894-95 Cfrom
July L to June 30) the total quantity
shipped from the Australasian colonies
was l,951,80 bales. Last season
ls97-9s) the total was 1,71S,300 bales,
and 1t is estimated that for the current
season, to close June 30 next, the total
Will be 100000 bales. A falling off OF
four years in succession, especially in
pure merino sheep, has, however,
gradually relieved the consuming mar
kets, which were somewhat congested
with stock, and prices have been stead
lly rising of late. It is probable, there
fore, that the net return to the Aus
| tralaslan sheep farmers this season
will be 92,000,000 to &3,000,000 greater
than last season, so that increased
value will compensate for diminished
quantity.
The frozen-meat trade. an adjunct
OF the pastoral industry, has been we'll
maintained, but when the drought is
thoroughly broken the demand for
sheep for restocking purposes will ad-
versely affect the Australian portion
of the frozen-mutton trade for a time,
the New Zealand portion continuing
TO progress. The export Of frozen beef
from Queensland is likely to increase.
the herds numbering between 100000
and 100000 head of cattle and the
colony containing only about 100000
persons.
Sheep Losses on the Ranges.-Some
Of the stock journals are publishing
narrowing tales of sheep losses on the
range. While it is true that a. few Sec
tons suffered some heavy losses, the
very light losses indeed. Some of the
statements made are so grossly ex-
aggerated as to merit no attention
whatever. Most of the range wool
growers have been taught by bitter
experience what it costs to enter the
winter season unprepared. Intelligent
dockmasters are now laying in a sufi-
cient supply of hay to meet any and
all contingencies. American Sheep
Breeder. ,-....~4 -.
Potash, as constituent Of fertiliz-
ers, exists in a number of forms, but
chiefly as Chord Of muriate and as
sulphate. All forms are freely soluble
in water and are believed to be near
ly, if not quite, equally available, but
it has been found that the Chords
may injuriously affect the quality of
tobacco, potatoes, and certain other
crops. The chief sources of potash
lare the potash salts from Stassfurt,
Germany-Kainit, sylvinit, muriate of
potash, sulphate of. soda, and sui
phate of potash and magnesia Wood
| ASHES auu COlIOA-uu11H dSuSS are d1SO
sources Of potash. -~& .a,.-.-
Thinning Orchard Fruits Whether
or not itspays to thin the fruit of an
orchard, everyone agrees that with q
few trees it is advantageous to thin
an overwhelmed crop down to a rea.
sonable. number of choice fruits. II
an experiment reported by the depart
ment of agriculture, thinning wa:
found to increase the total yield an6
to decrease rot. The thinning wa!
practiced with apples, peaches !. ant
fplums, early thinning giving the most
practical results. It was concluded
that it pays best to commence work Of
this kind Immediately after the fruit
has set. d. 5s: II. - 49,
The Ives Grape Sylvester johnson
4 of Indiana says that the Ives grape il
one Of the best, as it will always bear
It is not yet popular, but one reason
Flor that is that it turns black long be