The San Francisco call., 1904-02-05
LONG-DELAYED DOWNPOUR
WELCOMED IN AUSTRALIA
Farmers Fight Pests That Threaten to Ruin Crops.
Grain Will Hereafter Be Inspected and Graded
Results of Federal Elections Causing Comment

This IS q remarkable summer season
from many points OF view for Australia
During the prolonged period Of drouth
much Of the farm and pasture land re-
mained fallow, so that when the long
delayed rains came and the drouth
was broken there was a quick and thick
a. growth Of vegetation OF every descrip-
tion- Rich waving grass, nearly up to
a mans head, stands where before was
bare soil and dust ankle deep. The
d half-srarved thin remnants Of the once
numerous docks and herds that before
covered the ranges and runs have be-
come sleek and fat. but there are too
few OF them and even with the rapid
extension OF the silo system only
portion OF the immense superabundance
Of animal feed can be utilized and the
remainder is forming a vast inf1am-
mable mass, which threatens wide
spread terror and destruction. Every
where corps OF fire-fghters are being
organized Sale Of matches has been
interdicted and broad spaces around
stations, farms and villages are being
cleared OF the welcome and at the same
time dreaded grass.
In tie agricultural districts there has
been a tremendous product OF cereals,
vegetables, fruits and flowers, and
should the weather remain generally
favorable the harvest will be the larg-
ess ghat Australia has ever seen. e Veg
etables are especially abundant and of
immense size, as are also all kinds of
fruits. much OF which will remain un-
gathered.
But she very abundance Of vegetation
is becoming q source Of much evil. New
South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and
other states, too, are now suffering
from q plague Of butterflies, moths and
caterpBlars,o the latter swarming so
thick on the rails that trains are un-
ssle TO move through the slime Of the
crushed bodies. Engines have TO carry
sweeperS in front to clear the rails.
Farmers are fighting hard to save their
crops, which are being destroyed by
wholesale. The white BUTTERFLIES are so
thick in places as 10 look like fall Of
slsow Swarms Of bees are unusually
plantifuls and the natives predict great
stores os Wild honey. White ants, too,
nave come in myriads, invading the
houses and threatening great destruc-
tion Of woodwork
The insect pests are so numerous and
So widely spread that it is doubtful
whether the later Australian crops viii
.escap& partial destruction.
The fruit fly has been especially hurt
fil To- the orchards this season and is
making a visit Of much longer duration
than ever noticed before. A Govern
Incat entomologist leaves for Brazil
early in February to secure a parasite
for the fruit fly. the one brought from
india not having proved a success. The
~ work Of the olive scale parasite, lately
brought from California, is very salts
factory. while the one brought from
care Tou,n did not do at all well, either
IN. propagation or destructive work.
Anthrax and swine fever are preva-
lent in some parts. and the authorities
are irstituting a rigid system of in
sgection Of the stock and enforcing
rules TO prevent the spread Of the dis
eases.
In some districts the heavy rains
since Christmas have done much dam
age 20 the crops. both standing and in
stacks. An unusually heavy hail
storm and gale on New Years day in
Caulburn Valley leveled some thou
sands ef acres Of wheat and uprooted
the trees over large areas, while floods
helped to swell the damage. The corn
crop has had too much rain.
Australian farmers are beginning TO
see the profit 10 be made in turning
their grain into pork and during the
coming season this viii be done largely.
The wheat industry is TO see some
marked improvements also. Now that
The shippers are more important buy
ers than tbe millers the demands of the
latter have found the ear Of the trade
and a movement is on foot 10 have a
regular system Of inspection and
standards obtaining in the markets