Report of the Cluef In.^pector of Stock. 867 



of the wheat was bleached in the field, rendering- it inferior for 

 milling purposes, but the rest was of good quality. Sowing is for 

 the most part performed by the seed drill, and superphosphate, bone 

 dust, and other artiiicial manures are in general use, at the same time 

 due care is exercised in selecting the manures adapted to supply the 

 special wants of the soil. 



In some parts of my district the caterpillars ])layed sad havoc 

 with the crops, fortunately, however, their ravages were confined to 

 small areas, or narrow strips of country. 



Store stock are in good condition, and in the early jjart of the 

 year there was a keen demand fur this class of cattle, as also for 

 breeding ewes, but latterly prices have a downward tendency despite 

 the recent splendid rains. When the demand for store cattle was at 

 its highest, the margin between them and fats was very small, 

 graziers often purchasing so-called fats instead of stores. Fat 

 sheep still command high })rices, and there is a great difference in 

 comparative prices between them and fat cattle, judged Ijy other 

 years. This, perha]:)s, is due to so many sheep being required by 

 New South Wales graziers for restocking their holdings. Breedino* 

 ewes readily command from tl per head upwards. 



Lambing returns, despite the cold weather, will, where the ewes 

 are propei'ly cared for, exceed 80 per cent. 



Stock are exceptionally free from disease, pleuro-pueumouia 

 being almost unknown in the major portion of this district, while 

 tuberculosis and actinomycosis are evidently on the decrease. 



During the past half-year I have inspected 47,631 head of cattle, 

 including 4,778 dairy cows. From the gross total I have condemned 

 18 head, the greater portion of which were tuberculous. 



Of sheep 29,500 have been inspected, and in them I have found 

 but few cases of fluke, although some parts of this district are 

 usually very subject to it. 



All pigs inspected were found free from disease. 



South GiprsLAXD District. 



Mr. Curlewis reports : — Duties performed — Inspection of stock 

 generally, attendance at markets, enquiries re disease, and relative to 

 number of remounts available. Dairy cattle inspected, 2,582 ; 

 killed, 14; isolated, 7. Other than dairy cattle, 29,865 inspected; 

 diseases found — pleuro-pueumonia, tuberculosis, and actinomycosis ; 

 23 destroyed, 93 isolated and quarantined. Pigs insi)ected, 5,056 ; 

 diseases found, swine fever and pneumonia; 10 killed, 47 isolated. 

 Horses inspected, 200 ; diseases found, strangles in a bad form and a 

 few cases of stringhalt. 



No disease observed in poultry. 



Diseases prevalent — tuberculosis, pleuro-pueumonia, actinomycosis, 

 swine fever, strangles. 



