THE AORIGULTURAL JOURNAL. 



5') 



Natal, if not better, than they do in Aus- 

 tralia, the species^ we have here being 

 (juite as vigorous in growth as any 1 saw 

 in their native country. The Acacia 

 ]\lollissiina, for instance, succeeds much 

 better here than in Australia, from which 

 country it was introduced, and 1 am fully 

 satisfied that if timber growing is pro- 

 jxuiy taken up in this Colony, we should, 

 within a measurable time, be able to sup- 

 ply all our own re({uirennits. i{cluil)lc 

 seeds of the Jarrah and Karri woods • — 

 which woods are imported largely into 

 Natal — were not procural)le before I left 

 Australia, but arrangements were nuide 

 for securing a suj^ply, which was to be 

 forwarded on the first opportunity. These 

 woods are largely used in West Australia, ' 

 the Jarrah for immersion in Avater and 

 underground work, and the Ivarri for 

 superstructure. This is very important, 

 and should be borne in mind. 



The foregoing information, to be of 

 any value to us, means that we must fol- 

 low the lead given by the Australian Col- 

 onists. We have to co-operate, to com- 

 bine, and to establish factories, and we re- 

 quire to have chilling and freezing works 

 for the preservation of our perishable pro- 

 ducts. 



Co-operation means securing to the 

 producer the maximum value of his pro- 

 ducts, . and minimising the middleman's 

 exactions; combination will give him com- 

 mand of capital ; the factory will produce 

 the finished article in its best condition, 

 at a minimum of cost, and the freezing 

 and chilling works will preserve the pro- 

 duct until required for consumption or 

 export. The first three of tliese are with- 

 in the reach of the Natal farmer, and those 

 interested in the soil ; the last should have 

 the immediate attention of the Govern- 

 ment, with a view to the provision of cold 

 storage works by the State for the bene- 

 fit of both producer and consumer in our 

 country, and these works should lie eon- 

 ducted at the lowest possible cost, in the 

 interests of all classes of the community. 



Respecting tlie re-stocking of Natal 

 with cattle — which has become a neces- 

 sity — the most suitable district from ' 

 which to obtain the animals re<piired is 

 the northern part of Queensland, owing to 



ihe similarity of the climate, and 

 hi'canse sailed or trek innnuned 

 slock are oblainable there. The kinds 

 ■Avv eliielly Shorthorn and Hereford. 

 Yearling lieifers should be purchased; 

 1)} this means more " lives will 

 be secured foi' the money expended, 

 and the cost of freight on each "life" will 

 be half that on mature animals. Young 

 stock will also stand the change better. 

 The average price of yearlings is about 

 3()s. to 4:0s. per head, but I Avould point 

 out that cattle are now rising in value in 

 Australia, owing to the losses occasioned 

 by drought. This matter is one of vital 

 importance to our Colony, and I would 

 suggest the advisability of its being taken 

 up by the Agricultural Department as 

 early as possible. 



ill conclusion I would point out that 

 altluuigb we have cheap labour and com- 

 parati\ely plenty of it, we are unable to 

 compete with the Australian with his dear 

 labour owing to our want of industrial 

 (organisation. 



I will be able to furnish more de- 

 tailed i]vforma1ion in connection with the 

 different industries through the medium 

 of the Ai/riciilliinil ■Jonnuih such in- 

 formation being withheld from this 

 report, with a view to avoid unduly 

 lengthening it. 



I ha\e mucli pleasure in placing on 

 i-ecord that no trouble was too great, 

 either to Government or individuals, in 

 their endeavours to assist me to obtain the 

 information I now submit. 



F. R. Moor. 



Pietermaritzburg, 

 14th March, 1901. 



Some few years ago Messrs. Halse Bros, ob- 

 tained, through the late Mr, J. D. Ellis, a num- 

 ber of trout fry taken from the Hatcheries, 

 Pirie Forest. These were carefully placed in a 

 magnificent dam — one of several on the estate— 

 and f '^r some time nothing was heard of the re- 

 sult of the experiment. Suddenly the hearts 

 of Messrs. Halse Bros, and three enthusiaoti 

 gentlemen in King were gladdened by the cap- 

 t re of three year-old trout, weighing respec- 

 tivtly 7.^11),, 8jlb, aoH 8lb. 2o». Now, again, 

 '" Carnarvon " ha< topped the record. On the 

 20th instant a magnificent trout (four-year-old) 

 was caught in the dam, weighing 141b before 

 cleaning, and a trifle over 121b. after, the length 

 being 31in. 



