SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 8

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Txov Ova Ow Cobbhvokbkkt.) November 29. This has been a very bad month. There

was not much sunshine, and Tlie Weather the temperature was low. In and addition, violent westerly Th« Farm. gales prevailed for a con-

siderable time, and the rainfall was heavy, 3.73 in at date of writing (29th). On four occasions over half an inch. of rain fell within 24- hours, and a fewshowers of snow and hail were thrown in to add to the unpleasantness. Little has been, done on the farm, except ploughing, and the turnip sowing will be late. The laying down to grass without a crop is also delayed, and the seeds sown with the crop have not been harrowed in all .cases. It sometimes happens that a good braird is obtained under that circumstance when the weather is showery for two or three weeks after sowing, but it has also occurred that a good deal of the seed, especiallj the ryegras% has lain on the ground without germinating. The growth of the crops is very slow, and fewwould venture to express an opinion regarding the harvest. As the rainfall was pretty evenly distributed throughout the month, occurring on an average every second day, the quantity would have done no harm if the temperature had not been so low. The growth of the pasture is also slow, and paddocks have not their usual carrying capacity. Paddocks which usually carry five crossbred ewes with their lambs at this time of tho year are not carrying at the present time more than half that number. Many farmers find their paddocks in consequence somewhat bare, and cannot ie=erie so much for seed as they intended. Fruit is abundant this season, but the strong sales have done a good deal of damage where them was insufficient shelter, blowing the whole of the fruit off in some cases.

A3 usual, cliere «i! 2be a very largo ares sown with turnips, and they Green will be sown with the drill

Crops. on the flat surface wherever there is a probability of obtaining- a fair crop. Sowing- broadcast with the hand machine is now somewhat antiouaied, as there is a greater certainty of a. good braird where the seed is deposited with, a machine along with manure. As one solution of tho labour problem, a number o£ farmers arc bu} T ing double drill spoon-fed machines, intending So sow with them on. the raised drill as little as a^> of seed per acre in order to save the cost of hand-hoe-ing-. Thin-sowing on the raised drill is nofc always a siicee^s. but if e^ery seed grew there would probably be n= qooct a. chance of a fair crop of turnips as there is after tho periuuetory method of thinning practised by

come people. As there are about 80,000 feeds in a the seeds would be about 3in apart on an. acre of raised drills if every seed grew, which is very unlikely. Sewing has not yet been, commenced on account of the wetness of the soil, but high land is being barrowed. It is now time to sow on. .he flat surface. Swedes should also be sown soon on the raised drill. The softer varieties may be sown on the raised drill any time from the second week to the end of December, but th© sooner they are sown after the middle of the month the better. The crop is usually indifferent when the eeed is sown later, except when there- is a long period of warm weather in the early months of the year. The principal varieties of seed sown are the purple and green-top 'Aberdeen, and greystone for eating off early. This varisty is perhaps the most inferior of the turnips", but it grows to a large size, and is easily eaten, so that there are compensatory qualities. It is very suitable for lambs after they have finished a crop of rape. As rape is usually ready for eating oft" in from six to ten weeks after sowing, the seed should be sown about two months before the crop is required. Last year some farmers did not sow rape on account of not getting good results in the fattening of lambs. The wetness of the seasons have something to do with unsatisfactory results, but in any ease the young animals should not be more than two or three weeks on this rich forage crop, as they are apt to sicken if they are kept on longer, and good results are usually obtained by putting only the best lambs on. the crop r as, they do not require to be too long on it. Lambs do uot sicken to the same extent on ripe turnips, and can be kept on them much longer than on rape. The seed lias been sown by a few on the raised drill, but a greater quauLity can bp produced when the seed is sowai^wjth th© -drill. About 21b of seed is required for the raised drill, and about 3lb, for broadcast sowing 1 . . The stalks are not so thick and nutritious where the seed has been too thickly sown. The turnip manures are suitable for rape. The loosening of tlie soil with the grubber promotes wonderfully the growth of rape growing on the "raised drill. It is aho important to have the soil deeply worked for turnips (the main root of _which goes down about 2ft) especially in a dry season. Last season I noticed a paddock one-half of which had been ploughed deep, and the othei naif turned over shallow. In the former case there was about 25 tons per acre ; in the latter about 10 tons.

A considerable number of flocks are in low condition, judging from the Lire appearance of many sheep Stock. submitted for sale at the

yards, but it could hardly be otherwise after experiencing the most rigorous winter and spring on record. There will probably be few fat lambs this season, ■unless a great improvement in the weather takes place soon. The importance of providing shelter was never so fully realised, and some farmers can now gay a good word for the gorse. Straw stacks are very useful .for sheltering lambs, calves, and foals, and a stack should be left standing in every pad■dock'. A small plantation in a corner of 'every paddock would also be a great advantage, and hawthorn hedges about the hqmeetead. Cattle have come through the winder better than" sheep. A considerable number of foals have died this season, the cause of death being probably the inclemency of the weather. As these anfmals spend a good deal of time in a recumbent position they should have the shelter of a loosebox during wet weather until they are at least a week old.

It is usual to commence sheep-shearing at this time on the farms, but Miscellaneous, until the weather clears up few will think of commencing fhis important operation. Suppliers of milk to the factories are increasing in numbers, although some are buying separators in preference to selling the milk at a reduced price. About 2ggal of separated milk fields lib of butter, but it takes about 3gal under the system of set--ting the milk in pans, but the milk, in the latter case, is of greater value for feeding calves or pigs.

A considerable number of farmers are neglecting to take the precaution tc insure their workmen, and some may yet have cause to regret their inaction. A farmer who employs one man all the year round, and temporarily two shearers, one harvest hand, and one casual hand can get them insured for 10s a year, provided the total wages paid to the lot dc not exceed £100, and it is surely a wise proceeding to insure, even in cases where a hand is only employed for a short time now and again. In making a proposal the duties of the various hands should be stated, as otherwise the policy might not give the security required.