ON THE LAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8274, 20 October 1915, Page 8

ON THE LAND.

STEMS FOR FARMERS. If ono aeoded an object-lesson in the vralue of cultivated v. uncultivated land it can be found near Stratford (says the Tn-ranaki. .".Herald"). There the observant can see one paddock with vigorous growth of grass and carrying, 15 or so head of cattle. Imcaediateiy following is a broken, fernoovered, stump-littered paddock that aeoms to have trouble in producing sufficient'grass to sustain one cow. Since fcho closing down of the EViataum Freezing Works and consequent cessation of rabbit-trapping, the rabbit during the recent dry weather has been increasing rapidly in the Mataura and Tuturau districts (says the "Ensign"). When trapping ceased lately one farmer at Tuturau thought the farm was clear of the pest. Wishing to ho certain of having a clear farnij ho laid poison one night, and two days iiftenvnrds picked lip 230 dead rabbits. Another adjoining farmer picked up 280 rabbits as the result of poisoning.

Notwithstanding the shortness of grass it has beou an ideal lambing season. Docking operations on a number of farms arc • completed (says the Tawa correspondent of tho Oamaru " Mail"). Tho following are a few of. the returns: —150 ewes, 110 per cent.; 157 ewes, 131 per cent.; and a large flock of 1400 ewes has given the splendid return of over 120 per cent. There are several lots of 100 per cent. Only one small lot under 100 per cent, was heard of. With the ground moistened aow_, farmers were pushing on with the sowing of- rape and turnips. A point in connection with the increase of agricultural production in the United States is brought out in tho annual report of the Secretary for Agriculture at Washington. During the past 15 years, Mr Houston says, the population of the United States lias increased by 23,000.000, but of this increase loss than 8,nt)0.000 has been In rural districts, and more than 17,000,000 in towns, cities, and urban centres. The moral drawn is that " nothing short of a comprehensive attempt to make rural life profitable, healthful, comfortable, and ' attractive will solve the' problems " of agriculture, i