FARM TOPICS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9737, 27 May 1897, Page 3

FARM TOPICS.

The Grekk Mantis.

■ In a letter appearing in the Ashburton Guardian Mr W. W. Smith says of the green or praying mantis :—"To lovers of gardens, and especially to fruit-growers and consumers of fruit, it ehould be gratifying to learn that the mantis is annually increasing in oar district. The great value of this large insect is that it is both diurnal and nocturnal in habits. 16 is the chief agent in checking the codlin moth, while ife has, I believe, almost annihilated the injurious Trypeta fly. The larva of the latter diurnal insect existed in some orchards at Ashburton six years ago, but I have not observed it of late. In the case of a conspiouons and valuable insect like the mantis, it would be a safeguard against its destruction if schoolmasters were to exhibit living specimens, with their nests to theirpupils. If any of your country readers would care to introduce this insect into their orchards, I would be pleased to give'or send them living specimens or their nests for that purpose."

TtfBXIP GROWING COMPETOTIOX. The.Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association had before tbwa on Satattday

last the judges , report on a turnip growing competition. The judges (Messrs John Macpherson and Richard Irving), gave the following description of the five lota entered for competition in the rotation in which they were judged (oa May sth and 6th) :•— H. Buckeridgej Limestone Ridges, Sutherlands: 10 acre 3 of Posterton hybrid, grown on a very steep siding by grain and manure drill; lewt of artificial manure, sown per acre along with seed ; crop very regular and even, and land very clean. D. McLeod, Milford: 10 acres of green top yellow Aberdeen, sown on raised drills 27in apart, and hand-thinned ; no manure of any sort used ; crop extra heavy and land very clean, R. H. Rhodes, Bluecliffs: 10 acres green top yellow Aberdeen, grown on down land on raised drills, and hand-thinned ; lewt of artificial' manure per acre used ; very " fair crop, and land very clean. Clissold Bros., Otaio :10 acres green yellow, drilled on flat "with 1151b per acre of artificial manure ; fair crop, and land fairly clean. A. Garland, Waimate: 10 acres green top yellow and purple top mammoth mixed, sown on down land on raised drills 29in apart, and hand thinned; £ cwt. of artificial manure per acre used ; a splendid even crop, and land extra clean. The judges placed them in the following order of merit:— - . ___ Name ot Competitor. 33 .£• S ;&& I g Maximum Points ..20 15 5 40 Down Land. A. Garland, Waimate 16 14 5 35 H. Buckeridge, Sutherland* 14 13 5 32 B. H. Rhodes. Bluecliffs .. 13 15 5 31 Clissold Bros., Otaio ..8 13 3 24 Flit Land. — l>. MoLeod, Milford _ 20 13 5 38 The judges add :—" We were sorry that in such a large and important turnip growing district more farmers- had not entered for this competition, but we understand that this was chiefly owing to the present dry season. We have to thank the committee and competitors for their kindness and attention which enabled us to get thiough our work so expeditiously." Advantages op a Ploughing Match. At a meeting of the Geraldine Farmers' Club on May 10th, Mr R. Skinner read a paper on "Ploughing," in th-'i course of which he expressed th > opinion that " a ploughing match has advantages, although some are inclined to say it belongs to the past. Every farmer ought to encourage a ploughing match for the following reasons :—No implement can take the place of the plough, although some attempt ought to be made to lighten the draught. It is a benefit to all young ploughmen, whether ploughing or looking on, as it is a means of improving them in their everyday work. It gives farmers an opportunity of seeing a number of .different makers' ploughs Working in the same soil. Any one present at our match could not fail to notice the difference between some of the makers' ' ploughs in turning the proper Bide ofHhe furrow down and burying the grass and weeds, compared with others. An inspection of the ploughing a month after the match would show some of the lands green, and others the same as if newly ploughed. There was some misunderstand ing last year with some of the ploughmen in reading the rules of the club, and some excellent ploughing of its kind was disqualified. The rule was that the ploughing should be of nearly a Uniform level, and no ridge left under the wing of the share. This rule did not prevent set or cut put on the plough by the maker, nor as much coulter cut as the ploughnian liked. A few .strokes of, a hammer on the wing of the'share was all that was required to qualify any plough that was on the ground. I think the same rule should apply this year. The plough that can do the fancy work can do the everyday work, and do it well." Waimka Cropping Sam. The annual sale of the New Zealand Agricultural Company's cropping leases was held in the Drill Hall, Riversdale, on May sth by Messrfi Wright, Stephenson and Co. The sale was mo3t successful. The right to take one grain crop from 2535 acres of land, cut up into eighteen lots, was offered and sold under the hammer at an average rental of 193 6d per acre as follows:—Lot 1, 179£-acres,-Martin Shea, 20s; lot 2, 1064 acres, Geb. Lynch, 25s '; lot 3, 152 acres, D. McDonald, 21s; lot 4, 189£ acres, Jno. McPhee, 18s; lots 5 and 6, 210 and 249 acres, Fortune Bros., 21b ; lot 7,*206£ acree, D. Gilles, 20s ; lot 8,137£ acres, P. Ferris, 225; lot 9,-744 acres, Di Cooriey, 20s; lot 10, 82 acres, W. Urquhart, 21b ; lot 11, 154J acres, Wm. Rasmussen, 17s; lot 12, 52 acres,* J7 Conneghan, 21s; lot 13, 56J acres, J. Conneghan, 22s ; lot 14, 172 acres, M. Rasmussen, 16s; lot 15, 150$ acres, W. Kelly, 15s; lot 16, 122 acres, H.Windle, 17s ; lot 17,119 acres, D. Dunn, 17a ; lot 18, 122 acres, D. i)unn, 21s. .