COUNTRY NEWS AND NOTES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13098, 24 April 1908, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS AND NOTES.

jornxes for farmers.

The breastplate commonly used on light harness horses instead of a' collar ha* not been brought into use among draught horses, but Mr J. M. .Stevens, of Christchurch, who is. a ploughman of long exneiier.ee, has patented a si-el*ton cellar and • hamc_ which is likely to prove very useful to farmers. It is padded at the sides with heavy felt, but a space is-left unpadded in front so that thero will be no pressure on the 1-orse's wind-pipe. Tjyo straps— one to go over the neck ar.d the other over the back—hold it in position. For young horses or horses with tender or sore shoulders, the skeleton collar should especially serve a useful purpose.

The rainfall at Kaiapoi for the 2-1 hours ending i).&) a.m. on Wednesday was .Coinch.

Our Waimate correspondent reports that the weather in tnat district has been ideal for autumn, with slight indications of frost at night. Farm work: is progressing favouraoly and preparations are being made for winter wheat sowing. Grats pastures are improving. Turnips in most cases are light crops, and will not afford: half the usual feed throughout the district.

The Manaivatu of the Wellington "'Evening writes: — Farming operations throughout the district li'ive been favoured for a considerable time past with suitable weather. Ploughing hap been done to a very largo extent, and extensive areas have been t-wwn in Algerian and diun oaie-, and Cape barley, which crojis will be used for the feeding of lignt stock. Sparrowbills and Cartons cats have also been put down excousively. These will be mowed and fed 1 to dairy cows in the spring. In spite of the dryness of the soueon. farmers luive since had every opportunity of making ■ample provision for the winter in tho wav cf feed. Grass is growing bcuitifullv. and clover is coining up well, which fact is reflected in tho higher tests that are being obtained at the factories. In one direction, however, thero is a great shortage iu root crop3, the long, dry summer militating again_t tho development cf turnips, swedes and mangles. Generally speaking, grain crops have oonvo on advantageously to the producer, and oat.?, wheat, peas, and beans are now bringing prices in exee.<--> of these of last year, while oat sheaf chaff is at present higher than it. wn.s last spring, and the prospects are that still higher values will rule. Potato digging is now in full swing aud in many cases the crop is proving a very indifferent one. Sinoe the late rain, *d'i_«a__ is reported to have become very pronounced. It is expected the providence of blight will affect the price when'the digging is over.

Tho Oamaru "Mail" states that Mr James Ross's estate, at Kartigi, which consists of between four and five thousand acres, and which was recently purchased by a syndicate for subdivision, has been all ro-sold, with tho exception of about 800 acres on the Horso Range. The purchasers are said to be Messrs LeCrai Bros. (South Canterbury).

A farmer, who arranged to have a number of trucks sent to a small waysido station in the North Otago district to load his gram, was-rather disgusted to find when, he arrived upon the scene with his produce that another settler had filled them up with potatoes for the market. This is a matter which is very difficult to settle (says th;< Oamaru "Mail"), in view of the fact that there is. no ono. at "the flag stations to sco that thoso who order trucks get them. Morally, tho settlers who make arrangements to be supplied are entitled to the uso of tho waggons, but legally it would appear that;thoso who get their produce on to them first have the greatest claim. It then becomes oho fanner's word against another's, and pbßsos3_oii is-over nine points of tbo law in such circumstances. Tho Railway Department can do nothing, and it would appear that tha-only way out of the difficulty at picsent is for the rightful owner to detail someone to sit on the trucks during his absence."

The Premier of New South Wales has received from Mr J. 13. Suttor, Commercial Agent in. the East, a report in confirmation of a cable he sent from Kobe on February 17tll, in which he stated that Australian horses were very conspicuous as prize w-iiiinere at the Manila Show, hold in February. The classes of horses exhibited wore light double and single harness and saddle horses, ladies' hacks and hunters. T!ho demand for these would appear to be aotive, as well as for (horses suitable ior' light cavalry purposes. Mi* Suttor etatte that at the time of writing\ (February 28th) about 300 horses vrero duo irom Australia for army "requirements, and if found satisfactory an -additional' 1500 would probably ho purchased during this year and early next year. Ho considers that tlie New South Wales breeders and nge»ts are not so active as the Queensland people in the way of keeping in touch with the requirements of tho Philippines. He expresses himself os convinced that there is a growing demand .ell over tie Orient 'for a good stamp of horse, and savs -Australians would do well to T>e"oa~ the alert and keep in touch with eastern agents. During his visit to Manila he took advantage--of the opportunity to place several enquirers in touch vrifh. New South Wales agen-te, and is hopeful that gocd results will follow. Mr Suttor adds that it i$ probable dairy rattle will form a feature at the future shows, and in order to encourage cattleraidnq: in the Islands the Government is taking the matter -in- hand, and hns ordered »,- small shipment from Australia with a view to triab Ijohig made of -the Austral ian oattlo. Should the trials prove s-ati.sfactcrv, a point aho-.it which Mr Suttor entertains no doubt, large order* v.*UI~ nrobablv l>c Ti'.aced m Australia for cattle of the Shorthorn type.

A smdinte has been formed a.t Warwick, Que?n.?land. to test the destruction of the prickly pour pest bv electricity. Very encouraging trials h:.7e ah-svulv been eu-riVl out, at.-a co*it. it ik e-stinraied. of 5s ner acre. •*v>mo withered leaves recently .-r'nown wer--- the rc-nlt ifter being subjected to the electric current, and every effort to restore growth failed.