COUNTRY NEWS AND NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14305, 16 March 1912, Page 9

COUNTRY NEWS AND NOTES.

"v JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS

An Ashburton "Guardian" reporter learned on good authority yesterday that' about 120,000 lambs from other parts of tho South Island are being fattened in this county. Tho bulk of these, it is stated, will eventually find their way to tho Fairfield Freezing Works.

Speaking to a Dunedin "Star" reporter, a leading Dunedin produco merchant contradicted the statement made in the north .that potatoes would bo scarce in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland this season. Ho had just travelled all over the South Island, and stated that on tho contrary they would bo plentiful, especially in North Otago. Ho pointed out also with regard to .'mother statement that New Zealand potatoes wore practically prohibited from entering Australia.

Prior to the "Uruguayan Commissioners leaving Fcilding, Mr Ernest Short made a present to the Uruguayan Government of his valuable colt Record Breaker, dam Grace Shepherd, sire Royal Treasure. Record Breaker is 1(5 months old and holds an unbeaten record in New Zealand shows. Mr Short had already refused 300 guineas for tho colt. Senor J. S- Alsary heartily thanked. Mr Short for his gift. The Commissioners will inform their Government of the gift, and so soon as a reply is received the colt will be forwarded to his new homo.

With tho exception of somo of the late seed m tho eastern bays, the cocksfoot harvest is now practically over (writes our Akaroa correspondent), and nearly all is now through the riddles. The cold and damp weather has boon a great drawback, particularly to contractors in Goughs, Hickory, and Crown Island localities, where in somo few instances a portion of the seed cut will have to be abandoned. Sales up to the present have reached od to ojd for good seed, according to colour and weight. Large shipments are leaving weekly by steamer.

Mr D. T. McKenzie and his son Mr Thos. McKenzie, who are largely interested in dairying in Gippsland, Victoria, yesterday paid a visit to the Sunnyside Mental Hospital to inspect the dairy herd and the farm. They were much interested in the splendid herd.of milking Shorthorn cows, and in the records of their performances at tho pail. They were taken over the farm by Dr. Gow and the farm manager Mr Bloor, and were- shown the provision made "for feeding the dairy herd. They took considerable interest in tho lucerne crops and the stocks of ensilage. They explained that lucerne had proved a failure with them on account of the crop Incoming infested with dodder, a pest that does not affect the crop here. They make ensilage in silos from maize

for winter feeding their dairy herds. These herds are formed of Shorthorn and Ayrshire crosses, the Ayrshire being a greater favourite with Victorian dairy farmers than the Jersey.

A firm which has done and is doing a great deal to cultivate special markets has just had an interesting experience in the matter of cheese (says tho ''Manawatu Times'). An English cheese broker of standing with whom Messrs J. Nathan and Co. do considerable business, visited the district, and said that for a certain trade he required cheese much more highly coloured than anything New Zeaand sent. "The . redder the better/ Accordingly a good line of cheese was made something approaching in colour to the. requirements. All who saw it here condemned it, and tho graders dropped it points because its colour was outrageous. And now comes the sequel in tho shane of letters from the English broker to say that the cheese was good and fetched a good price, but why did they not fulfil his instructions and make it richer colour? It was not half highly coloured enough, and if it had been he eouU have got a still bigger price. But presumably the graders here would havo considered it their duty to lower its points still more!

Tho harvest this year is from fivo to six weeks later- than usu.tl, and any wheat which is not well filled tin now will bo seriously injured by the frost (says yesterday's "Otago Daily Times.")* The cold, inclement weather and the frost combined have pretty well mado a clean sweep of the wheat crop both in tho Taieri and Strath-Taieri districts, while in tho Milton and Clinton districts the standing grain has suffered severely. The wilted appoaranco; of some of the lodged wheat in tho Taieri reminds ono of the ravages of a flood-year, tho only difference in appearance bein;; that tho grain is black instead of claycoloured. Any grain which has been knocked over is much discoloured, and there will bo very little good milling wheat from the Taieri this year. The promise of two months ago will, jnfortunately, not be fulfilled this season. Tho oats crop has not suffered to the same extent, but any lodged grain will be discoloured. Generally, this crop is above tho average in quantity, particularly on terrace or second-class land. Farmers aro busy cutting their oats all tho way from Five Eivers to Dunedin, and many fields may be seen along the line quite green, 'although tho bulk of the crop is ready for the reaper. Lower down, in the Mataura district, there is little of this crop ready for cutting. Some very heavy returns will bo got this year from oats". Wherever the croo is stooked up .ho yield can bo gauged' with a failamount of accuracy.

The general committee of the Northern A. and P. Association met yesterday afternoon, Mr C. Leech presiding over aii attendance of sixteen members. A letter was read from the ivaiapoi branch of the Licensed Victuallers Association asking for a contribution towards the expenses of contesting tho Licensing Committee election in tho interests of the Moderate, candidates, on the ground that if tho Prohibition candidates wore elected the Show conditional license would be refused. It was also asked that the members of the Association be circularised urging them to use. their vote and influenco against the Prohibition candidates. The Chairman stated that he had authorised a reply to be sent to the effect that tho Association could not subscribe or take any other action in regard to the ejections. This was endorsed by tho meeting. The action of tho Chairman iv granting tho use oF the show-ground for tho Territorials Camp was approved. It was agreed to support the North Otago A. and P. Association in a movement to.suppress the pea rifle, for tho reason that damage was done to stock with the weapon by boys. The following wero elected a snb-committco to manage tho Winter Show":—Messrs J. "W. Foster, C. Leech. T. Leech, R. Marshall, C. King, W". Scoon. J. Carmiehael. F. Uorrell, W. A. Kolcher, \V. Stalker and A. Ironsides. It was resolved to write to the Auctioneers' Association protesting against yard fees being charged for stock entered for sale at the Rangiora Saleyards. Mr K. Mc Intosh spoke in reference to the frequency of bad languago mado use of at the Show, especially by those in charge of stock, and moved that itbe a recommendation to the incoming committee to fram a regulation provid'ng punishment for the iiso of objectionable language.