COUNTRY NEWS AND NOTES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14512, 19 December 1912, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS AND NOTES.

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Excellent progress is bcins mado everywhere in tue country witu the hay narvest. for which the weatnor conditions continue to bo still most favourable. In tho reoort of last week's Addington sale it was stated that amongst Wie fat cattle- sold wero 7 cows at £6 10s to £1 10s, on account of Mr E. D. Giles (Mount Parnassus). This was a mistake as the animals snould have been credited to another seller. A lino of 24 Border Leicester crass lambs sent to the Addington *>aloyard-? vestcrdav by Mr W. R. Wright, ot Willowbridge (Waimato), made the exceptional prices of 24s to 2& id. They were the heaviest lambs that havo been in the market this season, and wero estimated to dress out at 551b. They were bought for export by Mr A. L. Joseph. Our Dtinedin correspondent telegraphed last night:—Generally tho Christmas sale at Burnside brings between two and threo thousand lambs forward, but this year thero has been a marked shortage. Only 1700 lambs were forward to-day, and trom tho outset prices ruled high, the first pen bringing 22s 9d. All through tho sale tho advanco was maintained, and tho top price was reached with 23s 3d for a pen of choico quality. Travellers from tho north report that even thus early in tho summer settlers in tho back country aro taking advantage of the fine weather, and setting firo to the fallen bush, the burning of which has been delayed from last year. It is stated that a very largo area of bush has been fallen in tho Auckland province round about Taumnga, and dense clouds of smoko coming from that direction last week indicate that burning off is in progress. Reports from Wanganui stato that fires are in progress on clearings lying towards Pipiriki, but whether tho "burns" have been successful has not been ascertained. Last season was a bad ono for burning off, which not only kept a largo area of land out of use. but. in addition, lessened tho demand for grass seed to such an extent that tho market was over-supplied. Thero appears to be good grpund for hope of better conditions prevailing this year. Tho crested dogstail grass seed harvest, which entered so largely into tho calculations of Manawatu growers last year, is being almost entirely neglected this season, said a Sandon grower to a "New Zealand' Times" reporter. Last year's harvest of this crop showed particularly good returns, both in yield and prices, and as every farmer had a paddock or two laid up for seed tho market became overstocked for the time being. The samo grower has been noting the partiality that sheep havo for crested dogstail. In his comparisons with that grass and perennial ryo he finds that tho crested dogstail has carried just on a sheep more to the aero during the winter. Nearly twice as many lambs havo gone away fat. off tho dogstail, while tho owes havo douo splendidly. It should bo mentioned that both paddocks wero sown with their respective seed solely for seedsaving purposes, and contained no other mixtures. For foedin_ and fattening purposes the farmer spoken to says that crested dogstail is much under-es-timated, and ho thinks that tho addition of a little whito clover would make it still more valuablo for this purpose.

WAIAU.

Tho Waiau Sunday-school was the scene of a pleasant function on Tuesday afternoon, when Miss Lyford was made tho recipient of a silver-mounted dressing-case in recognition of her services as teacher in the Sunday-school, and as or_anist in the Presbyterian church. . ■:••:■,

KAIAPOI.

Tho delegates of the cycling, cricket, football and tennis clubs at Kaiapoi havo selected a Park Committee,, as under :-7-Messrs J. Brydeii (chairman), G. Forrest, J. Higgings, J. A. Mealiugs and A. H. Cooper (secretary). The Kaiapoi Woollen Mills Sick and Accident Society held its annual meeting on Saturday, Mr T. Mallasch in the chair. Tho balance to credit was £107 5s Id. Tho chairman suggested an extension of tho Society, but th«s proposal was not accepted. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr T. R. Leithcad, manager of tho mill, for his cordial assistance to tho society. A musical programme, followed by a dance, concluded tho meeting.