THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15219, 5 March 1915, Page 5

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. CROP YIELDS. OFFICIAL FIGURES. (raiSS ASSOCIATION TKLKGBAM.) ' WELLINGTON, March 4. The estimated average yields per acre of field crops for the season 1914----15, aa shown by a ta"ble published in the."Gazette" to-night, are as follows: Bushels. Wheat 23.90 . Oats ••• ••• S 5 -"^ Barley ... • •• 27.78 Maizo ••• ••• 45.98. Peas — ••• 25.93 lbs. Ryegrass ••• ••• 419.63 Cocksfoot ••• ••• 141.54 Chewing's fescuo ... 494.12 Rod Clover ... ... 151.82 White Clover ... 147.31 Tons. Potatoes •■• ... 6.45 Turnips ■-• ••■ 15.13 Mangolds ... ... 26.61 According to returns furnished to the Registrar-General by post, the total estimated yields of the principal crops will bo: — Bushels. • Wheat ... ... 4,921,259 Oats ... ... 10,191.037 Barley ... ... 509,680 Ryegrass ... 21,205.163 Cocksfoot ... 2,484,169 Tons. Potatoes ...' ... 141,171 Turnips ... ... 7,778,409 Mangolds ••■ 259.578 JOTTINGS FOR FARMERSMr Shmack, of Sefton, threshed out a field of 8 acres of Garfcon oate, which went 73 bushels to the acre. Light showers of rain fell at intervals at Ashburton yesterday, and these will further assist the growth of rape, turnips, and grass. A telegram from Carterton states that heavy rain fell over the whole of the South \Vairarapa district yesterday morning. It was the first rain in some parts for about six months. At Te Moana, near Geraldine, Mr R. Hammond has for some years past cultivated a number of Government experimental plots, which have been specially manured and devoted to different kinds of cereals, mostly new varieties, the seed being provided by the Agricultural .' Department. This season no such plots have been set aside, but Mr Hammond has utilised some of the seed that was harvested from last year's plots. In" this way he sowed 14$ chains with "Poi White" wheat, which stood the season exceptionally well, , and was not beaten down by -wind or rain. The yield from the area was 77 bushels. __ Another variety, "McCrillum's White Straw," was sown on an area of 9| chains, but this wheat was a eood deal broken down by the storms, but threshed out 53 bushels from half a chain less than an acre. A half acre area was devoted to "Dreadnought," which returned 24 bushels—equal to 48 bushels to the acre. A similar area was devoted to "Yandhalla King," which yielded 19 bushels. The main wheat crop on Mr Hammond's farm' consists of "Red Marvel" and "Red Chaff." but this has not yet been threshed, though it is expected to yield 60 bushels to the acre. Of oate. Mr Hammond sowed 2J bushels of "Green's Rakura Rust Resister," -which has yielded 63 bushels of oats. AH the areas-were fertilised with basic >lag. at the rate of 2 cwt per acre. Mr Hammond is generously giving seed of the varieties he has tested in order that it may be sold for the benefit of the Belgian Fund. HANMEIt SPRINGS. The-weather'a£ Hanmer Springs has been showery since February 27th\ and the country looks very fresh and green, There is every prospect of plenty of feed for cattle and sheep. The committee- of 'the Hanmer Plains School held a meeting on Tuesday. Present—Messrs :O, (chairman), G , . Lucas, C. McKay, and E. Whitmore. The. balance-sheet for-the year ending December 31st, 1914. showed a balance of £11 4s 4d. ; The credit to the Picnic Fund was stated to be £5 0s 10d. and £2 was voted to the Belgian Relief Fund. Permission was granted io the local Belgian Relief Fund Committee to hold a meeting in the school on Wednesday night. RANGIOR.A. The Rev. Canon Burton is conducting a series*-of Lenten services at St. John's Church, Rangiora. Last night there was a large congregation, the subject of the -address being "The Lord's Prayer." A meeting of those interested in the Saturday half-holiday- movement was held last evening. There was a, small attendance. ; Mr' H. D. Wilson j who convened the meeting, presided. In his opening remarks, .the chairman stated that some time ago the local tradespeople agreed to 'give the scheme a trial, but after a short period the Thursday half-holiday was reverted to. Speaking from the point of view of the firm he represented, during that, time there was no marked difference in the nmount of. business done, and ho was quite sure that if the Saturday halfholiday became an accomplished fact the sliopkeepers would not be affected by loss of trade.. It was reported that approximately £00 signatures had been obtained for the requisition demanding a poll to be taken, while the strength of the municipal roll was about 850. After discussion, a committee was set un to canvass the borough for support of the movement, Mr E. Chappoll being elected secretary.