THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16507, 26 April 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. THOROUGH CULTIVATION. TO INCREASE PRODUCTION. Wherever cultivation is carricd out it is essential to increased production that it be as thorough as the seasbn, labour, and facilities available permit, says Mr A. McTaggarfc in the course of an article in the ''Journal of Agriculture." Thorough and timely cultivation makes available plant-iood and conserves soil-moisture, the two most important factors in promoting abundant crop-growth. In adverse seasons attention to thoroughness olid timeliness as regards cultivation frequently means ■ the. difference between success and failure in cron production. A fine lirm scocl-lied is important in giving <:rot> a good start—a highly important factor ; and the rule to follow in the seeding of crops is. the liner the seed the liner the seed-bed. Elimination, as far as possible, of rough-and-ready cultivation will go a long way toward materially increasing production from our soils.

The adoption of methods of cultivation and tho use of implements suited to varying conditions of soil, climate, and labour supply will, whore possible, contribute :i frreat deal towards incroaspd output. Labour-saving machinery can materially assist in this direction. The farm tractor, ou land suitable for its use, can pJay an important part. Tn parts of the country where the rainfall is prevailingly somewhat limited, or .whore in seasons the weather conditions aro dry during the growing period, implements designed for "dryland" farming could be used to advantage. In preparing a seed-bed under such conditions use could be made of the subsurface and surface packers, as used in the Western States and provinces of North America. These.implements pack the soil, both lower and upper portions, and thereby encourage moisture to 'travel upwards by capillarity. The thin dust muldi that, in addition to packing, is produced by the subsurface packer tends to check evaporation from tho soil. Thus moisture is both conveniently concentrated and conserved, and so made the most of by tho crop subsequently sown. Disc drills, especially the double jdisc, also pack tho soii around,the jrrain as it is sown, thereby causing tho young plant to have the. Wnefit of a maximum of the moisture available in this comparatively dry soil, .

Failing the use of these special-pur-pose implements, the roTler, of as heavy a type as made, should be mado plenteous use of in woparing "dry-land" seed-beds, and their use should always be followed by .1 final stroke of a chain or brush harrow to promote a dust mulch, and so prevent evaporation. After every shower of rain in bucli climates or seasons a stroke of the harrows (light tino), where possible, will conserve this extrn. moisture to a marked extent. Indeed, during a dry spell when a. corral or turnip crop seems to "stand still" a stroke of the harrows (crosswise) often works like magic in promoting growth. This, again, is due to evaporation' of moisture being checked and concentrated at the roots of the crop. In like mariner the intercultivation of drilled crops during a dry season often means the difference between success and failure with respect to such crops. This being so, the expenditure on laliour for such purpose where at all availnblfi or procurable is thoroughly justifiable. In other words, it paj-s. HANMER SPRINGS. The weather changed on Thursday afternoon, heavy rain falling for some hours. Snow fell on the mountains, but did not reach the plains. Fifteen degrees of frost were registered yesterday morning. All tho tender flowers, etc., were cut down, and water pipes frozen hard. A church service -was held in the Queen Mary Hospital yesterday morning, conducted by Canon Smith (Rotherbam). A large number of visitors, residents, and soldiors were present. HORNBY-ISLINGTON. Keen uiiuie&G is umun, in connexion witn liio monhier peace pcimc, wmcu is to bo iioia ao tiie Kiccaitun j-kucucourso under tiie auspices of tne .faparua County Council on the Thursday following tno declaration of peace. It is intended to cater principally lor tno children, and every school in the county has been invited to ationd. With one exception all have replied to t-ay they will attend, and, given a. good di-y, a most successlul outmg should rosuiu The promoters of the recent ly-fcrnied Paparua Bowling Clul> have the laying down of the green on the local roc 1 cation ground well in hand, and every- j thing will be in readineso for next sea- j son. ! RANGIORA. ! Messrs H. Tallott, W. Stalker, I. Brosnahan, and J. Pctrie, who have been on a visit to the "West Coast, returned to.Rangiora yesterday. LOBURX. ! A meeting of residents of the Ashley county will be hold to-night at 8 o'clock, in the Coronation Hall, Loburn, to form a branch of the Cantorbury Progress . League. Illustrated addresses will bo civen by Messrs P. R. Clitnic. E. K. Stark (City Electrical Engineer,), and G. H. Holford. HORSLEY DOWN. The last meeting of tho Horsley Down Red Cross Guild was held at Mrs P. H.'Lance's residence. There was a verv large attendance of workers. The' Guild" was one of the first in Now Zealand to begin work for the Red Cross. Over six thousand garments have been sent in to the Central Depot, besides many gifts to the comforts and other departments. The branch has always been generously supported by residents of the district, ami ■ a good donation has bwn sent each '• year to tho Our Day Fund, the French Red Cross, and th'e Blanket Fund. 3>nring tho afternoon Mrs C. O. T. Rutherford, on behalf of the workers, presented the president and secretary, Mrs Lance, with a handsome gold vristlet-watch. sm+-i.hlv inscxibed. and

in a short speech eulogised hor splendid services to the guild. Mrs Lance suitably responded, and later, on behalf of the workers, presented the treasurer, Mrs O. O. T. Rutherford., with J* case of silver teaspoons. The rest of the afternoon was spent in fames, competitions, etc. RAKAIA. Tho opinion has been freely expressed during the Easter holidays, with their heavy railway traffic, that sooner or later tho miserably pooT lights on the Rakaia railway platform will be the cause of :in accident. AH the lamps were uot in commission during tho past week, but even when at full strength the light, is very feeble. Another potential cause of trouble is the manlier young children are allowed to roam the platform and spare carriages when trains are due. # The £200 odd that* were raised by means of a carnival in tho Rakaia Domain have been handed over to the proper authorities. Half has been paid to the Rakaia Rod Cross Society and half to the Chrislchurch branch of the Lady Liverpool Society. An application has been math; to have this latter sum handed back to the Rakaia Soldiers' Entertainment Committee to be spent for the bom-fit of returned men, but ho far ifc has not- rome to hand. In nny case it will not be available either for the soldiers' memorial or for tho purchase of medals. A final meeting of tho R-akain Red Cross {society was held in St. Mark's schoolroom on Thursday. There was a very fair attendance considering the unsuitable weather. It was agreed to forward the balance of the cash in hand to the Christchurch centre, but the money got by work at tho flower show was to bo set apart for the soldiers' loom at the Y.M.C.A. in Christchurch. It was reported that a few more garments and pairs of socks remained to bo finished and would then b<? forwarded. A balance of 141b of wool remained, and some of this was sold to members. The tablecloth, with donors' names worked on it which was begun at the time of* the Paddy's Market, was ordered to be sent, when finished, to the . soldiers' ward at the Christchurch Hospital. It was stated that a list of Red Cross workers, somewhat incomplete. had been sent in, but when the question of members securing Wed Cross badges and certificates at a cost of half-a-crown per member again came up for discussion, the opinion was expressed that no worker wanted a badge, that what had been done had boon dono for the boys, and not from hope of reward. It was suggested that the money could be put to "better use. Similar opinions were expressed as regards work done at schools. The question of the future custody of the Society records was discussed and. though not definitely decided, some members expressed the opinion" that tho books and papers should be handed to the Christchurch Centre.

ASHBURTON. Tho nominations being sufficient to fill the vacancies on the iollowing Road Boards, they were declared duly elected: —Upper Ashburton Road Board; .No. 1 Ward, John parrel I; No. 2 Ward, H. J. C. Harper; No. 3 Ward, Angus Horsey; No. 5 Ward, Joshua Tucker; No. 0 Ward, James Allen. Longbeach Road Board: No. 1 Ward. Langtry Maginness; No. 2 Ward, William T. LiU. WAIMATE. Tliero were eight degrees of frost yesterday morning. Mr George Chisholm, Clerk of' the Court, is removing next week to Oamaru, and as being succeeded by Mr Hart, of Ohristchurch, who is now at Oaniaru.

The Waituna school prize-giving and picnic took place on Tuesday. The dux of tho school was Donald McCarron, Janet York being runner-up. Tho chairman (Mr A. E. McComae) addressed tho parents :and children, . after which a vote of thanks was accorded the teacher, Mrs Anderson. \