THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18303, 10 February 1925, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. Saturday's Oamaru "Mail" states:— Though rain has fallen on several occasions during the week, it has amounted in the aggregate to about 20 points, and as it occurred for the most part at night time it has interfered to only a trifling extent with harvest operations. These have been prosecuted vigorously in all localities, witlh the iesult that the greater part of the crops have been cut, and most of that cut is in stook. Very little threshing of wheat has been done, and reports that have reaohed us lead to the conclusion that farmers will be wise to defer threshing for a while yet, as much of the wheat is on the soft side, and if threshed in that state it would be liable to heat in fthe sacks and lose quality. It requires time to acquire conditions. As no threshing has been done it is impossible to talk in definite terms of yields, but the handling of sheaves in some instances, at any rate, has begotten an impression that the mills will disclose highly gratifying results. But the majority of tlhe wheatfields will yield poorly or indifferently, and the aggregate output per acre will be below the average. A fair quantity of Garton oats have been threshed, and the results generally are not satisfactory, and the conclusion formed is that the proportion reaching A grade will be lower than usual.

HANMER SPRINGS. The cricket team visited Rotherham on Saturday to play tlieir first game in the second round of the district competition against the Rotherham team, who could not put their best team in the field on account of harvesting. The game resulted in an easy win for the visitors who scored 81 runs for 5 wickets against the home players' 7V. For the winners the highest scorers were Hannay (not out) 31, Smyth 18 aiiu Morrison (not out) 11.- The best bowlers were Hannay 3 wickets for 7, Hart 5 for 11. For the losers the best bats were Dando 26 runs, Moor 20 and W. Thompson 12. Tho most successful bowlers were Graham 2 wickets for 11 rims and Dando 2 for 18. ' -Changeable weather conditions continue here. Monday and Tuesday of last week were fine with a cool' easterly breeze, which increased late on Wednesday afternoon, followed by a heavy shower of an hour's duration towards dusk and further rain during Thursday and Friday. On Saturday morning the fog lifted off the hills and a- sunny day and clear night followed. On Sunday morning fog again enveloped the Kills with drizzling rain in the afternoon. The glass has fallen consistently for several days. There has been a conspicuous absence lately of nor'-west '■.anditions whjoh suits. tiiis country best. Shearing operations continue to be held up in the last two sheds here, wliidfi about a week's fine weather would see cut out. A good deal of crop, is now in stook waiting a spell of dry weather to be harvested). One former with 100 acres of oats, to cut cannot get the reaper on to the ground, owing- to its boggy condition and others are having the same experience on heavy ground. . The glass commenced, to rise vesterday, ahd there' are apparent indications that the weather may clear.

HAWARDEN. At a meeting of the .Committee of the Hawarden Golf Club, held on, Saturday evening, it was decided to topdress, an,(l fence .the greens, and to hold the general meeting at the end *o£ the present' month. ' . LADBROOKS. The weaklier during the last few days has been showery, causing considerable delay with the. harvesting. Most of the grass seed and barley has been throshed and sent' forward, also a large, quantity of oats, the prices being satisfactory to farmers. A large quantity of wheat is in stook. -The potato crops are doing well, and are looking in a very condition. Mr M. Hodgins, a local fariner, residing between Ladbrooks and Prebbleton, met with a painful accident on Thursday last. .He was carting in hay on his farm, and jumped off tho dray on top of a pitchfork, the prongs entering his thigh and abdomen. He was attended by Dr. Cooke, of Lincoln. Latest reports say, although suffering severe pain, he is doing as well as can bo expected.' KIRWEE. The rainfall for .January was 2.19 in. Rain fell on twelve days, the maximum fall being 90 points on, the 26th. The fall for the same month of 1924 was 2.10 in; 1923, 3.77 in; 1922, 2.93 in; and 1921, 5.77 in. The weather has bene very patchy for harvesting operations, and farmers are taking every opportunity to get on with this work when the weather is fine. There are about half-a-dozen threshing mills working in the district, and when the weather is fine they clear up.a lot of ground. Farmers are getting about 7s a bushel for their wheat, and the haulers are bußily engaged in getting the grain to the railway station; Rain came-on early on Thursday morning, and. it fell heavily in' some parts of the district, whilst in other parts harvesting proceeded nearly all day. Seventeen points were recorded. There was more rain on Friday, another 15 points being registered. Saturday was a fine drying day, and in the afternoon harvesting was again started. Rain again came tip on Sunday morning, and 9 points were registered at mid-day. Stacking and stook threshing will again be stopped. There is a large acreage of wheat in stook, and a spell of fine weather would be very welcome. Caterpillars' have 'done a considerable amount of .damage, and on one farm a crop of oats estimated to yield 50 bushels per acre will now probably not yield more than five bushels per acre.

SOUTH MALVERN DISTRICT. February weather' has 60 far been most unsatisfactory from a farming viewpoint. Rain has fallen on five days as follows: —Ist 2 poiTlts, 4th 4 points, sth 87 points, 6th 32 points. Bth 6 points. On Saturday it seemed as if tho weather had settled. The afternoon was fine with a fair east wind btowing. Saturday night was bright, but in the early hours of Sunday morning a sou'wester sprang up and shortly after 8 o'clock rain began to fall, and 'although the total was small, it was enough to make Sunday a cheerless and cold day. Yesterday was fine, but overcast. Naturally fanners are very anxious, as not a single dav last week was fit for harvesting. The result of so much humid weather is that .all cereal crops are badly discoloured. There is an oversupply of grass, which is now losing its feeding qualities, and the one thing needful just now is a week or two of sunshine. There is every prospect that the Summer Show of the' Horticultural Society will be a record, one. Tie: absence of strong winds' and the well distributed rainfall, while it has been bad for the harvest, has been good for the growth of flowers and fruit. The latter class, usually a weak one at this 6how, should have a large increase in entries, if the appearance of the orchards is any indication.

Mr W. B. Wills teed, stationmasterai Ooalgate. left for his annual vacation ou Saturday, and will be away about three weeks. >lr D. A. Clarke is in charge during his absence.

WEST MELTON. The West Melton District Horticultural Society held a meeting on day evening, -when it was decided, that owing -to .the prevalence of infantile paralysis to postpone the' Societj s Summer Show until 'Thursday, March ■l2th. Two. special prizes have been given since the schedulo was pnnte . Messrs Kempthorn-3, Prosser and Co. have given o cwt of fertiliser, wliic will be awarded to the competitor making the largest number of entries in tno Show. Wright, Stephenson and U>.. have given os ■which will be amarde to the competitor gaining most points in the classes for bread. CHERTSEY. Up to the present some 40 motor vehicles have been registered at the local post office. Motor-lorries liave been hauling large quantities of grain to the railway from all parts of the district. Harvest work has been almost at a standstill during the past week owing to showery weather. Wheat is thresning very well, being free from rust. One crop of 50 acres has averaged 4o bushels, while several others have every appearance of threshing as well. Some oat crops have suffered considerably from caterpillars. A few crops of Garton oats are to be seen but these are more or less spoiled by rust. The T. and K. Timber Mill, winch has been operating in Mr A. Doig's plantations during the past year, has finished cutting the pine timber there, and is procuring logs elsewhere to fulfil large orders for fruit boxes. There is still a considerable quantity of gum timber to be cut before the plant is removed.

The Salvation Army now holds a fortnightly service in the Chertsey Hall. A harvest dance is to be held in the Hall this week. As this is the first dance of the year, it is expected that it will bo well patronised. The South Rakaia Road Board intends to place several electric lights in the Chertsey township. These will no' doubt be appreciated by the residents during the winter months. Mrs W. Kemp has been seriously ill for some weeks past, but is now slightly improved. PENDARVES. During the past week very unfavourable weather has'been experienced for harvesting. The days have been dull with frequent showers, and on only two days was it possible to stook, thresh or to stack. The prolonged harvest adds considerably to the expenses of the farmer, as it is necessary to keep on a full team'of men in anticipation of the weather taking up. This district has been fortunate in escaping the depredations of the caterpillar. Grass-seed crops have not been heavy, most farmers having been able to secure only enough for their own use., The one-year-old seed proved very light owing to rust, so that it was found necessary to strip older paddocks. Rape crops at one time showed a tendency to blight, but have recovered and in the majority the first crops have been eaten off. Lambs have been fattening well and many good drafts have been taken. Some good yields of turnips are to be seen and these should bulb well under present weather conditions. Teams are already busy ploughing for early, green oats. 'The rainfall for last month was 1.98 in against 2.6 in. for HINDS. Harvesting is proceeding very slowly, being hindered by the wet weather. A considerable amount is in stack, but there is still a large area in stook. The registration of motor-cars has ceased at the local office, where over 70 cars were registered. The road to' Ashburton has• been considerably repaired, and is a vast improvement on its former rough .state. The I?, and T. construction gang, have recently erected seven large pole's around the Hinds railway yards,- and during the last.few days have been engaged in fixing the wires in position before joining them to the main line wires. A party of long-suffering residents of Ealing are anxiously waiting to . be joined to the Hinds exchange. When the new rural deliveries start from Hinds. in a few days, much extra work will be given the local postal officers, who will soon require extra accommodation. The Hinds railway platform continues to be lit by hurricane kerosene lamps. The residents are asking when will it bo lit; up by electricity.