RURAL RIDES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21258, 1 September 1934, Page 20

RURAL RIDES

A WET COUNTRYSIDE WHEAT PROSPECTS (By H.A.M.) Notwithstanding the bright sunshiny days since, the weather took up early in the week there is still a lot of dampness in the countryside. From a run the writer tool; on Thursday through some of the heavier land districts it is obvious that it will, still be a considerable time before teams can be got on to the fields. This was noticeably so on the heavy lands of the Sefton flats, and in cases on the downs. One extensive grass paddock at Flaxton must have been a sheet of water during the rain, as even now it is covered with numerous lakelets. Evidences arc numerous of water having lain for some time in the hollows of wheat fields, and it is a question whether the crops m such spots are not "drowned out." Stock paddocks on the Hals need a lot of dry weather to put them into order. This class of country could do with a good long spell of dry weather. The Ashley Downs grow an extensive area of wiicat each season Casual observation would suggest that the acreage witli wheat showing through the ground is not far short of normal, but the area ploughed and not yet worked discounts this assumption. Probably nearly a third of the total area tilled is still to be sown in some crop, and it is to be assumed that most of this land was intended for wheat. As it will be nearly a fortnight, even under existing conditions, before this class of ground could be sown, it makes the season exceedingly late for wheat. One satisfactory feature of tin position is the appearance of the wheat that was sown up to time. Much of it is no more than well through the ground, and was obviously sown late in the winter, but it has got such a start off that, all going well, it should ensure good yields. Reports coming to hand from elsewhere are to the effect that a good deal of country is still more or less waterlogged, particularly those areas where snow fell. Some instances are reported of wheat on low-lying fields being drowned out, but in the aggregate loss from this cause may not be great. The water did not lie long enough. In quite a few cases farmers still intend, if the weather holds, to sow another paddock or two. There is no other choice except peas, which are likely to be overdone. The Lambing Lambs are now fairly numerous, though it will be another fortnight before the main lambing will bewell on its way. The ewes gencr-

ally have come through the winter well, and should have plenty of milk for their offspring. The first drafts of fats should be heavier in numbers Hum usual. Reports of losses of lambs in the week-end storm indicate that they were only of a minor character. There were a few individual losses of up to 25 per cent, but such cases are not numerous. A correspondent writes suggesting that taking milk lambs off the ewes at this time of the year is surely prior to nature's period of weaning. "Is if not likely to cause the ewe injury when she is full of milk at that period of Iter career and thiamin is taken awav and marketed?" he asks. "Even if the ewe gets all right would she be a good investment to mate with a ram the next yea)', as in all probability being' lett with that flush of milk might; be responsible for making her blind in her quarters. It must be injury to the ewe." The foregoing is all within the range of probability. However, experienced lamb raisers confine the early lamb business to ewes whoso teeth make them an unlikely proposition for further breeding. Sound or failing mouthed ewes, il.-

sured i>l' soil teed at lambing, and with the certainty of a battel- perthan would be provided by young ewes, and which would also give an abu.-.-.ance of milk for the early marketed lamb, are the only class it is economical in the long rim to devote to the business. To "do" their lambs sufficiently well for the market the ewes would have to be in fair condition themselves, and should be quitted in the butchers' market at the same time as the lamb. When early lamb marketing becomes a factor of any importance ---in October —it. will generally lie found that the ewes are sold at the same time. To eater tor the trade with ewes having two or three breeding seasons in front, of them would be an unprofitable policy. Good Beef Country One of the surprises to frequenters of Addington yards is the steady supply throughout the winter and spring of fat cattle from the "turnipless" territory of Banks Peninsula. No matter what other pari ceases to supply fat cattle the Peninsula keeps on like the brook. There are many warm bays lying 1o the east where showers promote growth earlier in the season and extend it later in Ihe autumn, and to this, in addition, of course, to the exceptional sole of cocksfoot, must be attributed the fattening qualities of the Peninsula. About 15 years ago the writer, after some years' experience of the fattening qualities of South Otago and Southland turnip country, and the rich grass rolling country of the West Coast of the North Island, advanced the opinion that the Peninsula, for cattle purposes, had no supe'rior. The increase of dairying has curtailed the numbers of beef cable in the intervening years, but the regularity of the winter supply of Peninsula beef, m season and out, shows that there is no occasion to vary the opinion then expressed. PRIMARY PRODUCERS AUSTRALIAN ASSISTANCE The federal Government contributed £.1.045.000 to the relief of wheat growers in the year covered by the budget. In addition, the- slates applied a measure of relief. The National Bank of Australasia, in its monthly review, says that in addition to the direct ♦inaneial assistance given to primary producers by way of expenditure, grants, etc.. the needs of the primary producers have been catered fur by exempting from primage duty and sales tax materials required bv rural industries. Practicallv every item which the primary producer purchases, either in the way of implements or aids to production, has been exempted from primage duty and sales tax. The direct assistance which lias been provided for primary producers in the

three years may be summarised as under; - Tirlicl" lo wheat, growers .. . r >. 130,000 fertiliser subs'dy .. .. aOO.OOO Apples and peaj's .. 2:i0.000 Wine bounty .. .. 560.000 Cotton bounty 320,000 Other branches of primary industry .. .. 270.000 Sales tax concessions .. .1,640,000 .Primage duty remissions .. 330,000 ,t: 9,000,000 With low world prices for our exportable primary products, continues the review, Ihe Government has constantly the necessity for doing everything possible to meet tiic position of primary producers anr j to enable then, to maintain production on th< b.'i'-is necessary not only for their own welfare, but also for that of the nation as a whole. As against the Federal assistance last year of more than £3,000,000, the whole value of the importations of wheat and Hour into New Zealand was .CSOlj.iKin. The actual duty would be possibly half the value. Report'; from the south that the snowstorm of some weeks ago had taken a heavy toll of sheep on some high countrv stations were discredited by a Southland pastorah'st yesterday. To a representative of "The Press" Vie •aid that very little idea of losses could be obf-uned until mustering, but '•1 nearly all these eases the actualities were not nearly so serious as reported at the time.