NOTES BY THE WAY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22307, 22 January 1938, Page 11

NOTES BY THE WAY

THE WHEAT YIELD

As further reports come U> hand concerning the wheal crops the recent forecasts appear as if they will be fullv realised. Threshing returns generally have been below those from similar properties last year, but there have been exceptions, in which they have been practically as good, and an odd one or two have been belter. In the later districts. <>n the heavier land, where the dry weather did not have such an eil'ect. the crops appear as if they will yield within a few bushels of the average, though there do not appear to be many of the 60 and 70 bushel crops which help so materially to keep the general average up.

Reports from Mid-Canterbury generally show an appreciable improvement this last month. There are some very promising crops in the McthvenWinehmore district, and one threshed in the Laurislon district the other day yielded 40 bushels to the acre of the highest quality wheat. The quality, indeed, has been a marked feature of the crops threshed so far. If the high standard is maintained, as it should be now that crops are past the growing stage, there should be Jess noise about the quality of our bread. The good results should also assist to banish the little resentment that has been created amongst a section of .growers at the differential payment attaching to heavilv moistured wheat, for the reason that Ihere will lie little of it. Figures published on Wednesday showed that the highest moisture

content in 20 samples submitted to the Wheat Research Institute was 14.7. the average for the Jot being Ki.li. These wheats included several headed lines. The vields in South Canterbury will br patchy. This is particularly the case in tile Waimate district, where returns above the Dominion average are generally looked for. The rains appeared to improve the crops immensely m this district, but second growth and a whitening rather than a ripening of the heads have occurred in several instances. There are some fairly good crops to be seen in the Morven district, and on the downs behind Timaru they are quite satisfactory. On the whole, however, the South Canterbury yield will be disappointing. The latest, estimates received by the Wheat Committee from its members do not alter the previous figures, so that as far as can be gathered the yield for the Dominion as a 'whole should be about 30 bushels an acre. The actual yield last season was \'.2.:V2. bushels to the acre. H the difference can be confined to less than 2-J bushels to the acre there should be general cause for satisfaction. There are few who would suggest this possibility two months ago. POTATO PROSPECTS

Everywhere in Canterbury there is tremendous growth this season of potato tops, and just a little concern is being felt that this will encourage blight. There has been little weather so far favourable to the development of blight, but it is much too early for growers confidently to think that this state of affairs will continue. As a matter of fact February is the worst month of all for blight. The writer has heard of incipient blight in various districts, and reports from South Canterbury are that some crops are lightly touched in that area. The fields of potatoes in the Willowbridge and other potato-grow-ing districts are exceptional this year and, provided blight does not get in and the yields are anywhere near their promise, there should be some heavy returns. The writer cannot recall a season in the last 20 when the potato fields have looked so well. With many of them heavily in flower they make a most attractive sight. Some garden plots in the city are going off very badly with blight, but generally they are much earlier than farm crops, and received the deluge of rain at a more vulnerable stage.

HIGH COUNTRY DANGER

That Alsatian dogs were increasing in numbers, and were crossing with other breeds, thus creating a further increase of dogs with the Alsatian temperament, war, the opinion expressed by members of the Lake (Queenstown) County Council the other day. It was considered by members that some drastic move should be made before it was too late. The following motion was unanimously carried: "That it be a recommendation from the Lake County Council to the Counties' Association that it take into serious consideration the question of the elimination oS Alsatian dogs from the country owing to their dangerous habits. With this in view, the council has decided to ask the Counties' Association to assist in preparing legislation to ploce before Parliament."

The Lake County is comprised of 80 per cent, of rugged and mountainous country, and if some of these useless brutes go wild and inhabit it their destruction will be practically impossible.

HEAVY LAMB LOSSES

Heavy Josses oi" lambs are being sustained 'by flockowners as a result of pulpy kidney. In the Ellesmere district one breeder lias lost 100 lambs from a ilock for which there is usually a strong overseas demand. Another has lost 30 odd and there are several cases in the same district where the deaths have run into the twenties. In North Canterbury numerous instances have been reported of losses, even in districts which are not rioted for an abundance of luscious feed. The set advice of shutting the lambs up at night and giving more dry feed is being generally followed, and in cases where this has been done for a week or so the losses are reported to be becoming fewer. It would appear that in a season of heavy rainfall and consequently lush feed the trouble will always be with lamb fatteners, and the only course is to minimise its possibilities by early drenching and also to get tin: lambs to acquire a taste for dry feed. Where farmers have done the latter and the ewes and lambs are given access to hay in the early stages the losses have been few. On the other hand, when Jambs are taken from the ewes, which have been on soft feed, and put straight on to rape lite trouble seems to be slimulntcd. Losses to a degree have always been incurred by fatteners, as it did not concern them much if a few lambs were lost so Jong as the drafts fattened quickly and put on a few pounds weight. That position has been completely altered.

HEAVY CLOVER GROWTH

Pos-sibly as potent a cause of the trouble as anything else is the abundance of clover, which has grown prolilically this season. In the case in the El'lesmerc County, in which more than 100 lambs were lost, the owner told the writer the other day that his paddocks were a mass of clover. The position on this farm was the same last year, when there were also heavy losses. It is reasonable to surmise a form of bloat as a cause of loss in such cases. The writer recalls an experienced llockowner telling him many years ago that the best way to "poison" lambs was to feed them on clover. Apart from the bloating, as a result of gorging, this old observer claimed that there was something deleterious in heavity-ilowered clover, and it was this 1 hut prompted his remark about poison. The causes of bloat are so well known that there is no need to touch on them, but in case some of the present trouble is attributed wrongfully to pulpy kidney a remedy for bloat may not be out of place- here. The Jambs should not be driven when bloated. in many cases the administration of agents, when swallowed, arrests the fermentation and will be all that is necessary to effect a speedy cure. A teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda with the same quantity of ground ginger dissolved in halfpint of warm water, and given as a drench, will generally result in immediate relief. The bloat trouble appears to be more prevalent in Australia than in New Zealand, but a predisposing cause is hunger in the lambs, of which there is very little in New Zealand, when they are put on such fattening feeds as rape. The foregoing observation is by the way, and beyond the similarity in the causes of bloat and pulpy kidney, has little bearing on the trouble that is now all'ecting lambs. Investigators have been hammering away for some years advising feeding practices to minimise the trouble, if not obviate it. The adoption of these practices is not so widespread as could be hoped. STUD SHEEP EXPORT

The export of stud sheep continues to increase, and it is expected that the number shipped overseas this season will easily constitute a record for registered sheep. Within the last month or two Romneys, Lmcolns, Corriedales, Rvelands, Southdowns, English Leicesters, and Border Leicesters have been in demand from practically all the States of Australia, and for one or two breeds from South America and South Africa, and further shipments are impending. Within the last few weeks the following have been consigned by Dalgef.y and Company, Ltd., "to buyers in the various States in Australia: — Kyi-lands To Victoria—From J no. Brooks (Irwell) 1 stud ram and 12 stud ewes; Wo' Rennio < Doyleston), 1 stud ram: H.' c'. B. Withell (Ealing), 10 stud ° V Tr>'New South Wales—W. O. Rennie, 1 stud ram, 42 selected flock rams; Jno. Brooks, 42 selected flock rams. , . , In addition 40 Ryeland stud ewes, from the Hock of H. C. B. Withell are to be shipped within the next fortnight.

Southdowns To Western Australia— Canterbury Seed Company (Leeston), 1 stud ram To Victoria—A. C. Greenwood (Southbi-idge), 40 tloek ewes. Uorrieilales To New South Wales-H. T. Little's estate (Hui Hui>, 1 specially selected stud ram; Hugh Ensor (Rakahuii), 1 specially selected stud ram. English Leicester To South Australia—E. S. Taylor CWoodend)—lo selected /lock rams. TUSSOCK COUNTRY

ri'o the Agricultural Editor) Sir —Commenting on the letters of "Otagc," and "Pastoralist," one cannot help being struck with the similar opinion expressed, both viewing the position from the same angleworking costs. Working costs arc really momentary, and have" no bearing on the subject. The fact still remains that the tussock is gradually but surely <disappearing, and the result is a national loss. This must warrant, an mq«"ry from the point of view of both the runholders and the Government: the runholder because he has to live on the country, and the Government because it may have in mind other uses, be they experimental and costly, instead of immediately revenue producing. Let it be, as "Otago" suggests, a "small commission of practical men. This is not the time to blame the Government, but rather for all those interested or affected to assist it in every way possible to come to something definite for the benefit of the country. Both "Otago" and "Pastoralist continue to blame the rabbit and firethat "moth-eaten" theory from which has evolved the caterpillar, the primary and real reason which makes fuel for the fire and a playground for the rabbit.

I would remind "Otago" that at no lime have I spoken disparagingly of Lincoln College, an institution that is interested and willing to help the farmer, but this particular trouble is outside its scope.—Yours, etc., F.D.M.

The total amount realised for all wool (greasy and scoured) sold in Australia during the first six months of the present season was £21.028,122, as compared with £27.521,843 for the corresponding period last season—a decline of £6.493,726. The average price realised for greasy wool during the six months was 13.66 d per lb, compared with 15.12 d last season.