Farm Intelligence.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 24, 24 December 1874, Page 6

Farm Intelligence.

Inch Clutha. — We 'were lately shown a very fine •sample' of flour, equal to the finest Adelaide, manufactured' by Mr R. !DouH, Balclutha/ froni a sample of wheat grown ih the Inch Clutha district. We observe that Mf Doull has lately added the manufacture of ; oatmeal to the other branches of his trade.

Port Molyneux. — The acreage under crop in this and the neighboring district of Puerua does not exceed 500 ; 100 of which is wheat, and the remainder oats. Both crops are looking healthy ; much more so than they did 'about the same time last year.

Warepa. — Writing on date the lsth inst., our correspondent reports: — Since my last the district has been visited by a few refreshing showers, which have had the effect of greatly improving the prospects of both crops and grasses.' '. I notice one field belonging to Mr R. Doull, which is growing a second crop of oats without having been sown during the past two years, £o my mind it looks fully as good as any crop we have got in the district. ;

North Molyneux. — We learn with much regret that; since the recent rains, ground in tbis district had become cbvered with minute grasshoppers.' It is to be feared that we shall have but a'very poor account to render of the turnip brairds if the dry weather continues much longer, as the grasshopper is known to he much moire destructive in dry thaft in wfet seasohs. " * Waitepeka, — .Between this and the adjoining district not" less than 1,000 acres of crops have been Sown ; of "which 100 acres are wheat, the remainder being oats. Within the last two weeks 'they have been coming forward most remarkably well, and both crops are now in' the 'Short blade. They are, however, at least three weeks later than usual. Harvesting usually begins in this locality about the middle of January. Judging from present appearances, it will be well on in February before they are ready for the sickle. We have had our attention directed to one paddock of wheat on the farm of Mr Somerville. It was sown with one and a-half bushels to the acre, and certainly a finer and more healthy looking crop could riot be desired. Thin seeding of wheat has claims which may not be very generally known. "The ' Agricultural Gazette,' in a recent number, furnishes the following, as the experience of an old farmer : — " In 1806, pne peck of wheat was * dibbled' — planted' by single seeds in holes made with a round stick or * dibble ' — upon one acre ; the- produce was 204 pecks. For the next fourteen" years the seeding was from half a "peck to two pecks of seed per acre, and 'the" average crop was 44 bushels per acre, one year yielding 50 bushels and another 56 bushels. | Since then, and up to the present time, ! the seeding has been tVelve quarts of I wheat and one bushel of oats or barley ! per acre. The result is that the seed sown

each year since 1806 has given five times more proportionate produce than any other crop sown by other farmers with the UMial seeding." The root crops are set down at 250; acres of turnips, and about .75 of potatoes. The turnips have begun to braird, late rains haying done them a very 1 considerable amount of good. We are sorry, however, to note tbat about the creeks,' rough grass paddock?, and other places where the shelter is good, grasshoppers have made their appearance. Potatoes are reported to be a promising crop. Not more than 200 acres of new land have been broken in this season. ' A large amount of work has been ddne, however, in the way of fencing off subdivisions of properties.