GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1087, 28 March 1911, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Our travelling correspondent says that a number of settlers, in the Taihape district are having the telephone installed. ' There. is no.district inSouthland where the turnip crops look so well as in tho Jlorton Mains district, -and the recent showers of rain appear to have completely removed all traces.of drought. Good turnips are also to be seen in tho Edendale, Mataura, and Wyndham districts, states the "Southland Times." Tho Herford Eoad correspondent of the "Taranaki Herald" writes"Everyono is wondering what is amiss with the elements. In this usually well-watered region sultry and dry weather 1)33 been our portion for over three months, except showers oil rare .occasions. Although the drought has pub a damper on the milk supply, all classes of stock are thriving under the genial blue skies, and a lot of work has been accomplished on the land. . . . Heavy continuous rain would bo welcomed by the manager of Oniata factory, who is working under difficulties through a deficient water sup--ply, also by all householders who depend on tanks. At present they have to cart the precious fluid some distance. Speaking from experience, it reminds ono of out-back in Australia rather than of dewy Taranaki." ■ The flaxmill at A'garurukehu, Taihape, is closed down, states our travelling correspondent, owing to the low prices for hemp. ■ As showing the demand for Aparima cheese and the high reputation the company has secured, the "Western Star" mentions that tho secretary (Mr. G. O. Cassels) has just received an offer of 6id. per lb., 0.t., for a parcel of three tons. This is undoubtedly tho highest offer received by any cheese factory in Southland. Lambs are not doing too -well in Southland, according to the Fairfax correspondent of the "Southland Times." Tho rape in many cases has been allowed to get ripe, and the properties lost to tho lamb. Tho rains have not been sufficient to supply farmers with water for their stock, and in many instances they have to be driven a long way to creeks or rivers. This season should give farmers indications where to erect windmills. Farmers can, in many cases, be their own diviners, and. sink in the most, rushy and low-lying spots in tluiir paddocks well exposed to the wind. In an address on cow-testing, C. F. Whiblcy, who has charjle of this work for the Canadian Government, stated that seven cows kept by on/ dairyman returned a total profit' of M ss-. in ono year. This meant eight hours' labour for one halfpenny. In ono case he had found that one good cow made as much profit as forty-two poor ones. He figured out that in the month of September last the farmers of Ontario lost ,£IOO,OOO through keeping among their herds poor cows instead of fairly good ones. ; Hs figured out that some men are keeping three times as many cows as are their neighbours, to obtain even less milk;-. He estimated that there are 211,000 worthless cows in Ontario and that tho time lost in looking after them amounts to 19,000,000 hours every year. In tho Eaetihi district all danger from spreading fires should now be at an end (says our travelling correspondent). The soil has got a good surface .wetting, so that the fires cannot' run. On all sides burning logs and trees have been quenched. 11l tho Ohotu Block' Till danger is over now. Tho new-sown burns, which generally have been good,"will come away within a month. For. several months, acc.ording to January reports, portions of South Africa have been experiencing. ..u'l sexgrv drought. Particularly has (his been' the case in the Orange Free State,: where the losses' of stock have been ll?avy 'where fanners have neglected to provide themselves with green fodder. Information received from Rhodesia shows that the year has been most successful for the farming community.- The past year has been a moderately one for -■ ?Cnlnl farmers. •Those' engaged- in'.slie'op'-farm'iaig, wattlegrowing, sugar and tea planting, are congratulated on their success; mealie and fruit-growers have only been partially successful; cattle and dairy farming, but for East Coast fever, would-liave been very successful; as it is dairying does not seem to have lost much gromuT even with the heavy lo=s of cattle. But for East Coast fever, it is believed that in a very short time South Africa would at least supply its own wants, and probably might become an exporting country. In the course of a letter to the Koyal Agricultural Society of England, King George wrote: "It is a matter of sincere gratification to me that the third occasion of my occupying the position of president of the l'oyal Agricultural Society should tbn when its visit is to the county of .Norfolk, where 1 have -for so many years made my home, and in the agricultural development of which I shall always tako the keenest interest. I learn with much pleasure of the prosperous condition enjoyed by the society to-day, and of its increased activity in all matters generally affecting the welfare of agriculture. I understand that many of the Ministers of Agriculture from my Overran. Dominions have been invited to attond the show. I trust I hat, at all events, it may bo possible for some of them to bo present, and that they will derive both pleasure and experience from their inspection of the varied and comprehensive exhibits of live stock, implements, and produce of this country, which will bo brought together in the sliowvard."-