TOUR THROUGH HAWKE’S BAY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 109, 1 February 1941, Page 8

TOUR THROUGH HAWKE’S BAY

Beneficial Results Of Recent Rains

GOOD PROSPECTS FOR COMING SEASON Last week was spent in travelling through a rain-soaked Hawke’s Bay which belied its usual title of sunny. _ Feed was plentiful everywhere, and stock was in great condition. Ihe Bay has enjoyed a splendid season to date and the autumn promises well.

At Oringi, near Dannevirke, the first call was on Mr. N. J. Cullinane. Special interest here was a shearling ram which as a lamb a year ago carried wonderful promise. His development has proceeded to expectations and he will be seen at Feilding show next week. The 50 flock rams were inspected. I considered them ahead of last season's draft in regard to size and condition. Last year the “Oringi" stud, in conjunction with Messrs. Cullinane Bros., “Le Chateau,” created a precedent by offering their flock rams at their own private sales on the property. The 120 offered sold most satisfactorily, and this policy would have been continued, but for the illness of Mr. Dan Cullinane, which left the stud management rather shorthanded. Mr. Cullinane bus now fully recovered. “Le Chateau' 1 has 100 rams available this season. Both studs are offering a spread of rams principally at the Hawke’s Bay and Dannevirke sales.

On this visit I saw a fine example of lambs preference for rape, over thousandheaded kale. A paddock had been sown with the latter, but as seed ran out, it was completed with rape. Weaned lambs were put in for a light feeding; these ate the rape out completely and left the kale almost unmarked. It looked as if the two had been separated by a fence. Much tiling has been necessary here to dry out the ground. I remarked upon a stock of 4in. tiles, to be told that these had been landed at 28/- per 100. This equals 18/6 a chain. Almost Wintry Day. From Palmerston North to Dannevirke the day was overcast but fine. lu Dannevirke, however, it was distinctly chilly, the early afternoon temperature being only 61deg. Fah., and a drizzling rain was falling, accompanied by a southerly. Good rain had been welcomed already, and more was not sought; although dry, the district had not been unduly so.. Continuing on my way, I found little hay left to the weather’s mercy; unexpectedly little for the quite high altitude of Norsewood district. We thought, however, that less hay altogether than last year was seen here; this in contrast to all elsewhere. I was disturbed at the amount of ragwort. There were too many “odd” plants all about on this 'tun, from Ormondville turn-off to Norsewood, and even worse beyond that point. Nearing Takapau Plains, I saw the first grain in over 50 miles; a crop of oats in which the binder had just started, before stopped by rain. Adjudged a good crop, it had partly fallen and had a most disconsolate appearance, bearby was a half-cleared paddock, with -5 stacks in and balance in stock. Shortly I came on two or three odd lots of oats and wheat, and out on the plains a big paddock of barley, with later a 10-stack harvest from one big paddock of oats—low, squat stacks, but well built. . Rain now making sheep inspection impossible, I was forced to pass by Mr. W. R. Oakley’s “Watea” Southdowns. At the far end of the plains a good quantity of hay had been harvested, some in big lots indeed. . _ . , Over “the hill” and into Waipukurau. the rain was falling steadily; even so the handling of super, ex rail to lorry was going on busily, with a big quantity involved. At Waipukurau. A ehat was had here with some stock people and others, and I learned that the rain had been welcomed by most coast farmers, to fill the tanks. From a sheep pasture viewpoint it could well have been deferred for a month. . From drafts heard of I .ludged that “works” in the Bay had taken proportionately more owes than those in M ellington province. I did hear of one ZoOO line drafted, of fat ewes to freezing. Generally ewes had netted 12/- to 14/6 : scheduling out at 12/6 to.as high as la/3 for one splendid line. Concerning breeding ewes, few twotooths had yet been sold, but a fair number of five-year lines had sold privately to Waikato at 22/- to 23/-, for first-class, but not. super lines. Store, really forward, four-tooth wethers had traded actively at 22/- to 22/6; practically export worth. i . I had a few words with Mr. J. Pint, the first secretary to the Dorset Horn breed ; an obliging and energetic man in that job. t r Rates must be light in this district for I read a description of a farm for sale just a mile ex the town; 645 acres -01 three-sheep country, and rates only £4i p.a.; that is just 1/5J an acre. Sub-Clover. A run toward Onga Onga was taken to see some of the “real sub” country. A typical old-fashioned pasture inspected illustrated the speedy recovery of this clover; much seed had already shot strongly, with shoots of half-inch length. This was by 2 p.m. on January 23, under 48 hours since rain first fell. It was threeewe pasture, and carried much roughage. ■of good quality; largely provided by cocksfoot, rye and invading grasses, together with dried-off sub. Out here I saw a crop of chon moullier that deserves full marks for evenness and cleanliness. A big area, grown to 12 to 15 inches. The rain will make this crop. Through Rnataniwha I found some of the best country in all Central Hawke's Bay. Hereabouts I saw a splendid field of red clover in flower, some 12 inches tall, dense and a fine stand ; with a tine stand of white clover just over the road. Both were seed crop, presumably. Good country this: cocksfoot and timothy on road sides. Tawny Hills. Over Te Ante hill the weather Igihtened and was tine thereafter to Hastings. The Ileretaunga Plain was obviously green before the rains. Aneat harvest of hav had been made, judging by the many big stacks, indicating a fine crop. A good block o (country this, fascinating in all seasons, obviously rich and versatile in production. Entering Hastings I saw the only person I have observed this season at “cocksfooting.” He was a lad of about 14

with sickle at work and his syele and bag on the roadside. The Dairy Outlook A call was made upon Mr. D. S. Begley’ chairman of the district-wide Heretaunga Dairy Co-op. Coy., at Stortford Lodge. He said that the rains were welcomed by dairymen, as assuring good autumn production. However, the seasou before had been excellent for output which was up, despite some loss of butter supply due to cheese diversion. Another matter discussed was the possibility of an increase in dairying—as a side-line. This was actuated by concern at. the prospects for meat shipping leading to some sheep-farmers milking a few cows as a form of insurance. It was agreed that there was some prospect of this. Another subject was the production of cheese. Mr. Begley anticipated a cull for yet more, because of losses in shipment. Since then the Government has called for extra cheese. While at Stortford a visit was paid to Miss Gladys Breen’s “Mahora” studs oi shorthorn dairy cattle and large white pigs, both known Dominion-wide. The place merits fame too,, for its flowers about the homestead and the excellence of its plant lay-out aud splendid crops grown. I then journeyed out to Pakowhai via the famous Poplar Grove; over a road that must bring criticism upon the local body responsible, a neglected road, full of pot-holes. More use of the grader is called for, on this quite important route. Maintain Poplar Grove. Poplar Grove, a great attraction, should be ever preserved. That this is possible is shown by an example from Northern ludia, where ie a grove 35 miles long, well over 200 years old. It is maintained by periodical replanting. Maybe some Hawke’s Bay interests will take a hand here. On the west side of the grove there was a ryegrass seed pasture, whieh I saw harvested three years ago. That autumn it was overwhelmed by flood and deeply silted, to ruin of existing excellent pasture. Since resown in first-class seed, it is again a great seed producer, and was safely harvested before the rains. At Mr. H. J. Fourneau’s farm, where is “the be«t Jersey herd in all Hawke’s B ay » —the '“Pakowhai” herd —I met two men from Kuku, Messrs. J. G. and Allan Horn. The line of a dozen or so 18months heifers was inspected and found splendidly grown and substantial. The bull of the same age with it, was lowset, solid, with strong broad head and an almost perfect skin. A matter of pride here is that at the big bull sale in Palmerston North last October, top price for two-year-olds (51gns.) was realized by a “Pakowhai”-bred bull. This had been sold as a yearling and his purchaser resold at this sale. With three real experts talking, I felt that I was present in a Jersey club —a contrast to the sheep atmosphere I had been in for weeks past. Mr. Fourneau has an extensive, area of apple orchard, but is not happy with this; rising costs and uncertainty as to labour are the bugbears. He declared that the price was not so bad, had costs been reasonable. I see a prospect of apple areas suffering a reduction. (To be continued with an account of ryegrass harvesting and a visit to a backcountry station. —H.A.S.)