BY THE WAYSIDE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 77, 13 March 1933, Page 11

BY THE WAYSIDE

1 TOPICS OF INTEREST. 1 JOTTINGS FROM HERE AND i THERE. < The Kereru-Maraekakaho district is : one of the strongholds of chou moellier ’ in Hawke’s Bay. This crop has been widely used in this district, and 1 although the white butterfly has rather spoilt the crops this year, the results in previous years have been very satisfactory. • • • With fresh green pastures, and stock in good condition, the Kereru district looks particularly well this year. Although there is not an abundance of feed, there is considerably more nutritious pasture than there is in other parts of the district. • • « This must be one of the best seasons that the Kereru, Tikokino and Onga Onga districts have experienced for some years. The rainfall, though not excessive by any means, has been considerably greater in these districts than around Hastings, and on the coastal districts. • « • Talking of rain, there is a story told of a Swedish fanner who was taking out his naturalisation papers at Minneapolis, U.S.A. “Aro you satisfied with the general conditions of this country, Mr Olson?” the judge asked. “Yah, sure,’’ was the answer. “And does this Government of ours suit you?” “Yah. mostly, only Ay lak to see more rain.” • • « The methods of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture for the testing of seeds, and the certification of grass seeds have been followed by many other countries, the system lately introduced into Australia, being modelled on the New Zealand system. * • « New Zealand i s recognised as one of the foremost countries of the world as far as the production of pure grass seeds are concerned. New Zealand farmers aro very lucky in being able to obtain certified seed which they know L will give satisfactory result*.