BY THE WAYSIDE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 234, 15 September 1934, Page 13

BY THE WAYSIDE

Of Interest to Farmers GOOD LAMBING FIGURES Further details of excellent lambing returns are coming to hand from different parts of the province. . One Ngatarawa farmer with whom the writer was recently in conversation, stated that out of a paddock of 111 ewes, he had docked 168 lambs, and of theso there were fifty sets of twins. Besides realising a high percentage, this farmer stated that he had had less trouble with his lambing this season than he had ever had in tho course of many long years of farming. Ormondvillo farmers have good cause to regret the recent break in the weather which caused so much trouble and anxiety on sheep-farms in all parts of the province. There have been a number of deaths on these southern farms among the young and newlyborn lambs, one farmer losing some 35 lambs in one night. « * * Subterranean clover finds considerable favour with oue farmer in the Ngatarawa district with whom tho writer was discussing farming practice. “On any light land which I have on this property,’’ he said, “1 always sow down subterranean clover, and so far 1 have had excellent results.” The experience of this farmer bears eloquent testimony to tho results that have been achieved on much of the lighter land of tho province. Subterranean clover has come to stay, to all intents and purposes, and, if properly used, this plant should bo a means of increasing still further tho productivity of much of these areas. Tho white butterfly, despite the excellent work that tho parasites of this insect, tho pteromalis'puparum and the apantelcs glomerata, have done, is still prominent in the district. Yesterday, during the course of a drive around the district, the writer was struck with the relatively large numbers of the butterfly which had taken advantage of tho fine weather and were flitting gaily around the paddocks. It is to be hoped that they will not become any more prominent. < w • Although not a New Zealand record, tho heavy yield of mangolds obtained by oue farmer in the Raupare district this year, can be considered very satisfactory, and many farmers will doubtless be smitten with envy. Ou au area of half au acre this farmer grew 69 tons of roots, equivalent to 138 tons per aero. No manure was used, the laud being allowed to lie fallow for throe mouths prior to sowing, following pumpkins. The land was intensively cultivated, and tho variety of seed used was principally Yellow Globe.

Docking is in full blast on many sheep farms in tho province at tho present time, and, as indicated previously in those columns, some very good percentages are being recorded. So far little trouble has been reported from lamb stiffness and blood poisoning, and this is doubtless due in some degree to farmers taking more care over their docking operations. Tho season has also been more favourable to stock and less trouble was generally anticipated.

Millet is a groat crop, according to one Raupare farmer, who states that it is the best summer catch crop that that he has struck so far. In other parts of tho Dominion, this crop has beep grown with considerable success and it will doubtless become more favoured in this district with the passing of time. As fodder for dairy cattle it should bo an excellent proposition. Incidentally this same Raupare farmer is all for pumpkins as a winter fodder for his dairy stock, as he says that it has good results in maintaining the cream yields.

“A perfect picture” is how one visitor to the district described the Hawke’s Bay district at the present time. “The country is looking well and there seems to be plenty of growth. Generally the district seems to be more forward than usual at this time of tho year.” Two paddocks which particularly appealed'to this gentleman were on a Hastings flatland farm which were in great on..r. On enquiry ho was informed that, except for lime, no manure at all had been applied to these pastures and the excellent pasture association and the good growth that be saw were entirely due to good grazing and tho careful utilisation of stock droppings.

One farmer at least in the Poukawa district has had all the rain that be requires for the present. In conversation with a “Tribune” reporter, this farmer said that on his flats the land was thoroughly impregnated with moisture and that the feed was coming away well. No more rain was wanted for some time to come, ho stated.