NOTES BY THE WAY

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 9 June 1923, Page 9

NOTES BY THE WAY

Talking about pastures for Tferanaki, a farmer of long strthding said he considered a grass mixture which he had proved eminently satisfactory was cocksfoot, rye, timothy and cowgrass. Another recommended a proportion of alsike which, especially on the better land near the mountain, did remarkably well and was still eminently satisfactory after many years.

Years ago, said one of the poultry judges at New Plymouth, men took an interest in many breeds, not as nowadays, in one special breed, and were able to judge the whole of the poultry exhibit. This was different now, and a judge was required for each class.

An instructive illustration is given in the Agricultural Journal for May showing the marked difference in yield of swedes in limed and unlimed land on the West Coast. This was an experiment conducted at the Waimangu Experimental Farm in Westland. The crop on the "no lime" land was almost a failure, while the other plot was good.

Mangolds are better pulled in June, but may be left till July, though they are better pulled now -and allowed to ripen. The longer they are stored the greater is their feed value. The tops should not be fed under any consideration.

When feeding roots, it is advisable to give an ample supply also of hay or chaff. Feeding out on weak paddocks or where the grass grub may be, will improve the pasture and tend to get rid of the grub. Carrots, on the other hand, may be left in the ground and fed straight therefrom. If there is any rot showing in the crop of swedes it is wise to feed off as fast as possible, for the rot .spreads very quickly.

Inglewood County have declared broom, foxglove, gorse, ox-eye daisy, pennyroyal, St. John's wort, spiderwort, and barberry to be noxious weeds. It would be interesting to know how many there & are all over the Dominion. The question of control has become a serious matter, but there is no doubt understocking, or no stocking in some parts, have been causes, of the spread of weeds. Stock might be used much more than they are for suppression of weeds.

Some interesting history was given i in a. story of recollections by a pioneer ! who. went through much of the Maori '. War. He says, inter alia:—"Being; wounded, I was sent to Poverty Bay! and then to Napier, where 1 "remained I under treatment for several months., On recovering, I went through several other small engagements. When I was discharged I set up on my 200 acres in the Patea district and opened a store. After 1 had been there some time the Maoris broke out again, and 1 leased the store and joined the Wellington Rifles, Captain Buck's force, and proceeded to Waihi Camp. We had several brushes with the Maoris, and at Pungarehu I was wounded in the shoulder. This is what the surfreon took out," said Z\lr. Hirtzel, exhibiting a large lead ball about one inch in diameter, which he carries as a memento on his watch chain. "After the war," Mr. Hirtzel added. "I sold my 200 acres for £2 an acre." That land has appreciated in value somewhat since those stirring days. j