RURAL TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14192, 15 October 1906, Page 9

RURAL TOPICS.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL,

At an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Farmers’ Cooperative Association at Tiraaru on Saturday, resolutions passed at the last annual meeting were formally confirmed. The first authorised an increase of capital; the second increased the maximum number of shares tenable byono person from 200 to 400. Only a dozen shareholders wore present, and there was no discussion.

A strong nor’-wester blew over South Canterbury on Saturday, raising clouds of dust from roads and streets. It was hoped that when the wind changed it would be to tho south and bring up rain, which would be very welcome.

The new sheep-pens and other alterations to the Courtenay Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s show grounds are now nearly completed. Tho improvemente, in addition to proving a great convenience, will add much to the appearance of the grounds,’ The annual show will take place on Thursday, November 15.

A meeting of the committee which recently appointed Mr D. H. M’Hattio ■as veterinary surgeon for the Ellesmere district, met at Leeston on Friday afternoon, Mr T. B. Howeon presiding. A draft agreement was submitted drawn up by the chairman, and was adopted. It was decided to have the document legally drawn out, and a copy sent to Mr M’ Hattie for approval.

Speaking of the Californian Thistle at the meeting of the Longbeach Road Board held on Saturday, the chairman (Mr J. C. N. Gx-igg) gave a.n account of a method which h© had found effectual for the eradication.' of a weed which has proved a great nuisance to the farming community. By persistent skim ploughing, Mr Grigg said, the weed could be killed, but it must be ploughed right into the soil and none of it left so that the plant could breathe.

In some parts of North Canterbury the want of rain is beginning to be felt. When land is being broken up, the soil is found to be very hard and unworkable, and nothing " but a few hours’ heavy pain will put mattens right. In some cases the soil is already beginning to bake and omck in an-unusual way for this time of the year, and fears are beginning-to be expressed that the season- is going to be top dry. Heavy dews have, however, kept the crops and grass growing, and the country generally is maintaining a healthy ■' green appearance. *

Willi reference to Mr H. Mason’s article on English and New Zealand methods of building corn stacks, which appeared in Wednesday’s issue, a correspondent writes:—This is an error, it should be English and Scotch methods. The English stylo is to keep the body of a stack flat, so as to have the outside wall smooth and oven. This is a- very faulty -way of stacking, as the butts of the sheaves slope inwards and will take in wet, even if the z'oof is watertight! The Scotch method is' to keep the heart of the stack high right from the start-, so that if the roof leaks the straw always slopes downward and outward. I had a very practical experience of this some years ago, when grain farming in a large way. I engaged three stackers. Two of them I knew, but the third was unknown to me, but was very highly recommended. On starting stacking I noticed that the new man kept his stack very flat. I told him I did not like it, and asked him to keep the heart well up. He could not, or would not, alter his work, and as I could not get another stacker I had to put up with him. We had a very wet autumn, and I threshed late. AuXthis man’s stacks were wet, while the'others were dry. The English method makes a very pretty and smooth-looking stack, while the Scotch method is ridgy and uneven. I may say that if stacks are not thatched they should be well raked down and beaten flat with a spade.

The Ashburton correspondent of tho “ Lyttelton . Times ” telegraphs An exceptionally_ dry_ season ja being experienced in this district. No ram has fallen for fully a fortnight, •and not very much then. Farmers and pastoralists are consequently beginning to cry out for more moisture. At nearly every of the County Council there are applications . for water race services, and tho Council will have to face in the near future some extended scheme to enable it to supply these demands. On Friday a strong rtorth-east wind was blowing all day, and on Saturday it had veered round to north-west, _ bringing up clouds of duet wand making things very disagreeable. So far the pastures are looking well, on account of the moisture in the ground, but tho land which is being worked for rape or turnips is turning up very lumpy, which only rain can remedy. At the present moment there is no sign of rain.

Potato-growers in the Otaki district have been much concerned (telegraphs a correspondent of the “Post ”) over tho appearance of what is generally believed to bo tho dreaded Irish blight. It would appear, however, that their fears are at least premature. Specimens of affected) loaves were submitted to the Government Biologist for examination, and he has forwarded: the

following reassuring report:—“A careful examination did not show any trace of Irish blight, the death of the tissues being due to frost. Potatoes which have been frosted are in consequence weakened, and thus fall an easy prey to fungoid attack. It is therefore very important that they should b© sprayed.” Growers anxious to participate in tho higli prices now obtainable for new potatoes have planted much earlier than usual, and consequently their crops havo been affected by tho frost. Only an isolated' patch here and there escaped the blight last year, which was exceptionally wet, hut as this season promises to bo an unusually dry one it is probable that the position will bo reversed.

Tile spring has been very dry in the Taranaki province, and the milk supply is already beginning to shrink. Rain is urgently needed.

In tho report of Hie Aniberley Breeders’ Association’s show, in Thursday s issue of tho “ Lyttelton Times,” it was stated that “ Arab Night” had been awarded second prize for pony stallion. The horse should have appeared as winner of the first prize.

Although tho fact has been announced and commented upon the Press it appears still to be not generally known that the importation of New Zealand seed potatoes into Victoria is absolutely forbidden. A leading southern grower sent a largo consignment of seed' varieties to Victoria, and has received notice that the potatoes are lying in bond, at Melbourne at his risk, and will have to be brought back.