RURAL TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 14285, 1 February 1907, Page 4

RURAL TOPICS.

46RICULTUHAL AND PASTORAL. The output of butter along the west coast of the North Island ie considerably greater than in any previous year, and the co-operative companies will be able to fulfil their contracts for supplies long before the specified time. There is an increase of fully 10 per cent in comparison to last year. The site of what was once known as the Forty-mile Bush (for the bush lias practically disappeared) is at present a succession of the greenest of pastures, interspersed, with grain crops and vegetable gardens (says the “ Wairarapa Daily Times”). Very little evidence is to bo seen of the drought which has wrought such havoc with late crops within a radius of some miles of Masterton ; and whilst some farmers in this district are rapidly quitting their lambs through absence of feed, the “Bush” farmers are jubilating at sending fat stock in all directions, their beasts luxuriating in a wealth of grass and rape. I Referring to the district known "as the Forty-mile Bush, the “ Wairarapa Daily Times” says:—Being the region of small holdings, cropping is not extensively" adopted, and the dairying industry still accounts for nearly twothirds of its area; but near the main road, from Mauricovill© northwards to Woodville, the proximity of the highway has induced many farmers to go ' in more extensively for cropping than the “back-block” settler, who, no doubt, finds the sheep or cow profitable enough under the circumstances in which ho is placed. The suitability of tlio soil for cropping purposes in the whole of the country which formerly carried timber is unquestionable, but what is at present preventing many thousands of acres from coming under the plough around Eketalmna is : the tremendous amount of stumping which would be necessary before graingrowing could ,bc successfully accomplished. The nimble quadruped scorns logs and stumps, which occupy a comparatively small area, and as wool and butter are products which have latterly brought highly satisfactory prices iu the Home markets, it is not surprising that on a very large number of holdings a stump has not been lifted for years. Now that threshing operations have concluded in various parts of the district reliable information is available as to the returns (writes the Master* ton correspondent of the Wellington “Post”). Although it is admitted that in certain parts the crops are i lighter than usual, it is estimated that I the harvest as a whole will be quite up to the average. Iu one or two instances phenomenally heavy crops have been threshed. On Messrs' Donald Bros.’ farm, close to Masterton, on a river-flat, they have just threshed _ a crop of oats nine acres in area, which yielded eighty-two bushels to the acre, whilst two other instances are known in which the yield went as high as seventy bushels to the acre. The splendid rains experienced early in the month wonderfully improved late turnip and rape crops, and reports from the country state that there is an abundance of feed just now. The potato crops_ are looking healthy,’ and fairly good yields are anticipated. The Foil ding Agricultural and Pas- ' toral Association has received very large entries in all classes for its chow, to be held on Tuesday and. Wednesday, I February 5 and 6, the exhibits totalling I 354 in excess of last year. Some of the finest horses in the north are entered in the jumping competitions, and all classes are well filled". In sheep there will probably bo the finest exhibition yet seen iu the North Island, over 1250 being entered in 76 classes. I Air 0. Clothier, Hawarden, has just threshed out 4000 bushels of wheat harvested from 100 acres. The grain, i 1 which was threshed from the stock, is , of very prime quality. Air Cjothicr has , also 200 acres of cafcy, which promese to > I yield forty bushels to* the acre. A South Canterbury correspondent writes Harvesting is now proceeding apace in the St Andrew's and Pareora districts. The crops range from fair to good from St Andrew’s up the Esk Valley to Bluecliffs. Some of the mnaller patches arc poor, but the general yield will lie nearly up to the average. On the sunny faces of the hills there I is scarcely any feed now, and there j will be a bad time for the stock in the I winter months. Strang© to say, the St Andrew’s creamery milk suppliers have kept up to nearly their ordinary yield, about 450 gallons a day being brought in. The Bluecliffs estate slicks signs ■of the drought, but along the tops of the hills bordering the valley the turnips seem to be doing well. There is absolutely no water iu the Otaio River, just a bare expanse of shingle. On the road to the Pareora on Eiworthy’s estate, some fine crops of oats and wheat are seen, and some very largo paddocks are now either in stock or being cut. The crops on Elworthy’s Pareora estate are very good, in fact, they are about ■ the best that have ever been grown there. A crop of oats on tlm north side of the road is remarkably well headed, and two crops of wheat by the homestead are about the best 1 have seen this season. The turnips on the estate are looking very well. Along the road from the homestead to the sea there are some good crops, wheat which should yield over forty bushels and oats even more. The farmers in this district ought to be well satisfied with their grain crops. Air M’Keown has a grand crop of wheat on the hill at the back of his house, about a hundred acres, which should yield forty-five bushels at least to the acre. The crops on the Government settlement are nearly all well above the average, in fact, in the course of a thirty-mile drive through this part, the only p~or crops I saw were only small lots. On the Kingsdown the crops are not so heavy as on the Pareora. but they .are very fair. A paddcck of wheat, about twenty acres, belonging to Air James Craigie, looks remarkably well in_ stock. Threshing from the stock is going on rapidly. I saw six threshing mills at work, and judging from the condtim of the crops the grain, ought to be in first-class order. A rfreshing rain from the north-west fell over a portion of vne Ashley county for three hours Last night. After it ceased a light nor’-west wind prevailed. The majority of farmers would now like to see the rain holding off for two or three weeks, threshing from the ground and the sto-ok being iu full owing. The weather at TV’aimato einco Friday (says the “ Timaru Post”) has nat been quite so hot as it was previously, with cool breezes from southwest to south. Although no rain to speak of has fallen, the heat has been tempered, and the excessive dryness modified, the last few days, by misty mornings and evenings. Harvest work is being carried on under most favourable circums.aaces. Early sown grain, turnips, potatoes and garden produce

are fairly good, but the later sown craps of all kinds are generally poor, both in yield and quality. The parched state of the pastures and scarcity of water continue to produce a serious state of affairs on many farms, some having to dispose of part of their stock at almost any price. Milk ‘and home-, ; made, butter are getting very scarce and rising in price. I A number of capital crops will be* cut between Oamarn and Timaru (says the : “North Otago Times”). Between I Oanraru and the Waitaki River some (to judge by a casual glance from the railway) will run up to 25 bushels of wheat , to 'the acre, while across the river crops of up to 40 or 45 bushels may be seen, and one or two even more. Oats are everywhere light, the dry weather having told heavily on this class of ’ I crop. By comparison with what is to be seen west and south of Oamarn, the prospect is very cheering from here north. Turnips have made but poor progress, ’ and generally feed is very I bate. In, a few cases sheep and cattle have already been turned on to stubble. j ■ People who run through the country on railway trains are apt to be greatly misled by the fine appearance of the potato crop® (says the “ North Otago Times”). There is a succulent-, looking fill aw, hut in some cases there is an entire absence of tuber. Instead of a tuber, however, long tuberous roots have been run cut, possibly in a i ■ vain effort to find moisture. These' ' roots' have been living on the sliaw, | which, in turn, has existed on tho ; moisture drawn from the atmosphere, ’ the earth being parched to the state of ashes. As soon as these long roots have exhausted the shaw, there will be a general withering off. This is not the condition of the potato crop in I every instance, but, unfortunately, it lissoin a. great many cases. The yield ' of potatoes will be less per acre than it has been since the district started to grow the tuber. , | | The “Timaru Herald” says that the farms beside the railway between Timaru and Waimate on Wednesday presented a very pleasing appearance, so far as grain crops are concerned,. As far as St Andrews there is practically nothing to be seen uncut, and a good I deal of the crop has been stacked or threshed, while the trtooks still stand I fairly thick upon the ground. Irom St Andrews to Waimate the crops of I wheat are very good, these of oatfi being much lighter. Though none of the wheats are heavy, as this terra ap- , plies to South Canterbury crops, the majority are above the average. Probably the prettiest bit, fer clean and thick stubble, and a good show of stocks, is a small paddock just north of Hook Station. The reaper is going in all directions, and a geed many paddocks of cut grain lying unstcofced suggest seme shortage of hands. It is remarkable what a difference a few miles make. Aft already stated, the crops on f ills side of the Pareora are cut; about Studholme there are some that will not be ripe for a week or two. The pastures all the way are looking bare and brown, yet the stock in them do not Took amiss. The fields and patches of turnips to be seen very evidently need rain, but now that there is so much corn in the eheaf, it would, probably bo more profitable to the farmers as a whole if the rain now held off for another ten or fourteen clays.