RURAL TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15861, 26 February 1912, Page 3

RURAL TOPICS.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL. Mr W. Nixon, of Killinchy, had a twenty-two-acre paddock of Danish oats threshed recently, which gave- the remarkable yield of 111 bushels to the acre. Over 7000 sacks of oa.ts, representing about 31,500 bushels, have been railed from Southbridge during the past fortnight. Exceptionally large yields are reported from all parts of the district, and in one ca.se a locally owned mill put through 2500 bushels of oats iu one day.

The new saleyards at Mina, Cheviot, are to be opened to-morrow, when about 12,000 sheep will be offered. Arrangements have been made lor carriages to he attached to a special stock train leaving Christchurch at (5 a.m., and the sale will bo over before the departure of the ordinary train from Mina in the afternoon.

Settlers of thirty-live years' standing in the Kyle district state that, with the exception of the year in which the land was broken out of the tussock, the present is the most successful season experienced. It is almost impossible to keep the feed down; the clover crops are especially fine, and there is a desirable absence of noxious weeds.

The harvest is not yet general in the Methven district, and, as thore is already a scarcity of labour, it is feared that within the next fortnight harvesters will be unobtainable. As showing the protracted shearing season, some district farmers on]v finished shearing last week, and had immediately to commence stacking.

Mr William Anderson will he elected unopposed to the presidency of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association for tho year 1912. Only one vice-president is to be elected, and three gentlemen have been nominated, namely, Messrs J. Bruce, A. Drummond and F. Frampton. For the committee of twenty-four, thirty-one nominations have been received.

Some good tallies were recorded by threshing millsln the Ashburton County last week. Threshing for Messrs M'Kay Bros., WincJimore, Messrs Thompson and Knox's machine put through 3040 bushels of Garton oats in one day. Threshing for Mr Maine at Waterton, Mr W. Moses's machine in a little over twelve hours threshed 3026 bushels of oats.

The farmers in the Gcraldinp district are having an anxious time in consequence of tho very unsettled weather. In several instances where the grain is ripe the ground has been rendered so soft by tho frequent rains that it is impossible to get a byider on to the land.

Both at Orari and Woodbury blight has affected big patches of wheat, but it is acknowledged that better crops of oats were never seen in the district.

The bulk of the oat crops in the Bakaia district is either in the stack or in tho Rtook, while a fair proportion has been threshed, several fairly large lines having changed hands at satisfactory prices. The traction engine is becoming a factor in the carting of grain, and by this means Mr H. J. Harrison convevod 000 sacks of oats to the Rakaia railway station, a distance of thirteen miles,' and loaded them on the trucks in one day.

The hr.rvest outlook in Otago and Southland is at present depressing and causing much anxiety to farmers. The crops nil over, including rye grass and other seeds, promised to be the heaviest for five years, but the continuous broken weather is changing the aspect. Harvest will be lnte and much of the crop, even if the weather takes up, will be seriously depreciated in value. Seeds that have already found their way to the seaboard show signs of the weather, and in many cases show as much as 25 per cent to be shot out in stor« to be burnt.-

The wheat tests carried out bv the Agricultural Department on Mr J. Bonifant's farm at Wakanui consist of the following varieties:—Solid Straw Tuscan. Velvet Chaff, Pearl White, Bed Chaff. Marshall's Improved, Tuscan, Red Marvel, Federation, White Marvel and Treasure. To each variety onp-twentir>th of an acre has been devoted. This is not considered by Mr Bonifant to be sufficient; but the result in every case has been very satisfactory. The Bed Marvel is a wheat which is said to he greatly adapted for the Ash-, burton County, and the experimental plot looks like giving a big yield.

Several grain'merchants had buyers at the Methven sale on Friday, and offers were'made as high as 2s for Garton oats-, and 3s 4d for wheat (forward delivery). The oats crops in the district are reported to be above the average, hut farmers state that, although there is an abundance of straw, the wheat crons will not yield up to expectations. Owing to the sap iu the straw the grain has had to stand very much longer in the stook, and with the continual showers of rain is taking a lot of hardening. Tho root crops—rape, potatoes, mangels and swede turnips—are looking a.t their l>est, and all stock is in tho pink of condition.