RURAL TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15862, 27 February 1912, Page 5

RURAL TOPICS.

AGRICULTURAL AND . PASTORAL. A farmer in tho Lauriston district, over whose land a, hailstorm swept last December, finds after harvesting a large area of oats that the crop will not pay for threshing. The mill, after threshing for some time, pulled out.

The crop of cocksfoot along tho railway lines of Southland this season is a particularly good one, and in many places a very clean one. Sheaves of this valuable grass can now bo seen stacked along the railway fenoes, and some really exoellenfc seed should be saved tills season.

Owing to tho unfavourable weather, the cocksfoot harvest on Banks Peninsula this season will bo ono of the longest on record. Generally at tho end of February, in all except a few high-lying paddocks, threshing is completed, but this year it is questionable if half tbo seed is yet in the sacks. As-to the total yield, many experts consider it will ho much in excess of that of last year. The absence of sunshine makes the seed hard to thresh. A few sales have been effected at from 4id to 5d off the floors.

In spite of tho tares, which arc said to bo thick, this year’s crop of grassseed in Little River promises to lie fairly satisfactory. Practically all cutting is finished, and threshing, is proceeding as tho weather permits. At Willisden this year a new machine is being used in place of tho old-fashioned flail, which is still used generally for getting tho seed. The results to date with the machine, which is . a local invention, have been very satisfactory. One afternoon it put out ninety bogs of undressed seed, with nine men carrying in.

The “ Ashburton Guardian ” states that the progress of the dairying industry since it was first established in the Staveley district has exceeded the most sanguine expectations, and that the amount of money received for but-ter-fat has increased by 499 per cent in five years. Tho amount received for butter-fat for tbo month of January in each of the last five years was as follows:—l993, £265 15s Id: 1999, £498 12s lid; 1919. £727 9s 2d; 1911, £769 3s 4d; 1912, £9Bl 19s 91. The directors of the creamery are moving in the direction of having a Cow Testing Association formed, in which case tlie standard of the dairy herds will be raised and tho profits approach much more nearly to tho maximum that the iand is capable of returning. The average test at the creamery at present is which, considering the wet season, is very good.

A meeting of tho General Committee of the Hawarden Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Friday. Mr J. Jones, president, was in tlie chair. The secretary was instructed to make arrangements for a special train from, Christchurch on Show Day (April 4). It was decided to invite the Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Railways, Mr GIV. Forbes, M.P., and the directors of Lincoln College to attond the show. A trophy was promised by Mr T. Shields for tlie largest number of points at tbo show, and special prizes of a guinea and two guineas were given by Messrs Saundercock and Neale and Miss M’Rae. It was decided to have a publican’s booth on tlie ground and to provide hot water free to all. A ground committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs TV. Earle, G. Rutherford, G. L. Rutherford, IT. Tomlinson, T. H. Lance, T. Shields, TV. Compton, F. TVatson, R. Watson. F. Mason, J. 11. TVright and TV. TVhite.

A monthly meeting of the Amuri Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday, Mr K. Pettigrew, vice-president, being in the chair. Reports from the Notice Board Committee and tho Catalogue Committee were adopted. It was resolved that five shillings should bo paid towards the cost of tho notice board. Tho following additional stewards were appointed: —Mr G. B. Sansom for vegetable, fruit and flower classes, and .Mr J. Pocklington for cookery classes. Mr P. R. Dunbar was added to the Grounds Committee. It was resolved that the Entertainment Committee should ' confer with the TVaiau-Cnlver-den Railway League in regard to inviting the Ministers and the Canterbury members of Parliament to the Show. It was also resolved that tho dato for receiving entries for the show should be extended to March 9. The following have accepted appointment as judges at the show: —Draught horses, Mr J. Fleming; store sheep, Mr J. M’Grath; seeds, poultry and dogs, Mr TV. A. Banks'; school work, Mr J. G. Poison; sewing, Mrs D. D. Macfarlahe; cookery, Mrs R. Wornall; roots, vegetables and flowers, Mr W. J. Courtier. Mr A. Barwell presented a fat lamb for the guessing competition.

The Kinloch Estate at Little River, which was taken over by the- Government for closer settlement in 1908, and which has provided homes for twentyfour settlers, is looking its best this year, tlie frequent rnin3 being of great benefit, more especially to tho high country and land lying seaward. Everywhere there is an abundance of feed, and the settlers predict that this will be the most successful season they have experienced. The lambing has produced a’good percentage generally, and with only one exception there have been no losses of sheep due to bad weather. A little cocksfoot is being harvested on the higher levels, but the settlers, with the exception of one or two on the Little River side, hav© so far confined their attention to sheep, and in one or two instances to cattle. The settlers who are handy to the factory have taken up dairying, and these report a very successful year. At the present time three of the settlers aro building houses, and one settlor is installing electric light and shearing machines, with power taken from a neighbouring stream. Tlie highest point on Kinloch is 2399 feet, but the rise is gradual, and nearly all tho homesteads are very little above sea level. Good roads have been made to all the sections by the Roads Department, and these are now controlled by tho County Council.