RURAL TALKS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17335, 25 November 1916, Page 4

RURAL TALKS.

(By RUSTTCUS.) November 16. A question that is agitating farmers is whether we aro going to have anothei drought or not. At present it looks uncommonly liko another dry spell. The way in' which heavy clouds como up every day and then disperse without any other result than a burst of heat, is not without its disquieting features. Some farmers will tell you that it is impossible to havie thie6 droughts in succession, but such a happening is quite within the bounds of possibility. Tho ground received a good wetting last season, and there is undoubtedly a reserve of moisture underneath, but the surface in many places is baked, and grass and crops are beginning to suffer. .Wo can stand a good deal of rain at this season of tho year, and it will be a »ity if sufficient docs not come to keen things going now that they have made, good a start. The foothills are nob so bad, and, a.*? in the last two seasons, will probably come out fairly well should the dry time continue. Nor'-west showers have helped to keep the ground moist, and the misty weather of late has also been a help in tho higher" inland localities. It< is sincerely to be hoped that w'o shall have a good season this time. Canterbury and North Otago have not been able to participate to tho full in the increased values that have been going during the past two" years, owing to tho drought, and we think it is about time that wc had a good season. One cannot emphasiso too much the importance of sowing mangels for stock, particularly in districts where dry weather is likely to interfere with tho growth of turnips and swedes. Mangels require good cultivation, including deep ploughing, and they grow best in good, heavy soil. Once they get a hold they will withstand drought conditions better than any other root crop. They should now be coming up in the rows, although it is not too lato yet to sow seed. The seed should be sound and thoroughly good, because it. is a considerable wasto to have the ground worked up and manure put in without any result owing lo tho failure of tho seed. If tho stuff comes up in bunches, transplanting may bo done. The plants -will transplant, easily, and if tho ground contains sufficient moisture they will bo almost suro to strike. I have seen a considerable area planted iii this way with good results. As for the kind of mangels to sow, that depends, of course, upon the individual tastes of the grower. For my part, I prefer tho Yellow Globes. These mangels ai» very easy to pull and load into drays when pitting, whereas long reds aro very clumsy to deal with. Tho Yellow Globe varieties are good croppers, generally speaking, and they are relished by stock. Tho variety, however, that animals take to tho best of all is the Tankard sorts. Tho Tankard ' is not as good a cropper as the other kinds, but stock will eat it before any other, and, moreover, Tankard mangels may bo eaten before other kinds are ready, that is, they eeem to mature earlier, whereas other' varieties havo to be kept a considerable time before it is safe to put stock ypon them. They seem to contain more sugar than other kinds, and aro relished by stock, but they are not such heavy croppers; at least, thab ib my experience of them. All animals require salt, but 1 an. afraid that too many farmers neglect to supply it to their cat tie', sheep and horses. It seems to mo that it is re--quired at this time of the season more especially, there being so much green feed absorbed into the system." Animals which havo not been supplied regularly with salt appear to be almost ravenous for it when it is put their way. Horses keep in good fettle and condition much more easily when they are regularly supplied with salt. Their coats improve, and so does their health and general apearance. Shearing is now in full swing, and the weather is very good for it. The woollies now require a great deal of watching, as they are very apt to get cast, and moreover, in spite 0? tho dry weather, a good many of them aro getting daggy. If at all possible, as much (lagging as possible should be done before shearing time is reached. It is scarcely fair to ask shearers to deal with dirty sheep, and from the owners' point of view dags in the woolshed aro to be,avoided. When dirty sheep are penned up for the night, thoy contaminate the fleeces of those that are clean, and they also cause dirt to lodge on other parts that are not daggy. While on this subject, it will not be out of place to recommend that sheep intended to be penned up for shearing, especially those that are going to be kept in the shed all night, should bo brought into the yards seme hours before they are sheckled up. This will allow them to become empty to a certain extent, and will pre.vent the pens I and shearing board becoming foul. I j like to wash my shearing board thor- ! nugMy before shearing commences, and • then to take any opportunity lint j offers during ?hca,ri«S ln R '' ve il :1 noC ' I Hooding cf water, scrubbing If -down wi*h a'strong stable broom. Tho board lli?ce< on a piercing whit' 1 appearance, and is certainly more comfortable for the shearers to work upon.