Pastoral Farming.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3404, 14 September 1920, Page 3

Pastoral Farming.

A SOUTHLAND CALENDAR. (By W. J. A. McGregor, Mount Linton, Southland.) [The following notes on the yearly routine of pastoral farming m Southland are published mainly with the object of affording some practical hints to new or inexperienced local settlers and many of the young men now taking up grazing runs. They al-o form an iuteve-lintr outline and -record of this class of farming :n the southern part of New Zealand generally.] SEPTEMBER. September is a very full month. Oat-sowing should be completed and ground worked up for early turnips and sra-s. Sheep will be requiviiur more attention as they get heaver in lamb, being more apt to cast. They should therefore be quietly coir through, and not ui-turbel more lha.u m-ees-sury. However, the sli pheal on his rounds will find that ewes heavy in lamb will be inclned to hang too much on lower ground, such as river flats, airl will be more liable to east, as they get weaker through eating each other out and dirtying the ground. On clean, fresh, healthy elopes they will be found to cast \ less, and are stronger. Stud ewes will be lambing this month, and need much attention. Unless the ewes have been well fe:l thy will have little or no milk when the lamls are born. Too much old grass or dry food may produce a like effect. On the other hand, if the ewes have been too well done on turnips or other special feed, milk troubles may arise, such as inflammation of the udder, which may cause death or a diseased quarter. If possible, the ewes .should be lambed on a clean, fre-h paddock. When lambing has started the shepherd should visit the ewes in the morning, as then is the time they may be in trouble and assist aure required. Another round should be male at mid-day, and als«i near niuht-time. The shephend on studs or other pa kick ewes lambing should never have more than one dog following him—and that a quiet one which will remain with the horse when he is not wanted—as a ewe at sight of a dog will often clear out and leave her lamb. A few hurdles should also be kept handy to whip up a pen in which to put an obstinate ewe that may iefu.se to take h-r lamb, or to mother a motherless lamb on to a ewe that may have lost her lamb. When the lambs are a few days old it is a good plan to work them off with their dams into another paddock, thus giving a better opportunity to look after the ewes still to lamb. Fences and marking yards should be seen to, and overhauled if nece-.-ary. When marking-time arrives it will be found that ewes and lambs will yard up better if the yardhave been set up with a n uphill entrance.

Any old tussock country that requires freshening up .should Ih> burned this month and no later, as afterwards the tussook-roots inuy sret too dry and frost or dry weather kill the roote. Surfaec-sowina- shoul 1 be carried out on the burned mound straight. away, as the ashes may help to cover and germinate the Me (1 ImMter, and also as this L- tht' bu-t period for surface sowing. Fence'- ihat may require trimmiiur, -such as co:.-e. islkju! 1 now be eut: and no {lime .shoul 1 be lost in completing any tro-r*-pl;intin.cr deriled upon. Sowincr the home-tea i warden with the son'- main !C |ULicme- !t- of \e- , c!a>'l- { may ai .<> be mentions -'N-Z. .b.irnal of \'s. i.'iilture.'