KELSO JOTTINGS.

Mataura Ensign, 24 April 1917, Page 3

KELSO JOTTINGS.

Farmers of this district must give their attention to the growing oi wheat in the incoming season to a greater extent' than lias ever' hitherto neon done. L mean by this distinct all the agricultural land embraced between (jure and ’Roxburgh. The writer has seen crops of wheat in the Dunrobin and Crookston districts that for quantity and quality of yield (mold not be surpassed in the* Dominion, it must not he supposed, however, that -wheat can be profitably grown all over this district. lam safe in saying, however, that many thousands of acres could be profitably' devoted to the growing of our staple cereal. Writing ol growing wheat, the question of labor comes in. That’s harping on the same old string; but 1 again emphatically repeat it as a suicidal policy on tiie part of the Government, excepting on a last resource, compulsorily sending our best farmers to the front. The powers that be have already hinted atvthis; why not boldly say so? it is all very well for “your own” or any other great authority to advocate the growing of wheat. What heart has a farmer to grow anything when he has no possible assurance of being aide to reap it. Our Government at last is beginning with a vengeance to economise, and it is also the bounden duty of the people generally to he more thrifty, I was informed lately by tiie traveller of a big Dunedin drapery' firm that never in a twenty years’ experience was their such a demand by country people for expensive furs, silks at satins, L think that in a time like the present all this extravagance is wicked and unwarrantable. There is a veritable army of travellers going round the country in luxurious cars preying on the farmers, All this woeful waste the producers have to pay for, . Had as the traveller bug js the übiquitous dealer is a bigger incubus on the country. At all stock sales dealers are there in groat force, and nine times m-it-' of ten secure- .all Jhe,.., bargains. Vendors should study their own best interests and , make. it...a- condition of, sale .that'th^ir.stock h.e 'suhi'to fa'i-mers restriction' oh our; va] iwas6' will, of course, prevent the liming of our land. This is'a thousand pities, as the production of foodstuffs hinges more tensely on the liming of land than is generally heUepvd, ■ ■ ■ ■■■