FARMING IN THE AWATERE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 228, 26 September 1907, Page 5

FARMING IN THE AWATERE.

THE SEASON'S PROSPECTS

(Our Reporter on Tour.)

At the beginning of this week an I Express representative: cycled into the country, and in the course of a few days visited not only our latest settlement, Flaxbour.ne, but spent some time in the Awatere and Blind River, and passing over the border-line of the province, continued his journey as far as Kaikoura. From personal observation and conversation with a number of farmers in each district the reporter received the most favourable impressions, and found everywhere farmers who were rejoicing at their prospects. If they had a slight grievance or two, their complainings were scarcely audible. A good winter, an early spring with a superabundance of grass, a high lambing percentage, the higher prices likely to be paid for fats, have all contributed to the satisfaction of the farmer,-who regards his success for the year a.s fairly well assured. Of course, it is too early just yet to enter into pice calculations, especially when considering the probable returns from such cereals as barley and oats, for the season may be too wet or too dry, and though the price for barley is not expected to fall below that of last year, no farmer ventures to predict the state of the market. But the prospects at: present -are unquestionably good. Of late years the Awatere has contributed a fair share to the large quantity of oats and vbarley produced in Marlborough, and almost*«very farmer has this year a number of acres devoted to the growing of; these cereals. .In traversing the district there were to be seen in every direction large paddocks under oats and barley, which looked healthy and promising. The heavy rains of late were very welcome, but had less fallen the result would have been quite as good; perhaps better, for some paddocks of barley have been slightly discoloured; but divided j opinion amongst farmers makes it i doubtful whether this will have any influence upon the quantity or quality of the yield. The Awatere does not require a great deal of rain, especially in the winter., and daring a dry winter the sheep thrive better and put on more condition. Last -winter naving been very dry, farmers find their sheep in such good condition that not only are good prices expected for them, but also for the wool, which is always superior during a good season. Mr G.unn, a well-known farmer, spoke cheerfully of his own prospects and of the district generally. The crops are looking, lie said; quite as well this year as last year, and given an average season everything pointed to a good harvest. He has about 80 acres down in barley and 20 acres in oats, and the crops are well advanced and free from any blemish or bad characteristic. His sheep are looking remarkably well, and his lambing percentage has been high, about 100 per cent. Though a few lambs have been lost during the severe weather lately, the loss has not been great. Mr Foster, another farmer, has devoted the whole of his land to sheep this year, and having in his 30 acres of plantation more protection for his sheep than the average, farmer, his percentage of lambs is 103 per cent. This multiplication of his flocks, which already included about 1100 ewes, will demand the undivided attention of Mr Foster, and for this reason he is doing no cropping this year.

The Awatere is carrying this year more sheep in proportion to the quantity of grass land than ever, but there is also more land either sown or being sown with rape and turnips than for any previous year. Now. that better prices are to be paid at the Freezing Works for fats, farmers are growing almost unsparingly fattening feed, and the quality of Marlborough mutton may with the increased exertions of the farmers gain yet greater distinction.

Wheat in the Awatere rarely gives satisfaction, and is therefore grown most sparingly. There is not, according to Mr Gunn, 100 acres of wheat in the whole valley. Why the results from wheat should be so unreliable is not quite clear. Occasionally a farmer who puts in a few acres in a speculative way will get a good crop, but generally wheat is a failure, and the ground seems to lack some element necessary to satisfactory results. Barley, again, will beat oats every time, not that a better crop of the former can always be obtained, but the higher price at which barley can be sold gives it the leading place, and it's the dollars that tell every time. Mr P. Meehan, when called upon, waved his hand over his acres, and said: "There you can see for yourself," and certainly his crops- were no exception to the general rule. The story heard from farmers did not v.aryj all were satisfied, and had a lively hope that the season would at least be equal to any yet experienced