FARMING NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 283, 27 October 1934, Page 5

FARMING NOTES.

RURAL RAKINGS.

Expressing itself in favour of the formation of a Young Farmers’ Club under the rules and constitution of the' New Zealand federation for such organisations, tho Southern Hawke’s Bay provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union has decided to call together a few young men from each district in its area to put the proposal before them in a special meeting at Dannevirke. “One of the worst springs we have had for black spot,” said a member of the Canterbury Fruit Growers’ Association at the last meeting of the association, when referring’to the prevalence of the black spot blight in orchards this season. The president. of the association, Mr F. W. Sisson, remarked that he had already seen it on the leaves of trees, adding that in its ease sprays could be used only as preventives, not as exterminators. It -was stated that the blight could be present on a tree from three to eight days before it became visible. .

The uncompromising antagonism of the Dairy Produce Board with respect to the Dairy Commission’s report is not shared generally by dairy fanners, several of whom have expressed favourable opinions of that document during the past week (says the Otago Daily Times). One dairyman said that, considering tho complexity of the problems by which the Commission was faced, the report was an excellent one. 'Another North Otago farmer suggested that if the Dairy Board members were less concerned about the fate of their own organisation they would have more time to consider the report on its merits. General satisfaction at tho fate that had befallen the Government’s proposal for a levy on wool for research purposes was expressed by members of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. “It is as dead as the dodo,” one speaker declared, “and it requires no further discussion.” Another member said it would be as well if it remained dead until the Massey College and allied authorities were able to convince wool growers that they could give the industry money’s worth for any levy that might be made. In a frantic effort to get some of their wheat in, growers who were handicapped in their sowing by the extraordinary amount of wet weather experienced this season have been taking advantage of every fine spell, but in some districts it is by now far too late to sow even the late varieties of wheat, and many farmers have missed altogether (says a southern report). In a few districts there is still too much mositure to make the land workable, and in others where growers still held out hopes of getting crops into tho ground further rain has put an end to operations. Those farmers who were fortunate enough to get their wheat shown, however, have every reason to be pleased, for the crops are coming away in excellent style. The season’s lambing has been a good one in most parts of the province of Otago, notwithstanding some considerable losses ’ through bad weather late in September in most districts. and particularly in North Otago and Central Otago; Percentages have struck a .very fair average, although it is not unlikely that when the final returns are available it will be found that the provincial average is slightly lower than that of last year. A South Otago grazier told the Otago Daily Times that he had just finished tailing, and he could report the best lambing he had ever experienced. Moreover, lie considered that his stock were worth £3OOO more than was the case 12 months competition at the sale of fat stock held at tho Carterton Showground in conjunction with tho Wairarapa Show was not as keen as was anticipated, prices generally were slightly in advaneo of luting market rates. Though quiet, the demand for fat lambs was steady, and the 147 offered were disposed of at auction, at prices ranging from 21s to 325, with an average of 235. The average weight of the lambs offered would be from 301 b to 321 b, and the prices realised • would average about 8i per lb. The top price of 32s was paid for a fine first-prize pen offered on account, of Rayner Bros., Carterton. Fat sheep prices ranged from 16s to 2bs.