FARM JOTTINGS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6617, 23 May 1928, Page 10

FARM JOTTINGS

Outrage on farmers. la Wcstralitt they have a supertax. A farmer received the Government papers calling upon him to pay the tax. He wrote back that he had no intention of paying. It was evidently an attempt to cheat him of his hard-earned cosh, for he hadn't put a bit of super on his land this season—only basic slag. Mr W. Good fellow brought this story back from Australia. Killing Export.

Speaking to a gathering of farmers at Kangiora on the occasion of an inspection of tho New Zealand .farmers ’ Co-operative Association’s new graincleaning plant, Mr \V. Machin said that while visiting the Dominion, the late Mr H. E. Pratten had told him that New Zealand had killed Australia’s exportation of wheat and flour. “I was so pleased to hear it,” said Mr Machin “that I could not help interjecting that we will take some more of Australia’s dried fruits.” Trees for the Farm.

It is reported that there is a good demaud for plantation trees for the farm, and quite a number of farmers seem to realise that it pays to plant trees for stock and to occupy waste corners. Some farmers arc dealing successfully with gorse which has taken possession of steep sidolings and other waste properties by planting through the gorse. The frees grow very quickly, having good shelter, and destroying the gorse as they grow up. A number of year sago the requirements of wood and fencing material on farms were not seriously considered, as plenty of timber was available from the bush reserves, tho majority of which have now been cut out. Diseases in Stock.

Diseases ia stock have been much less frequent this year than during the two previous years. This is considered to bo the result of the activities of 'tho live stock branch of the Department of Agriculture. Cattle have been comparatively free from contagious abortion and contagious luaramitis. There has also been Jess trouble with cows failing to come into profit. At present experiments arc being undertaken in the feeding of ewes to attempt to prevent continuation of the lamb mortality experienced this season.

Ferocity of Weasel. The ferocity of the weasel was demonstrated on a farm at Manaia. Taranaki, recently. A settler engaged in gathering wood saw an adult weasel carrying a young one in its mouth, and he attacked the pests with a piece of wood. Both showed considerable fight and after the young one had been despatched, the old ono ran under a log, where it continued its snarling and teoth-showing. Later it was found that tho old one had carried oh tho dead body of tho young weasel. Ousting Blackberry.

.Some time ago a resident of Tauranga wrote to the Cawthrou Institute, Nelson, asking whether the Institute had any specific to recommend to deal with blackberry. A reply was received recommending a trial of ono pound and a-half of arsenic and three pounds of washing soda, with six gallons of water boiled for twenty minutes, the mixture to bo applied with a fine spray. Following these instructions, the resident has had distinct success in dealing with blackberry at Papamoa. As far as could be judged tho patch of blackberry sprayed had been killed. Two Killers.

The high price of land and tho high price of money were tho two things crippling the farming community in New Zealand to-day, remarked Mr J. Cocker, Eltham, at tho annual conference of tho South Taranaki provincial executive of tho Farmers’'Union. Rabbits Pay the Bates.

Good prices .-ire being paid for laud in the back country for the right to trap rabbits, states the Western Star. One settler in the Maroroa Elding received fdOO for the rights. This sum was sufficient to pay all his rates and other disbursements for tho year.