ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18862, 10 November 1924, Page 12

ON THE LAND.

JTHE DAIRYING SEASON PROSPECTS JN WAIKATO. OPINIONS OF FARMERStelegraph.—OWN corbespondent/ HAMILTON. Saturday. Speaking of the prospects of the cur rent dairying season a prominent WaitoJ farmer, Mr. F. W. Walters, said there had been a remarkable flush of feec lately, but owing to the excessive rain fall'the roots of the grass had not beet able to become established as "vas required to ensure a long-continued supplj of feed. All the growth appeared to be upward. Mr. Walters said he was afraid there would be a shortage of feed before , the normal dry period, and that farmers generally in the Waikato would have difficulty in maintaining, the milk supply at a high level after the peak point had been reached. Another factor which would contribute to this was the delay experienced in preparing the fields for root crops owing to the unusually long-con-iinued spell of .wet weather, during which the. ground had been unworkable. Mr. : said the grass was so plentiful in the Waitoa district that it was expected that a start would be made with haymaking within a few days. The views expressed: by Mr. Walters were endorsed by Mr. F. J. Saxby, of Ohaupo Road, who added that while he had been fortunate enough to get his land prepared for turnips between the showers he was no further advanced. He sowed the first crop on September 20, but; no soon were the turnips above the .' ground than > the fly attacked and dei stroyed them. He had just sown a second crop, and the indications at present were , "that the fly, would do considerable dam- - igel to the young plants, if they did not destroy them altogether. In order to ensure an ample supply of summer feed for his stock Mr. Saxby has adopted an unusual course. Ho has prepared six acres of land, and has" distributed the following liberal mixture of fTass, turnip and millet seed per acre:— lb. cocksfoot, 101b. Hawke's Bay rye, 51b. Canterbury rye, 101b. western wolths, 3lb. cowgrass, 31b. red clover, lib. ' white clover, 31b. alsike, 21b. timothy, 51b. millet, 21b. meadow foxtail, 4oz. soft turnips, half bushel Algerian oats.. The land had previously been well limed, and with the seed lewt. of blood and bone and 4cwt. of high-grade had been distributed. Mr. Saxby said his .opinion was that millet alone-did not give sufficient feed to justify the.time and expense involved in the. cultivation, but with the very liberal mixture of. millet and grass he had. sown he had hoped : to be/*able ..to' meet the requirements of -, his-. j pedigree' Jersey herd during the summer' and:, autumn months. Counting calves and yearlings Mrv Saxby has a beast to the acre running on the farm at present. The yearlings, are being grazed on lucerne for two hours a day,' and are doing well. " A drive through the Cambridge; Pukeatoia, Te Awamutu, and Ohaupo districts this week revealed a very satisfactory state of affairs from" a dairying standpoint.! The cattle are in excellent condition, and the grass is from Ift. to Zft. high, in" most places. There is an of feed. At Ohaupo' one saw the unusual sight •, foe tb.e first week in November of a party of farmers making hay. Two crops of hay • shi:rald be securod from many farms in : tho.Waikato this season if the weather is favourable in December and January. ;; POVEETY BAT OUTLOOK. tf|g GRADING STORE REPORT. " IB* TELEGRAPH.—OWN COBKESPONDENT. ] GISBOKNE. Saturday. The greatest quantity of butter eve; received into the local grading store dur ing the month of October was handlec last month, 4869 boxes passing througl the hands of the grader, Mr. E. Beatson In October last year 4608 boxes wen graded, the figures this year showine an increase of 261 boxes. Provided there was a regular rainfall for the next two months, said Mr. Beatson, it looked as if_ the season would be one of the best ever experienced by dairy farmers in Poverty. Bay. The majority ' of the cows were jpst getting into condition now, the winter having been : fairly severe. „ .