GLEANINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7026, 14 January 1910, Page 3

GLEANINGS

Reports continue to be received of caterpillars and birds having done considerable damage to crops in Canterbury districts. It is stated that farmers who are threshing from the stock are finding the grain yields disappointing (says the "Lyttelton Times"). Many of the paddocks are whitening off, with a consequent decline of yield and quality. Taranaki dairy farmers have reason to congratulate themselves- on the fact that if the supply has commenced to decline by reason of' the dry weather the early nature of the season enabled them to ship''a. considerable . proportion of their produce when prices should be at their best level.

Everything, in connection with the statistical position points to the present Australasian clip being a moderate one, and of about the volume predicted in Dalgety's estimate of October 22nd last, namely, 2,388,000 bales, an increase of 100,000 bales on' the exports of the previous season.

Appearances indicate that Southland grass seed will be very heavy in parts where the crop has been standing up, but in some "cases on heavy ' land the grass has gone down very badly. It is difficult to say how the market will rule, but the stocks at present held'by Southland merchants are very light.

Reports from Ashburton; state that the cropjj there are in a bad way on account of the continued dry weather. All the crops as far south as Oamaru seem to be badly affected. North of Ashburton also they show signs of the heat, but

(■'ifur - r>pearance improves all tho way "along the railway line to Christchureh. The Department of Agriculture in Victoria is optimistic as to tho wheat crop. In the opinion of the Minister for Agriculture the estimate that tho wheat crop of Victoria for the season will ba about 25,000,003 bushels is likely to be more,than realised. The reports which he has heard from different parts of the country, he says, go to show that tho yield in maif places will be above expectations. i

Pastures are now drying up Bomewhat along the coastal district, consequent upon the lengthy periods of fine weather, and there are many complaints that cows are going off rather rapidly in their milk yield (says a Taranaki paper). There are some farmers, however, who seem to forget that a very early start was made tliis season. The result of this, of course, is that the milk yield is naturally declining at an earlier Eeriod. Undoubtedly the decrease has een accelerated by the absence of the frequent rainfall- which is so necessary to the success of the district's dairying operations, -but thero is still a lengthy portion of the season available in which an improvement may be recorded. For some time past (writes the Auckland "Star") there has been a reluctance on the part of officers of the Agricultural Department to divulge any information-, "as the result of instructions from headquarters, and this reluctance has now developed into an absolute refusal to give the- slightest detail of news to a newspaper representative. . How long this farcical ,condition is to be en-forced-it is "impossible to say, butthoso responsible for it are assuredly going jthe right way about minimising l the usefulness of the Department, and even nullifying the work of its experts. The press has always placed its columns freely at the disposal of the Government agricultural experts, thereby facilitating their work of spreading knowledge broadcast. Now these officers are gagged, and cannot even give an opinion when asked for it on matters of local interest, likely to be instructive to the man on the land, and to the agricultural community generally.