GLEANINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7048, 9 February 1910, Page 8

GLEANINGS

Threshing mill hands in- Canterbury are demanding to bo paid Is 3d an, hour and find themselves. The Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Association lias asked the Romney Association to Supply a list of judges. An excellent example. The first show of the recently formed Datmevirke A. and P. Association will bo held on Friday. The programme is .1. very attractive one, and judging by the interest being taken in the event it should bo successful in every way.

Kaipara is steadily forging ahead in

tho matter of stock producing (writes the Auckland “Star’s” Dargaville correspondent), and it sooras now' as if nothing can keep tho district back from eventually becoming one of the largest exporting districts in tho Dominion. Now runs are opening up, settlement h proceeding, and in a few years' time the trade of tho district must ucces- , aurily assume considerable importance. There is a very luxuriant growth on the TaLeri plains (Otago) this season, and dairying men, as well as owners of fat stock, are said to bo prospering. The “cow cheque-:’' average over T2 per cow pm- month, and one small herd of 15 averaged .£2 Is 6d for the month of December. The owner of this lot reckons upon taking .£ls per head from his cows for the year. This, however, ;u----clucles his anticipated returns from pigs which are fed on separated milk taken back from the factory, topped off with crushed grain. This season’s butter output will constitute a record for the Auckland province, and already tiro increase over last year is equivalent to 1000 tons. For the season lo date (says the Auckland “Star”) Auckland lias exported over 4000 h»fLs of butter, which may bo valued at JMCOJ'CO. Tiro butter shipped for the fortnight ending ycsfcsrduy totals 14,856 looses, or 371 tonri as compared with 10,03-1 boxes, or 325 tons, for the corresponding fortnight of last season. At present ruling prices, the shipment is worth about ,£IO,SOO.

The farm attached to Linooln College is 7*5 acres in extent, and varies in quality—light) land overlying shingle. 150 acres; good strong medium land, 300 acres; strong stiff soil, about 155 acres; and the balance of deep noli land of highest capacity. Tho scheme of cropping for 1009 was as follow's: —Wheat 131 acres, oats 302 acres, oats and wheat 19 acres, oats and vetches 6 acres, rape and mustard 31 acres, kale 24 acres, kale (1908 crop) 26 acres, mangels 16 acres, turnips 20 acres, potatoes 2 acres, peas 12 acres, self-sown oats 24 acres, Italian ryegrass, first year 93 acres, second, third ami permanent pastures 226 acres, orchard, plantations and grounds 45 acres.

The glowing anticipations regarding the harvest(entertained in the second week of tho New Year will not now be realised (says the Christchurch “Press”). The yields for North Canterbury are at the present moment as much below the average as the estimates formed were above the general average. Instances are to be met with where sprouting has begun in tho heads of the grain, and for thlis reason in- some of the fields no attempts are being made to turn the stocks or change their position. The grain has been discoloured and put in a condition where ripening may take place unequally. Though the heavy rainfall lias perhaps disheartened some of the farmers, and they are leaving matters to take their course, many, ou the other hand, arc making a strenuous effort to dry off their crops and obtain tlie best results possible. The keenest interest will be taken in watching the threshing returns, and in a few instances may be much better than is at present considered probable. Everywhere sheep-owners and dairymen are satisfied with their prospects.