FARM AND STATION NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19762, 13 April 1926, Page 4

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rusticus.

He heaviest yield of wheat so far recorded in North Otago this season is 77 bushels to the" atfre, which was obtained by Messrs Cant Brothers,. of Tapui, from a paddock of 20 acres. The variety of the wheat was Redchaff,'which has not hitherto been regarded- as a heavy yielder. A farmer of Tqkaraki has - secured ■ the most satisfactody return of 50 bushels of wheat to the acre from the large area of 250 acres. There are some mill-owners who assert that the average production over the whole of North Otago this season will be between 45 and 50 bushels to tho acre. * » » * What is ti e most popular feature of the modern show? In other words, what of all the spectacular sights at a show best supplies the the: '."ants of the grandstand and ringside critic. Mr Romer Williams’s opinion can he expressed in a very few words. The British public, in the general acceptance of the term, care for little at a horse show except “the jumping.” They take no interest in “the judging”—a fact too apparent by the empty seats in the stands at horse shows during the latter operation—while when the jumping takas place the same seats are fully occupied. Mr Williams thinks that, if one were to canvass the management of most horse shows he would .Hud that the financial success depends entirely on these classes, and without them the show would be a failure. • » • * The late ripening of cereal crops has put autumn cultivation back in many instances, and where this has happened the ploughing of the stubble land should be pushed along, especially if it is intended to sow it either in pasture or a cereal crop. If it is to he fallow there is not so much hurry. The question of fallowing requires careful consideration on this Some of the heavy soils benefit greatly from a winter fallow, especially if wheat is to be grown; on the other hand, the lighter lands leach badlv and are better sown in a green crop of some sort. • • • • The starling pest is causing serious depredations on the Murrumbidgee " irrigation area, Victoria, and at a meeting of the Yanco Executive Board consideration was given to means of. combating the menace. A report from the entomological branch of the Department of Agriculture suggested various measures of eradication, and recommended systematic destruction of the nests and eggs, as well as the parent birds, as probablv the cheapest method of reduction, and that every owner or lessee should be made responsible for the destruction of all nests and eggs on _ his property, under penalty. It was decided to recommend the fruitgrowers’ organisations to allot certain days for cortcerted action by the settlers in killing as many as- possible. » * * » At the monthly meeting of the executive bf the Temuka branch of the South Canterbury Farmers’ Union (he following resolutions were " passed—“ That the Dominion (executive be asked again to press the question of increase in charges of wool-classing for next session”; “that an endeavour be made to secure an intermediate grade of 391 b for fat lambs with a- drop of jd. and above 391 b another drop of jd”; “that representation be made to have the farm Bchqol organised by the Agricultural Department held at Temuka next year”; and “that the principle of tyre tax be approved.” It was also decided “that the Department of Agriculture be urged to bring in regulations to provide for the dehorning of all. unregistered cattle before they are two years old, and that the Dominion executive be advised that this branch-'considers.: the loss of -2d each on wheat sacks is excessive, and that it be bsked to investigate the matter.” The annual meeting of the branch was fixed for May 4, there being enrolled 81 new members. * * * » The Manual of Dairy Science, bv A. H. R. Atness, M.A., director of the Stratford Technical High School, and H. C. Johnson, science master of the same institution, published by Whitcombe and Tombs, is a very useful text book, which will_ be found of great value to students of dairying, as well as to those at work on dairy farms. It deals briefly with the historical side of the dairy industry and with dairying legislation. Its chief chapters are devoted to the cow, giving its anatomy, 'its general points, methods of treatment, feeding. diseases, housing and general management. The balance of the book deals with the production of milk and the manufacture of butter, cheese and other milk products. The book is well illustrated and well printed and is likely to meet an extensive demand and to serve a very useful purpose. # , , ", did stands that hwe not been cultivated during the autumn may still have attention. It is a mistake to give too much autumn cultivation, one good cleaning up is sufficient, and, as advised last month, it is good practice to drill in one bushel of oats, western wolths or Italian rye. after this cultivation, using 2cwt super, basic super, or basic slag. This treatment will provide good early feeding which may fce grazed in August or left later for soiling or making into ensilage. First year crops should have a stroke of the tine harrows and the oats drilled in. ' All drains should get attention so as to carry away the winter rains quickly. • » o • Elaborate tables to show the distribution of land in Victoria between the Crown and private owners have been prepared bv the assistant Government statistician, Mr J. B. Hourigan. The tables show that there has been a marked increase in private holdings in the last six years. Last year the number of private holdings was 79.102 compared with 72.679 in 1919; The area last year held by private owners was 31,195.524 acres, against 29,975,151 acres in 1919. The area under cultivation has also increased markedly having grown from 6.414,237 acres in 1919 to 6,939.914 acres last year. Holdings of Crown land have also increased in number, bein' l, 74,530 in 1919. and 80.037 last year. The area under cultivation increased from 5.491.020 acres to 6,976,714 acres. The total area of Crown land holdings, however, showed a reduction /»f from 38,134.134 acres in 1919 to 36,806.224 acres last year. • • • *■ April and the early part of May are good months to sow Algerian oats, as they get well established during the winter and are in a condition to make very rapid growth in the early spring. Oats sown during April and "Mav should provide one or two good feedings in the spring and he ready to harvest from the middle to the end of December. Sow at the rate of 2i bushels per acre. Suitable manures are super or special grain mixtures at from Uto 2cwt per acre. Tn prenanng the seed bed for autumn sown cereals, the land should be worked fine underneath, but the surface should be left rough. The clods pro-ride shelter for the young plants during the winter and prevent 'he land from running together too closelv. • • * • Agriculture is the chief industry of Japan. A farm of 12 acres is looked on as a goodly heritage. From generation to generation the peasant s outlook is the same —his horizon bounded by bis nee fields, watercourses, and timbered hills caring little (unless taxed beyond endurance) by whom he is ruled, able to subsist on little and to be content. Naturally, he finds himself left behind in the race. He is not animated by the new spirit which has taught Japan to respect Western science as well as Western military and naval skill. Still a great cleavage has been created since the student who dared consult a European text-book did bo at peril of his life! Among the greatest of Japan’s achievements must he reckoned a system of sanitation which,, during the war with Russia, commanded the admiration of the world. * * * * The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received a cablegram from its representative at Buenos Aires (South America) advising the. following shipments to the United Kingdom for the fortnight ended April 1. 1926, from Argentine and Uruguay:—2o6.sßo quarters chilled beef, 5431 quarters frozen beef, 83,426 carcases frozen mutton, 33,627 carcases frozen lamb. The quantity shipped to Europe during the same period totalled 356 quarters chilled beef, 110,798 quarters frozen beef, 41325 carcases frozen mutton. - , , . ,

[ltems of interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addiessed to “ Rusticus,” Otago Daily Tines, Dmedin.]

The conference of the New Zealand Labour Party at Wanganui has been considering a very knotty question in the relationship between the working farmer and that party. A committee set up to go mto the matter consisted of Mr W. E. Parry as chairman end farmer delegates from North Island centres. No Otago representation was mentioned. The result of the deliberations of this committee can be found in a recommendation which embodies the establishment of a permanent committee, which could, through the party’s secretary, get into touch with farmers’ organisations to determine what points of contact could be agreed upon. This would lead to the framing of a working constitution to be submitted to the next conference of the party. The conference heartily approved the suggestion, which means that a permanent organisation will be formed to assist the working farmer. # * « * The chain harrowing of pasture should be too well known and widely practised in dairying districts to require but passing reference. But such is, unfortunately, not the case. How can a farmer walk over his fields, day after day, and see dung pats, growing rank, sour grass, _ dotted thickly through his pastures, giving the surface a pimply, measly look, and feel satisfied? He must realise —hard, _careful thinker as the average farmer in New Zealand is;—that there is, if all the space covered by the dung be put together, a considerable area of lost ground growing nothing but rubbish. Further, there is a waste of good manure for want of the bit of work necessary to spread the dung pats with a tripod-chain harrow or similar implement. An ordinary strong tine harrow used with ti-tree brush attached behind to scatter the dung is also effective. Not the least value of the harrowing is the stirring of the surface and the dragging out of dry grass, moss, etc., by the tines. Two or three times a year is not too often to ciain-harrow. It is best done after rain.