THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22904, 11 June 1936, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD

FARM AND STATION NEWS

By RUSTICUS.

SHEEP DOG TRIALS

OTAGO PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION,

Sheep dog trials for the 1936 season yet to be held are as follows; Tuapeka.—June 11. Waikaia.—June 11, 12 and 13. June 16;- 17. 18 and 19.—South Island Championships, at Mossburn,

TOPICS OF INTEREST

OFFICIAL NOTES

Old negro woman (by her husband's grave) : ,r Poor Rastus, I hope he s gone whar I 'spec' he ain’t,”

It was an optimist who invented the ■team engine, but it was a pessimist who added the safety valve. & * *

Secretaries who have not yet advised the names o£ the delegates from their farmers’ union branches to the Provincial Conference are reminded that this information is urgently required, and they are earnestly requested to send particulars in to the provincial office without delay. # # ,

In the recent election held by the Clutha-Clinton group of the Fanners Union to elect two representatives for the Otago Provincial Council, Messrs A. Renton (Balclutha) and, Mr Adam Harris (Clinton) were appointed.. For .the xapanui jjroup Mr Stuart Sim (Hanoi) was elected. « .* #

The Papakaio Young Farmers’ Club held their monthly meeting on Juno 2, when Mr R. B. Blackmore gave a mOst interesting address on “Soil Bacteria., 1 mal arrangements for the debate with the Hilderthorpe-Waitaki Club on June 9 were made, and also for the dance on June 11, which had been postponed from an earlier date. # # * The results of the annual shooting match of the New. Zealand Farmers’ Union are now to hand, and the Hampden branch are to be congratulated on - their handsome victory in a competition comprising 11 teams. Shooting at 600 yards, Mr E. Nicolson, of the winning team, scored the possible. In forwarding the results, the Dominion secretary congratulated the winning team, to whom medals will be presented later, and expressed the hope that the entries for the match next year would show a big increase. „

Th# monthly meeting of the South Talerl Young Farmers’ Club was held on June 4, and the subjects for a debate with th« West Taieri Club, to be held m July, were chosen and forwarded to that club for approval. „ , . , After a short, lively meeting, members joined the,/Women’s Division and Farmers’ Union, and were entertained with a most interesting talk by the Rev. Hugh Graham on “ Scotland and Scottish Literature,” at the conclusion of which supper was provided by the Women’s Division.

(Contributed.)

The usual meeting of the Young Farmers’ Club in Palmerston will be held to-night (Thursday), when Mr S. D. Blomfield will be the lecturer. ♦ * *

Mr A. L. Thompson, M.R.C.V.S., will be tha speaker at tjie Middlemarch Young Farmers’ Club next Thursday, 18th inst. Members of the Farmers’ Union are also invited to be present. * * *

Mr A. C. Cameron will be the speaker at the meeting of the Waikouaiti Young Farmers’ Club next Friday evening, June 12, At the close of this meeting Colonel Closey, of Wellington, will give a short address to the members of the Waikouaiti branch of the Farmers’ Union, who have been invited to be present at the Young Farmers’ Club meeting. Colonel Closey is reported to bo a very fine speaker. * * *

By the courtesy of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, a yisit to their works at Burnside has been arranged for Friday, June 19, commencing at 10 a.m. Will secretaries please note the alteration in the time, r as the invitation extended to Farmers’ Union branches gave the tinlo as 1.30 p.m. This was altered in order to avoid clashing with the opening of the Winter Show. The visit, which was arranged primarily for members of Young Farmers’ Clubs, is open to Farmers’ Union members, and any others interested, who are cordially invited to be present. A very interesting day ia assured, including a tour of the works, demonstrations on the correct type

Item* of interest to those engaged irv agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a view to their publication in these columns, will ha welcomed. They should be addressed to Rusticus, Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.

of carcass, and the reasons why carcasses are condemned end rejected. The management has kindly offered to provide morning tea for the visitors.

The Tokarahi Young Farmers’ Club met in the hall on Thursday last, when the little business was speedily completed, prior to a lecture given by Mr R. Dosser on “ Foot-rot, Anti-partum Paralysis, Joint 111, Fly Stricke, and Bearing Trouble.” After many questions had been dealt with Mr J. Blair proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, and supper was then served. It is hoped to arrange a visit later in the year from the Five Forks Club, when a date suitable to both clubs can be fixed.

The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti branch of the Farmers’ Union was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Friday, sth inst. Mr A. Orbell presided over a good attendance of members. With regard to the Otago farm competitions, it was decided to suggest to the committee that for root crop competitions, the area should be reduced to two acres for swedes instead of five acres, and to half an aero for mangels instead of two acres. It was considered that more entries would be received, and greater interest displayed in the district as a whole if the alteration was made. It was decided to hold the next meeting at Merton on July 3, when convenient dates for future meetings in that district would be discussed. Tho secretary was instructed to write to Mr E. H. Murney, Tapanui, asking him if he could see his way clear to give an address to the branch on matters of interest to farmers. He was also asked to write to Mr Poison, Dominion president, thanking him for the very capable and untiring manner in which he had carried out his duties in the interest of the Farmers’ Union, and of the fanner? of New Zealand generally. At the conclusion of the meeting, supper was provided by the Women’s Division, to whom thanks were tendered on behalf of tho members by Mr A. Reid.

The following office-bearers have been elected at the recent annual meetings of branches:— „ _ Te Houka branch. —President, Mr J. M. Moffat; vice-presidents, Messrs W. K. Moffat and J. F. Soper; secretary, Mr C. Dallas. , _ Waitahuna Branch. —President,’ Mr J. M. Rose; vice-presidents, Messrs R. M'Caw and H. B. M'Corkindale; secretary, Mr J. Walker. „ , Wakatipu Branch. —President, Mr A. V. Miller; vice-president, Mr W. H. Thompson; secretary, Mr W. P. Saunders.

FARMING IN NORTH OTAGO

GETTING THROUGH THE WINTER

SHORTEST DAY IN SIGHT

We are getting through the winter nicely. Already the shortest day is in sight; and though we generally get the coldest weather after June, we seem able to stand up to it better, because we know that it will not last long. So far the winter has been a very cold one, but we will soon have the sunshine and the warmth again. Already there are signs of an ea,rly spring, and if these materialise we will all be pleased. April was a foggy month, but May came in bright and sunny—perfect weather for fattening lambs and preparing the ground for the sowing of wheat. The rainfall in May amounted to only half an inch, compared with 135 points in May of last year. The rainfall this year up to the end of April has been 6in more than the average for the first four months of the year, yet, strange to say. in some parts of the district, notably in the Kauru and Balruddery areas more rain would bp welcome at the present time, as difficulty is being experienced in ploughing, and on sunny faces the ground is too hard. Provided the subsoil is wet —as it was, generally speaking, this year—most farmers prefer a dry winter, as stock do better and need less feed than in rainy weather. Grass has continued to grow in a wonderful way, especially in paddocks which had been top-dressed, and, as a result, feed has been abundant, the conditions being more like those of October than of May. There is still good grass in many places, and as a result there has not been much of a call on turnip crops yet; in fact, it is the exception to see sheep on turnips. From now on, however, it may bo expected that turnips will be more freely used. It is noticeable that not so many turnips are now grown ns was formerly the case, farmers generally being of opinion that it is better to provide a balanced ration, by feeding hav and green feed in larger Quantities. Green feed is growing well, and already the early-sown crops have bad to be fed off, otherwise they would have become too rank. Sheep and cattle nut on condition rapidly on nice, fresh green feed, and this year it seems better fattening feed than turnins. One thing is certain, namely, that there are fewer deaths among sheep on green feed than on turnips. The latter are very watery, and when the frost is on them they have the reverse of a good effect on stock. FAT LAMBS.

Some large drafts of fat lambs have been got away during the past month. Many farmers say that the past month has been the best of the season for lamb fattening, both as regards quality and weight. There is no doubt that both on its light and heavy land North Otago is a great place for fattening Jambs. Doubtless the excellence of its climate has much to do with this. THE EWE FLOCK.

Ewes arc in the pink of condition, and provided they receive no set-back, there should be a record drop of lambs. So far there has been no lack of feed for them, and the indications are that there will be none. It is vitally important that breeding ewes should receive no set-back, but should gain weight, week by week, right through the winter. Where a great many farmers fail is in not starting the supplementary feeding soon enough. When ewes get a check it often takes them several weeks to recover from it, and thus the lambing percentage is lowered. Now when wool and lambs are both much higher in price than they were in the depression years, every farmer wauts to do all he can to make up for the losses which he suffered in the past, and he will find that it will pay him to take every care of his breeding flock.

THE TEAMS. The teams have been kept steadily at work getting in the winter wheat, and a larger area is already sown. The fine weather of the past few weeks lias been all in favour of this work, but much more wheat has still to be sown. Wheat sown in April and May is now showing a nice green tinge, and with all the winter to take root, promises) to come away strongly in the spring. The trouble with springsown wheat is that it has not time to make root action like the winter wheat, and if there is a dry spell in early summer it suffers to a far greater extent than the winter wheat. But it is not always possible to get all the wheat sown before spring. Now is the time to plough deeply for mangels. There is nothing better than a few months of frosty weather for sweetening the ground for mangels, which require the best land on the farm, and the heaviest manuring of any crop. By ploughing deeply now the ground verised and its nitrogen content added to.

On farms where frosts often cause a hold-up in June ami July, teams and tractors may be seen at work ploughing

4 DVERTISING Is accepted as a necessary part ot modern business promotion. It has won a place for Itself In virtually every Industry. Rightly directed and prepared, advertising has proved that It can return a profit to the advertiser. But advertising should always be considered as a business enterprise, and not as a magic formula for unearned success.

for next year’s turnip and rape crops. For the sake of the little extra feed that may be obtained now, this early ploughing ensures a bounteous crop next summer. A six months’ fallow, with frequent cultivating and discing in the spring and early summer clears the land of weeds and builds up the nitrogen content of the soil so that the total area sown may be rediiced without lessening the quantity of feed obtained.

POTATOES. At one time North Otago was a noted potato district, but the tuber is not now grown as extensively as it was 30 years ago. At that time Onmaru potatoes wore known from Auckland to Bluff, and to say that a certain line was grown in North Otago was to place upon it the hallmark of quality; Oamaru quality was the standard of perfection. But there is a lot of work attached to potato growing. and when money could be made more easily it dropped out of favour to a large extent. Most farmers put in a fewenough for their own requirements. This year there were some phenomenal crops—--15 to l 8 tons per acre. At £u 10s to £6 per ton that is a most profitable crop; and with the prospect of the Australian embargo being lifted more potatoes should be grown here. It would be well to use (government certified seed, and heavy crops of blight-free potatoes could be grown, especially on the heavy land about Kakanui, Enfield, Totara, and Papakaio. If prices arc low, perhaps the Government will give us a guaranteed price. In any case more potatoes should be grown. THE CLOVER CROPS.

There are a few late crops of red clover about, but the bees were not very numerous this season and seed is very scanty. Clover seed is very cheap this year, and perhaps more money could be made by making the clover crops into hay. With farmers’ dressed clover seed selling at only 6d a pound it is a good plan to buy a bag or two (a 2001 b sack only costs 15) and when sowing wheat, oats, or barley put in 31b or 41b of clover seed. Sow through the turnip or rape box, but not down the spout. Allow the seed to broadcast in front of the coulters. Tho whole cost runs out at Is Gd to 2s per acre, and there is no extra work, except filling the boxes with clover seed.. In suitable seasons the crop is worth up to £3 per acre. I have seen a crop sown in this way in August, which covered the stubble a fortnight after the grain had been cut in February, and it fattened many lambs about a month later. STOCK VALUES.

■ The sheep and cattle markets are very firm, with an upward tendency. As a rule May is the cheapest month in which to buy ewes, lambs and fat cattle. But 1930 proved an exception, and this augurs well for prices in the spring. Despite a drop of id per lb in the price of fat lambs, store lambs have kept very firm, and any good lines of held-over stuff are hard to secure. Good ewe hoggets arc very scarce, most of the linos coming forward being ewe lambs drafted from lots that were fattening. These arc generally very mixed in wool, with mostly a strong dash of Border Leicester in them. They realise from 22s to 24s and any good Romney-Corriedales realise 2s to 3s more. It is getting late now for fattening lambs, but small wether lambs which have a bit of meat on them are fetching 17s to 18s. Good fat cattle are scarce, and medium sorts realise £5 to £6 10s, and better, £8 to £9. There is no quotable change m store cattle which as a rule do not alter much in price for another two or three months.

CLYDESDALE HORSE SOCIETY

CONSTITUTION OF COUNCIL

INCREASING SOUTH ISLAND REPRESENTATION

LONG OVERDUE REORGANISATION

At the annual meeting of the Clydesdale Horse Society to be held in the Canterbury A. and P. Association’s board room on May 20, in accordance with notice given, Mr H. B. Fincham (Hawardeu) will move the following resolution: —

For the purpose of facilitating the election of councilmen and for securing due representation of the various districts in which members reside, the Dominion shall be divided into three districts, consisting respectively of (1) the North Island, (2) the provincial districts of Nelson, Westland, Marlborough, and Canterbury; (3) the provincial districts of Otago and Southland. . That each of the three districts be represented by eight councilmen. That in the event of the above motion being carried by the necessary majority, the consequential amendments necessary to rule 15 be made by striking outride 15 and substituting for it the following:— At the annual meeting held in 1937 all members of the council then existing shall retire from office. In every subsequent year four of the members representing the several districts shall retire from office. The members to retire in 1938 shall be decided by ballot among the eight representatives of each district, and the four remaining members shall retire in 1039. Thereafter four representatives shall retire each year in rotation.

At the present time the North and South Islands each have 12 representatives on' the council, and Mr Fincham, in a circular letter to Clydesdale breeders enclosing a proxy form for signature, points out that the society has been remiss in not giving more encouragement to horse breeding. Tlie society is in a strong position, and there are many directions in which assistance might be given to breeders. Mr Fincham says the present method of electing the council is largely responsible for the unsatisfactory position. A South Island breeder expressed himself us follows to the writer: —“The South Island provides, and has provided, most of the funds of the society, and we South Islanders have to go with our hats in our- hands to beg for funds which should be given us voluntarily to assist breeding. The horses we imported here, bred here, and shipped from here, and we are governed by a council that does not proportionately represent the breeders in the Dominion. If breeders neglect to vote in this instance they will have themselves to blame if they do not got what they arc entitled to.”