FARMING IN OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1653, 28 July 1883, Page 14

FARMING IN OTAGO.

Onr Maniototo correspondent writes : — The black polled Angus breed of cattle seem to be established aa a favourite cross with the Sowburp farmers, and from what I can learn, are admirably adapted to our comparatively primitive system of farming, in preference to a purer strain of blood, which require stall-feeding and more attention than our farmers appear inclined to take with the low prices at present prevailing in the market for beef. After culling out all "scrubbers" from oui local and somewhat original breed of " bush cattle," our farmers have retained the best cows for breeding purposes,which having been mated with the black polled Angus bull, have produced a class of cattle not only suitable for the " cockatoo," but also an animal adapted to stand outdoor feeding and the capricious chatiges of our climate,as well as a superior typeof animal whose fattening proclivities ar# a great recommendation to the butcher. The most of last season's grain has been threshed, and the returns have been, I hear, satisfactory. Ploughing has been suspended at intervals recently through the hard frost. Next month, however, dowblefurrows will tell a tale, I presume ; but the nightly attacks of Jack Frost are hostile to the fanners at present. The pukaki, or swamp hen, is a bitter foe to the farmer, and a great destroyer of cereal crops when newly sown. These birds are to be seen literally in thousands in the locality of the Sowburn, and are a terrible pest. They are cunning and hard to get near with the gun, but when once shot and well roasted furnish a very " game " dish for the table, and suitable to the tastes of the greatest epicure.

Our Fortrose correspondent wites : — Stock of all kinds have retained their condition exceedingly well this winter in consequence oi a plentiful supply of turnips and other food. The lambing average should prove exceptionally large and strong. Old and new settlers are all very active at this period uprooting Nature's tussock and fern — in fact, fast removing the dull, brown tinge that has hitherto met the view on all sides, and replacing it by displaying the long-hidden treasure below.

Our Havelock correspondent writes : -The frost still continues, and to such a degree that ploughing in some places is a simple, impossibility. Glowing accounts of the efficacy of the phosphorus are coming in from all sides, and one cannot help thinking it a pity that the small farmers did not co-operate instead of trusting so entirely to dog and gun. On many of the farms the whins form such a strong element as to render it a very safe and sure harbour for bunny — one in which he can give defiance to the united efforts of dogs, guns, and juveniles. And speaking of whins, despite Mr Jenner's opinion to the contrary, this hedge is looked upon as an intolerable nuisance. Stock will not do more than nibble at it in its original state, and I believe it to be the universal opiuion that it will not pay to cut or otherwise prepare it for stock amongst those who have had some experience of it in the Home Country. Much regret is expressed that such a quantity of it was planted in this district, owing to its tendency to increase and multiply, many farms on which it has been allowed to thrive at will, presenting the aspect of small plantations or shrubberies. This is the more to be lamented on account of the shelter it affords the rabbits, and is a strong argument in favour of the universal use of phos phorus.

Our Waitahuna correspondent writes : — The weather had continued moist up to the 19th, when a light fall of snow occurred, and the neighbouring hills assumed a whitish appearance. Hard frosts, with clear calm days, have since prevailed. During the four past nights we have had hard frost showing 23 Fahr., at 8 a.m., and cloudless skies. It will be good for ploughed land, but the roads will get a loosening, and be bad when the frost ends. Farm work has been got well forward during the season, and some wheat crops are mentioned as above ground and looking well, as also are early oats An effort is being made, under the auspices of the Farmers' Club, to keep down the rabbits. The spread of rabbits iB a remarkable "wave of life.' They are a feeble folk, but all efforts to stop them seem unavailing.

Rabbiting (writes our Waikoikoi correspondent) is being carried out in real earnest. Men have gone out in great numbers armed with poison, traps, and guns, with the intention of making a raid on bunny ; but I notice that there are some of the farmers very slow in taking action. They have somehow or other got the idea into their heads that they are not troubled with rabbits at all, or that there are so few that it is not worth bothering with them — that they will leave it to the runholders to do such work is the expressed opinion of pome of them.

Our Waikoikoi correspondent writes: — Ploughing is being carried on extensively in all quarters of this district, and the work may be said t® be in a forward condition. In a few years at the present rate of improvement instead of the tussocks we shall see large fields of yellow corn, thus enhancing the value of land in the surrounding locality.

Our Glenkenich correspondent writes : — "Ploughing is progressing rapidly, and will Roon be a thing of the past."

Our Chatton correspondent writes: — Farming operations are being pushed on now with all speed. The splendid weather we have experienced so far has been taken advantage of by the agriculturist, and the result is that a large tract of land has been turned over. Lea paddocks are now beginning to get broken up. The farmers in most cases have got all the tussocks out of sight ; so they have to commence breaking up their lea paddocks to keep pace with the times. There is a great possibility, if tb,e weather should be favourable!

of more wheat and barley being sown here this year than formerly. Oats this year have been a great drug on the market, and a very serious loss to the producer, when the amount of labour that is attached to their production is taken into consideration. This district would have been in a very different position to-day if the price of oats were commensurate to their cost of production. Some of the farmers are feeding sheep on them here this year — i.e., cutting tho sheaves up into chaff, — and not a bad plan either, when we consider that meat is now exportable ; and there is not the least doubt; that in a few years we will think as little of sending our mutton and beef to the Old World as we do now of sending our wheat and oats and other surplus produce.