WAIWERA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1787, 20 February 1886, Page 12

WAIWERA.

February 15. — Saturday's rain, notwithstanding the fact that harvest operations have been commenced, was exceedingly welcome, and will do pasture land a world of good. Cutting is being gone on with vigorously. The crops are, as a rule, rather light, but the ears are well filled, so that a good sample of grain may be expected, which will no doubt partly counterbalance the deficiency in quantity. The turnip crops are germinating very irregularly. I have seen paddocks that have been sown for weeks with just a few plants coming away here and there, and doing remarkably well while on the same land seeds have been taken, up perfectly whole, and some others again just bursting. Indeed, turnips may be seen in the same paddock in every stage from an unaffected seed, to a perfect; plant six inches in height. In other paddocks the crop has proved a complete failure ; while there are also a few really good crops in the district. As unusual attention was paid to this crop in this district this year, it is to be hoped that some valuable facts may be adduced at our Farmers' Club meeting by those whose efforts have been crowned with success.

•Rolling Land. — I find a misapprehension has been caused by my remarks on this subject. I certainly am not averse to judicious rolling of corn or grass crops with a rough-faced roller, bub we cannot be too particular as to when this operation is performed, and I am of opinion that more harm than good is done by the free use of a smoothfaced implement. In all cases the operation should be done in dry weather, when the land will not cake. For winter or fall-sown crops, I hold that it is far better to leave the land comparatively rough so long as there is fine soil enough to properly cover the grain, the rough surface providing shelter for the young plan.ts. In spring it often benefits the crops if in a forward state to get it eaten off by sheep, and additional benefit i.s gained by the sheep trampling the rough surface smooth and firming the plaiit in the soil, which has had the benefit of the frost through the winter, and is consequently easily pulverised. If sheep are not available for such crop?, harrowing with a light harrow before rolling is a good plan. For turnips in a dry season like the present one heavy rolling is certainly essential, and I don't think we can go far wrong by always rolling this crop in a judicious manner. I have recently nP.en a turnip field in which a smooth and a rough-faced roller had been used side-by-side, aud the difference in the appearance of the crop was strikingly in favour of that in which the latter was used.

Farmers', Club. — One. meeting of this body has been allowed to lapse, and as another one is almost due, I trust some movement will be made by the leading members to prevent a recurrence of such a fiasco. A great deal of benefit is derived from the discussion of current agricultural topics at these meetings, and it would be a pity to allow them to be discontinued -without any effort being made to get the members together.