TOKOMAIRIRO.
June 23. — The lack of raini n the summer months is being fully counter-balanced by the plentiful supply in the winter ones, and rain and mud has been the order of the day for the last fortnight. Farm work is in a very backward state this year. In the corresponding month of last year there was much more land ready for the seed. Many people have not got their potatoes dug yet, owing to the wet. A neighof mine adopted a quick plan in raising his crop, viz., digging with the grape whenever there was a show, the drill being left quite whole in appearance. Stock are also suffering a good deal from the wet, and people who are fortunate enough to have turnips cannot get stock on to the land.
Ploughing Match. — The annual ploughing match will be held on Mr D. Tweedie's farm on the 30th inst. This year the committee of management offers great inducement to youths to turn out with donble-furrow ploughs by making a special class for them.
Babbits. — A desperate charge has been made at poor bunny during the last fortnight or so, and the result is most satisfactory. The rabbit inspector has been especially vigilant in compelling everybody to poison. Dead rabbits are by no means scarce, and the boys of the district think they are making a rise by running out on the hills for skins. iUI that a district like this wants to keep down rabbits is united action. Never until this year has this been acted upon. and now we have proof positive of the effect. Fhosphorised oats is the cheapest and most effective mode of destroying the pest in winter, and instead of asking the Government to buy the skins, I would rather advocate the giving of a bonus for the skins of young rabbits in burrows in summer, and compelling the occupiers of land to poison in winter. Some maintain that rabbits will not take the poison where they have plenty of green food. I had about an acre of turnips this year, a patch by itself, they were being badly eaten ; I carefolly laid poison all round about the patch, with the result that 14 or 15 dead rabbits were found lying round in a circle. The poisoning system is the cheapest and best where the grain is carefully and skilfully laid. Our member has issued circulars on this subject, asking a number of questions, bnt I think the cry for the Government bonus for skins has somewuat subsided since people have, metaphorically speaking, taken the bull by the horns themselves.
ThfMill.— The burning of Mr M'GilPs mill is a very great loss, not ouly to the owner, but to all the district. How true it is "we never miss the water till the well runs dry." Mr M'Gill is not sure whether he will build again or sell the site.
A. Ploughing Bee.— Mr Wm. Aitcheson having purchased a portion of Mr D. Carsons farm at The Branch, a large number of neighbours turned out on two days of last week, and despite the most unfavourable weather, nearly the whole farm was turned up.
TOKOMAIRIRO.
Otago Witness, Issue 1805, 25 June 1886, Page 14
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in