SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1893, 2 March 1888, Page 17

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

THE WEATHER.

According to some accounts, it is 23 years since Southland experienced so bad a summer as this one. While we have not had the gales experienced in Otago, we had their equivalent of rain, combined with a degcee of coldness which hindered the growth of the crops generally, but the turnips in particular. The weather has not been equally bad, however, all over Southland. In the districts norttiof Wyndhatn.on both sides of the Mataura river, much rain fell frequently during this month and last, though the ditches and creeks were but seldom half-full of water ; but the districts south of the place mentioned and west towards Invercargill, and thence northwards along the Oreti river (which in the southern half of Southland runs from 25 to 30 distant from the Mataura river), suffered much more from rain, as well as the districts farther west towards Jacobs' river. On the two lastnamed rivera the crops received some damage by floods a few weeks ago. Strong wind prevailed frequently this month, and as it blew nearly all the time from the west it has had the effect, of bending or "kneeing" the crops, while oue fcffecb of the cold was the falling off in the milk supply. Early in February it affected one tactory to the extent of lOOgal per day, but as the weather has improved considerably in that respect during the last two weeks, the milk supply is increasing accordingly. It is not a usual thing to have frost so early, but on the mornings of the 16' th, the 23rd, and the 25th of February slight frosts were experienced, tile last being the sharpest. Otherwise the weather was fairly good last week, and at the present time it is warm ; but the sky is cloudy, and appearauces every day give one the impression that rain will fall. Last week the ripening of the crops was hardly perceptible. Owing to the unseasonable weather, harvest may be said to be a fortnight later than it was last year, THE CROPS. If anything should be needed in succeeding years to recall to the farmer's mind the weather of this bummer, it will be the difficulty he has experienced in getting his hay crop stacked. Although cut early in January, it was the third week of February before it was all secured. It was well, therefore, that there was not a large area under ryegrass. The seed on the upper portions of the sheaves was blown off, and much of the seed that was left was injured by tho continuous rain in some districts. The oat crop may be pronounced an ordinary | one, but it presents one of the most uneven or irregular surfaces that I have seen. Riding along the roads one sees what appears to be an excellent crop of oats, but in walking through it the discovery is made that the surface is very uneven or undulating, which is doubtless due to the exceeding variableness of the season causing the seed to come away irregularly. Now, practical farmers know very well what this means. If the straw is not of due length, the ear is correspondingly short. It is true there are frequently variations from this rule. A long-eared crop requires seasonable weather during the process of maturing as well as during tbe process of growth, and it sometimes happens that the irregular crop gives the best yield. Doubtless this year's crop will yield well for its bulk, for the whole process of growth and ripening has been unduly prolonged, and this is the more likely to be the case when it is discovered on all hands that the sheaves are heavy. In some districts this crop promises a very heavy yield, the straw being of good length, and the ear well filled. Few crops were ripe enough to be shaken when the late gales prevailed, but some say that the wind had so loosened them that on the lighter soils a considerable percentage ripened prematurely; but my observations, extending over several districts, do not convince me that this i 3 so. I think the succeeding heavy rains have done very much to neutralise the effects of the wiiad. Rust has appeared in some places lately, but it is thought that this crop is too far advanced to show its effect on the yield ; in the majority of cases there is no rust, however. Smu's is very general this year, but it will not affect the yield appreciably in individual cases, although it cannot fail to do so in the aggregate. To inquiries as to to tho cause, ono receives the answer, " I neglected to use bluestone." The Sutherland variety and some others, it is well known, are very subject to smut, no matter how often they are changed from one climate or soil to another, and practical farmers know very well that bluesfcoue is an effective preventive of smut. In every instance that has come under my Notice this season, smut has not appeared among oats that were dipped in or wet with a solution of bluestone. Some farmers make the mistake of applying a solution of bluestone once in two years, but this year's experience has convinced some of them of their error. It is strange that it has appeared this season among short Tartarian aud sparrowbill. I happen to know two districts a good few miles apart in both of which smut has appeared in the former variety. These varieties were not wet with a solution of bluestone, however, because many imagined that they were smut-proof. Reaping was general in some districts last week, but it is only becoming general now in the majority, while a great deal will not be ready for cutting till next week.

The wheat crop made such progress during December and the early part of January that farmers looked forward to an abundant yield as well as to an early harvest. Although the weather has been unfavourable to its development since then, it promises a good yield if it has not been injured by late frosts, and if it will not receive injury from frosts which may be experienced hereafter. There are some fine crops in the districts along the Mataura and Oreti rivers. It will be nearly a fortnight before they will be ready for cutting. Potatoes are not so plentiful this season, l except perhaps near the larger centres of population. Up to the end of the year they seemed likely to turn out an unusually good crop, but the wet weather must have retarded the growth con* sWerably, and the late frosts have injured them irreparably in many places. I do not think Southland will have a surplus of them this year.

The turnip crop is a great disappointment to the majority. I know a district that supplied turnips last winter to a number of flocks of sheep from other districts, but I don't think that that district will have enough for its own stock this winter. The weather was too cold for the turnips. They do much better in a dry warm season than in a cold wet one. Drilled turnips, on the other hand, are oetter than those sown broadcast, and if the weather during March and April should be warm a considerable improvement may take place. But I notice that the turnips which were sown broadcast as early as the end of November are doing pretty well, simply became they took root before the drought of December was experienced.

BABBITS AND SMALL ISIBDS.

The rabbits, according to all accounts, are more numerous than ever in many districts, bub

this is no doubt due to the mildness of the last two winters. Rabbiters should do well during the winter. It is hardly possible to reduce their numbers further except at too great a cost. Their effects are hardly perceptible, however, in the cultivated and more populous districts, as the greatest enemies of the rabbit are the small boy and dog. But there is one animal which is par excellence the pest to the farmer, and that is the small bird. The cry against him is becoming louder every year. From some quarters one will hear the remark " They are like to eat me out." As many more suffer this year than formerly, it is to be hoped that the sufferers will wake up to the necessity of poisoning them during the winter. As long as one hears the question, "What is the use of poisoning them unless my neighbour does it ? " I fear little will be done. If a few farmers sot to work and meet with success, others will not be long in following suit.

FARMERS' CLUBS.

These institutions are not so numerous as they should be. I notice by the papers that an association has been formed lately, and has already passed various motions of a progressive nature. These societies often do things which a public which imagines itself an enlightened one is prone to sneer at; but I think the societies should rather be encouraged, for many things which were deemed impracticable have been carried out. For instance, a farmers' club moves that the rate of wages for harvest men be 9d per hour, aud that the rate for threshing be, say, 7s per 100 bushels. Many sneer at such a proceodmg,and point out that the^b things are regulated by supply aud demand. But 1 have found it to be a fact that the publication of these resolutions has the effect in many cases which the movers intended. It is well known that harvest hands are more discontented if they are receiving less than " what is going " than they are when woiking for lower wages if it is a general rate. Now, the passing and publishing of these resolutions has at least the value of imformiog farmers widely removed from one another what is tho feeling everywhere. Last year both 9d and lOd were given, and many who gave the former sum were unaware till late in the season that 9d was the rate in other places. I wonder how many here are aware that only 8d has been given for years in some districts of Otago. The price given this harvest in Southland is 9d; but I notice that a great many able-bodied men appear to have much difficulty in finding work. I see them on tho roads as well as about the hotels. The reaper and binder is becoming universal, but no doubt the gradual and irregular ripening has something to do with it.