SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 13

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

CFhom Our Own Correspondent.)

THE WEATHER AND AGRICULTURAL MATXEBS.

The weather all through the past month has been exceptionally Sne, and during a residence ot nearly 14 yea* s in Southland I have not seen such a fine season. Even at this date the weather is more like that of harvest than of winter, and so little rain falls that some farmers cannot get enough water for threshing purposes, and many others are put to considerable inconvenience. During the last two months, at all events, the various phases of the moon have had no influence whatever on the weather, and red skies iv the mornings have brought neither rain nor wind. There has been sufficient rain, however, to promote the growth of the pasture and the turnips, both of which are better than they usually been in other years at this time. Those who manured the soil previous to sowing turnips the third time on the same piece of land have reason to feel satisfied at the result. As little as fewt per acre of bone dust or guano has made all the difference between a remunerative crop and an unremunerative one. The time for potato lifting has arrived, but most farmers have not finished the work of carting away the grain, and tbe potatoes will probably lie in the soil for a week or two longer. Potato digging is over, however, where little oats are grown ; and the crop is generally disappointing, the tubers being neither large nor numerous.

The oat crop turned out exceedingly well at the threshing, and many farmers had, before the threshiug was over, to borrow bags. Phenomenal yields of from 70 to 100 bushels per acre have been heard of, but the average in the best localities would not exceed 45 bushels pet acre. The two principal varieties of oats grown — viz., Sutherland and sparrowbill— turned out almost equally well on good land, but the grain of the former has been larger than usual, and although the same riddles served last year for both, larger riddles had to be used for the Sutherland this season. It may be remarked, however, that it has been said that the Sutherland is " running out " in the older districts. A great deal has been threshed, but there is a much larger quantity kept in the stack than in formei yeara. A large number of farmers sold what they threshed, but there has been a great deal' 1 stored on farmers' account. The charge is 3d per bag for three months, and 4d for six months. This charge covers trucking if the oats are sold through the dealer who provides storage ; but if sold elsewhere the usual exorbitant charge of Id per bag is levied. Insurance is also an additional charge, but amounts only to about 15s per cent, on three-fourths of the value of the grain at the time of storing. There was a good deal of talk before harvest of feeding oats to sheep, but it is evident that farmers here are content to recommend such a course without putting it into praotice, as there is not a word said about it now, and as some of our best sheep farmers are remarking that it would not pay to feed sheep on oats.

It is admitted, however, that there would be a gain in feeding sheep with oats rather than sell them as stores if the turnip crop proved a partial failure. Some dairy farmers are using more ,oats than usual for fattening off pigs, aud they find that it pays them to do so, as the weight-is increased considerably in a short time. Ham curers', are good judges of pork and can readily tell what pigs have been fed upon. Pigs fed on grain are always preferred to pigs fed on other things, thoso fed on milk coming nexb to tho grain-fed.

THE APIABY.

The yield of houey from apiaries in Southland bas bceu much larger than for a numbor of years, which is contrary to the experience of apiaiists in other parts of the colony. The wather has been most favourable, and the pasture was in bloom for a considerable time, besides other sources of honey supply were available for a longer period than uuual. Beo keeping is not generally a success here, however, especially on farms on which the sheep are allowed to roam everywhere to pick up every bloßflora. Foul brood also plays havoc in some apiaries. Those who are using the patent boxes commend them, and my experience of them leads me to advise farmers to gradually discontinue tbo use of the gin case. The patent boxes, such as Brickell's, have two storeys, from tbe upper of which as much honey can be obtained as from a gin case. An J this, unlike that of the gin case, is all pure honey, free from brood comb, which is in the lower storey. Some object to the patent boxes on the score of cost, but this objection is more apparent than real. There is a fair demand here for houey ac 4^d per lb, which is also the price offered in Dunedin. Honey is now used for many purposes that sugar was at one time exclusively used for, so that tbe apiary is no mean auxiliary to the main profits of the farm.

THB OECHAED.

There has been a good crop of apples this year, although blight is a source of loss. Many farmers in years gone by purchased from th« nurserymen apple tree 3 which were described as blight proof, but they have grounds for asserting now that such a name is a misnomer, as such trees seem to be affected with blight almost as badly as the others. There is also another enemy — viz., the apple worm or maggot, erroneously described by some as the larva of the codlin moth. This maggot, which is about a quarter of an inch in length, feeds on the pulp of the apple, and causes the apples to drop before they are ripe.

THE WIDTH OP TIKES ON DRAYS.

This sufjecb is causing tome dit.cusßion here, as a number of farmers have been fined for carrying loads in excess of the quantity allowed by the bye-laws of the couuty council, and it has been rumoured that the council intend to bring loads of coal within the provisions of tho bye-laws in question. It appears to me to bo simply a question between increasing the taxation for maintaining the roads or allowing the roads to get into bad order. The loads that have been carried for some years have reduced the gravel on the roads to powder in one season, thereby rendering a considerable yearly expenditure necessary and delaying the work of making new roads. But after all the bye-laws no doubt requirn amending, for as an instance it may be mentioned that although 18 bags of oats are allowed on 2Jin tires (which is the usual breadth of tim), iio more is allowed on t\ce a between those of this breadth aud less *;b.au 3£in. If it is true that the council intend limiting the bize of loads of coal and of still further reducing the moximum number of bags of grain, it h probable that councillors will find at the election which is to take place this year that a mistake has been made. I believe that the limit now allowed gives general satisfaction to reflective ratepayers, but that if it was further reduced farmers would fiud their large drays comparatively useless. PEIOES. As oats, our v staple product, are worth so little, many other things are correspondingly low. During the last fortnight feed oats have been sold for Is Id per bushel (bags 6d), but at the present time |d less has to be accepted, It is

fortunate for farmers that the sample is unusually bright this year, otherwise the price would be much lower. There is not a good demand for horses, and the price is low. Cattle also are not in good demand, and those who are able to keep them are not in a hurry to sell, aa they think prices must improve. Sheep, on the other hand, sell well, especially wethers suitable for fattening on turnips. Store pigs are in less demand than one would expect to find them on account of the low price ruling for oats. The price received for fat pigs is 3|d per lb. The minor products of the farm, such as cheese, butter, and eggs, are ia good demand, however, and prime salt butter is very easily sold at the price quoted in commercial columns of tbe Witness.