SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2010, 1 September 1892, Page 11

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Fhom Ook Own Cohhespondent.) The weather during the month which is just passing away has been The favourable for farm work. Weather Frosts were experienced occa-

And sionally, but they were not The Farm, severe, and rain was neither heavy nor frequent. On the contrary, during the past fortnight fine sunny days, with occasional drying winds, have been the rule, and the soil has been in excellent order for ploughing. The farmers in the earlier districts are now well forward wifch the ploughing, but those in the later districts are considerably in arrears owing to the saturated state of the soil during last month. Sowing was commenced a fortnight ago on sandy or gravelly soils. Many of the heavier soils were also in good order for harrowing last week, which is an unusual circumstance at this time of year, but only a small number of farmers have as yet commenced to sow. If the weather continues dry, sowing will probably be general next week. There will, as usual, be a large area under oats this season, and less under wheat, but the iucr^ased quantity of oats which will bo produced in' consequence will hardly be noticed, as we never go in largely for wheat. A good deal has beeu laid down to grass annually of lato years, as it has been found an advantage to renew the pastures every fourth year or so. There are two methods of laying down in vogue— sowing with a crop and without a crop. "Experienced farmers may be found who speak favourably of either course. It depends a good deal on circumstances which method should be adopted. If the land is fertile good grass can be grown by c owing the seed with a white crop ; and there ia this advantage, that in this case the seed ia sown before weeds make much progress in growth. When grass and clover seeds are sown without a crop it is too often late in the season, after weeds have taken a good hold, so that they grow up from the root after tillage operations and rob the soil of much that should go to the development of the tender seed. If grass were sown earlier, or if the weeds were kept down, then in all cases it would be an advantage to sow without a crop. Paddocks of grass not more than two years old have been affording stock a fait bite Binoe the middle of August, buj older

pastures are only now showing signs of new life. The turnip crop is about finished, but stock arc in such good condition that although cold weather should fet in and check the growth of grass there is nothing to fear. Lambs appeared more than a month ago, but general lambing will not take place till the third week of September.' Those who buy breeding ewes sometimes find lambs among their flocks at all times after the middle of winter, and it seems some people let the rams run with the ewes all the year round. It may be noted, however, that there is a tendency, due no doubt to the demand at tho freezing works, to have lambs earlier every succeeding season. On quite a number of farms in various parts lambing seemed to be general about the middle of the month, and there is no reason why it should not take place as early as that time if a paddock is laid down to grass every year or every second year. It is not on every soil, however, that we can expect good grass so early as thi3. During the whole of the month the weather was favourable for lambs, and the mortality has been very small. They do not suffer much in cold weather, even though it should be frosty, unless there is rain. The first hour or. two of their existence is a very critical period if there is a drenching rain and the atmosphere only moderately cold. Farmers make a mistake in breaking up every yard of tussock. Not only should a few acres be left on a rough hillside in the 'natural state, but .all rough ground at the margins of gullies should be left in the tussock. One can dispense with shelter from trees or hedges if there is a- rough piece of ground available to turn the ewes on in wet weather, as such ground is always much drier and warmer than paddocks laid down with English grass. The native grass forms a thick mat, and the soil is kept open by the numerous roots.

Mr Doul's excellent and interesting paper on dairying has given rise to some Sheen discussion on the question, both or Cows. verbally and through the press. Many will thank Mr Doul for the information imparted re cheesemaking, though they may be disposed to differ from him in his estimate of the value of cows and sheep. A good deal of dairying has been carried on within 10 or lb miles of the principal towns in this country since it was first settled, and it is principally those settlers who have carried the dairying industry into the interior of the country. Those who in the early days settled far ouij iv the country had no inducement to engage iv dairying, and to this day they oannbt understand why others 6hould continue at this form of employment, which they secretly despise. It can hardly bo said, therefore, that any who have been sheep farmers, even for a few years, will give the dairying question the .slightest attention, but it is worth while. for those who have long be'en engaged in dairyiug to consider whether they would not be making a mistake in giving it up, as so many have been doing during the last year or two, and commenpe sheep farming. Mr Doul says that some who are commencing farming aro debating with themselves which they should attempt. If this bo so, I am inclined to rncoinmend sheep, ami my opinion ip.that Mr Doul has under estimated the value of sh« ep and over-estimated that of cows. -There can be no doubt that individuals aro making a good thing out of the dairying, but care must be taken to state that every farmer caunot possibly obtaiu the same results. Some 200-acre farms that I know will prodr.ee as much grass as 2000 acres in other localities, and some farms will year aft<-r year produce from 45 to 50 bu»hols per aore when other farms will only produce 25 or 30 bu.sheK The kind of grass and the quality of it that a farm will grow has a great deal to do wifch the profits of dairying, aivl where there is littlft grass there is liitle mjlk. Of course, if the grass is poor not much can be made out of sheep either, but then there is less labour attached to them. Ths size of the farm has aIBO a good deal to do with a question of this 60rt. If one his 400 or 500 acres, a considerable number of sheep can be kept, an-l the labour»iuvolved in their management will h« no more than that required for a- flook which I half the area 'of laud could cxrry If the keeping of cow 3 -were attempted on a largo, farm ih'ti lnhourers woulil havo to be employed, aud that would ueve.r do, as the profits would not be sufficiently toge for tivs purpose. On a small f*rm whore tht tv are a number of boya and girln going to school the milking can be done (light arid morning, ami in those c*ses d.tirvii;tf is, I believe, the more ftu'inerativp. Mr Doul's remarks rcgatuiug'the distaste that is felt for dairying are very apposite. It has been in some measure, through this distaste on the part of'th-ir 'children that soms farmers have been Induced' to give up the dairyiug. Boys much soonor rebel than girls, probably becau- c they are more self assertive, anil can easier push a way for themselves. There is no duubt they feel the drudgery connected with dairying, particularly in the' evenings, whish they are thus deprived of spending along with youthful companions. Environment also has a good deal to do with this distaste. They are among people who a*e sheepf armerß| aad whom they can hea.v

speaking in disparaging terms of/ dairying. They will perhaps also hoar oxpres'sions of contempt used at tho school. The youngsters are, therefore, not so much to blame, and it t is to be hoped that the attention which 'the press is giving to the subject will cause/, a "healthy interest to be taken in it, for, however nice we may appear, it is a fact that we all use some if not all of the products of the dairy. It must bo borne in mind that dairying or slieopfarming is not carried on exclusively, but thafc^a considerable quantity of oats ia grown on bnr best managed farms, and that we' tire thus approving by our action what we seem to disapprove by our talk. > ,- .

A goodly number of farmers had oats on hand when they began 'to .rise in Prices. ' price, and profited accordingly. The majority, however, had disposed of thoir crop, but they need not regrofc the rise, as merchants do not always ■ make profits on their purchases. The profits which sorab will have mado this season will no doubt help the farmer in the future, as it will stimulate competition to find the most profitable outlet for this product. Some farmers were receiving during the last three weeks from Is 8d to Is 9J for seed oats, and such oats havo been sold out of the stores for Is 10J before the recent advance in price took place. Bacon pigs are soiling at 3|d. Butter is sold in the stores at Is Id, and some farmers who are sending' to distant markets are receiving Is 2d. Last year as high as Is 4d was received for some time, and I have heard of a butter factory here sending last winter, butter to Oamaru, where it was sold at la 6d per pound. Dairy farmers should pause before they give up dairying, as "these prices are certainly remunerative. Dairying is so imperfectly understood that many; people aro, in the summer time, Belling butter at from 3d to 6d per pound, when, if they could "onlymake good butter, and knew how to salt, they could get 7d or 8d per pound. By salting when the price is low the cost of sending the butter away week after week to market is saved, and- by selling it salted it is not so difficult to obtain ca.sh for it as by selling it fresh to the local storekeeper, who is at his wits' end to know what to do with it.

There was quite a boom in the fat cattle

market last Tuesday at the InMlscollanoons vercargill stock sale yards. Items. Prime beef sold at prices quite equal to 25s per lOQlbVVand since then we havo had dealers scouring' the couutry districts trying to buy store cattle, which are by no means plentiful iv Southland now.

Horses (draught) were in great demand the early part of this month. The wot wiuter,had so delayed work on the farms that farmers were fearing they would be thrown unusually lata with thtir ploughing and sowing, and showed a willingness to pay a few pounds extra fora horse or two to make up an extra, .team father than be too late with tljoir sowing but in a few weeks' time they will be pending these' same horses into the market again prepared tp^drop a pound or two upon them, and I v expecj;'to see shortly the draught horse market fairly glutted.

There js no /loubfc, a much L-u'ger proportion of oats than whuifc will be sown, this season than last. It is now getting late .for wheat sowing and the good prices that are^ vow ruling for oats to ship to the Home market, coupled with the fact that Southland oats do not deteriorate on the long voyagewhile wheat does, will decide our farmers to sow. oats in preference to wheat. Pigs have became scarce in Southland this/ i winter, from what cause no cine seems to, have much considered, but high prices oro expected to rule as soon us thu dairy ftiofcork's commence . buying. . '" There are flails taking place every (lay of small arj'l largo farm*, and Iho loan compana-i? • and mo.'tg-ij.e s buve n vi r luid such fayom>ab!,e ■ opportunities f:>r years of' getting quit of tbig class of security as they have at the preseijfc time, '" ' . B.>th of our frecKing works aj; fcbo Bluff ani}' ,- Ooeau Biidch continue in oj>erat.ion, Wife one silsnos-t wonders where thoy cm geb' thtirsup'r. ; plio3 ( f mutton t rom at the present time, -,as • there are not many freezers left iv the country ' now. The turnips (where there are auyieft) ■arebsgiimlng \o get 'pithy, and cattle have in . lhany placrs been turned upon them to break "them down before they oommence their sewnd^-. growth. The Indramayo, one of the Tyser line oE < steamers, left the Bluff for London last Sfttur-_ day, with 24,000 carcases of frozen mutton, and 500 quarters of beef, besides a large general cargo of oats, wool, &c. ' » '

The co.llin moth has attabked the berries of the karaka trees ia several \pavts of the Auokland province. "Cleanliness is nae pride, dirt's nae honesty." Common sense dictates the use of

SAPOLIO. It js a solid cake of Scouring Soap used for all cleaning purposes except the laundry. 5.

ijgAct. He found that with the exception of the cost of the triennial election of licensing committees, and of taking 'the local option vote? the expense woul I be very trifling. v Cr Mackenzie reported that he had the previous dny attended a meeting of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Board. v The requisition for charitableaidhad this year been increased by L 2853. The rcquii-ition should have been made on the 31st day of March, and as it had not bcon-madc on the date provided • for by the act, his opinion was that the demand was wholly illegal. One member of the board had intimated that he would advise liib continuing to resist payment on this ground. • He (Cr Mackenzie) believed that if the council were to pay the demand now to be made, any ratepayer or the Auditor-general could call on the members to refund the money out of their own pockets. So long as the contributing bodies continued to meet these demands 'on the pait of the board, the demands would go on increasing, and they had no remedy. . He moved— " That this council invite the co-operation of the local governing bodies within the united districts of the Central Otago, Tuapeka, and Otago Charitable Aid district in an endeavour to restrict the ever-increasing expenditure upon charitable aid, and, inasmuch as it is probable that the requirements of the statute as set forth in sections 21 and 59 of 'The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act 1885' have not been carried out by the Benevolent Institution Trustees and the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and that therefore the requisition for the year 1892-93 cannot be made in accordance with the statute, payment of the same should be refused so as to, if possible, secure the attention of the Legislature to the injustice of the charitable aid law, especially to country local bodies.' — Cr Simmers seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr Christie reported that the deputation appointed in the matter and the settlers in the Warepa bush had agreed on the road works to be undertaken to give access to the settlement, and that the work would be in hand next week. The Chairman reported that he had obtained a legal opinion regarding the council's position with reference to the half chain road in section 14, block 111, Woodlands, that had been so long in dispute between Messrs Draper and Allan. The opinion was that the council should not have interfered in the matter.— A long discussion ensued, and Mr Thornton, solicitor was heard on behalf of Mr Draper.— Ultimately it was agreed, on the motion of Cr Mackenzie, seconded by Cr M'Lachlan— "That CrHayseeMr Allan and ascertain what amicable arrangement can be made in the matter.and to report at next meeting.'

CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr J. Allen, M.H.R., wrote in reply, as to'the proposed harbour rate, that the matter would receive his attention, but he felt sure the question would not conic before the House, at anyrate this session» , - , , The Chairman Awatere Road Board forwarded copy of petition to the House of Representatives praying that no reduction may be made in' t ae subsidies to local bodie3.-Cr Christie thought they should insist on the subsidies being continued, unlees the Government took over the main arterial roads.— Cr Mackenzie believed it was also contemplated to withdraw the Government grant towards charitable aid, leaving the whole burdan on the ratepayers. Ho thought each county should be allowed to make the necessary provision for its own poor. There would be no remedy for the present burden until , the country districts were disconnected from Dunedm v in the matter. As matters stood at present, all the money was spent in Dunedin, and that was the point of chief interest with the residents of the city. Ho moved—" That the council approves of the petition, and that the same be signed by the chairman and forwarded on behalf of the council.— Cr Hay seconded the motion, which was carried. „ A resident in Cat lins wrote asking the council' to take thenercisu-y bteps to get him admitted to the Bonevoknt Institution.— The application to be forwarded. ■ K. Chahnais wiole asking that a gate, the council had given ennission to be erected on the road Clinton to Owui c might be removed. He al-o called attention to two bad places on the same road, and intimated that unless they were put to rights he would appeal to the Governor-m-Council.— Received. . / W. J. Lory asked permission to construct a tramway on roadline commencing at a point on his section, section 1 block 11, Tautuku survey district, and terminating at a point in Taukupu river known as Mackenzie's landing.— io be informed that the road is not under council s jurisdiction, but that the council sees no objection to the request being granted. 11. S. M'Ke.nzu Uenomaru, asked that a resurvev might I c n.'ade to the roadline leading to his sieMons • -t»'i • ay explained that the roaolme had been cn'tffi'ly obliterated by the operations connected wikli the raw mill.— Mr (.reig to be asked to do wb t is necessary in the matter. The Colonial > rr rotary asked for a return of the number of the different governing local bodies in the county and the number of members of each, &c. -• Clerk to f onva rd return. Glasgow Lou' n. and otlicrfour settlers of O wake, wrote asking rhe council to have the river bank road opposite-sections 12 and 1, block VI, opened up as far as the old mill jetty.-Cr Hay explained that there were at present no funds available for the work, biit the engineer might be asked to report on the matter at next meeting.-Accorc ID f he Receiver of Land Revenue notified a payment of Ll2l 5s 9d to the county fund.

MISCELLANEOUS. An opinion by Messrs Stewart and Fmdley, solicitors, as to who was responsible for clearing ™ off a street or roadline in Waitepeka townshin was read. Their opinion was that the roadline hid not been legally dedicated to the council, and that therefore the latter has no power to compel the removal of the gorse theieon.-On t he motion of Or Christie, it was agreed to dcfei consideration of the matter till next meeting. With reference to a request received at last should take steps under the Public m oiks Act to vert in h« a portion of land between her property effect to her roo.uest.-On the motion of ( Cr Ha\ t was agreed that steps be taken Jho council reserving a margin of half a chain along * The Vinance Committee recommend payment of the monthly pay sheet nnd sundry accounts, amounting in all to L 257 4s Bd.-Adopted.

IIOADS AND WOHKS. The P^ngineer's monthly report on roads and works was read and adopted. The following tenders were accepted .-—Contract

'No.' 499 s : Formation Rankleburn road— John Sharp, /LBQ' 15s. 498: Metalling at Clydevale Ferry-W. Allan, Ll7B Is 6d. ■• The following motions were passed :— By Or M'Lachlan, seconded by Cr Wallace— ' " That tenders be called for forming and metalling eight cliains on main road Clinton to Tapanui, opposite. Mr Irving's property; tenders to be 'Opened a.t next meeting." 1 'By Cr M'Lachlan, seconded by Cr Wallace— -'That the engineer be empowered to examine the maip road plmton to Wyndham, with power to call tenders for the necessafy works up to the amount available of river board thirds."

By Cr Mackenzie, seconded by Cr Simmers— "That the engineer call for tenders as under: Aboiit4o chains of gravel, carting, nnd spreadingon Kelso-Pukerau road, in extension of gravel already put down at Kelso end ; gravel to be taken from Pomahaka riVer. Also, 25 chains (more orlcss) at VVaikoiitoi township, where engineer may direct, .alternative tenders for gravel from tho county gravel pit or from the Pomahaka river ; also, for maintenance gravel on the Kelso, Waikaka, the Waikoikoi, and the gravelled ford of the KelsoPukerau road."

" By Or Wallace, seconded by Cr Mackenzie— "That the engineer be instructed to metal portion of Main road, Clinton, at railway crossing, from present metal to kerb channel end of railway yard."— Cr M'Lachlan strongly opposed the motion on the ground that the Railway department had altered the grade of the road, damming back the water, and that the department should be called on to remedy the matter. By Cr Mitchell, seconded by Cr Hay— That the engineer call for tenders for contract No. 487, formation and gravelling on Upper Bridge road, Clydevale riding." ' By Cr Christie, seconded by Cr Mitchell— " That the engineer be authorised to spend LlO on road past Mr Terry's to Mr Houlistorfs property, in quarrying and spreading stone, Mr Houhston doing the cartage free of cost." _,By Cr Christie, seconded by Cr Mitchell— '•'That the engineer report at next meeting of council oh v the probable cost of repairing the Gorge road past Waitepeka school from, Port Molyneux road." , _ j By Or Brown, seconded by Cr Hay—" That ,the Government be requested to pay into our fUndg LIOO towards construction of a road along south side of Catlins Lake, aB proposed in October to November 1 1890, upon condition that the I council subsidises the Government vote upon the rates collected from that date, say at or over LlO per annum : that the engineer report upon a road to con'ncctjthe beach of the lake with the Waikawa road'atyor near Ratanui township." By the 1 Chairman, seconded by Cr M'Lachlan— ' -That the sum of L 7 be spent in assisting to pro-■tect-the road alongside river bank at To Houka, oh Condition that the owner of the adjoining land pay the balance necessary to carry out the work. By Cr M*LachlAn, seconded by Cr Wallace— " That .theJclerk write to the chairman Wairuna Licensing ( Committep informing him that the ' license fees accruing . from the local house have b^en- retained by the committee for an unreasonable period, and suggesting that the sum in hand beexpendrd at an early date, as the engineer may point out." ' ' , . , By Or' Hay— " That the necessary steps be taken .to clo3e,a' roadline in Ahuriri, already advertised."—Carried.