WAIKAKA VALLEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 22

WAIKAKA VALLEY.

June 19.-A very cold easterly wind has been blowing for a few days, and the cold is intensified by slight frosts in the mornings. It cannot be said, however, that the weather has been unfavourable during the month. On the contrary it has been much better than it was last month, and the ploughing is proceeding with hardly an hour's interruption. On most farms a good deal of this work has been done. A good deal of lea is bomg ploughed, and the majority intend sowing oats upon it instead of turnips. Winter Febd.— Stock have an abundance of turnips, and some farmers have a portion of the crop for sale, although the crop was not a heavy ■* one. Sheep are consuming a good deal of this root, owing to the bareness of the pasture, but so far the frost has not been severe enough to cause any waste.

Rabbits.— Trapping has been assiduously carried on this winter on every farm, and there are now few rabbits to be seen. If trapping is again resorted to about the middle of spring the rabbits would give no further trouble during the summer and harvest. Various means of rabbit destruction have bean employed— fumigating, poisoning, &c. —but trapping is the most aatisfactory, and few now use any other means. There have been ferrets and weasels in the district for a number of years, but it does not appear that they have any effect in diminishing the rabbits.