ISLA BANK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2120, 11 October 1894, Page 22

ISLA BANK.

October 6. — We are having remarkably fine weather, and a large extent of sowing has been done this week. Everyone is pushing along, and though there are patches to plough for the grain crop, still the greater part is done. Oats are the main crop, but a good stretch has been sown in linseed this year. This seems to be the most profitable and best paying crop, judging by the results last season. It is worthy of consideration, however, whether the demand will be so good next season. We seem in this district as a whole to be pushing ahead. Improved implements of all kinds are being used, supplantiDg manual labour—sowing machines, disc harrows, steam engines drawing the drain plough, <fee. We might ask, will the improved implements enable farming to pay ? So far they will, but the farmer has more to look to. Is the land manured and treated so as to produce the best and most profitable results ? Tnis is most favourable weather for getting the weeds put under. Destroy the weeds is one evidence of good farming. Taking a bird's-eye view of the country you can say of one this is a good farmer and of another this is a poor or bad farmer. The soil haa everything to do in the matter, and the treatment it receives makes all the difference. The ground has to be fed in a sense the same aB living creatures. Can we expect good stock without feeding and caring for them ? No, we cannot ; of whatever breed or quality they must be cared for, and the ground must also be cared for by" being manured. ' We can see the evidence of overcropping in New Zealand in too many instances, and it will take years of labour and money to set it right. Among the best manures for the farm, farmyard manure should hold the first place. What is taken out of tho ground requires to be returned. Bqnedust as a manure holds a very high place indeed. Guano for the time being does good. Those who burn their straw cannot be classed among good farmers. The prizes given by Sir John Lawes under the auspices of the Otago Metropolitan A. and P. Society for good farming should stimulate others to exertions in the right direction. Much could be done by farmers in improving their methods if they were only in real earnest. A. and P. Society.— lhe Webtern District A. and P. Association had a good meeting on Thursday, 4th inst. Those having the success of the district at heart came forward with advice and counsel. It was resolved to hold the show at Riverton on the 6th December. The Western District show was a good one last year, and we have good reasons for expecting it will be satisfactory this year if Riverton anri the surrounding district works with a will. The Btock is in the district; all that is required is to bring them forward. Our young men are not (with a few exceptions) taking that true interest in the success of the country that we could wish. When they come forward it is in a rather half-hearted manner. It might be good for them to- experience some of the difficulties the early colonists had to contend with. School— We have got a new schoolmaster at the Limestone Plains School this week, and I hope the young generation will receive instruction to fit them for the battle of life. I believe the the inspector's report on the Limestone Plains School this year was good, and I hope as time passes on we shall continue to advance. Pastoral. — Notwithstanding the cold weather of late stock of all kinds are generally doing well. The lambing season is now nearly over, and the results generally are good. A few suffered rather severely from want of keep and shelter, but we Bhall have a good return of lambs in this part of the country this season.