SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2240, 4 February 1897, Page 6

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(From Our Agricultural Correspondent ) The weather has been favourable to the growth of the crops during the month r which is passing away. Rain fell occasionally, bub seldom copiously, and although the crops would have been banefltad by more rain, the moderate quantity which fell, together with a high degree of warmth, has produced heavier crops than appearances last month led us to expect. The yield will not, however, ba nearly so heavy this year as in previous seasons. It would not be correct to say that *c have net good crops in a number, of places, but; taking Southland as a whole the crops are somewhat disappointing, being short and irregular in growth. In most cusos the oafc crop is fully shot. Reaping will probably, therefore, be commenced here and there in about three weeks' time, and the work will, I have no doubt, be general about the end of February. It is not unlikely that, owing to the hardness of the soil, the ripening process will be rapid, and it bohove3 farmers to get their binders ready in time. Ie 18 a good practice to cut as much as is required for chuff iuab before the crop is

The Weathei and The Farm.

ready for reaping, as besides ensuring a timely start there is not the risk of having* rusted chaff, whioh is most injurious to horses. A 40-buihel crop will, when cut into chaff, weigh about two tons per acre. The proportion of grain to straw by weight is 37 per cent, of grain to 63 per cent, of straw and chaff. The mont of the ryegrass crop was cut shortly before the middle of the month, but in some cases there was some cut during the first week, when it was too green, and the result of cutting ou the green side is that there is some percentage of empty or partially filled glumes. It is always better to cut whan the crop is ripe, even though some seed suould ba lost by shedding in windy weather. The crop is being threshed from the stook at present. The sample is heavy and of good colour. The remarks made recently iv the Witness about ryegrass have been read with no small degree of interest by farmers, the subject being one upon which farmers are not all of one mind. I think most f*ruier« value ryegrass too highly as a pasture plant, being led to do 'bo by the strong impression it makes on the eye through stock neglecting it to such an extent that it seems the' principal constituent of our pastures, liyegrass grows on a great variety of soils, and on some it would be useless to expect a fair pasture were the seed not included in the mixture ; but it may be remarked that although stock neglect it in favour of clover and timothy, where these batterrelished plants are not obtainable in sufficiant quantities the ryegrass is readily eaten, and as it contains the elements of food, stack fatten well on it. Although it is the popular belief that ryegrass seed of the first year's growth produces a shortlived pasture, it is the almost universal practice to cut the crop the fii'ab year, as the yield is heavier and the sample freer from weed seeds. For the information of those who are in that belief I quote, with approval, the following from Button's useful work on "Permanent and Temporary Pastures" (popular edition, p. 54) : — "The popular notion that the first year's crop of perennial ryegrass seed produces only an annual plant is a mere fiction, although to ensure all the crop being the perennial variety miiden seed should be rejected for permanent pasture." •

Pasture and Turnips.

The pasture has been good this season, the clover in particular being unusually abundant. Grass sown in September and October did nob grow so rapidly as usual, owing to the unfavourable weather during the early parb of summer, and it was scarcely read 7 for carrying stock by the time that; rape sown with it was fit to be eaten. Indeed, th»re is often this disadvantage to be considered when sowing rape with grais — viz , that the grasses are rarely firmly established when the rapa is fit to be e^ten off, and consequently the hearts aro sometimes eaten out of tae young plan's. The seaeou has been sgainst heavy crops of rape, and there are not a few oases of disappointment. Turnips brairded well this season, and in all probability there will be a good crop, both in drills and where the seei has been sown broadcast. Singling h»s been in progress since the middle of the month, but there is still a good deal to be done. Tha work is being done at % somewhat cheaper rate this season, but ruling wages are still too high, and it will be better for farmei'3 and workers alike when email wages are accepted for this work, whioh anybody can easily perform satisf ncfc&rily with a very sirull amount of knowledge and experience. Turnips would be grown oh the raised drill by every farmer were the cosb of singling more in proportion to the value of the work than it is at present. Sown broadcast, turnips succeed well oaly where the land is moderately free from weeds. This objection also applies to some extent to sowing the seed by moms of the drill, and there is the additional disadvantage that the root grows too deep in the soil.

Miscellaneous.

The horeo bob fly made its appearance this Beison daring the fir?.b week of January. Most horsa - owners are taking the precaution to kill the eggs by meins of various preparations. I have vied neatsfoot oil, whioh wa* recommended recently in the Witness, and am of opinion that ib keeps off tke fly for a time. I think, however, that thb sheep dipa containing carbolic are more pleasant to use, and, contrary to the views expressed some time ago, I am now of opinioa that they keep the fly from alighting, although neither these nor the neatsfoot oil will keep the insect from molesting hcrses in its Eearoh for a suitable place to lay its eggs. Professor Kirk recommends applying the wash to young hor3ea by means of a spraying machine with "Cyclone" nozzle, such as is found in every well-managed orchard. Sheep and iamb* are in good condition thin season, abundance of feed and dry pasture having contributed to this result. The freezing companies commence operations on the Brti and 10th. February, but it is doubtful if there will ba a large percentage of lambs fab so early iv the month. Lambs require to be in tip-top condition to pass muster. It may be thought that a greal; deal of fat is not desirable, but it will be fouod that the quality ia better and the colour of the meat much lighter when the atimal is in fir6t-class condition ; hence the importance of good condition, id

may not bo uoiuteresting at this season to quote the following table from " M'Connell't Agricultural Note Book " :— Order of the deposition of fat on a sheep : 1. On the net enveloping the intestines. 2. Around the kidneys. 3. On ths end of tho rump at tail-head. 4. Along back to neck and around ribs. 5. Between muscles ; round below ribs and flanks. 6. Up to breast in front and scrotum behind ; on stomachs inside at same time. 7. The abovo receive more fat in same order, and back becomes "nicked"— i.e., divides into two portions along spine: thus the presence s o{ tho ''nick" shows there is much fat elsewhere. In judgiug the fatness of lambs, when the animals are f»t the spine is hardly felfe,_if at all, the ribi are well covered and firm, and the tail is broad, with a longitudinal nick at the root, which ia clearly seen when the skin is removed from a carcase. By careful attention anyone can in the coursa of a season or two become a good judge both iv regard to fatueis and weight, but thrrei are cot a few stock-owaers so careless and unobservant that they never become good judges.