KELSO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 29

KELSO.

July 12 — General farm work this winter has so far been gone on with under conditions which may be regarded as almost perfect, and with every appearance of continuance. As it is now past midwinter the farmers are all well on in their work. Ploughing is now the order of the day, and on every hand teams are kept steadily going from morn till night. Our farmers are all practical men who work their land on the rotation system, and seldom go beyond their means. Green crop 3, helped on by the aid. of artificial manure and eaten off by sheep, which are now in the best of condition, aie in general the farmer's first crop, followed by two or three white crops, the land being then iaid down in English grass. A number of our pioneers who in the early days livedin sod huts and whares have now got their drawing-rooms, parlours, &c, and can also sport a buggy and pair. This shows the steady progress we have made, and is a matter for congratulation. Prohibition.— Since the general election we have had peace aud quietness, and spies touringround the country " buying farms," " photographing," "shouting," &c, in the hopes of getting a conviction are now things of the pSst. I think it is altogether a mean action of the authorities to employ men to make others break the law, and in my opinion it would not be a bad idea to punish the seducer inatead of the victim. Rabbit Pest. — We hear a great deal nowadays about rabbit-farming and the professional rabbiter. I thiDk a great many of those who have been of late writing on the subject know very

little about it, as bunny has long since proved himself to be a far greater blessing than a curse to the country, and I know not what ninny of our young able-bodied men would do without him. Such a thing a3 rabbit-farming has never been heard of in this district. I do not deny that years ago a few of our farmeis were fined, but since a systematic system of trapping and poisoning has come iv vogue b.inny has given little or no bother. I thiuk the rabbiter has also proved himself to be one of the most useful of the working classes, and also a very loyal &übject, as I am told on good authority that several of this class celebrated her Mobt Gracious Majesty's Jubilee with bonfires of their own building, from a blazing matngouri bush on the hijsli mountain top to a clump of scrub on the lower le/pi=. So" much for our professional rabbiter, who spends his wintsr in tho snowy mouutaitiS, braving the hardships of cold and often hunger. I sob by the papers that Mr Gilruth is still experimenting with his chicken cholera I think it would be far more profitable to the community at large if Mr Gilruth csuld contrive in soinu way to inoculate the .small birds with his chicken cholera, for of late years they have proved a constant toiment to farmers, fruit-growers, &c. It i 3 quite a conimon occurrence now for an early crop of grain to be rendered by this pest utterly useless for anythirjg but chaff, which means a considerable losn to the grower. Matrimony.— l hear there is shortly to be a grot boom in the matrimonial market. One wedding has just come off, and there ate said to be many more to follow.