ALBURY (S.C.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 34

ALBURY (S.C.)

. September 1. — Now that we are /-catty having spring weather all haste is being made with tha various labours appertaining to the season. All grain crops intended for threshing should bo in at latest this month, and even now it is to be hoped there is little wheat still to be sown. Slock. — I am sorry to say the late heavy snoiv and subsequent inclement weather had a very unpleasant effect on stock generally, but more particularly affected sheep. Tno small grazing mnholders situated on the lowlying hills underlying the higher ranges pro th& heaviest sufferers. The peculiarity of the fall was its weight on the low front country compared with the higher back lands, the Mackenzie country proper practically escaping scot free. A good many old cows, runts, and aged horses have "' passed in their cards '' the last month or so. As with the flocks last summer, so now with the herds: Natuie is asseiting herself, and is apji lying the piumng knife. Changes. — Several changes of sections in the district have been granted recently by the powers that be. The Land Board administration — or rather maladministration — has* boen. pretty, freely commented. on, and the ease jvith which that body can adapt circumstances to suit its. will is really surprising. It is therefore little wonder that such questions aa the following are never satisfactorily answered: " Why is tke holder of section No. 1 compelled to build, and not No. 2? " ; '" Why is No. 3 allowed to plough the whole section (young grass at that), and not so No. 4? " ; " Why has No. 5, who has let the grazing of his section to his neighbour, and had but a nominal return, been given an extension of time to pay back rent, while such leniency has been denied No. 6, who has worked his holding to the best advantage, and considerably improved it generally?" Scores of similar perplexing queries are heard being discussed for all they are worth whenever several of the Hon. M'Kenzie settlers get together. ""Departures. — As I intimated last week, the community of this district have suffered loss in the depaiture of our esteemed station, master, who left the district yesterday, carrying with him tho well - wishes of a host of friends. Mr Carter was asked to mccl his friends on Monday evening, when about 40 residents entertained him at a smoke concert and supper, and on parting presented him with a very handsome marble clock. Mr Carter's ! shift is hardly promotion, but it is certainly I a stepping-stone, thereto. September 5. — A broad area of spring wheat will be sown here, though the respective values of tho two cereals is giving oats a larger degree of attention than it would have had wheat not gone so " slump." No doubt the high prices paid for turnips this winter will cause this and its allied crops to be given more attention, ' ev-ji by those farmers who do not do much in the sheep line themselves. It is a foregone conclusion that all jjtockmen will pay more attention to winter provision for their stock in future, as experience has already taught its lesson that it is a penny-wise pound-foolish policy to live in such a hand-to-mouth manner. Tho smaller holders particularly should understand that there is more than sentiment in the proverb that " the shrewd master putteth not all his eggs in the one basket." Sheep and grain ace all very well in themselves, but infinitely better when supported properly by the other 101 things and sundries that play so important a part m our model farmer's programme. A few good dairy cows more than pay for their keep, and the sooner it is practically acknowledged that one good cow is better than two infcrio.- ones, the better for the master directly, ani the countiy indirectly. What class of stock gives a quicker and more lucrative return than pigs? Ten shillings will invariably secure a well-bred, thrifty weaoer of 8 to 10 weeks' old, and according to the authority of our American cousins a pig at six months of age that fails to turn the balance at 2501b has not been well done by. Admitting our cousins to be 50lb better men than we are, we still have 2001b, which at the very moderate and reasonable price of 3d, leaves a huge return on every 10i investment; and when the business is prov/erly attended to, no kind of stock requires so little attention. They'll "grow like rnushrcoms " and " fatten like porpoises " on peas, o/ie of the easie&t of crops to grow oh almost any description of soil (save water-logged), and a crop second to none for benefiting the land on which it grows. Stall feeding of beef is bound to receive more attention from small holders yet, for it is beyond doubt that the press at common method of "making" the beasts up on good grass in the fall and topping off on turnips is too much pertaining to the exti&va/ganc to be the most profitable. Better were the good grass made into hay or preserved for wintei feeding, and a beast at large on turnips, exposed to all weathers, consumes twice the f oocl to produce a given amoxint of fat, and there is no return in the form of manure, etc.. and this is of no mean value. Poultry on the farm is another terribly neglected source of revenue to the practical farmer and his " quid ' wife — the latter can always make more than " pin pennies " out of her hens. Then, again, the garden plot is another source of profit if given, a little attention, and when properly kept and well stocked with late winter and early spring vegetables, will give a most satisfactory return. The same lemarks apply equally as forcibly to the orchard, especially if first quality latekeeping fruil3 generally, and apples in particular, are grown.