SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 14

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(From Oxra Own Cokbss*>owdbnt.) September 29. Up to the 20th of the month the weather was mild, with variable The Weather winds, and occasional light and showers of rain. On the the Farm. date mentioned there were

frequent heavy shower of rain and occasional showers of snow. The rain was much needed, and the soil has been much more easily and expeditiously worked since then. On many farms the oat seed has all been sown, and in other cases the work is drawing to a close. Seed sown a months ago is showing a good braird, and a very large area ha 3 been sown with oats, and farmers have the satisfaction of knowing ttfat ths work has beer done in due time. During tho last few seasons the weather was so wet that the work was protracted bcyound the best period for sowing, which resulted 'in a considerable quantity of- the crop being harvested -late and in '"bad condition. In n number of oases potatoes have been planted, and it may not be unnecessary to, make ihe reminder , that planting should be completed within a fortnight, as the quality of 1 the tubers •is inferior when- the seed is planted late. v The majority of the farmers here plant orly what is required for domestic purposes. It is a convenient opportunity to sow carrot seed at the same time as the potatoes are planted, but few farmers grow this crop for horses, as swedes can be more cheaply produced, and they are nearly as good. The recent rainfall has benefited the^jpasture considerably, and .young grass is good, while old pasture is better than it usually is at this time, pnd paddocks pf such pasture provide a failamount of feed. On every farm there should be a sufficient area laid down to grass every year to carry the ewes with lambs during September and a part of October. There are indications of abundance of feed for stock' this season. Farmers are taking a good . deal of interest in the fluctuations of the oat market, as niany have a, good deal of thii product on hand. -Buyers do not speak very encouragingly here, and they gay they have shipped as many of the bright lines as they could get, and that much of the oals now on hand is not of the first grade. Farmers who were fortunate enough to get the crop threshed during harvest, while there was a good price being offered, have come off best, and those who were fortunate enough to sell a few weeks ago hape no cause to feel diesatisfied. It is to be hoped the price will improve before room will have to be made for wool.

The severe weather experienced for about 30 hours between the 19th and Sheep. 21st inst. caused the death of

a considerable number of lambs, but the loss will not appear large if the percentage of living lambs will be as high as farmers anticipate. It happens every Eeason that stormy weather causes the death of a large number, but, so far, there was only one short period of inclement weather, the weather before and sines the dates named having been very favourable, so that only neglected or naturally weak lambs died. About three-fourths of the ewea-have lambed, and if the weather should continue fine there will be a very high percentage. The operations of castrating and docking should be performed when the animals are between one week and three weeks old. On most farms a temporary enclosure is' made in the paddock in which the ewes are feeding. If wire netting is used and erected near a gate, the ewes and lambs can be yarded without any trouble, as they will make for the gate in the belief that they are going on to fresh pasture. The netting should be extended a considerable distance where the sheep enter, as they are very unwilling to be yarded, and the enclosure can afterwards be made as small as may be desired. Farmers here make a ( practice of sowing grass seed alone Sowing or uppn a cereal crop, « nee J nst as i* 1 ma y happen to suit, urass jjew, ew wJII dispute the asger . Seed. . tion . that a- better sole can be obtained by sowing the seed alone, but the crop of oats more .than repays the cost of laying down, and there is this advantage, that the work is performed early " in the season, and not at a time when preparing the turnip land should be attended to As a number of farmers . break up the grass land after the third season, it is not to be wondered at that they do not care to go to any great expense with the laying down. When the land is laid down in good heart it produces good pasture as well as a payable crop of oats. The majority use. the broadcast machines 18ft in width for so\v>

ing the mixture of grass and clover seeds, but it may surprise some to be told that the work can be done as well 'with the oat-seeder on the cultivator, but, of course, not so ex- . peditiously, as the width is only Bft The [ index should be set as if for sowing 1 or ; li bushel oats, according to the quality and f condition of the seed. The chains should be shortened so that the tines do little more than touch tho soil, but it is preferable to take them off altogether, wliich can be conveniently done by unscrewing half a dozen nuts on the front of the frame. Threeleaved harrows may be attached to this part of the frame if it is desired to perform the covering as well as the sefwing at one operation. The few farmers who have neither of these machines will find that the hand machine which wa3 long in use for sowing turnips broadcast is very suitable for sowing grass and clover seed either mixed or separately. This machine throws the ryegrass seeds over a breadth of lift or 12ft, and a marker, consisting of a piece of wood about ! 4in by 4in, and sft in length, i should 'be attached to the middle of a set of four - leaved harrows. Suoh a marker forms a well-defined mark, which the sower can follow at a smart walking pace, even if he has a piece of muslin over' his face to protect his es'es from the flying- seeds. It may be added for the information, of pome who use these, ■ machines for 'sowing grass 'that a breadth of 12ft jand a J lengffi of 55 chains make' ar.'atire. '■' ~ "•'