SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 14

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

j /Fcov Ottb Own Uoehksfondent.) With the exception of the last week, tho weather was not of the most Tho Weather favourable description durnnd ing the month. It was The Harrest. showery and windy, with occasional frosts. The gales were strong early in the month, but there I was not much grain shed, as the atmosphere , was moist. The bulk of the crop was reaped by the middle of the month, and at the present time probably about three-fourths of it is stacked. Rust attacked the later-ripen-ing portions of the crop, and the month was far advanced when they were reaped. It is noticeable that the latest crops are in the most elevated situations. In Britain, according to an authority, every .rise of 3Coft above sea level gives a decrease of ldeg Fahr. in the average temperature. Wheat wHI not ripen there above 1000 ft, and barely at that; while barley, oats, and hardier cereals ripen up to 1500 ft. The conformation, aspect, situation, and geological structure of the soil cause modifications, however. It is worth while recording the fact that the crop ripens in most places in due time when the seed is sown during the first half of September, and that late-sown crops are unprofitable. Stook threshing was commenced at the beginning of the month, but during the last week or two the threshing has been principally from the stack. The yield is good for the bulk, but at end of the season it will probably be found that the average will be slightly under the usual quantity. At any rate, the crops were not so bulky, and they ripened unevenly. The grain is not so bright and plump owing to the latter circumstance, but that will not depreciate it much in value; it is heating in the slack oi in the bags that seriously depreciates the value." Last season a great deal ' of oats was not in good condition for thresh- , ing, and there was consequently a considerable quantity unfit for export after being about nine months stored. Any one entering a grain store at the time the oafs wpic being handled could without samplii^ say that a good deal of the oats had bi-tn slightly heated, the smell being sufficiently convincing. The price paid for good oats a fortnight ago was about Is 3d, but it hits fallen in value since. As so much loss vns sustained by storing oats last season, a great deal will be sold after threshing if the price • does not fall much lower. At this time of ' the year the carting can be done at a minimum of cost. The storing of oats .'s ve-jy profitable to the grain dealers. The wages - for harvest and threshing work was fixed at lOd per hour instead of 9d, as heretofore. ! Before harvest, some men were asserting , that the rate would probably be 15d per hour, but certainly not less than Is. -Fortunately for the farmers they had to pay little mere than usual, as there was a considerable influx of workmen a week or two after harvest had been commenced. In come districts there were more than could be employed; in others there were fewer. The depressed state of the rabbit market had probably something to do with the fact. There is a disinclination, however, on the part of young men for general farm work, and farm hands are scarce in consequence. There are good crops of rape to be seen in but

Green Crops,

many places, probably not so large an area as there'

was last year. There is also a considerable area of soft-fleshed turnips, which are looking well for fattening lambs and old sheep after the rape is consumed. The harder sorts of turnips, which comprise the main crop, vary a good deal, some crops being very good, but others light. They are weedier than usual, owing to the weather of the season preventing in many cases more than one horse-hoeing, and in a number of cases not even that. It is interesting to note the effect of the different manures. There appears to be a good deal of manure which is more valuable for promoting the growth in the earlier stages than afterwards. In one paddock that came under my notice the seed brairded in five days, and were singled in a month after sowing, but the early indications of a good crop are not likely to be fulfilled. The potato crop is a very poor one, and many farmers will have to buy. Summer frosts partially destroyed tho crop ir a considerable number of cases. Rabbits are very numerous, the comparadry season having

MiEC.llancous.

tively been favourable to their in- ' crease. Numerous nests are i

to be found in the stubble paddocks at the present time. | The frequent re\ision of the land valuations is causing a good deal of dissatisfaction, as the valuations are being raised every year instead oi at longer interval^ as

was the case before the passing of " The (Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896.'' It is an easy matter for any landowner t< determine whether his land is over-valued or not, as e\eiyone can tell approximately . the selling value of his land. Correspondents never make remarks about reapers and binders nowadays, as they are I in common use and brought to such a deI gree «f perfection that they give no trouble in the working. All that I am desirous of saying is that a number of farmers buy new machines a few years before the old ones , are done, being induced to do so by the ; experts offering a price for the old binders. The of an old binder is about 10s at the foundries, and whatever is paid for one is simply added to the cost of the new machine. A binder with ordinary care should , last about 15 years, cutting from 100 to 130 , acres every season. ' ] ' | j ' i I ' i : i