LOCAL AGRICULTURE NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 9

LOCAL AGRICULTURE NEWS.

I-n the Heri6t district, strange to cay, the | most prolific crops this season are those grown on the highest altitudes. Eighty and IGO-bushel erons are exprctcd, and that, too, from land which, according to some people, is not fit for farmers. Harve«t:r«a was orly commenced on Roxburgh Station on t be 4th inst. Mr Charles Shand, Upper Hillend, had then about ICO acres to cvi. A -visitor from tha Lakes district reporto that some crop thc-rt was alill uncut last week, and that a good deal was in stock. In the northern part of the Waimea Plains there were large paddocks of uncut grain and stooks, and Rome patches were unripe. To all appearances there is a considerable area of crop in Southland this fall that will not ripen. There is a possibility that the Southland County Council will consider whether they ehould not give up the struggle with the small-bird pest. The Ashburton County Council are paying |d per head, or 6s 3d ' Jpar 100, for heads of small birds. The North Otago Times reports the ale of a two-year-old Clydesdale colt, on account of Messrs J. and A. Dalgleish, Waikakahi, to_ Mr James Grant, of Hawexa, at a record price for a two-year-old — viz., 325g5. Hie "forbears" on the male side were Lord Ranfurly, Lord Salisbury, Young Banker, \ Extinguisher, Emperor (Nimmo's), and Van- j quisher. On the female side he claims Rose, ' Laura Foley, Laun M'Pherson, and Bell. Mr Grant considers that he has scoured the best Clydesdale colt in the colony, and this opinion is endorsed by many competent judges. As to harvest prospects in Heriot and the surrounding district, the- correspondent of the Southern Standard writes: — Harvesting has had marked attention lately, much grain having been saved and stacked. A very | large amount has been cut, and about three ! weeks of suitable weather will finish up the ' harvest operations. Much has been cut on the green side, farmers becoming impatient -, owing to the lateness of the season. Upon th-e whole, there are a number of very good crops being- harvested, and, wcmderful to say, on our highest altitudes the most prolific, grain crops are to be seen — viz., a ' field o£ oats on Mr J. A. Kirkie's Woolshed Block. The stubble is literally covered with etooks. The yield is expected to be about 80 bushels to the acre. The next field of oats worthy of note was grown on the Moa Flat station near the homestead, leased to Messrs R. Woods, T. Wilkine, and JN T . M'Kay. On Messrs Wilkins'e and ! Woods's the crops are wonderful, said they ' expect 100 bushels to the acre. The crops are grown on land that ia termed by some people as not fit for farmers. I The annual meeting of the members of I the North Otago A. and P. AFsotiation I was held on the 2nd inst., Mr James Reid (president) in the chaii. The retiring committee i-eported as follows: — "It is gratifying to state that the position of the association, financially and otherwise, i most Ffitisfactory and encouraging. The membership Jist does not, however, satisfy your com-mitfce-o, as it remaini stationary, whereas with the increased settlement and favourable ciroumetarces it^ ousht, at the very least, to be doubled in r number. It ie, therefore, a recommendatior to thei: successors that some energetic means should be adopted to increase thf membership. The credit balance at the end of last year was i£l93 18e lid. Thn sum was added to l>v Arrears of sub.'- riptions' and entries by £182 Is for 1901 and 1902. Tho total revenue received during the year has been £1349 8s 2d,' including the. above balance and arrears. The total expenliture hae been £791 17e 7d,

leaving a credit balamos of £557 10s 7d. ] There is a movement suggested fcr rem g the show to larger grounds on the ISoith road in connection with the Auctioneers' Association, which purposes having the weekly stock sales in part of Logan's paddock. This matter is left to the new committee to consider." The report was adopted with the exception of that portion relating to the removal of the show to larger grounds. After a good deal of discussion the following motion was carried: — "That the clause stand as it is, with the addition of an instruction to the new committee to take no aotion without consulting a general meeting of the members of the association." — The following officers were appointed for the ensuing year: — President, Mr G. Brownlee; vice-president, Mr James Reid; treasurer, Mr Hedley; auditors, Messrs Piper and Singleton. Of 42 candidates nominated for the committee the following gentlemen were elected : — Messrs J. S. Holmes, G. Livingstone, T. Little, W. Gardiner, jun., J. M'Pherson, D. Borrie, J. Mitchell, J. Muir, W. Cowan, M. Morton, J O'Brien, G. Macdonald. J. Donaldson, W. F. Buckley. W. P. Reid, T. Reid, W. W. Wylie, W. Milne, T. Hall, D. Simpson, W. Meulove, J. Buckley, D. M'Gregor, and D. M'Lean. Threshing mills are very busy just now (says the Taieri Advocate), and farmers are making good use of tho present fair weather. There are some fields of etooks out yet in the lower end of the plain, but most of the grain crops are safely in stack or threshed. The Park Hill correspondent of the Tapawui Couriei write-a: — One of the most prolific crops of wheat I have over seen cut in our district was finished last week on the farm of Mr A. Mathieeon, Crookston. This farm lias always been noted for wheat growing. The heaviest crop of oats cut in our district is on the higher altitudes. Od the holding of Mr .T. A. Kirk*, lessee of Dusky runs (altitude 1250 ft), a field of oats is now being cut which is exppctcd to yield over 70 bushels to the acre. The stubble is literally stacked with stocks. Mr A. M'Kenzie, Park Hill, has the land under the cropping system, and to all appearances the yield will remunerate both parties. Harvest notes, from last Wednesday's Soutt^and Times: — Reports are enrrant in the Wyndham district that a good deal of grain has bean put into stack in a damp condition, and it is expected that in some cases the quality will suffer. — An occasional correspondent informs us that many farmers in the Western District took advantage- of the fine weather last Sunday to continue harvesting operations. On Monday several had to pull down stacks that had been built during the previous week, the grain having heated. A very large proportion of the crop is still in stook, but despite the broken weather the grain has not a bad colour. Mr William Stirling, sen., of Ma-ntl-e Bu-ih, South Wyndbam. will leave by the steamer Athenic from Wellington this week on a visit to his native land (Scotland) extending ovct se-ven months. Mr SHrlinsr arrived et Port Chalmers in 1863, and in 1867 acquired the property he has farmpd successfully ever since. He has associated Jiimself closely with local affairs, and' for a Ion? timp he was identified with the local A. & P. Society, Farmers' Club, Plouching Association, and Cricket Club. He carries wiih him the good wishes of his numerous friends throughout thft Wyndham district. The travelling correspondent of thp Taieri Advocate writes on the 3rd imt: — The' .vet weather of Saturday stopped all harvest operations. Fortunately, nrarly all the grain "is now in stack, and little or no damage will be done. The yields of cram a]l over tho Tsieri liavc been fiVUv -m to expectations, and the early-sown wheat has yielded exceptionally well. In some of the lower parts, however, the ?rain has been sliehtly totietied ny frost. The writer saw a yield of 65 busheLi of wheat to the acre from a paddock which on!" threshed 18 bushels 11 years ago. The Tai<?ri is by no means rim ont yot, if farmers will on'v arivi' the -soil a chance.. Owincr to tbs anxiety of some farmers tr have their wheat on th^ market in a hurry, the Taieri wheat has got into rather bad rppute. It ifl our weU-colo farmers — and thos<* wp look to for example — that aTe. unfortunately, the worst offenders in this respect. A correspondent informs the Tuapeka Times that despite the iin=n a .=o.riablp WPaMie-r there will he an untisuallv lar<7<" yield from t>-- oror)<= in ih-o Roxburgh, F,Hriok. and Miller's Flat listriets. Oats risht through thoee districts will give an aver*"^ yield of 55 bushels to th« acre, and wheat 45 bu^heV On one farm there '/nil be a yield of over 70 bushels of oats to th<* acre. There is. however, a considerable area of crop stfindinsr and in atonic, and a «pell of dry weather is badly needed to permit of it bern? saved. A leetinir of tho Waitalmna Farmers' •C'lih wag lw!d on th«. 6th i-n-=*. Mi W. J. Livingston (president) ocr-iinied the chair, nnd ther» w»s a pood aK-ondanef The President reported that he had, a* directed by the club, formed onr of a deputation appointed through the wi-hes of the C'ntha A. & P. Society to wait upon the Railway Tiffin Msihht"' 1 with the v : ew of eftting stock forwarded to Burnside yards on the morning of the cale. and of eerMns the fares to farmers and other*? attending the *ale reriiicrl. AftT the rn<itw was fully discussed. Mr Grant, the Traffic Monaeer. informed the deputation that hp was willin? to put on a train for the conveyance of stock to the ynrd* on the. mornine of_th<* sale, to leave Ba'clutha at 6 a.m., provided a sufficient guarantee was given to cover the cost, otherwise he could not do it. As to reduoine the faros to those atte-ndintr the eale. he could not at the present time recommend any reduction, as great reductions had alreaclv been ra?d» for travel liner by rail — Consideration of the small bird pest, which was left ovr-r from last meeting, was then taken up. and a lively discussion ensued, most members' present taki,nsr part. Mr Craig, who brought up the matter at the former meeting, said that, the question of dealing 1 effernvelv with the Frnall bird pest was generally admitted by most farmers to he a vrv perions r'iffieiil'y. The only wav to <!eal effectively with the pest was that/ not only the TnarteVa Co'intv Council, but all other public bodies throughout Otago, should tnke combined action through the power uivon them by the Biff's Nnisarce Act of 1902. The special rate for the purpore was one-sixteenth of a penny. and i ( it were enforced it would be no ereat hardship. It was, to a certain extent, only a waste of money for one or two districts to go on payincr for eggs and heads and buying poisoned grain. Combined and simultaneous action must be taken if a successful attempt was to be made to cope with the pest Mi- Praig's arsrument met with the approval of the mepfinsr. and the following motion was carried: — "That the secretary be instructed to write the TuaDeka

County Council requesting that body to put the Birds Nuisance Act in force.'' — Great dissatisfaction was expressed at the irregular delivery of telegrams in the Waitahuna dktrict. The secretary was directed to write Sir J. G. Ward, through the member for the district (Mr Allen), asking for a telegraph delivery service at Waitahuna. The Ida Valley correspondent of the Alexandra Herald writes: — The main bulk of the crops are in stack, but there are still a few paddocks of etooks yet. As a rule, the crops have been very good, xasidering the dry weather in the early part of the season. It seems to me that the season is getting later yearly, as it used to be a rare thing for any crops to be. cut later than St. Patrick's Day. The M'Adie Bros.' threshing mill has made a stare, and is likely to have the Valley to itself. There are some fair crops of turnips, and stock are in good condition. Ida Valley farmers have had a very successful thre9 or four years of it, as is evidenced by the many substantial homestead? aaid improvements effected in that time. — Ono of tho largest stock sales ever held up here took place at Rough Ridge lately. There were about 17,000 sheep, besides numerous cattle and horses, and everything in the way of sheep that could stand on its legs, both old and young, brought big prices. In an important centre like the Wakalipu (says the Lake County Press) it seems strange that an attempt has never bec-n made to form an agricultural and pastoral society. Take, for instance, our neighbouring county, Vincent — with probably a great deal l&ss agricultural and pastoral country — it haa a show at Cromwell annually. Well, why not Wakatipu? We have a farmers' uaiion, which hae, or should have, for its object tho advancement of tha farming industry in all its branches and the improvement in stock generally. We are sorry to say th-e local union :s,: s, to all intents and purposes, practioally dead. One or two attend the quarterly meetings, amd then the tueineSß done is of a very ordinary nature. Let- uo wake up, shake off our drowsiness, and make our lecal union a real live one by taking immediate steps to arrange for an annual show at a suitable date during the year. The benefits to be derived from ani annual event of the kind are well known to the farmer and pastoralist, and we feel sure the success that would attend the first show would make farmer wonder why they did not make a move in the direction indicated long ago. As a matter of great interest bo sheep owners (reports the Gimmerburn. correspondent of the Mount Ida Chroniole) I must note that not loss than 300 sheep have died ia this district after dipping. There is no room, for doubt that death is in come way connected with dipping. The losses have been confined to a poisonous pasie brand of dip used at two separate dipping baths. This dip ia said to combine the good points of the "powder" and jhe "liquid" dips — that is, it contains the arsenic of the "powder " and the tar acids— chiefly carbolic — of the liquid. The dip ha? been extensively used in previous years in this district without any visible hurt to the sheep. The loss is spread" over eight owners, the heaviest loser having over CO death.3. I understand that claims for compensation are to be made, on the ground that tbe dip was not manufactured according to the proper formula. Unfortunately none of the paste used was kept for analysis. Some drawn from drums in the. D\inedin agents' stook was submitted to Mr G. M. Thomson, but the report sheds no light cm the cause of death. The matter is sub judice else I might note some of tho theoretical opinions current hero. This is- a case that should have been thoroughly investigated by a veterinary stock inspector, who would be beyond contending parties. The ordinary stock or "rabbit" inspector is useless for invesi iga-ting cases of death and disease. Doubtless there are exceptione, but I refer to the lot in general. Inspectors that are not trained vet,?, are quite unfit to do what stocb inspectors should do. If the Government would subsidise or endow a veterinary college and offer employment as stock insp.eofor3 to as many of those qualified as may be required, I vetnture to predict that there would bo no lack of qualified inspectors of stock. The Balfour correspondent of the Gore. Ensign write-;: — Had he beacon been favourable, the harvest- would have been completed long ere this, and the settlers, instead of trying to get their crop in under favourable circumstances, would, as in former years, be already preparing their lamd for next year's requirements. On the whole, the crops this season as compared with those of former years have been poor. I do not think more than an average cf 30 bushels per acre over the whole district can bo reasonably expected. Nevertheless, it would bo altogether misleading were tho impression to get abroad that this season v-as not productive of many very sood crops and samples, both of wheat and of oats. On the river flat Mr James Butler had a :rop of Waverley oats which yielded 110 bushefo to the acre. His Gartens yieldpcl about 70 bushek. while his wheat, I should say, would easily yield about 55 bushel?. This is by no means an exception. Mr Geo. Stuart had a crop of Waverley oats which yielded 80 bushels per acre, and his wheat crop. I unid.^rs'-artd, hre^hed out: extremely well. At Cattle Flat the crops are exceptionally good in most oa c es. while at Wendonside and on the. Sandstone. Ridge them are ntao somo very good crops. In all parts of the district where the land has been dry or of a porous nature tho crops are good, l.ut wh?re tho land has been wet or cold the crops are poor. The Waverlpy oats seem to have exceeded in result* the expectations of srowcrs wherever they have been tried, and this bp:i(T? the caM? I should not be surprised if Fct-tlers go in for this kind largely for .he inoomine season. At anvrate. judging from results, the experiment should be well recompensed. Tho T.umeden correspondent of the Southland- Times writes: — Owincr to the bad weather lately harvest work has been scriouslv retarded. In the Garston and Athol districts a larsr.e onantity of pram is .still in etook and at Onr?ton "there is a large acreage uncut. The movement by the ooumty to have ragwort declared a noxious weed ie exerrifiincr the minds of farmers and others up this way. as this district is badly infested, and to clear some of the land would spoil ruin for the owners or occupies. A farmT, fineaHnif on the subject Tecentlv. mentioned a piece of country overrun with the Canadian tfrifitle. and no notice taVeu of it by the proper authorities. Mr Hyde. Government poultry expert, will visit Gore towards the. end .of next I week fsavs last Thursday's F.npie;n), when it is anticipated that lie will deliver a lecture upon poultry Guhiects. He is now visiting Inrercarcill. Ho reports that increasing

interest is being taken in poultry matters throughout the colony. Advantage should be taken of liis presence in Gore by farmers and others to obtain a few hints as to tho poultry export trade. Tho Taieri and Peninsula Company's creamery at Balclutha North is at- preeent in receipt of an average of 4-00 .gallons of milk daily. The test is a gocd one — £.0, and the price paid to suppliers has be-en 5d since March 1. — Free Press.