WAISAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 30 March 1904, Page 30

WAISAKA.

March 26. — A changeable season, and a very fair one on the whole, is fast drawing to a close. Most farmers in the Waikaka and Cliatton districts ha.ye aboiifc finished with their h-prvast work. Rain somewhat influenced the latter crop for the better ; the early ripened is much too light. Altogether, I think there will bs a fairly average return, though nothing like what was expected at one time. Threshing- is cow the order of the day with those farmers who are lucky enough to secure a mill. The roada are fairly good lor getting about with the combine just now.

Noxious Weeds. — I notice that th Stock Department are dropping on to these unfortunates who happen to have a few noxious weeds, so called, on their faims. It is surely about time for the department to begin to cut the weeds along the larger rivers, as these acre,, in most cases, regular harbours for all the rubbish in the country-side. A great many good people runvawav with the idea that ragwort and Canadian thistle are bad weeds andi difficult to eradicate, but it is questionable if either of them is so bad as is made out. It ia freely assert that Canadian thistles rot clean, out if the heads are cut off in the early autumn, and the stalks left standing during the winter. The steaks are hollow, and in the winter convey the water down to the roots, which rot clean out with the excess of moisture. Ragwort, although a great fuss is mad? about it, is in reality a valuable fodder plant — 30 saj many farmers. Anyway no farmer need be bothered with it if be keeps a few sheep on his- place. It is a useful enough pant, no doubt, in its place, but, Jike many other herbs, it has some drawbacks, though there is nothing about to warrant all the lionsanse that is written of it. Yarr is a much greater nuis?nce- on the farm than either, and by the way it is spreading will prove very hard to eradicate.

Bunny. — The rabbit wason is now open, here, Slid the tiappers are out on the hunt for bunny, but there are very few rabbits compared with the numbers of former years. The trapping seems to have settled the Tabbrs question in. ■this pnrt of the country at least. Theie is not one rabbit for every 10 that thers used to be in, fcuner years. So much for cur export trade. Farmers' Union. — A branch of thg- New Zealand Farmers' Union was formed hera seme little time since, but very little interest seems now to be taken in the work. I am afraid the farmers are much too buty to give that attention to union, work that is required to make any headway. Mr Gilchrist, the secretary to the Waikaka Valley branch, fairly y.ut tho damper on some little time ago when he outlined the position, ot' the finances of the Southland bianchos in their relation to the veterinarian, which ia su'h a big feature in Southland affairs. If the Southland executive do not separate the vet. fiom the political side of the question and Teturn to a lower scale, I am afraid that a lofc of small farm&is will retire, which seems a great pity.

Earthquake. — A very severe shock of earthquake was felt here about 20 minutes to 3 a.m. on Sunday rooming. The shock was followed! by wind, ar.d w><s the heavier earth shake re have felt lit* fo.- years. No damage was done sc far as I c?.n hear.

The County Question. — A movement is once again on the iap,s to form a i>.w county, hut very little interest is takon in it in our dis-

frict. We are quite content as things are, and might be worse off if we had a small county.