WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 20

WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

The Weather.

(FbOM OtTB OwiST COBEESFCCTENT.) Genial showers fell in the beginning of tho week The last three clays being very warm for co early in tho spring have brought the grass and crops along very fast on well-drained land, but on the low-lying country of the Orcma and Manawatu I notice many patches of grain crops that have taken an unhealthy reddish tinge since the heavy rain of last week. I wa9 surprised when travelling round that country at the amount of damage that has been

done by flood -water — not from the rivers, but -from the small creelis, which appear to hare- overflowed- and covered with -silt many acres of rich land, rendering it useless for some considerable time to come.

- Drainage.

Anyone with a knowledge of farming who may happen to travel over the delta formed by the Manawatu and OrouaRivers after a heavy rainfall must come to the conclusion that there is a great work • to be accomplished by the land owners ber fore they can say that they are making the best use .of their rich and fertile district. At present they produce an enormous quantity of butter, lamb, nratton, and beef; but-, I hazard the opinion that by having a system of drainage' and river protection boards, the production of, say, 40,000 or -50 r OOO- acres could be doubled. There . is, in the first place, a large amount of prejudice to be overcome, and landowners will have to be impressed with the utility, and advantages to be, gained of having- their water-logged land put into a state in which they can cultivate- it at any time. Even the grass" land ■ would •be enhanced! in value 50 per cent.- or .even 100 per cent, if a system of irrigation were -inaugurated in connection with, drainage. There would have to be Eome- legislative enactment, on. broad lines, after; the- farmers have been, educated "up to . the necessity of- the scheme. • Whether the Incoming" -Parliament will formulate some "better "scheme of local government is questionable, as none of the many candidates have "anything, to say on the matter, 60 far "as 'l" 5 - can glean:- from. -reading- any -of their 6peecb.es. While refering to ihe' coming election,- it would be a* great help if the branches of the Farmers' Union would only <ieal -with a "few of the vital questions that pertain' to their business -as farmers— such as land ienure "and land settlement ' in respects to. the lands belonging to- the- Crown ; some -well-defined scheme of local' government that would embrace roads and bridges, drainage and river protection, giving such councils an assured finance, without havig to go to the General Government, cap in hand, whenever they want a bridge or road made. Some good system of local government would do a lot to- clear the air of the Tammanyisra and log-roiling we have at every returning election, and would encourage to come forward for election as members of Parliament men" of principle, ■who at present are debarred, as they have little hope of being elected unless by sinking principle, and uniting in the general 6cramble of the " spoils to the victors."

Dairying.

Dairy farmers are now fully employed,, although the full number of cows is not yet come to profit. Those who make provision for the future (and they are increasing every year) are busy preparing their land for sowing late summer or winter •feed. . - Maize .for ensilage is being more largely grown, and although November is early enough to sow for ensilage, a patch bowii now would be a good insurance against having a dry spell" early in the summer, and when the land or climate is unsuitable for maize, oats and tares (or vetches) will provide a large amount of green fodder, and "if the season is so good that it is not •wanted, such a mixture' will make grand ensilage, which will keep any length of time. When up at Cheltenham the other day, I noticed that Mr Strutin has still a good butt of a stack, which gives a succulent bite to cows when they come into milk. Mr Strutin makes his ensilage with grass and weedt, on the stack system. He bought a patent arrangement of wire ropes and "pulleys, but he tells me that that expense is unnecessary, as stones or bags of sand or any lumber lying about answer the same purpose. In the ensilage that I saw a large proportion was docks, which appear to be thoroughly cooked, and so the seeds will not germinate, and the cows eat it greedily, so that after all docks can be turned to some use. Mr Strutin was one of the prize-takers for best dairy building, and everything is kept nice and clean ;but there is nothing special about hia byres,, and lie admits that if he had to build again the present structure could be improved upon. Thus let intending builders of sh^ds make full inquiries before commencing the work.

Tillage.

Farmers are anxiously hoping that the l.st few days' fine weather Trill cnlinue, so that they can get on with th© sowing of Tape the planting of potatoes for the main crop. Early potatoes are coming on fast, . except where the iate rains have flooded them. It is impossible to form aiiy estimate of the area That is likely to be planted; but some curious experiments will foe tried with potatoes this season. Small sets prsdominate, and 1 I noticed bags of small rubbish like marbles being bought for seed. It would be interesting if we could get the correct returns from such Stuff — planted alongside good seed — for comparison. Evei-yone tries to have his potatoes planted before "the" show. We have Uiany sJiows, but Palmei-ston is "the" shmx

of this island. It is drawing near — the dates 1.-eing the fhsfc week jn November.

Lamb Harking.

I hear of a gcod deal of marking having been done, and in all cases the percentage is a record on«, from 95 to 100 being about ihe average- There can have neon little- shearing done, as Ihe sheep have hardly ever been dry enough : but, given dry weather, many will try to get a move en, so that; shearing will soon be- general.

At PaJnierston <m Thursday there was a fair yarding ot' cattle. Wellgrown cattle are saleable, good bullocks bringing- £6

Stock Market.

3s, younger sorts being very difficult to sell. ' There were not many sheep in the pens, and the quality was poor. At F2ildino- yesterday the sheep, which were mostly hoggets, were of a better olass. Some ewe hoggets brought up to 22s 9d. while the wether hoggets from the same farm brought 19s 7d a head.

Eat th. Hunger.

The ballot for the Awarua block of 67006 7 00 acres of Crown lands, which took place yesterday at Mangaweka, brought out 2COO applicants, which shows if the Government would only hasten and open up the back country, even with the tenure offerer! we would soon see a lar^e addition to our exports. Full particulars of the ballot have not yet oomo to Land, s-'nd it seems hard to believe tpat there are 2000 men who wish to isolate themselves among 1 the hills of Mangawcia, although I have been told by one who knows the Awarua bloik that the land is first class, and comparatively level. ANTTQTJA OVIS.