HAWKE'S BAY FARM AND RURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2736, 22 August 1906, Page 5

HAWKE'S BAY FARM AND RURAL NOTES.

I tFaoj* Ova Own ConrnxsroiroEVT.) .fudging by tho trees and flowers, spring can be said to have arrived The ir, the more favoured parts I Weather. of Hawke's Bay. At Waipukurau the willows are out in leaf, and the wattles are in full bloom, but though tho trees are so forward, the grass is making- little or no headway, and most farms arc shorter than they have been yet. The temperature during the last 10 days has been very low, and the 6now hai been continuously lying on the low bilk at the foot of the Ruahines during that time. The frosts have been exceptionally heavy, and sheep on the enow-covered country must have had a rough time. I saj sheep, because the settlers there do not go in much for cattle, as the winters are too severe for them. There is a great difference in the climate at the foot ok tho ranges compared with that 10 or 12 miles farther out. J By the time this note is printed lambing will have become general, Car««f Ew«s though in the warmer part* at Laabißg. they were beginning to appear a month or more ago. t No date can bo fixed as the best time fo* lambing to commence, as the climates of districts separated by a few miles, often varj; considerably. Some farmers like to hay« their lamb* very early, but «o far a* £ can see, unless the farmer has artificialfeed, and is preparing for the Chriatmaai trade, there i» nothing gained by having* lambs before the feed has commenced tc2 grow. The too early ewe is apt to ges| dragged down in condition, and her fleev*

•tops growing, Besides deteriorating; in quality; while the lamb does not thrive as it should do.; The later lambs, dropped vrben jthe feed is springing, grow into better ■beep than the very early ones. Tlrji* I have, eeen proved over and over ga>|> and the suckling of the lamb does not then interfere with the growth of the ew«'s fleece to any great extent. Ewes should b» kept in good condition, throughout the winter, and should not be overfed at kmbing time I know some, farmers who shut Up their lambing paddocks all the winter, and turn the ewes in just before lambing starts. This is a bad practice, for any eudderi change of feed is ba<d at that time. In the medical books we are told always to leave off eating while we are still hungry; few people do this, but no sheep. Sheep turned into nice fresh pasture after a long spell on stale stuff leave off when they can't eat any more. Every shepherd knows that after » change on to fresh feed more than the usual number of sheep will be cast when he gess round. The reason is flatulency, brought on by overeating. Casting i$ tad for in-lamb ewes, an-i >f their stomach is over-loaded, and they are fat, they soon die. .The lambing ewe .should have neither a feast nor c. famine, but enough ; and the paddock should be so stooked that the feed will be gaining day by day as spring advances. Messrs O'Donnell and Lock, of Warrnambool, Victoria, who have gale of been in this district for the Bam. last 10 days on "the lookout for suitable "sheep for iheir colony, have purchased from Dalgety and Co. 300 Lincoln rams- Of.. these 200 were bred at Mwaekakaho station, and 100 iy Mr James Collins, Kaikora North. The sheep were railed to Wellington, whence they will be shipped to Melbourne. The Hawke's Bay County Council lias given notice that the Moter ReMotori. gistration Act was brought into force in this district on July 17. By this, motor car* have a fee of 10s per annum imposed on them, and motor cycles ss, and a fine of £10 is liable on non-payment of the fees. A meeting of farmers interested in the purchase of the Onga Onga F!«Mr flout mill was held* on the Mill. Bth inst. in the Town Bail. The mill was the property jf Mr Bridge, and was bought at the low iirice of £500 cash. A company was formed to purohase and carry on the null., the proposed capital being £5000 in shares of £1 each. A vote of thanks to Mr Bridge for accepting the low price of £500 was put to the meeting and carried. At that price tha mill is practically a gift to the settlers in the distriot, as its value in its present •tftte is certainly fivo or six times that Sum. 'He machinery is good and in ftrstolass order, co that the shareholders have every prospect of a good return. Since writing these notes tho weather has turned very warm and The Wtather. genial, and the snow has melted away till there is rery little left even on the ranges. HEPERE.