OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3035, 15 May 1912, Page 20

OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

(JFbom Oub Ows Coekbspondmt.) THE WEATHER AND FARM WORK. The weather last" week was generally fitful, and on at least three nights, in which sharp frosts were registered in the early stages, a sudden ohange occurred in the small hours, and light drizzling rain fell for several hours. The days, however, have been fairly fine, and the surface of cultivated soil and the roads have been dried in a very satisfactory way. This enabled farmers to make good progress with farm work, and during the week a large area of land has been ploughed for crop. With perhaps the exception of medium-quality land, the surface of cultivated soil is too sodden to permit of grain being sown under anything like favourable circumstances; but farmers are hopeful of fine weather prevailing for the remainder of the month, so that the bulk of the winter cereals may be sown in a loose and dry seed-bed, which is a most essential factor on the heavy country. As a matter of fact, many farmers whose work is in arrear sow their grain in a haphazard style, in many instances when the soil is so wet and sticky that it actually blocks un the coulters of the drills. Then, again, heavy clay land that has been worked in a wet condition invariably settles down in a sodden state, almost likened to cement, -which retards the growth of tho wheat plants and makes them stunted and spindley in appearance. Practical farmers, if questioned on the subject, will admit that rather than sow their winter varieties of grain in soil that is too moist, they prefer to wait till the spring and sow other varieties. One*pleasing feature in regard to sowing grain during the past few seasons is that the majority of farmers have their seed properly cleaned and dressed; but it would be found advantageous if agriculturists made a practice of securing seed grain that has been grown on entirely different country, as a change in the direction indicated invariably adds considerably to the quantity and quality of the harvest. The same rule is equally applicable to i - oot crops. During last week I had occasion to make a trip through some of the country districts in Mid-Canterbury, and I noticed unmistakable evidence of the working of the grass grubs, and on making further investigations I found that the soil was literally alive with these destructive pests. Grass pastui-es are not only being attacked, but the pests are already making serious inroads into fields that were sown in the autumn with oats, grasses, and clovers. In connection with the grubs, however, it is pleasing to note that the field of their operations so far this season is limited, and without endeavouring to sound a pessimistic note, I think there is every reason to hope that the pests will not manifest themselves in such a destructive way as was the case last season. The ample rainfalls during the past two months have penetrated the hardest soil to below ploughing depth, and the soil is now being turned over with the minimum horsepower, and what is more important, the land is being ploughed rather deeper than usual. Teams are at work in all directions in the country districts, and should the ploughing and sowing season be anything like favourable, the ground that will be brought under cultivation will be unusually large. While many farmers have their ploughing fairly well advanced, many sfcill have their teams engaged carting grain to the merchants and railway sidings, and this work is being considerably hampered as a result of the almost continual shortage of railway trucks, which _ appears to be general all over the Dominion. GOVERNMENT SUBDIVISION OF LAND. The Land Purchase Board are actively prosecuting inquiries up and down the province with a view to the acquirement of suitable estates for subdivision, and while this policy of the Government has much to commend it, there is evidenoe to prove that the prices paid in at least some instances are exorbitant and much in excess of the actual market value of the country. Another point that has given rise to no little discussion is that the board when subdividing agricultural land should arrange for tine ballots to take place in ample time to allow successful applicants an opportunity to sow seasonable crops during the first year. It often occurs—and I could mention two oases in point—where the ballots are 'held at the tail-end of the season, and as a result of this successful applicants are not able to sow grain crops the first season. Men who take up Government sections are not overflush with ready cash, and this being so, it is most essential that they should get the full productive benefit of their holdings, more particularly the first season. MISCELLANEOUS. According to a conversation I had with, a back-country runhokler last week, keas are unusually numerous there this season, as in several hours two men with guns killed no fewer than 40 of these birds, which prove so destructive among the flecks when snow is on tho ground. The Local Government Bill that it is proposed to bring before Parliament next session came in for much discussion at tho annual meetings of local bodies last week, and in its present, form it is sure to be strongly opposed at tho conference of local body delegates to bo held shortly at Wellington. The general opinion, as far as I can gather, at any rate, is that reform is needed in regard to local government, but the adoption of Sir Joseph Ward's- bill would mean a retrograde step. To mako it anything like workable, the measure will practically have to bo recast and the proposed reforms much modified. Tho potato crops this season have so far given much satisfaction as regards yields, but when closely examined, it will be found that a large proportion of tho tubers aro affected by the blight, sufficient, at any rate, to seriously impair their keeping qualities. At the latter end of last week there was a rise in prices, the retail value per bag being from 8s 9d to 9s 6d, according to quality. Last week I was shown a crop of uncut wheat that was just turning colour, and if it, a.rrives at maturity should yield about 35 buhols per acre. The crop in quoption had been wwn late last season, and towards tho end of the year was badly battered with hail. Indeed, tho damajo done by the hailstorm was so great that a second growth sprang up, and th© crop in question is the result. The horse market Is being rather overdone of late, dealers having brought in an unusually large number of aged and inferior horses from various parte of the Dominion. As a result of this the prices that nded at several large fairs last week

showed a downward tendency. Young and sound classes, however, 'were keenly competed for, and realised prices that wero remunerative to breeders.