OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 20

OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

(From Oor Own Correspondent.) THE WEATHER AND GENERAL. During the logical conditions tiuat have prevailed throughout the province have been all that could be desired —indeed, the wcatner could not have been more favourable for all piact.cal purposes on the farm had it been ordered. Heavy rain fell intermittently for several days at the beginning of the week, and the sod has received a thorough saturation below deep ploughing depth, while the latter portion of the week was warm and altogether typical of summer. The heat following the rain has been responsible foi accomplishing wonders by way of giowth, ail classes of vegetation having shot up like mush rooms. For some of the very early crops the rain fell rather late, but, nevertheless, they have received materially good advantage. Spring-sown cereals have derived especial benefit, and in many instances their growth has been so rapid that they are now almost as high as those sown in the winter. The pastures, too, have improved wonderfully, both grasses clovers, especially the latter, having made strong and vigorous growth. In the absence of drying north-west winds there should be an adequate supply of stoca feed till the beginning of autumn. As a matter of fact, feed has grown so rapidly and so luxuriantly during the past week that quite a number- of fields have been closed up tor hay. The wot weather, while accomplishing much general good, has also made noxious weeds flourish in cultivated soil; but with a continuance of warm weather cereal crops should get well ahead of the undergrowth. Apropos the subject of noxious weeds, a practical farmer of long standing in the Ashburton County informed me a few days ago that it would cost at least from £6 to £8 per acre to clean much of the soil m that part of the province. Wild taros, twitch, and Californian thistles are yearly becoming a worse enemy to the fanner, and wild oats, too, are infesting much of the most valuable land to an alarming extent. What is the primary cause of the continual spread of noxious weeds? Over-cropping is undoubtedly mainly responsible. Farmers are beginning to realise more and more that the soil requires a rest, its productive properties require replenishing, and it also requires more working and a systematic and scientific rotation of crops. Since the rain moistened the soil. good progress has been made with ploughing for turnips, and many thousand acres will be sown during the present week, weather, of course, permitting. Potato-planting is still in progress, and at the latter end of last week largo areas were sown, although it may be said that the soil was rather too damp for the purpose. Early-sown potato crops are making very satisfactory progress, the shaws being strong, and presenting a healthy colour. Shearing operations are still held up, the weather last week being such that not a sheep was shorn in the province. With a continuance of the warm weather experienced during the latter half of last week, sheep will be in first-class o;-dcr for shearing, this week; but as every farmer will no doubt desire to shear at the same_ time, it is safe to assume that there will a pronounced shortage of shearers. With heavy fleeces on them, sheep are continually getting on their bocks, and thus require more than ordinary attention, and in these circumstances shearing is becoming an absolute necessity. Many farmers who got their shearing done early are somewhat disappointed that the first of the series of the season’s wool sales at Christchurch had to bo postponed till the beginning of December, as n result of the shipping workers’ strike; but in the circumstances no other course was open, and hopes are being expressed that the holding up of the shipping will not have a prejudicial effect on the price of wool. Lamias continue to make very satisfactory progress, and it is stated that fairly largo numbers* have been already purchased by export buyers at prices ranging up to 14s 6d—for forward delivery. The feed having been hard, there has been comparatively little scour among lambs and ewes, and, generally, everything has been in their favour. It is reported from the back country that the lambing has been much better than in any ordinary year, ami that in addition there is an ample feed supply. What with the advent of the strike and dry weather three weeks ago, dairy-farmers were becoming very despondent. A shortage of feed was responsible for causing milch cows to give a diminishing volume of milk, but it is now satisfactory to note that the quantity of milk is now back to normal, and the prospects of co-operative factory companies getting their shipments of butter and cheese away promptly is practically assured by free labour. Gorso-grubbing and cutting is now commanding a good deal of attention on the farms, and as far as the country districts are concerned, labour matters are satisfactory for all concerned. With the exception of shearers, very few men were out of employment last week. At one time it was thought that the cocksfoot crop this season would be a failure, but since the rain there are prospects that the crop, although somewhat stunted in places, will be a good average one. It is safe to predict, however, that there will be less tnan half the ryegrass seed saved this year, as compared with last season, and the bulk of this will have to be stripped. As a result of the late frosts in the spring a large proportion of the cherry crop is falling off. hut this appears to be the only class of fruit that has been injured. THE STRIKE. One of the chief topics of conversation among farmers at the present time is the watersiders’ strike, and last week, as was expected, matters took a very definite turn at Lyttelton. Notwithstanding their repeated assurance to the contrary, the strikers behaved in a very riotous manner, and actually succeeded in blocking shipping. “ jt is the last straw that breaks the , ii, k„ r i. ii ..-a *; :0 f ac + 0 f strikers having broken their word and behaved like hooligans in the absence of special police, has entirely lost for them any little sympathy they had with the public. In common" with" the North Island, the farmers of the province are making a determined stand, and close on 1000 special constables, mostly from the country districts, have been sworn in for special duty at Lyttelton. An adequate supply of free labour io avail-

able, and -whether the Federation of Labour like it or otherwise, ships will be loaded and unloaded by free labour during the present week. All right-thinking, unselfish men are disgusted with the attitude taken up by the Federation of Labour, and farmers and producers quite rightly hold the opinion that they are not going to suffer as a result of the decision of this pig-headed and vicious combination. The question is being asked whether the affairs of the country are to be controlled by an irresponsible and selfish organisation or by Parliament. and the general consensus of public opinion is that the action of the Government in protecting public interests is worthy of the highest commendation. There is an abundance of free labour available in the province, and the strikers will find out. it they do not already recognise tlje fact, that they are playing a losing game. As far as the province is concerned, the strike could not have occurred at a better time, but hopes are entertained that this utterly useless industrial warfare will speedily come to an end, for, after all, the whole of the public are suffering, more or less, and if the strike continues much longer the small farmer will feel the pinch most sorely. All constitutional and legitimate methods have been resorted to with a view to appeasing the strikers, and these having failed, it is generally considered by the public that it would be a fatal policy to show the white flag at this stage of the proceedings. And it may bo added that it is not the intention of the farmers and producers to do so. It is a fight in which a big principle is involved, and right must win.