OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3239, 12 April 1916, Page 13

OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

(Fbom Oob Own Correspondent.)

AN IMPROVEMENT.

During the past fortnight a distinct improvement has taken place in the appearance of the country, owing to the fact that we have had some n'ce showers. No doubt we could have done with a great deal more rain, but we were thankful for what did come. Thunder accompanied some of the Bhowers, and as thunder storms are nearly always very local, the rains have been patchy in the extreme. In some parts the rain would come down in sheets, while only a few miles away scarcely a drop would fall. Still, the whole country got some rain, and a _ transformation has taken place in some districts. The days have been calm, sunny, and warm, though a few sharp frosts have been experienced at night, checking growth somewhat. We are now in the 'pleasantest part of the year. The nights are nippy enough to make us apEreciate the warm, sunny days, and the _ een wind that comes up from the sea in the afternoon makes one chose the sunny Bide of sheds, trees, or fences whenever possible in doing one's work. THE COUNTRY. The country has a very pleasant appearance. The paddocks are tinged with green from the recent rains, and the deciduous trees —oaks, willows, poplars, ashes, and various garden shrubs, are now very handsomely decked out in autumnal tints. Many green paddocks of fodder crops may be seen—oats, Capo barley, and rye,—while the turnip paddocks have lost their freshness and greenness, and are bearing the colours of autumn. The land is still pleasantly dry under foot, and if the moisture were not wanted for various reasons, one would not wish to have it otherwise. We have had no mud to speak of for over two years. No doubt when it comes we shall take very unkindly to it. Some of us, at any rate, will require new heavy boots to negotiate it. However, what the country requires is a -foot of snow during the coming winter. Snow soaks gradually into the ground, and gives the subsoil a good wetting. Moreover, the grass grub has been very much in evidence during the past few months, and rain, frost, and snow are needed to check pr kill the pest. Some of the crop which has been put in for green feed is eaten right out. Sunny facings «re also quite bare of any vegetation in many cases, the grub having cleaned them out. The worst of it is that one scarcely knows what to Bo with the grub-infested land. There appears to he no use in- putting in more grass or crop while the grubs are present. It is wonderful how they will hang on in a paddocks where there has been no vegetation for months. Some fallowed paddocks ploughed up in the spring and worked out m the summer and autumn were found to be full of grubs, and green crop and turnips sown after harvest simnly stood no chance at all. The stuff that came away simply provided food for the pest, and apparently the grubs are there ready to destroy anything else that may be sown. They nave the power of lying dormant in the Boil for any length of time. This is proved by the fact that in winter they will burrow down out of the reach of frost and snow, away from food of any sort as far as we know.

Teams are busily engaged in preparing land for wheat, but a good many hordes are idle, owing to the difficulty of procuring men to work them. The eountry districts are now sendinsr forward increased drafts of men, the harvest and thrashing being practically over. This is only what was anticipated; but the loss of the men on the land is being keenly felt. Country people are hoping that the towns are doing their fair share in the matter of recruiting. _ It is certainly more necessary for production to continue than for building and Blatters of that sort to be pushed _on at the present time. However, it is gratifying to eoo our young_ men ready to make the fnpreme sacrifice if necessary, and no finer fcoldiers can be produced anywhere, physically speaking, than in the broad-shouldered,

tall, healthy young fellows taken from the plough, the hills, and the fencing job. Many of them, too, are used to camp life in the mustering and rabbiting gang, and in following the mill and the chaffcutter. Used to being out in all weathers living on camp fare, and working long hours, strong and healthy in every fibre, they will take a lot of beating. The pity of it is that such fine material should have to be used to stop the ambitions of Germany.

The area to bo put under wheat this season will be considerably reduced if present indications go for anything. Shortage of men, the impossibility of getting ships for any surplus there may be, and the uncertainty as to whether we are to have another dry season or not, have turned men's minds to other kinds of farming. Sheep country is being sought after, and crops that can bo fed on the ground, such as green feed, rape, and turnips, will be gone in for. No doubt we shall grow sufficient wheat for our own use; but we shall not do much more for some time to come — in fact, the impression is ground that we cannot hope to compete with Australia, particularly while the present inequitable tariff is in vogue. Grain-carting is in full swing. There seems to be a fair amount of business doing, and a good deal is being put into the grain store. The chief object is to get the stuff off the ground in the winter while the roads and paddocks are in good order for carting. The usual difficulty with trucks is being experienced, though the trouble is not as acute as formerly, owing to the fact that farmers are not in such a great hurry to get their wheat sold. The prices so far have been disappointing, and there is an inclination to hold for an allround price of 5s a bushel. Already that sum can be obtained for Velvet and Pearl, but Tuscan is considerably below that sum. Velvet is scarce this season, while Tuscan, particularly solid straw, is in good supply, the reason being that solid fitraw is a reliable cropper, while Velvet is not nearly so trustworthy. It is considered better to sow grain that can be depended to yield well than to depend too much upon an erratic variety, though the price of the latter may be better than the former. GOOD FOR STOCK.

The weather is the best that could be experienced as far as stock are concerned if it were not- for the fact that more rain is needed to make grass and green feed grow. The lambs on turnips are doing well, there being an entire absence of mud. Unfortunately, a good many of the turnips are rotting away. The diamond-backed moth has created great havoc in the drier districts, and when the leaves of turnips are destroyed the roots seem to die off, becoming very susceptible to disease. This happened some years ago in dry seasons, and is happening now. Towards the hills, where there has been more ra : n, the pest has not been able to do so much damage, and the turnips are much better—in fact, some districts, usually looked upon as poor and undesirable, are showing up 10 times better than land nearer the coast worth four times as much money.

Dipping and crutching are in progress. The fly has been pretty bad in some parts, and constant attention has been needed. Crutching and dipping are about the best preventives.

A good many lambs have been going into the works during the past month, and as there are no boats to take away the frozen meat, the works and stores arc becoming a good deal congested. Killing will stop at the principal works for a long Easter holiday, and one of the companies will not do much in the beginning- of May. The loss of the Matatua and Rangatira was a great pity, as they were being relied upon to help us out. In spite of the fact that the fitorago accommodation has been very materially added to during the past few months, there seems to be every chance of a blockage. Luckily, as I have stated, the rush of lambs to the works must be prettywell over, though a steady supply will be forthcoming for some time to come. The lambing was a comparatively small one last season, so that the position cannot, with the additional storage; get quite as serious as it was last year. Peed for dairy cows is not plentiful, and the supply seems to be going down all the time. On some of the swampy land good crops of swedes and mangolds may be seen; but in the majority of crises these crops are anything but (.rood. The swedes Buffered from blight. The mangolds are healthy enough, and lmng on during the dry. hot summer, but they have not. except in damp situations, done a great deal towards bulbing up. The nights are trotting cold, and it is quite a common P'ght to see both cows and horses covered. The biff, deep covers that are now provided must bo a great comfort, and the sooner they i — put 5 to use the better. Hay is a very scarce coin mod ii - and straw will have to be depended juion for winter feed to a very large extent. A good deal of it is being cut into chaff. There fa very much less waste than uetial. ConiQaratively

little straw has been burnt. It is a great pity that in a plentiful season so much of it should disappear in smoke.

EXPORT OF PRODUCE. WELLINGTON, April 7,

Mr Massoy stated to-night that he was satisfied that all the meat in store would be got away before the new season's killing was started. There would be congestion in May, but in June a number of steamers would lift cargoes and relieve the situation. Tho same remark applied to cheese and butter. The Tonnage Committee had assured him that wool would bo got away in reasonable time, leaving only flax to bo dealt with, and in this direction Mr Massey said he hoped to be able to afford relief to the exporters.