SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 12

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Froji Our Own Correspondent.) Indications are not wanting that we are now right into the dormant

The Weather and the Farm.

season as far as vegetable growth ;s concerned. Cold n,ghts and mornings, during which frosts and fogs pre-

vail, are tolerably common. So tar the frosts have been only slight, and the fact that chrysanthemum and nasturtium blooms are still undamaged is a clear indication of the absence of severe frosts. Although we are now into the middle of May, many paddocks of turnips are as yet untouched, and all classes of stock are looking well. Some of the early turnips had taken on quite a perceptible second growth appearance before the frosts set in; but this has now been effectually checked. The season has been an exceptional one as far as vegetable growth is concerned. Turnips which were sown during the second week of December were really too early th.s year, whereas those sown as late as January are unquestionably the best crops ill some districts. In aii average season the second week in December—" show time," as it is known among Southland agriculturists —is generally recognised as the best time to sow turnips in order to get a good braird and a good crop. It cannot be said that the early-sown turnips arc not a success this year; but there is no disputing the fact that the later-sown ones are the best. Not a great deal of ploughing has yet been done, which would seem to spell a reduced area to be sown in cereals during the coming spring. As a matter of fact, the result of' the past season's work has made cultivat.on unpopular, and the summer of 1916-17 will undoubtedly sec a greatly-reduced area under cultivation.

Business .continues good in the live-stock

Live Stock Markets.

line, the firmness which is so pronounced being" doubtless due to the almost superabundance of feed. An idea

is prevalent that a keen demand from the north will spring up in the course of a few weeks. It is currently rumoured that buyers from Canterbury will come on the market shortly in quest of wethers to put through the works, there. This rumour has created quite a keen demand for goodquality forward wethers, four-tooths and sixtooths being worth up to 245. A demand also exists for good ewes, which arc selling at up to 25s for specially-good two-tooths, and from 24s to 26s for four-tooths. Lambs have improved in value considerably during the past week, a number of graziers having eomo on the market for really good forward stuff, with the idea of fattening off as many as possible, and carrying over the balance for shearing. This has had tho effect of firming the market, and prices for good sorts- nave easily advanced Is per head. Lambs, taking tho sales all through the province, have slackened a good deal compared with prices ruling a little time ago; but there is good inquiry, and good values are likely to continue for decent sorts. There is not much doing in fat stock, freezing operators going slowly owing to want of space, and local butchers are only buying from hand to mouth, tho reduced consumption of meat, due to the almost prohibitive prices ruling, having a considerable effect on the butchering trade. Prime ox beef is worth up to 42s per 1001 b and cow down to 355. There was a fair yarding of both fat cattle and sheep at the last Wallacetown sale, which, by the way, was the inaugural auction of the weekly series. The bulk of the fat cattle pens contained poorlyfinished stuff, which -was not keenly sought after. On the other hand, anything of a prime nature was in specially good demand. Over ICOO fat sheep were entered, and all sold well at prices slightly in advance of those ruling a week ago.

The produce is by no moans bright:,

The Produce Market.

and' very little business is doing, considering the season of the year. Eighty per cent, of the potatoes have

now been dug, and growers are evincing a disposition to get lid of their holdings ill preference to pitting. The local market is doubtless affected by Canterbury, which is a strong competitor of Southland at present. Canterbury growers have been rushing the market with tubers, and merchants are afraid to hold owing to the prevalence of blight. Merchants are not prepared to give more than £3 15s unless for specially good samples. According to private advice received from Sydney, New Zealand potatoes are not likely to be required in the Commonwealth, and it is stated that some have come to hand from New Zealand in indifferent condition. In Sydney the quotation for Tasmanians is £7 10s to £8 10,s, or equivalent to' £3 10s in New Zealand on trucks. The oat market is not very strong, buyers continuing to exhibit caution. Farmers, on the other hand, aro indifferent sellers. The ruling price during the past week has been 2s on trucks for A Gartons, sacks extra. The inquiry for chaff has improved. Three pounds is merchants' outside limit, but not much business is doing. There has been sorno inquiry for undreesed lines; but buyers' ideas do not conform to growers' on the question of value. Growers who have not yet disposed of their seed

have the idea that the demand will bo keen in the spring, and do not feel disposed to accept the prices now offering. Fairly clean heavy samples of Perennial still command up to 4s 6d on trucks; but light seed is in poor request. Italian is still keenly sought after at from 5s to 5s 6d on trucks. The annual meeting of the South Island Dairy Association, which is Miscellaneous. to be held in Dunedin on the 31st inst., is creating more excitement than usual. It is expected that Southland will be unusually well represented, and that keen discussions will result, on some aspects of the association's business. The removal of the headquarters from Dunedin to Invcrcargiil is still a live question, and although the voting power from Southland is sufficiently strong to accomplish that object, it is not likely to be put to the test on yCliis occasion. Two wellknown Western district gentlemen in Messrs J. M'Naughton (Riverton) and J. Fisher (Otautau) have been nominated for the two seats on the directorate, which will be contested by the sitting members. —Several dairy factories have sold their outputs of cheese for May at 9 l-16d per lb, f.0.b., and are making progress pavments for butter-fat, at Is 6d per lb.—The Te Tua Dairy Farmers' Company has received cable advice that their shipment of cheese by the s.s. Corinthic realised £5 4s on the Home market. —The Underwood Factory, where condensed milk is made, is at present ceiving 3500 gallons of milk per day, or nearly twice as much as it was at this true hist season. An advance payment of id per lb butter-fat has been made, and it is anticipated that th re will be a further payment of slightly ov 2d per lb available at the end of the •:■..— At a meeting of the Western Di ; . . A. and P. Association it was decided t.iat, owing to the extraordinary times in which wo arc living, and the fact I hat so many culls are made on farmers and business men, the matter of holding a Winter Show this year be abandoned. —The Southland Winter Show will be held this week, and is likely to be a record from more than one point of view.—Three Home boats —the Indralema, Karamea, and Rcmuera—are clue in Bluff shortly to load frozen meat for London.