SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 10

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Fkom Odr Own Cor.RESPO>;nENT.) Southland, in common with other parts of the Dominion, has been favoured with exceptionally fine weather during the past week. Some farmers may probably bo disposed to assert that it has been much too dry for successful cultivation; but very few will be inclined to maintain that the country generally would have benefited more from a moist spell of weather. Teams arc now busy with the turnip land, and it would appear that, the area to bo sown in turnips is fairly extensive. It may not probably bo as great as was the case last year, when an unusually large acreage of winter feed was grown, On this occasion farmers seem somewhat chary of growing too many swedes. This variety of forage crop came rapidly into favour of recent years for sheep feed, because there is no questioning the nutritive value of the swede compared with ordinary white or yellow-fleshed turnip. The disease, commonly known as dry rot, played havoc with the swede crop in most parts of Southland last year, especially in the lato winter or early spring, when they wore most required, with the result that ill some cases the feeding value of the crop was reduced by quite one-third. The disease seems a difficult one to account for; but tho general opinion is that the heavy dressings with artificial manures, which has become a noted feature of turnip-growing in Southland, is a contributing feature. In corroboration of this theory it has been noted that crops which were heavily dressed with dung were not nearly so badly affected with the disease as wore the crops which were sustained with artificial manure alone. Tho climatic conditions during tho past two months have favoured the preparation of the land for turnips, and many paddocks which were dirty with couch have had this hindrance to agriculture shaken out. This, of course, is only possible when there is an absence of rain. Tho class of implement, such as tho modern grubber or cultivator, and the increase in tho strength of the team from four to six horses, is another contributing^factor which cannot be ignored.

The Weather ant! the Farm.

The show season in Southland is drawing to a close, and Wednesday Agricultural of this week will see the last Shows. of the series. The Gore fixture, which was held on Tuesday and Wednesday last, was most successful. Compared with previous years, there was. a falling off in the attendance, especially on the second day, when a drizsding rain commenced to fall shortly before noon, and continued up to nearly 2 o'clock. This may have deterred many people from attending; but undoubtedly the main contributing cause was the great struggle which is now raging on the Continent, which has unfitted them to enjoy and take part in proceedings, as has been their wont. The fixture to bo held under the auspices of the Southland Metropolitan A. and P. Association opens on Tuesday, and will be continued on the following day. This, it may bo noted, is the jubilee show of the association, and as such is_ attracting additional interest. Good entries have been received, which in the aggrcgo.te total 10 more than last year, this year s figures being 1078, as against 1068 in 1935. The principal increase is in cattle, which have jumped from 179 last year to _23b on this occasion. This is only natural in a country so pre-eminently adapted for dairying. The Holstcin division of this section will be unusually well represented, Mr W. D. Hunt's herd being very prominent. Horses have increased from 304 to 321; but dairy produce has dropped from 131 to 100. It is a rather noteworthy fact that in 1913, 1914, and 1916 the entries in the sheep section have not varied, the number on each of these three occasions being 287, whilst in 1915 they were three less. The grounds are looking their best, and, given a continuance of prevailing fine weather, a most successful ehow should result.

When ono looks over a field of any kind 1 of ripening grain he will probably notice many heads of some other kind of grain growing, much to the detriment of the sample? Tin's is so common a state of affairs as to be almost the usual condition of things. Often heads of barley are seen spoiling a wheat crop, wheat among oats, and so on. It is pretty safe to say that this state of affairs is to a very great extent due to careless handling of the travellmg thrashing machines. The mill has been thrashing barley at one place, and passes on to wheat at" the next. The wheat will got some piles of barley mixed with it. Perhaps only a bushel or so will be affected, but quite enough to pollute it for seed purposes. Wo know that seedsmen send sk'iled men through their seed plots to cut out the undesirables before harvest; but this cannot be done on a farm. The place to check the. evil is at the thrashing mill, and the farmer who is desirous of keeping his grain free from impurities must see that, the mill owner cleans out the machine properly before commencing to thrash. Unfortunately, the construction of the null does not heln matters in this direction, as there are endless ledges and corners inside where grain will hang back. The grain elevator, for instance, is rarely cleaned out This should always be insisted on before operations are commenced. _ Tho:-e farmers' who have thrashing machines of their own have a bettor control of the matter, because they themselves or their own men can see to the thorough cleaning out between thrashings.; but where the work is performed by outsiders, there is likely to be trouble. In any ease, however. if a stack of special seed is ?o thrashed the owner should pee to it the mill is will cleaned out before a commencement i= made, and the first few haps thrashed should be laid aside. Nothing is more pleasing to the eye of a passer-by than a clean gram crop ready to he cut; and, so far as the owner is coneemc 1. the feeling of satisfaction is infinitely greater.

Clean SocJ.

Thursday was factory pay day for threo factories, for which Mr H. E. Niven is secretary, at Edendale. Tlio sums paid out in respect of each were:—Eden

Mlsccllanc^s.

dale, £3303; Menzies Ferry, £1580; Brydone, £1599, Tho two first-named made progress payments of Is per Jb butter-iat; Brydone, Is 3d. The aggregate paid out was ijbjsd. —Chatting to a pressman at the Gore Show, an Eastern district breeder mentioned that a group of eight half bred Jersey two-year-oid heiters had returned him 2tis each from their November

m.ik, wiik'h tested 3.7. —At the annual smoko conceit, held in connection with the Gore Show, Mr JtCain (Maudwiilc) made reference to the system oi judging by points, which he greatly favoured, His remarks were, however, keenly criticised by other speakers. Mr Munson said the points system had been tried in Dunedin many years ago, but had been abandoned, “as it gave rise to many anomalies.” Oid customs die hard, and it seems likely that the old haphazard system of allotting awards will hold sway for some time to come. BUTTER AND CHEESE MARKET. The National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand is in receipt of the following cablegram from Messrs Mills and Sparrow, London:—“Butter: Firm, unchanged. Cheese: Canadian, 128 sto 130 s. The War Office has taken the Arawa shipment of New Zealand cheese; price not settled.” The National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand is in receipt of the following cablegram from Messrs Mills and Sparrow, London:—“Butter, unchanged, firm. Cheese: Government taken Arawa, Kimutaka shipment; price not fixed.” INFERIOR QUALITY MILK. WELLINGTON, December 11. The Chief Justice gave his decision today in a case in which Henry Bodlcy appealed against the decision of Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., convicting him of having sold milk which did not, in {joint of quality, come up to the standard required by regulation. His Honor held that the regulation was valid, and dismissed the appeal.