SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 10

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Feom Cue Own (Joeeesi’Ondent.) Tho last week tor the year will bo remcm-

The Weather and the harm.

bered by larmors in bouthiand as tne driest oi a series oi dry weeks. Growing crops aro languishing lor want ot rain, auu uw-su» u

turnips are braircung peony as tne result oi tuo drougut. Basiuixs snow signs ot suffering irom trio iiot weather, too, ana the scarcity ot water is being severely lelt in many quarters, esxiecjaily on dairy lanns. The late crops ot oats give evidence ot being snort, owing to tneir coming into ear prematurely, one thing is evident: tnat tnere will not bo the buik ot straw to contend with during the coming season as was tne ease during the two previous ones. A reduced bulk oi straw does not necessarily mean a reduced yield or gram: but it ha? tnis advantage, that it requires less handling than does a crop where the straw looms large. This, it has to bo remembered, is an advantage in times such as these, when casual labour is so scarce. Shearing drags slowly along, and although this bi'anch of the year s work was commenced much earlier than usual, it looks as it it will bo unusually late before the operation is compacted. The difficulties ot this season may possibly have one good result —it may bring about some motnod of organisation and co-operation, for with these and a reasonable desire to accommodate each other farmers and pastoralists could do a great deal to minimise the difficulties which at present obtrude themselves in the matter of getting the wool off tiio sheep’s back. The difficulty may be said to bo wholly duo to the scarcity of shearers, and if the war should continue for another 12 months the difficulties will bo accentuated; for it has to bo remembered that farmers’ sons who are holding back from enlisting will in due time bo drawn in the ballot, and one has only to read the reports of the proceedings of the Otago Military Service Board to bo convinced of the large number of farmers’ sons who had to respond to the compulsory clauses of the Military Service Act before realising their primary duty in the life and death struggle in which the nation is engaged. The intake at the dairy factories is being reduced as the result of the dry weather, too, and if it should continue for a much longer period the monthly milk cheque will bo seriously curtailed.

Some 12 months ago Mr James Lilico, of Northono Estate. near

Model Farms.

i'sunnojjo jcisiaie, near Lociiiei, offered a shield lor competition through the mnrlnnvi nf 1 li/» \\ mtnn t

medium ot the \\ niton a. and P. Association tor the best-kept farm within a specified radius of Winton Post Office. Eleven entries were received, but when the judges (Messrs James Fleming and 11. J. Middleton) made their first inspection in March, 1916, it was found that only five of the entries complied with the conditions as to area, the other six being thus excluded from the competition. Hie judges have now presented their report, and have awarded first prize to Mr Ralph Swale, of Kauana, and second to Mr James M‘Leod, of Now River. The competition was for the best-kept, best-cultivated, and most profitably worked farm, the conditions providing for the judges taking into consideration the condition of gates, drains, fences, implements, grain and straw stacks, buildings, etc., and the quality and quantity of live stock kept. If a sheep farm, the account sales of wool, surplus sheep, and lambs to bo furnished; if a dairy farm, the milk records had to be produced, the labour bill in each instance to bo considered in proportion to the output, and also the profit per acre off the farm. Briefly put, the trophy is given to encourage the small farmer to take the maximum of produce from his land at a minimum of cost; and in his method of doing so he has to show evidence of taste, system, and judgment. The first prize farm consists of 179 acres of reclaimed swamp (so the report states), thoroughly drained, outfalls in good order, etc. It is a splendid grass farm of superior quality. There was a superabundance of food, and the place was worked with a minimum of labour. The return placed before the judges showed an excellent net result from the year’s operations. Mr M'Lcod’s farm consisted of acres, chiefly first-class river-flat land, part of which is reclaimed swamp, well drained, and the outfalls in good order. It is very good grazing farm, and is devoted \plmost entirely to dairying. There is, however, a small flock of good ewes with over 150 per cent, of extra good lambs at foot. The returns showed a remarkably good not result. “ The farm is being worked at a minimum of cost,” so the report concludes, “to such a degree that wo think it will bo to the ultimate detriment of the place, having regarrf to the cultivation, now grass, and fences. This condition may bo pardoned owing to the scarcity and cost of labour.”

Some 40 chairmen and secretaries of chccso factories carrying on opera-

Cheese Congestion.

tions .in Southland mot in Invercargill on Saturday last to consndcr the question of

the storage of cheese and finance until shipping facilities were obtained. It was pointed out”that the cool store at Bluff was practically full; but the? Southland Frozen Meat Company had agreed to give the use of a store until the end of Fobraury, before which time it was Imped that the position would bo relieved. It was pointed out that there was £150,000 worth of choose awaiting shipment at Bluff. Representatives of the Bank of New South Wales and the Bank of New Zealand, who wore present by invitation, stated that dairy factories banking with them were all over the limit arranged for —some of them, as n matter of fact, had nearly doubled their limits. Mr Tonnent. of the Bank of New South Wales, said that ho had been instructed that no further advances were to bo made on butter or cheoso unless with the consent of the inspector in Wellington. It was finally resolved to recommend the directors of factories not to pay out to suppliers more than fid per lb for December and January milk. It was also decided to cable Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward on the subject of shortage of shipping, and to com-

municato with tlio Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, president of the Board of Trade. As is now known, satisfactory replies have been received, and temporary relief promised. The Government has also prpmised to accept promissory notes for butter-fat levy until tho congestion is relieved.

The Hon Dr R. M‘Nab has been advised

Imported Shorthorns.

that throe Shorthorn heifers which ho sent Home for recently aro on board tho Tainui, which arrived in tue

Dominion this week. They will bo quarantined at Lyttelton, and forwarcd to their destination at Enapdalo at the end of the regulation period of detention. The animals were severely knocked about during heavy weather which was experienced during tho early part of the voyage, but the pleasant conditions prevalent towards the close of the trip made up for this, and those who have had the pleasure of seeing the cattle say they have arrived in good condition.