SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 10

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(From Oub Own Cokeespondent.)

Tor many years previous to the last few years the quantity ot grass seed raised in Southland has been very considerable, and the yield in pounds per acre was, I believe, the highest in the Dominion. .For various reasons, already cited, while the area unaer grass tor pasturage has been steadily increasing, the acreage roe«rved for grass seed has. considerably dimixiished. On account of the highly favourable season for tho growth of grass, it will be found that locai-grown seed will bo in fuller supply than has b'jen the case for some years. Even though this should be the case, so much more ground will be put into grass for permanent pasturage that this will not affect the law of demand and supply very seriously. It has been a very fickle season for harvesting and securing the seed, and it may tell against the production as well as the quality. The cutting oi cocksfoot is now in full swing, and everything fit for cutting is being harvested. For permanent purposes, in the experience of many, it has been found that where even the full complement of other grasses and clovers has been sown the cocksfoot helps to give permanency to tho pastures when the other grasses fail, and no less than about 61b per acre is generally sown. The price of cocksfoot is this season an incentive .to have every patch of cocksfoot gathered. There are parties who look upon gathering the seed, even in Southland, as a part of their yearly occupation, and the money earned not merely ae an adjunct to their yearly earnings but as an essential part of their income. Some of them are at it late and early, and, with the seed at from lOd to Is per lb, are not only earning good money, but say they cannot make as much per day at anything else. The turnip crops are now promising remarkably well. As often is the caso, and this season decidedly so through labour shortage, the turnips, get ahead of the thinners, which makes the work all the more tedious; but, with favourable weather conditions, that difficulty will soon be_ overcome. With the aid of turnip -thinning machines, particularly where the turnips have been too thickly sown, and a .strong braird resulting, the thinning is very much facilitated. The machines are not perfect thinners in themselves, but are laboursavers of great benefit, and even indispensable when tho crops get too far ahead for hoe or hand thinning. The ridger is also one of the most valuable implements on a farm, and enables, as improved mechanical appliances generally do, far more to be put into turnips than could possibly have been the caeo otherwise. With 'the state of improvement the ridgers have come to everything is done far -more effectively. It is really a great tribute to mechanical skill and inventive ingenuity how correctly and reliably they can do 'their work. The manure can bo sown to the pound, and almost to the ounce, per acre, and a capable man to work them can sow tho seed to an ounce. Tho oat crop is promising fairly well so far, but the general impression is that it will not be a, heavy crop all over. Excepting in poorer localities, there are not many light crops; while in some of the more highly favoured and heavy cropping localities there are some exceptionally heavy crops, and they will be difficult to harvest. It,, is reported there are some very heavy crops in that new district, especially on new land, at Tuatapere. Mataura Island is also credited with heavy crops, but they are badly lodged as the effects of a very heavy thunderstorm. The same experience has also affected the heavier crops all over the Mataura Valley, and in the Western District' as well. Up till now the potato crops have been looking remarkably well. Some people are in the habit of complaining under any conditions, and where any complaints are being made about wireworfri they are 9 generally found to be almost groundless. I have heard such complaints, but on inquiry ha-vo found them to be almost imaginary, and not likely to affect the -value of any crop. There is always a dread of blight, which destroys the value of a crop more than anything else. There is some talk of it appearing in tho earlier crops, but I have not come across anything of an authentic nature. Some parties who cut their seed have suffered. This was caused by the cut seed getting rotted by the rain before germinating sufficiently, and consequently the crops are in some instances -blanky, and in others partly a failure. The cutting of seed is exceptional and not general. Stock-owners who have now got their ewes shorn, if sufficiently wise and prudent, will dip ewes and lambs in a nonpoisorous dip as soon as they can. General experience has brought it home to almost everyone that after the ewes are shorn the lambs carry all tho ticks, and cannot possibly thrive under such conditions, *and dipping becomes an absolute necessity.