SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 10

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Feom Ottb Own Cohhespondent.) Harvest operations are going on apace. The bulk of the crop is now in stook, but many are still busy cutting, and there are late crops not yet ready for the reaper, but coming on rapidly. Stacks are, coming into evidence in different localities. If the weather continues as at present February will see the bulk of the Southland crops secured. It cannot be very long now until we can say with some degree what the average yield will be. 'Many are maintaining that grain is better filled thanlast year, and if the weather continues favourable the quality will bo good. While all local requirements will be fully met, it is quite/- impossible to say as yet how much available for export, or the prices likely to rule. The figure may never bo very high, and the price for oats particularly will not be low. Wheat, wo know, will be at a payable figure right enough, and no chance of fluctuation as may happen with oats, but will be fixed and settled beyond remedy. Even if the weather ' keeps good there will noi be much thrashed out of the stook. It is in a sense expeditious and labour-saying, and when enough labour can be had it is preferable to stacking. The fact of more labour, being required, and thrashing from the etook necessitating tho crop being longer exposed to weather conditions, combined - with tho shortage of labour, will induce many to get it into the stack as quickly as possible, and take advantage of what assistance can be obtained by a greater amount of neighbourly cooperation than has been, the case for many years back. The crops in general not being heavy, and the ground dry, if the weathercotitmues for a few weeks as at present, the crops will be more expeditiously secured, and wo may have a shorter harvest period than the general run, despite unfavourable labour conditions. While grass and turnips appear to be all that could be desired, the potato outlook is • assuming _ a gloomier position. The' blight is rapidly getting more pronounced. Potatoes dug and kept in bags for even a short time show the blight so much more distinctly than when newly dug that those who have such are gradually getting less optimistic about their yield and probable returns. It will not now take long to put tho matter beyond all reasonable doubt. A -rather startling statement respecting the phenomenal ravages of caterpillars appears in a paragraph in tho Southland Time 3 of the 20th inst. It is apparently taken from tho Winton Record., and is to effeot that Mr William Stormouth,

Drummond, reports a disastrous visitation of caterpillars -to his Italian ryegrass crop of about 25 or 30 acres. When the crop was ripe and ready for harvesting a.»niass of caterpillars appeared, climbed the stalks, and completely ate off the ears of grass seed. The loss is-estimated by Mr Stormouth at £2OO, or, say, £lO per acreequal to a crop yielding 50 bushels per acre at 4s per bushel; The report states that neighbouring farmers had harvested a little earlier, and 'their returns were handsome, which further indicates that they may have been specially early, or their crop very late in being .handled. If so., 'and this crop was too *late in being harvested, it is just possible that the weather may have been responsible for damage as .much as catei pillars. been fain to believe that though the email birds are tfoubl%-~ some even to being a nuisance, they are not an unmitigated evil, and have been the means, if no! absolutely destroying, at least of diminishing, the evils of caterpillar visitations. I may further state that the insect to which the depredations are attributed is very fully described, yet, notwithstanding all the statements respecting the havoc wrought, a little more reliable data' and absolute evidence of this exceptional caterpillar pest being the sole cause. . of the destruction and lose of such a valu- *. able crop of grass seed would bo welcome. The fifth Southland wool valuation is in progress, and along with the valuers a representative of the French Government has selected about 1000 bales of the finer wools for our Ally. The grower does not get any benefit, and the buyer picks out his woojs without any knowledge of what France is to pay for 'them. It is highly satisfactory to know that the chSef valuer finds an appreciable improvement in the preparation of the wool. Tli3 number of lots properly skirted on this ocoavon is considerably increased. As a result the valuation is higher in proportion. The 'top price was 20|d for a super halfbred wool from. Nokomai, which always commanded a high price, and goes to show the valuers are making no mistakes and doing excellent work. Orainary haftbreds are- making from 17d to 19d for good lines; merinos from to 174 a. ■ The bulk of the wool is crossbred, and averaging from 15d to 16|d. Since all classes of wool are commanding big prices, bellies and pieces are not far behind at from lid to 12£d.

SUPPLIES OF MEAT. WELLINGTON, February 19. The Prime Minister states that the new. arrangemant by which meat is supplied to retailers who require it has "worked so satisfactorily that it is not now necessary to continue the Government's connection with a butcher's business which has been run in the Government's name in Auckland.