MOMONA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3339, 13 March 1918, Page 23

MOMONA.

March 11. —Since my last notes were written the weather has been very dry—ideal conditions for harvesting, but too dry for pasturage and for the turnips. In many instances tanks are quite dry, and water has to be carted for domestic proposes. There is no apparent prospect of a change in the weather at the timo of writing. The Harvest. —Harvesting is well advanced. The- wheat has all been cut, and is mostly in the stack. One or two of the larger farmers are thrashing out of the stook; but as there is. only one mill operating in this immediate locality, most farmers have been obliged to stack their wheat. I have not yet heard how the wheat is yielding, but I think it is safe to say that in'most instances the returns will be considerably lighter than was at one time anticipated. Much of the wheat lodged badly, and as a consequence did not fill very well. Late oats have ripened with extraordinary rapidity in the hot, dry days which wo have experienced lately. A good part of them has been cut, and another week will see the most of them in tho stock. Cutting these late oats is a matter of the greatest difficulty. The rust, which invariably makes its appearance in lato oats, has made the straw very unstable, and quite incapable of carrying the grain when it matures. In nearly (.very instance when tho grain commenced to ripen the

crop went down, and it has been a trying process to get it into the sheaf. Roots.—The weather is altogether too drj for the root crops, and unless ram comes soon the turnips will be badly infested with blight. Already it has made its appearance, and if the present dry weather continues it will spread rapidly. Mangolds do not feci ihe drought the same as turnips, and there has been no check in their growth. The dry weather has kept the potato blight in check, and during the past few weeks it has not spread to ax.y appreciable extent. Some farmers have made a commencement to lift their potatoes, and this work will be general as soon as harvesting is finished. The crops for the most part are light. Dairying.—The milk supply is falling oS at the local cheese factory. The season has been a very successful one, and I understand that the output will exceed 800 tons. Accident.—On Thursday morning a little boy named Keith M'Leod, a son of Mr and Mrs George M'Leod, met with a serious Accident at Momona. The milk-cart in which he wa3 driving with his brother George capsized while negotiating a sharp bend m the road, and both occupants were thrown oui. George escaped injury, but his little brother was badly cut about the head. Dr Moody arrived on the scene within a few minutes of the occurrence of the accident and attended to the little sufferer, who is now progressing as well as can be expected. The R:>11 of Honour. —News was received here on Friday morning that Private Archie M'Curdy had been killed in action in France on February 21. The deceased soldier was for some time employed in the cheese factory here, and was very popular. Much sympathy will be felt for his sister, Mrs M'Millan, and the other members of the family. Personal.—Mr Dan Bruce is to undergo an operation for an internal complaint this morning. He will have the best wishes of his many friends for a speedy and complete recovery. —Mr "W. Stewart, who has been managing the Momona Co-operative Cheese Factory for a number of years, has tendered his -resignation, and applications are being invited for a new manager.