SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3342, 3 April 1918, Page 10

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Fhom Ouh Own Cobeespondent.) Even in farming communities there-, are some things about which there cannot bo general agreement, but there can be no difference of opinion about the last season all through, and the harvest we have just experienced as being one of the best ever enjoyed. It has been perhaps not only the driest and most favourable for farming operations, but the great bulk of the crop has been secured without ever getting 1 a shower. There have been instances in 1 which crop cut dead ripe- has been put into the stack without being stooked, and a very great amount of grain has been thrashed out of the stook. Very few young men of military age were engaged with the mills, the hands comprising chiefly those who have been turned down by the Medical Boards, with a few elderly men and lads under military age largely. Thrashing is not' suitable for female labour, but many women have rendered valuable service in I the paddocks. The rain we lately enjoyed, although the weather was a little rough and boisterous I generally, has saved the position consideri ably. The 'turnips have been so much refreshed that they should now hold their own, despite the "blight. The grass also will benefit, and if the earlier frosts keep off, as they are likelv to do, since we. have had no deluging rains, which are generally followed by eharp frosts, it is more than likely there will be plenty of autumn feed. With plenty of grass during the summer and favourable weather in autumn there may be a second growth, ' winch, thouga not so fattening, will give of feed all through May and possibly well into • June. ..... An open autumn gives abundant facilities for clipping. Many flock-owners now mom- . tain that two dippings during the year are absolutely necessary. Those who hold_ to that theory dip immediately after shearing, which, in the case of ewes, if there ore any ticks, the lambs get the benefit. The lambs, not being weaned, are dipped along with the ewes in a non-poisonous dip, which will kill all the ticks ; but it is absoI lutely essential that they be all dipped I again in a poisonous dip some time later ; in the season. The experience of some is ; that cru'tehing the ewes before lambing is helpful in saving lambs, and dipping if carefully done just before lambing is safer and better than if done when the ewes ore not long pregnant. Besides it gives the lambs a better chance no't to get infested" off their dams. Whatever their feed, they cannot thrive well if they have anv ticks. The ewes at shearing will be found most likely to bo quite clean, and if lambs are to be got fat at _ weaning they have every possible chance with such treatment. In dipping some are careful, and use the best possible means to ensure success, but there are others just as careless and reckless —very rough in their handling,—and maybe much surprised when they have a few deaths after dipping. Itis painful to see how the sheep are dogged and rushed about. Farmers in Southland cannot underj stand why the local fat stock buyers are : being outbid by northern men in the purchase of both "fat sheep and cattle. For some time back 'there/has been no export of store stock to the north, but now the order is changed. The prices offering on the ground by northern buyers are more tempting, with 'the result that trainloads of fat stock are leaving regularly to be frozen in Otago and Canterbury, which must tell seriously upon the operations of the Southland freezing works. Why it is so no one

seems unless, it. bo that the freezing charges arc lower and higher prices allowed lor by-products, or whether special terms and arrangements can be made to facilitate operations on a larger scale. In both Otago and Southland there .lave been pressing requests for. experimental agricultural farms. , The Southland farmers demands have generally been for one in the Eastern and another in the Western district; but no binding promises have been given and no expectations realised. The Agricultural Department has been holding out inducements for farmers to act in a specified direction, but it can hardly be said that these have been taken advantage of. However, an area of something under 30 ocres has been treated to some, extent as an experiment at Gore. The land lies close to the township 'in a suitable position, and, being of--fairly average soil, is considered suitable for the purpose, although it has boon in pasturago for over 20 years. It has been well drained, divided into plots, thoroughly cultivated, and manuring and seeding experiments made, which, when the results are fully available, should be of considerable value in the direction in which the experiments have so far been made. In due time the question of rotation will have to be taken into account, and dealt with before complete and satisfactory results can be obtained. The ram fair this year, instead of being held at. Wallace'town saleyards, was held in the sheen nens on the'show ground on Wednesday, the 27th ult., and, being under cover, the advantage was perceptible, as a steady, J dripping rainfall prevailed during the sale. There was a large entry, and very big prices were obtained considering the quality all through. The attendance was not so large as might have been expected, numbers of breeders apparently having satisfied their requirements privately. The quality appeared to be much behind what it used to be at Wallapctown some years ago, in Leicesters particularly; but Romneys show a decided improvement, though many showed as if their fleeces could be improved in weight with a dash of Lincoln. The classes represented weie Border Leicester* and Romneys, with one or two pens of Shropshires. The Border Leicesters ranged from 4gs to one or two above 20gs, but the great bulk disposed of were at sg;s, 6gs, 7gs, or Bgs. The Romneys made a higher average, running frequently well into the tens, whereas 'the five Shropshires brought only from l£gs to 2£gs. The qualitv in any of the classes was not.of a specially high order.