SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 9

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.) The weather conditions have now be* oome somewhat wintry, and in places that show up in mud early in the season are now rapidly assuming that character in appearance—at least, if not in reality, perhaps it is already more real than pleasant in some of the oowyards, in which work becomes a painful operation for both man and boast. It should come home, to soma what a time our lads must have of it in the trenches. The bursters we have experienced off and on during the last week or two has been trying alter having enjoyed a long and continuous spell of fine weather. Most of the outside work depending upon good weather has, however, been got through. There may be some carting away of grain to do yet, but not much, and it will not affect or even injure the roads very much. I find that in some quarters the chaffcutters have not,' through stress of weather, been able to work up to timo, and many who have already waited for weeks are still waiting, and find it very unpleasant to have to borrow from neighbours. ISio class of stock seems to have suffered as yet by stress of weather, but a.re, without exception, everywhere looking splendidly. ■ In moving about freely of late I have seen only one lot of lambs which in general appearance seemed not very creditable to anyone. ' There may. easily bo more; but, upon the whole, one is impressed with the conviction of general good condition. The weather was so highly favourable right up to the end of April that there must bo very few who have not quite finished dipping, and since the statutory season ends with the Ist of May, no one can plead any reasonable excuse. A few years ago, when labour was not scarce, there were some who were exceedingly negligent, and possibly .a few who did not dip at ail ill some years, and escaped the negligent eye of the Jaw. Yet in making up their sheep returns they would with wonderful audacity and equal mendacity return so many of different classes dipped and a}l other requirements given as completely fulfilled. I do not think anything of the kind takes place now —at least, none of it has of lute come under my cognisance; and the high value of all classes of sheep and the knowledge of the loss sustained through experience obtained by neglecting to dip has been a great incentive to niggardly, short-sighted, and careless flockowners to comply with legal and necessary requirements. , ... 4' The milk supply to dairy factories is rapidly declining. Many of them who at one time thought they would he working right into Juno or to the end of it, will bo closing down this month. They all did very well during the height of the season, and the amount of cheese produced, if not so much in excess of last season, as was at one time expected, will possibly lie about 90,000 cases shipped from the Bluff, or about 6500 tons. This, at over £9O per ton, will, roughly, amount to about £600,000. If Southland wore to go into dairying according to its capahalitios for the prosecution ol this industry it might increase ita revenue tenfold from this source. Its future possibilities are untold. The annual meeting of the South Island Dairy Association being due in Christchurch shortly, the Southland members will have the opportunity of airing their grievances if they have any, and obtaining any remedies they desire, and should see to it that they are fully represented by members.

At air the sales—regular, local, and special—there is a general downward tend'cncy in the values for all elates of stock, most apparent in old and failing, and least so in specially good lines of two-tooth ewes. Wliilo sound-mouth ewes and others hare fallen from 2s 6d a head and' upwards, broken-mouthed are neglected," and consequently almost At clearing 1 sales draught horses and light horses, or

very light, drag dreadfully and are almost unsaleable. Good working geldings, if only even verging upon aged, which at one time •would rapidly have gone up to £SO or £6O, may now have to bo knocked down at £2O or very little over. With the rapid strides motors are making in coming into use for e.ll motor purposes, and the future possibilities of electric motor power being made generally applicable, it makes one feel as If the demand for and the use of draught jjorses was over.