SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 11

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Fbou Oub Own Coheespondent.) The last monthly sale at Otautau did not attract a large entry, nor yet a largo attendance. This is applicable to all local sales. Prices all round are decidedly easier. The weather conditions, making it so difficult to get on with shearing, are telling upon the sales. The farmers are also wondering where the winter feed is to como from., and this is accentuating the position. The shearing is being pushed on as speedily a 3 circumstance's . will allow, with serious results in some instances. Some farmers 'in the Western district havo-lost heavily by cold after shearing. , If the. pastures up north are as good as reported, and' stock wanted, it' will help to relieve the position if a demand'. should spring up. One or two sales are reported, but those who would sell are .wanting to get the benefit of the ' wool, so that oven if, there is :a demand there may not .bo many offering right away.'■ It is believed, after, shearing that; many, lots will go '■ north. The poor prospects for winter feed '■ will cause many to rather make a sacrifice how than suffer serious loss later.. Turnips sown now cannot root sufficiently to ensure winter feed, and Unless the autumn and winter are exceptionally mild arid favourable, and so save lbs 3 of stock, an exodus to the north will be welcomed by many. A reduction in values;will most likely have to be submitted to, and, after "all, the first los3 will be the least.

The. stock market is not- only dull and in a doubtful position;, but the dairying industry is suffering, more severely than was even, dreaded some time ago. The cows are falling, off rapidly, and the output of tho factories will bo-'much "short of, earlier expectations. The cream being despatched/, from home separators .is also a rapidlydiminishing quality, and the cream and butter factorios.'Wsl not have so _ much to handle and a smaller turnovers which means a loss to them.

Both the Wallace and Southland Counties have, been calling; for. -tenders for roadmaintenance, but it is nothing to what is required to keep the roads in good order. It is ■ quite j evident \ to those who pay any attention to the matter that the roads are every year Wearing down rapidly and getting, .thinner ,said much•flatter, with no crown at all to run ofF -water. The increasing development of motor traffic is responsible for much of it, as is evident in the prevalence of motor holer, in all directions. The : state of the roads alone and their future-.upkeep is causing 'the electrical scheme to be discussed more' freely, as in the' case of some main roods which were in. splendid condition a few years ago, with a fine depth of gravel,, they would now require a complete coating of 3in or a 4in of gravel to make them anything like what they were, say. four or five years ago. Consequently when people began to think what is to become of our roads shortly, they welcome the electrical scheme, and aro eager to see it in successful operation not only for cheap and economic trafno, but as an effective means of solving the road problem. The motor tax or tyre tax is etilL exercising the minds of many, and if those who use the roads most, could be proportionately faxed, and an equitable method adopted of raising a reasonable amount, it niight help, though possibly not fully or adequately meeting tho whole position. ■lt will be something new and a novel experience altogether for exhibitors _to show: their sheep shorn, with no alternative. Tha period of the shows from Winton, January 22, to February 19 for Otautau, will give, five shows within a month, and no outside operations will ; bc seriously interfered with during that period. ! »So far as I have been able to ascertain from, actual observation and from personal information, late-sown turnips aro making a good strike, and grass has shot up a littfe, but the frequent rains have retarded all kinds of work very much. No sooner did the winds dry the surface than another plump of rain or thunderstorm made it as bad as ever. The' position so far as some parts of Southland are concerned may -be briefly seated as follows:—Boisterous weather generally prevailing, whish, has been ; serious for some and disastrous for others. Many farmers not havirig their turnips sown on December 31 and not even yet, and shearing also delayed. 'Whereas it: is believed by most that turnips sown now are not to be depended oh for winter feed, and if a failure at any time, sowing

over is never successful, and hopelessly so at so late a date as, say, into January. The oats are growing very slowly, and nothing but a late harvest can bo expected. frith the prospect of a great shortage of both oats ana chaff. If there is any exception to the above it will be in the Jtivirsdale, Waikaia, and such districts, 2hioh are much dried generally than furter south and west. In some parts of Southland the roadlines produce a heavy growth of grasses, mostly cocksfoot, and in some cases_ timothy. She nigh prices, have given a stimulus to

cutting cocksfoot for seed. Those districts where there is generally a specially -vigorous growth on the road-lines will receive special attention. There are not_ so many farms changing hands or being disposed of at present under any terms or conditions. The only one of any dimensions reported was Blackmount Station, which Mr Jas. King has disposed of to Mr Jas. M'Lean, of Bmrwood. It comprises several thousand acres of freehold, and with leasehold amounting to about 60,000 aores. Mr King, who has been an enterprising farmer and successful breeder of both Romney sheep and Hereford oattle, and also a reliable judge of both sheep and oattle at our leading shows, will not now likely rest on his oars and reputation, but will most probably undertake something to keep him actively employed. I find a great many who have been able to save any grass for seed are afraid, owing to the last frosts, it may not be worth harvesting, and being fully a month late, with a continuance of unsettled weather, the prospect is very discouraging. This has been ono of the greatest weed seasons ever experienced, and will prove an easy record. ®