AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 11

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Ths period for which the seeds of different plants maintain their vitality varies a good deal (says the Mark Lane Express(. The seeds of some vegetables are worthless after they are two years old, -while the seeds of # other plant's improve with age until a certain period. For instance, the seeds of artichoke are good until they are three years old; asparagus, four years; beans, two years; kidney beans, one year; beets, 10 years; broooli, four years; cabbage, four years; carrot, one year; cauliflower, four years; celery, 10 years; corn, three years; cucumber, 10 years; eger plant, three years; endive, four years; kale,'four years; leek, two years; lettuce, three years; pea, two years; onion, two years; radish, four years; salsify, two years; spinach, four years j tomato, two years; and turnips, four years. A farmer who attended the Ashburton County Council on Friday stated that' he had never before known the small birds to be so numerous in the Mayfield district. The chairman, who comes from Wakanui. stated that the birds were also numerous in his district. The Woodlaw Dairy Factory and plant, which was to have been submitted to auction on the 2nd, was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Wednesday morning (reports the Western Star). A considerable number of probable buyers arrived for the sale only to' find smoking ruins. The cause of the outbreak is a mystery. The insurances amount to £9OO, £SOO on the building and £4OO on the machinery. Mr and Mrs Donnelly had all their furniture and personal belongings stored in the factory, and, nothing being insured, their loss is a heavy one. A Hokowhitu resident is the 'possessor of a horse which is 49 years of age, and which, though practically toothless, still has every appearance of good health (says the Manawatu Daily Times). The proud owner thought until he visited England recently that his horse was the oldest ever, but he discovered one in the Old Country 62 vcars of age. Strangely enough this animal was born in Waverley, New Zealand. Ahu Ahu is 25 miles from Wanganui by land, and 42 by river It was. stated at the sitting of the Industries Commission (says the Wanganui Chi*onicle) that owing to the lack of Toad access settlers took a day to pac-k a bale of wool out, and a steamer freight charge of 4s 5d a bale followed to bring it to Wanganui.