SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 9

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

IFbom Oub Own Cokbespondbnt.]

The weather conditions are getting very serious for those who have Ethi harvesting l to do. Despite the push made, many havf not secured ail their crop. It i» tniiiouli to ascertain accurately how much crop it yet out in stook, but those who are in this position are- feeling ratner gloomy.- Th* very backward spring made it quite impossible to get crop in in time, and now we have a late harvest and unseasonable weather. There is just a possible chance of their coming out well with it yet. In somewhat similar "seasons wonderfully good crops have been harvested in May, and even as late as June.

Potato-lilting has also come to a standstill. What nas been got up has been in splendid condition. Some are complaining of the tubers not turning out so evenly a» they would like. The season may have a good deal to do with this, but much also depends upon a change of seed. It is now; generally allowed by those who consider seed-selection as of primary importance and worthy ol more attention to do the selection at the digging oi the crop. When potatoes of the same sort have been planted on the same soil for too long a period "~ they degenerate, both in quality and quantity. This is quite # observabJe if they come too much to the top of the drills, clustered round the tops, and such are altogether unsuitable for seed. However, many pay no attention to such matters, and successful cropping is quite a haphazard undertaking, 1 have seen the ploughing fairly under way about this time when a good summer was folllowed by an early harvest. The ground has got such a soaking stubble . ploughing will not now be general fox some time. Other work, if it can be undertaken, has to be gone on with instead. It i« worthy of note that the gorse fences on too may farms, which have been so much neglected during the last few years, are being attendee to, and in most instances by members of the family who have returned from the front. This work seems to suit even" those who had returned wounded but not disabled. On ridges or undulating ground ditches are not at all required, but on flat country they are, and outfall* for drainage are necessary. Those stronger and quite sound physically will find abundant scope for their energies. Many farm* in fine flat country are much in need of an overhauling. Very much more must be taken off the land per acre than was the case when a man who could do the work was paid only from. 15s to 20s per week and found, when possibly a man no mors capable can command £2 10s and found or £$ and finding himself. ' The cry is becoming very general to put the returned soldiers on the land, and it is being found that those previously having positions in town are disinclined to return to town life. If-the amount of business at the Land Boards is indicative of it there must be something in it. The Southland Land Board has been having extra meetings to meet the exigencies of the situation. ~■■■■',' > Wo are rapidly approaching the season ol tho year for surface, sowing of lime or manure or top-dressing. There are soma features which, if better known, might induce others to profitably follow the example of those who have experimented. It would be too much here to go into all the different methods, kinds of top-dressing, manures used, quantities, and periods, as also time and mode of application. There is one thing that nearly all are agreed upon, and that .is that, taking everything into account, it is more successful and effective on young pastures than on old ones. A paddock sown down in grass is vigorous enough not to require artificial aid in its first year, but in, say, its second year surface-manuring seems to tell more 1 , as the soil has not lost its pristine vigour, and good results are obtained for a longer period. On ridgy land, where the ground is naturally dry, liming (even comparatively lightly) has had a wonderful effect, but erer so much more so when a sufficient quantity has been used under favourable conditions. Although a considerable quantity of oat* have been thrashed, there is really little or nothing doing in the market. The samples ooming forward seem fairly good and bright. |w The big slump in the price, down to about 3s, which is now being .offered does not seem to induce many to sell, bus rather has the tendency to make them hold on to see what may turn up. ' Those who have been disposing of fo% sheep at local sales rather than forward to: Burnside or Wallacetown have been very much disappointed with the results. It may do in a rising market, but not when ink market is dull or falling. People m general are beginning to inquire, with th*

fall in prices at tho sales, when the price of. butch sr meat will come down, too. There is no hope of a fall in flour, 'cheese, and butter for another year at least, and especially in tho latter two products, they having been purchased by the Government for another year.