SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3399, 7 May 1919, Page 9

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(FEoy Oub Own Cobbespondenx.) During the month of April the farmers of Southland have had a very rough experience in weather, and were very unfortunate in having so much crop in stook exposed to all the fury of the elements. A Pout double the amount of rain has fallen in April than bas been recorded tor many years past. That has been aggravated on account of the lateness of the season, and more crop is still unsecured in the same month than has been 3 the case for many years. A combination of unfavourable circumstances has made it really bad. There may not be much crop seriously damaged or absolutely wasted or destroyed, but it cannot now be in good order, as what was got in earlier. I hear of cases in which the grain was sprouting, and, although it may have so suffered generally, it is only where the crop was very heavy, and little or no exposure to the prevailing winds, and the stocks never got a chance to dry. We are having light frosts, and if we get any wind at all the position may be much better than the outlook has been. The re are conflicting opinions about the oat market, and the prices. that may rule for the season. Many seem to think that oats will not be in such abundant supply as has been held out. The scarcity of other kinds of winter feed may also affect the position, and create a greater demand for oats and chaff. Again, not many oats are coming on to the market. There has been as yet very little autumn or winter sowing. As there is not so much grain being sown as used to be the case in former years, and harvesting can be over taken more easily, the sowing in both periods has been much curtailed. The severe weather has told on the intake at all the dairy factories, and some of them who earlier believed they could keep going right into May will, bo closing down immediately. This has not been a good season, but has been very disappointing to many. It is believed the average test for butter-fat will not be high either. The very unfavourable climatic conditions may have told heavily, but many find that to carry on too long they will be making a demand on their cows which will tell against them another season. The scarcity of winter feed does not warrant them milking much longer, and since the price for butter-fat may be as good next year as this, it does not seern the right thing to do to put themselves into a position in which they could not take full advantage of it by being too exacting this season. Experienced dairymen find that cows require to be kept in good order and condition all the year round; hence the dread they have of a shortage of winter feed. The outlook at present is not encouraging. Not much has been made of the recent and alarming mortality among stock at Papatatora, which, despite all the mveatigcvtions has puzzled the Government veterinarians. and the Minister of Agriculture has undertaken to have the matter most thoroughly investigated. It is comparatively new country, in the district, and there may be some soil conditions or plant life deleterious to animal life which time may overcome. The Winton disease, so named from its prevalence in that district is little heard of now. The ragwort whioh was so abundant was undoubtedly tho cause of so much trouble, and death among horses, causing many jevoro losses. Occasionally on farms where it is allowed to grow and flourish the loss of one or more horses results. Tho stock sales are still In a languishing condtion. The Invercargill stock agents resolved some weeks ago to hold fortnightly sales at Wallacctown ponding the continued approval of the vendors, and seem to have acted wisely. There Is not yet any sign of the markets showing improvement, as farmers, in view of a shortage of winter feed, will not run any risk of the trouble to be incurred by over-

stocking. There is, consequently, no speculation whatsoever. The" very high prices obtainable for skins and hides have made even the most careless look better after them. The number of sheepskins to bo seen hanging in yard* and on fences, until in many cases they were largely wasted, seems a thing of the past. During the last few days there has been a considerable improvement in weather eonditions, and the hopes of those who still have all their crop cut or a considerable portion have very much strengthened. This has been a great season for the growth of weeds, and so much green stuff in the butts of the sheaves- has made it more difficult to get the crop fn in good condition.