SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 11

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Fbou Oub Own Correspondent.)

Southland all o'ver has experienced of late, perhaps, the severest spell of unseasonable weather that has been endured for some years, and tho position seemed all the more severe on account of the amount of crop still unsecured. It is an established fact, however, that, taking any number of years, the amount of crop destroyed through stress of weather is almost, if not altogether, 'nil. It may in some instances suffer waste, but there has not been an absolute loss. The case is different with frost on grass seed and linseed. It may come at a time when those crops may not only bo severely damaged, but rendered useless. The latter may be in some cases a splendidly paying crop, but the great risk to be run from frost is a strong deterrent to its cultivation. It requires fairly heavy soil, and that is not wanting in many parts of Southland; but for some years back there has been very little grown compared with some previous years, when the price was not so encouraging. Wheat even at 6s per bushel or over has not been tempting, on account of the risks attached to growing it. First of all, there is the greater number of bushels of oats that oan generally be taken per acre off the.same acreage. If damaged by weather the oats can be made more available for, say, feeding purposes, and consequently cannot be said to suffer from wet weather or frost, as is the case with wheat. That is not just so much the case at present with such a demand and ready sale for fowl wheat, but it is meantime an exceptional position. Since that does not always hold good, it cannot bo depended upon. Taking everything into account, the general risk is always much greater, and the impression from every point of view has become_ so established in favour of oats as against wheat as to be axiomatic.

There are a few. things among _ many worthy of notice and strikingly in evidence. One is that much of the crop exposed to the elements of late does not belong to late districts generally; but it is striking how much there is in even early and reputedly good districts. This is, I imagine, largely to be accounted for by extra late sowing, where in, perhaps, heavier soil the Weather prevented it being put in in time. To an experienced eye it is quite evident that many crops of ridged turnips, now that tho tops are fading, are looking ever_ so much lighter than was the case some time ago. Even then the rows were too easily distinguishable at a considerable distance, and the tops have never presented an even crowded surface. Notwithstanding, it is reported that crops that could be classed only as a medium crop or under that some years ago, are being disposed of quite easily at about £lO per acre. That clearly indicates either an impression that winter feed is to be very scarce or a dread of it. Feed is scarce now, and the stock on turnips already in different localities, with very bare grass paddocks, makes it all the more convincing. In some districts neither cattle nor sheep are to be seen in the paddocks, but confined to swampy ground, and the feed even there seems being used up.

Even though everything on the farm went up 100 per cent, as compared with prewar prices,' the outlook for farmers and graziers at present is anything but bright. This is not applicable only to the Southland farmer, but all through the South Island, caused largely by climatic conditions, whereby winter feed could not be got in early enough, and the position was accentuated by the influenza epidemic. Not only has the bottom gone out of the store stock market, but the fat stock market has fallen considerably, too. Some who at local sales some months ago had got good prices, and being able to drive them to those sales easily, and rather than truck to Wallace town or Burnside, had fallen in, they affirmed to a lesser figure _of from 2d to 3d per lb, which was equivalent /to from 10s to 15s per head on wethers equally as prime as those previously disposed of. The producer has, I have no doubt, in most cases suffered to the extent of over 2s per lb, and tho consumer must be expecting shortly a fall in prices of Id per lb at least, and' wondering very_ much when, if ever, they are going to got it. There is a considerable improvement in the weather, and the late crops can about tho end of the week be dealt with. Thrashing has begun again, and some _of the crops may be got in in better condition than what was got in some weeks ago. Stacks that have stood tint-hatched for weeks look as dark in. the roof as if they belonged to last year's crop, and some put in hurriedly and not carefully built may have got wet during some of tho fierce wind and rain storms. Yery few stacks seem to have been thatched this year. Many may not have done so, waiting for the. mill to get the chance of a good market, and before the price might chance to come down too much. The sample might be better if the_ stacks were allowed to stand a while, giving the grain a chance to dry, and the light and damaged stuff might go with the chaff or straw. The oats thrashed 6omo time ago and particularly out of the stook will now likely be the plumpest and brightest of the season.

The income tax returns, which pu-~led so many farmers when they first came into

use, are now better understood. Thoy are returnable to Wellington on Juno 2. They have been the means of many keeping a better account of their income and expenditure and knowing their position better.