OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 12

OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

(Fbom Our Own Cokeespondent.) VERY FROSTY. We have run into a period of very severe frosts for the time of the year. For two succeeding nights the thermometer registered a couple of dozen degrees below freezing-point in. some of the inland districts—an unusual occurrence for the end of May. Last year when the snow came at the end of June we had not reached a lower point than 18deg below freezing point, and it was felt that this was severe enough. Of course, zero was reached afterwards, but that is not an uncommon record when we get a really hard, snowy winter. The air now remains very chilly throughout the day, except on the sunny side of the house. There have been several days with a breeze from the hills, and they have been very cold indeed, though fine and dry. There is scarcely any snow on the hills, proving that the popular idea that the mountains must be covered with snow before we can get severe frosts is an erroneous one. It has been noticed before that dry weather is always accompanied by stiff frosts at this time of the year. Already some householders are in trouble with the water, supply, and the plumber has been called in to rectify matters. It is time that water pipes were protected, and everything made as safe as possible for the next two or three months. Stocks of firewood are being laid in, and we are finding that the best place is the fireside. About the only thing that country people will turn out to is a welcome home to soldiers, and these functions are taking place all over the country at the present time. One feels the cold most first thing in the morning, and the worst period is about sunrise. In the evening conditions are more bearable. The main point for congratulation or thankfulness is the fact that the weather still continues fine and dry. Those who want to break up grass land for early spring crop are complaining that the ground is much too hard for the plough, but if a referendum were taken on the question of wet or dry, a continuance of dry conditions would carry the day. AGRICULTURAL WORK.

Teams may still be seen busily at work on - the land, drilling wheat for the most part. It is certain, however, that the area that is being sown is smaller than it was last year, and if the dry weather should last all the winter the spring-sowing _ will not be a big one. In any case, feed is so scarce that farmers are loath to break up grass land if there is a picking to be found anywhere. Turnips are being used for the lambs, and as there are very few turnips in the province, every bit of grass is being husbanded. An attempt is being made to keep the sheep in condition, both fats and stores, and the difficulty is to do so without trenching on the winter turnips, such, as they are. On the land that was summer fallowed there is still some moisture, and the wheat-sowing is going on all right; but where grass land was turned up only a short time ago the land is so dry that it is deemed to be unsafe to drill the seed, which is costly. Present appearances would indicate that the area that will go into winter wheat is small. Of course, there are many who follow out _ as far as possible the same course of action year after year, but even these are curtailing their wheat area this, autumn for one reason or another. Unless the spring is a favourable one we are 6ure to be a food deal below our usual acreage of crop, 'he wheat that is going in is being drilled under good circumstances, and is fully as early as usual in spite of the late summer and harvest. The paddocks are becoming tinged with green,, showing that the seed has germinated, and that the plants have made a start. The work. of getting up the rest of the Eotatoes is being pushed on, and care will ave to-be taken if they are to be saved from the frosts, which are very penetrating just now. It is seldom that the digging is conducted under such good conditions as are obtaining just now, and which have been present during the last two or .three months. The land is dry, and the weeds are not plentiful enough to cause any annoyance. The tubers have never gone into the bag cleaner than they are this year, and purchasers are finding scarcely any dirt on their potatoes. This means that they are getting good weight for their money, and that the frost will not do. the tubers as much damage as when they are covered with mud. There is also very little disease, and altogether the crop is a very satisfactory one. Pickers after the machines are making up to a couple of pounds a day, and they are working under good conditions. As many as can be got rid_ of are -being sold off the forks, but shipping is the problem just now. Selling as soon as the digging is looked upon as the best polity by most potatogrowers, but some are going into the pit this season owing to the fact that the price might go up later on when shipping is available. Last year many stored their crops in sheds, and some losses were sustained owing to the severe frosts. There can be no doubt that the pit is the safest place to keep the tubers through the winter. In any ease, they have often to be sorted over before they can be sold in the spring, and thus they have to be tipped out of the bags in any case. However, the cost of pitting and the losses that are sustained one way and another by this method make it desirable to get rid of the crop off the forks whenever possible. Turnips are being pitted for the winter, but the crops are very pop? indeed. Record 1 prices are being paid for any paddocks that are fairly decent. The impression is that when these purchases are fed off the cost per head for sheep will run over a shilling a head a week, and some of the poorer crops are changing hands on something like that basis. Fourteen pounds an acre has been paid for crops that are fairly good, but very indifferent paddocks are going for £5 and £6 an acre. The owner of one good crop of swedes has stated that those who wish to buy by tho dray load will have to pay sixpence a root, and there can be no doubt that a high sum could be procured' for a heavy crop. Ther© is still a great deal of grain stored on tho paddocks, and farmers wish that they could get rid of It In order that they might get it parted before bad weather sets jn. lb is felt that the Government is to blame in not being prepared to take

over the crop as it is offered if the miller* will not do so. Last year the scheme worked perfectly, because the millers took all tho wiieat as it was ottered owing to the tear 'hat there would not be suiiicient to last till the following season. Ihis year there does not seem to be the same lear, though tho quantity cannot bo much greater. However, the Australian wheat Is still coming in, and millers are not at all anxious, -Some farmers who must have the money are selling for fowl feed, and there is a good deal ot good milling wheat being disposed of in this way. It is almost impossible to sell anything else but Velvet, .Pearl, and Hunters. Soi.d straw, Sensation, Victor, and Dreadnought are all at a discount, though some of the grain is going at the rate of up to 661 bto the bushel. This is a very high figure, and it seems a pity that the growers of it slfould have -difficulty in getting rid of it at the top price. There is a feeling that the Government should not touch the wheat after this season owing to the uncertainty of the policy of those in charge of the matter. On the other hand tho Minister has stated that it is intended to fix a minimum price of 5s 6d, 6s Bd, 5s 10d ? according to variety, and there can be little doubt that a hxed minimum with a free market would be the best thing for the wheat-grower, especially if the tariff with Australia were adjusted on something like equitable lines. STOCK NOTES. There is still a good deal of difficulty in getting lambs away to the works. There seems to be plenty of space in Canterbury, but it is said that there are not enough butchers to cope with the supply. Some are uncharitable enough to say that there is not much of an attempt being made to get them. Sheep are being bought in the yards at many shillings below their value, and even those which are being sold at the works at so much a pound over all are not bringing what they should do with the Government price as a guide. Skini are worth big figures, anything between 7s and 10s, and there is also a good deal of fat nowadays. The weights ior prime lambs have been raised now that the heaviest of the lambs have gone into the works, and altogether it is felt that the farmer is having a bad time of it. There is talk of co-operative works in various parts of the province, but the trouble in establishing these is the fact that some of the concerns that have been ..established among us for some time are now so strong that they could squeeze out any competitors who came in the field against them. A trifle per head or per lb would cause farmers to leave therr own co-operative works in favour of the higher value, and difficulties would arise. It is a great, pity that tho farmers ever lost control of some of the works which have now become so powerful in Jjie land, but regrets will do little to meet the situation. There is a good deal of profound dissatisfaction abroad both with buying and freezing firms, and the more we get into winter the worse the feeling grows. The fine weather is the only thing that is standing to tile sheep at the present time. It is true that a great many fats have already gone back into store condition, but their number would be increased a hundredfold in a short time if the weather broke, and it may change any day. The turnips for the ewes have been eaten into very considerably, and it is to be feared that if the spring is a backward one the lambing will be affected • very materially, as the sheep will not have time to pick up condition for that trying period. However, prices have gone up quite noticeably of late, no doubt owing to the fine spell we are having.- Those who have feed are buying with the almost certain hope of a rise in the spring that wi|l bring, them in a good return. It is a fine time for anyone who is stocking up, as prices are lower than they have been at any time since the war began.

Cattle are low in price, and anyone who has rough feed and some straw will be well advised to hang on till the spring, when prices are sure to recover if conditions are anything like normal. In some of the southern districts the floods rendered it necessary to get rid of most of the cattle at any price, and now some districts that usually supply the markets with fata during the autumn, winter, and spring are practically empty of cattle, and it is difficult to see where the supply is coming from. Beef will almost certainly be dearer next spring than it has been, up to - now, which is saying a good deal. The grass grub is playing havoc with some of the pastures, and this is still further complicating the position. Much of this land win have to be ploughed up in the spring and put into crop of some sort. It is not safe to do so before, but spring crops put in on grub-infested ground have been found to do all right. Crutching is still in progress, though the weather seems very cold to be removing the natural protection from the hindquarters of an animal which puts its back to rough weather when it comes.