SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 11

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

CFeom Ode Own Correspondent.) In last week's notes, after recording, what has been accomplished so successfully by the Wanton A.'and P. Society, I might have given the views of the members and the cosition of State farms generally. A brief outl.ne may not bo out of place. The Winton people did not leave anything to chance, b>it decided upon some course of action which they twHeved would have tha desired effect. It actually has, and resulted to their advantage. They have felt aggrieved when they saw how the Government had established and conducted State farms in the North Island, and when approached for State or experimental farms in the south all conceivable obstacles were placed in the way. It may be that if in other districts many are mailing demands for State farms there will be a considerable amount of disappointement, but the Wintoh people, who were first in the field, and have got so far ahead, must now succeed. The land, they say, is typical o£ Southland land, and its position such as to place it first in Southland. The question, is often asked why so ma.ny State farms in the North Island and none whatever in the South Island. The South Island had something Idee an equivalent in Lincoln College. That did not satisfactorily solve the position. The reason given by some may be correct and, upon the whole, is complimentary to the South Island. It is worth giving, though apparently egotistical. _ It was because in the earlier state of agriculture in the Dominion the south was so much in advance of what it was generally up north, where for various reasons it was a" more difficult undertaking than m Canterbury. Otago, or Southland, or, in other words whereas general farming was going ahead' in those provinces, up north it was languishing, having more obstacles and ditiioulties to contend with and overcome, wh'ch made it absolutely necessary for the department to show the way. Some system of" nursing and succouring had to be reported to, which would at that time have been quite superfluous in fhe southern provincial districts; consequently it is now made to appear as if the North Island has hitherto been more highly favoured. 1 here may have been other and more cogent reasons not quite apparent to all. The labour market has been fairly active of late, due to a continuance of weather fairly suitable for outside work.. The prospect of the timber trade improving with the summer season and all restrictions removed has created a demand for bushfellers but not for sawmill hands in general. Road contracts have also created a demand, and general farm and station hands can be easily ■placed. . , , The secretary (Mr G. R, George) reported at the last Bluff Harbour Board meeting that there were still 11.539 crates of cheese in the cool stores at Bluff, but it was expected this would be very shortly shipped, and the whole season's output would be cleared. The Waimana took 11,011 crates, which cleared the season's cheese to April 26. The stores will be quite empty to receive next season's cheese. Lambs are appearing in some quarters, although lambing will not be general for at least another month. Too many have frequently found to their cost how great » mistake it is to have lambs before the feed

is ready for them, and especially with rough weather. It has been very difficult for anyone this season to properly gauge a crop of turnips, and to have any certainty how a crop might stand out for feeding. It has been quite easy to imagine even a good-looking crop to bo better than it really is. Thick sowing this season had a considerable advantage, and it made many crops look even better than they were. It was helpful, too, for if the turnips were not large they wero generally sound. The tops from the absenceof heavy frosts held out much longer than is generally the case. Even late-sown tnxnios got the benofit, and kept vitality longer and gave a better supply of feed for stock. The stock market, particularly in fats, is getting up to the position before there was any perceptible drop. A pen of very prime bullocks, sold by Mr It. Russell and purchased by Purdue and Reid, brought £36, which was tho highest price obtained. Mr A. M'Kcnzie, of Mains o' Blair, had one very fine hoifcr, which brought £2O. Others (did not reach quito that figure. While fat cattle and sheep, too, have again reached »ig figures, only first-class stores can com-

„ , ~ .. , ' < ■ ■ .? mand a ready sale, and it is questionable if any alteration will take place until feed is well assured. Even in the fat sheep class the sale dragged when butchers' requirements were all satisfied. A small pen of well-woolled prime wethers brought 455, and another 44s 6d. In store sheep good hoggets and two-tooth ewes were in fair demand, but all others were generally passed in. If good-class hoggets and twotooth ewes are troing to spring in price at all and get in demand, they should do bo from this on now.