SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 11

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(From Ouh Own Corhespondent.)

One hears on every hand that, after a fine winter, everything' is well forward. The grass is coming even in old pastures, and autumn and winter-sown grain is looking well. Some were very sparing of their turnip-feeding in the early part of the seaSon; but * the weather being favourable, there is a,n ample supply now feed is abundant, and all classes of stock looking- well. The result was a strong demand for all classes of stock, and the sales of stores, which had for some timo been quite stagnant, became quite brisk; and all classes; even where there were large yardings, were readily disposed of. Of late, however, although all classes of stock are getting cleaned, there does not seem to be the same confident and spirited bidding. It may be the carrying capacity of those who had a sufficiency of feed may have been filled up. Those who can hold on will try and do so. If the keenness has somewhat abated it may also to some extent be attributed to a feeling of uncertainty as to the weather conditions, may be from this forward, for at least the next three months. The acreage put into wheat will now depend very much upon the weather prevailing during the early part of this month. Although the ploughing is well forward, and there dry seed beds being prepared, yet in some districts less has been sown. Manure will be more costly than last year. If the demand should be any greater it is feared the quality will be reduced. Last season it is believed larger quantities of so-called carbonate of lime were used to increase the quantity, of manure, but much of it was not real carbonate of lime, but ground rock, to serve the purpose required. Some crops of turnips, where different kinds of manures were used on the same crop, showed only too clearly how valueless some of the manures really were. The rabbits seem much scarcer than they were before the skins were.booming. Many who had taken up rabbiting have ceased operations, but regular and skilled rabbiters have kept going, und many of them have done fairly well. So long as they can average what they consider a payable number per day they keep at it. The price has not yet got too low for most of them, and when there is a run of favourable weather, as has generally been the case right through 'this winter, it is the worse for bunny, and the rabbiters have a better innings.

At the Inglewood sale of Ayrshircs on the IStli. inst. Southland was largely and widely represented, with the result that the bulk of the 50 odd were disposed of. A -very large number were secured bv local buyers well acciuainted with the high-class character of the herd, despite the fact of buyers being present from all parts of the Dominion. Most of the animals went at prices reaching- three figures, the favourites going over that wero Annie Laurie 11, Highland Mary, and Gertrude of Inglewood. On the evening of the 17th inst. a meeting of Southland Ayrshire breeders was held in the rooms of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society. Mr Allan Gait, who presided over a good attendance, said he had called the meeting for the purpose of forming a Southland branch of the Ayrshire Association. He hold that such a branch would considerably advance the Ayrshires in Southland. It was decided to form a branch, and that the South Island championship for 1920 be held in Invercargill. A strong committee was appointed, with Mr A. Gait as chairman and Mr D. Irving as secretary.