SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 13

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Fbom Ocjb Own Cobbespondent.) The dry and rather warm weather we have had for some weeks back has been ■very effective in various ways, and helpful and otherwise in different circumstances. To those who had not shorn it raised tiie yoke in the wool, and helped the shearing, and to some extent increased the weight in the wool, it being greasier. There are still a considerable number of sheep unshorn, which will help to keep up the number of bales for disposal at the February sales. There is considerable anxiety amongst those whose wool is of the heavier crossbred class. The last Christchurch sale gives a fairly good idea of what- may be expected. Some who have fixed their reserve at about one-half of what they got ' 1 - s *' year are afraid it may be too high. those late with their turnip sowing were afforded every opportunity of overtaking their work, although the prospect of a good brairding is considerably less. The ryegrass whioii was late has been filling and ripening rapidly. . , , In taking a general view of our products and the outlook for future values there is every appearance of a downgrade movement in almost all of them. Thus, not just in the near future, with everything, but at no very distant date, the fa’l in values is inevitable. In grain wheat may keep well up unless the crops in Australia turn out even better than they were expected, and it will be well for growers to keep that in view for future marketing, unless the Government guarantee and have to subsidise up to a certain figure. Oats are already down to half value, and seem quite likely to come hack to 2s. W ith plenty of feed in Australia, the supply of oats for local requirements in Otago and Southland will very much exceed the demand. Potatoes are likely to be in a somewhat similar position. There has been a rapid growth in this crop, and those well forward have flowered so early and are maturing so rapidly, that the yield is not likely to be exceptionally heavy. With no export the home market will be well supplied. A heavy frost some weeks ago blackened the potatoes in some of the inland districts. The price for ryegrass is not likely to soar so high as it has done. There is a much larger area to he cut for seed than was at one time expected. In some districts, while in flower, it was slightly frosted, but not generally. The high prices ruling for both grass seed and olovcrs has in many cases affected the pastures. Less seed has been sown per aero, and some have depended upon previous liming to help for a closer sole, which has not sufficiently made up for the lack of seed. The hot spell has brought this crop on rapidly, and, with favourable weather for reaping, it might all be in stock before the end of January. The winter sown oats, especially duns, which are most generally sown as such, are ripening rapidly, and there seems to be some very good. crops. This month may see a good deal of that crop in stook. too. In some districts the small birds are busy whitening some of the earlier winter and autumn sown crops. Upon the whole, turnips have brairded remarkably well, and where thinning is done so rapid lias been the growth that the thinner? are sorely pushed. Every year sees an increasing area put. in with the ridser, and this season that is very evident. The very severe lesson too manv had to pay for and suffered so much from the want of winter feed now nearly two years ago, has spurred on many to make every effort, to ensure it. Tn proof of it, one sees that the ground is being better worked to serve that purpose, and the appearance of the turnip crops on well tided ground already promise a full reward in a good supply of winter feed which means tip, battle for the year being more than half won. The intake at the dairy factories, which had been increasingly heavy, got a severe cherk in so~u districts, with the grass browning and drying up so rapidly. The water sponlv n» also failing in some districts. Much now will depend upon a good rainfall for the paster"* to recuperate. Also parties who are sufficiently provident- to have groe , and succulent feed for every such contingency will not staffer so much nor f -1 •• trying, if at all. New Zealand ehe ■ - m *• ’ making a name for itself, and take a 1 : t. pP.ef. in the Home markets: hot if lull, r is attended to and rnmifnctine v ns it !>.a= been and should ho. it wil’ take a position equally high and probably hig v e.. as its keeping qualities not onlv sproais. but excel other butters on the market. When mentioning turnip thinning getting bushed on. it is worthy of noting how rapidly turnips grow after getting into the

rough leaf. The favourable weather in the early part of January has made it difficult to cope with the thinning. In many cases the crop has got too far ahead of the thinners.