THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 12

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(Thom Oub Own Coheespondent.) At last weekend there wao a ’’cry persistent rainfall. so I'.ttjh 10 -wn.t in the Auckland prostrate over 2in felt within 24 hour-: wh.lst further along- the East Coast Hhe .hi - ’, was particularly heavy, from Jin to till iiv»i:n been 1 9 piste red. Hoads and brirbf-M were Lirily effected in the Tokaimrv, Bay cFutriot, whilst in the Auckland pro-rity,, t.i.e storm >.-«* 30 severe that shipping- v. ,\j seriously interfered with. Along >v(vC yi.-'t mild .-onditions prevailed. A fsmti 'leal of hnr! is being turned over, tho’lgL *orrs> authorities contend that only a limited irw>. will bo put under cron this ye>~.-, cj fiu--tiers will not be employing as ntj-ci If.Nxic as formerly. Some of £hem .ire os.-it.ii- -it agaip.d it, and not a few It-Tvs br *. *:it aii the trouble upon ihema»:rr»» trjr ijisinj { wav to tlu.ir love of possession. fiorio who had one farm wanted rnoro breed acres, and purchased neighbouring projiortjcs by paying a deposit and let ting thb halanco stand on mortgages, ’the collapse of wool and meat markets simply crippled them, and net being ablo to meet tlicir interest, they now rind themselves in a most unenviable position. Several properties have lately fallen back into the possession of former owners who had retired, and in consequence the latter, who were having a good time on the bowling greens, and were generally leading a lazy life in some of our cities, have been obliged to once more take off their coats and help the task of production again. Tho mild weather which has been experienced is working wonders with growth, crops and pasture are looking well. This is particularly so in regard to earlysown oa's which are coming on really well. At the same time many farmers would welcome some heavy frosts, not only for the purpose of disintegrating the soils on the more clayey lands, but to kill some of the accumulating pests. ENCOURAGING THE JERSEY. The Stratford branch of the New Zealand Jersey Breeders’ Association decided last week to award a gold medal, value sgs, to the breeder of the winning heifer in the Stratford Futurity Stakes, conditional on tho animal being bred in New Zealand. It was further resolved that a circular be drafted in connection with the Futurity Stakes for the purpose of distribution among Jersey breeders throughout the Dominion. TAIIIAPE SHEEPDOG TRIALS. The sheepdog trials held at. Taihape in •onnection with tho Winter Show attracted k’K entries. In the Pulling, Yarding, and Driving comjjetition 23 competitors faced

the judge, and the work throughout was of a distinctly high standard. The best run of the day was put up by H. Chase, of Ngatarua. whose dog King was under splendid command, and gave an almost faultless display. Unfortunately over-eagerness on the competitor’s part caused him to close the gate before the sheep were properly in the pen, and for that breach he ytus disqualified by tho judge. But for that bit of bad luck King would have secured the prize. K. Leahy’s (Waitotara) Star, who was under very fair command, secured first Erize, with J. Long, of Dannevirke, second; Munson, of Takapau, third; and A. M‘Donald, of Dannevirke, fourth. The first prize was £ls, second £5. third £2, and fourth £l. AGRICULTURAL CLUBS IN TARANAKI. The establishment of agricultural clubs for primary schools has been taken up most enthusiastically in the province, and a strong- committee has boon appointed to govern tno An futiuisiiistic meeting of educationists, members of tlie _ Farmers’ Union, and the Taranaki Agricultural Society was held at the EduBoard s offices. New Plymouth, on Saturday last. Details of the working of the scheme in South Taranaki, where the clubs are run under the auspices of tbe 4 Farmers’ Union, were explained by Mr G. H- Buckeridge; but in regard to the competitions in growing root crops he explained that, this season they had deckled to eliminate swede turnips, which were rather difficult to grow, and to substitute carrots. A calf-roaring competition had also been started, and promised to be a great success. A suggestion was made that if plots of ground could not be obtained for the town schools to grow carrots and mangolds something in the nature of a kitchen garden competition might be started for the benefit of scholars in town schools. Finally, it was decided to defer the question of kitchen garden plots, and that the competitions to be instituted be for mangold and carrot crops. The North Taranaki competitions will be practically ori a parity with those being held in South Taranaki, so that the province will be working in uniformity in the development of agricultural clubs. DAIRYING IN RONGOTF.A. Tbe Rongotea Cooperative Dairy Company lias enjoyed a particularly good season, and its output is a record one in the history of the company, which now numbers 201 suppliers. Tho quantity of butter-fat received was 553,1871 b. as against 360,1941 b from 150 suppliers for the previous season. Tho butter manufactured amounted to 300 tons, as against 200 tons in the previous year.

blackberry pest in poverty BAY. The blackberry pest in Poverty Ba.y has caused the Gisborne branch of the Farmers' Union to communicate with the department, on the matter, but Mr D. Ross, District Stock Inspector, will not admit that the weed is spreading. ihe Gisborne farmers, however, considered otherwise, and tiie chairman of the union expressed surprise at the statements made in the inspector’s letter. They did not, he said, require to have their eyes very wide open * to see that, in some places, blackberry was not cut annually. Several speakers referred to the alleged laxity in connection with the blackberry menace, and it was ultimately decided to write to the inspector and ask him to keep a watchful eye on the spread of the weed and to see that the law was enforced to its fullest extent. GOOD DEMAND FOR STORE SHEEP. The improvement in feed conditions has caused more attention to be paid to store sheep, and at various sales there has been a fairly keen demand. At the Matawhcro j sale yards in the Gisborne district last weekall lines offered of store sheep were sold under the hammer, and realised good prices. One line of 250 five-year-old ewes, which had been running with Romnev rams, fetched £1 Is 2d. THE CATTLE TICK. Those who have been so much concerned j in regard to the spread of the cattle tick will be relieved to learn that the Live Stock Division of the Agricultural Depart meat is now fully alive to the necessity of adopting rigorous methods to stamp out a pest that was calculated not only to spread rapidly, but to damage hides to the extent of thousands upon thousands of pounds. I According to Colonel A. R. Young. M.R.C.V.S., Director of the Live Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, the >re is only one way of eradicating- the cattle tick from New Zealand, and that is by dipping at stated intervals. That is io be carried out, and that the work might, be effectively done infected areas are to be divided into two districts—one badly affected and the other not so badly infected. No cattle will be able to leave infected areas without a certificate that tho cattle have been dipped anti found free front living tick within 48 hours of the time they left the infected area. The conditions to he imposed have been generally approved over in Poverty Bay. where grave fears were entertained that the tick might spread from To Puke, where it is reported to exist. At a meeting of the Gisborne branch of the Farmers’ Union general satisfaction was expressed at the measures being adopted by the Govern-

ment. The hope wa-s expressed, however, that the erection of dips would not be delayed in view of the approach of spring, and it was decided to tele the department to define the stock route between Opotiki and Motu. INFLUX OF HINDUS. Tile influx of Hindus into the Dominion is causing some farmers to view the position warn alarm, as most of tlie new arrivals work tneir way into rural districts. The matter was discussed by the Hawke’s Bay A. and I\ Association. It was mentioned that yi some piuces (not in the Dominion) they had become so thick that it was impossible for the white man to earn a living, and no one wanted that state of affairs in New Zealand. It was decided to reler the matter to the forthcoming conference. CHEVALIER BARLEY. Much interest has been evinced in Poverty Bay in connection with experiments made on the fiats near Gisborne in the glowing of Chevalier barley, artel it wouiu appear that by ttie success achieved this new industry is likely to develop well in Poverty Bay, and become of considerable importance to the district. Nortnern breweries have hitherto been mainly dependent upon southern markets for their supplies—usually Marlborough, Canterbury, or Otago; but- it was considered that the climatic conditions and soils of some parts of Poverty Bay were such as to ensure good results from barley cultivation. The experiment was tried last year, and proved eo successful that it is now believed that, if farmed in the proper manner, the product would prove quite .equal to the best imported. T fie growing of barley is also considered to be a profitable enterprise, a* some of the crops yielded from 40 to 65 bushels to the acre. Cultivation on » larger scale is to be carried out title season, and as there is always a good demand for good Chevalier barley all over the Dominion it is confidently expected that a ready market will be found for the good Chevalier barley grown in Poverty Bay.