SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3555, 2 May 1922, Page 11

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) It seems quite correct to state that the harvest of 1922 in Southland has been the worst experienced and the weather the most severe anyone has any recollection of for at least 40 years. . The harvest seemed to be - fairly early, with every prospect of the crops being cut and secured in good order. Very little, comparatively, was so secured. Many suffered- through co-opera-tion, or by parties leaving their own crops to help their neighbours, and so got caught. There have been periods, but very brief, when some was got into the stack, but too much, it is feared, not in good order. Tf it, had been a late season, or just a little later, with short days, many might have resorted to putting it into huts. Thatis four or five stooks or mope so built with a single row of sheaves drawn in to a point, when it will dry better than in stooks, and get more quickly stacked. Some did resort to hutting, and have been wonderfully successful. The situation is so varied it is almost impossible to state correctly the position as it generally exists. In some districts, and chiefly in the more northerly parts, most of the crop was got in before the weather became, so bad, and some of it has been thrashed, yielding a fine brightsample, but the grain is not heavy. Further south, excepting where there was not much more than _ sufficient for home consumption, the position is altogether dif-

ferent. Wherever there was most crop, very little was got in when the ideal weather gave way. If there were one or two fine days, every chance was taken to get as much stacked as possible, but it may not be fit for thrashing until the spring. This must specially be so in the case of wheat. In good districts, where there was more crop and some very heavy crops, there must still be a considerable amount of grain unsecured, and not a few farmers will be very heavy losers. Although there’ is a very considerable feeling of disappointment with tho season and much loss to be recorded, it is generally being remarked with some degree of pleasure and satisfaction that the last season has been, a splendid one, for grass and stock are in fine condition. Also, the number of lambs that linve gone away in a limited period and a full supply of autumn feed, with the prospect of nlenty for winter feeding and further fattening. In some dairying districts hay has been saved for winter feed for cows, where none ever before has been used. Also, for spring feed, where the soil has not got too soft, it is not an uncommon thing to see the plough in stubble paddocks. By getting cn quickly any oats that may have been shaken get covered and help to bulk up the spring feed. For spring feed a combination of Scotch vetches and rye corn have been found highly suitable. There seems to be an ever-increasing number anxiously making an- effort to have a sure supply of spring feed, both for ewes lambing and dairymen trying to do their best by their cows. On making inquiry, it is found there has been ntore experimental sowing “patches of lucerne than has ever been the case before. Many are so satisfied with what they have accomplished in a small way that much larger areas may be expected to be sown for next season. After such a fine winter as lasQ and bringing all Hasses of stock through in such fine condition, cows not excepted, it opened the eyes of many dairying people to find what an advantage it was, and how cows could become profitable right away and continue to do well. If the lesson has been- taken, as it ought, it will lead to greater production and profit, not by increasing the herd but by treating them as they ought to be. There is much dissatisfaction with the tests, many maintaining it is not at all to be attributed to the season and an abundance of grass.