The Country-Woman's Corner

Otago Witness, Issue 3958, 21 January 1930, Page 14

The Country-Woman's Corner

Jean

.By

(Special for the Otago Witness.) NOONDAY REST. This is a phase of country life favoured by artists and poets. There is hardly any country but we have seen pictures of its flocks and country labourers resting from the heat of the day under the shade of spreading trees by the grassy banks of a lake or stream. So much for the poetic conception of the rural mid-day meal, gathered from the experiences of holiday-makers, who share the picnic repasts of the haymakers. Dining the Christmas holidays, when there is abundance of cold holiday fare, duck, fowl, lamb, and ham, together with jellies, fruit salads and cream, tlie housewife does not find the task of “ sending out the dinner ” such a worry as she does later on. Often the whole family go out to the hayfield, a fire is lighted in some convenient spot, potatoes and peas are cooked, and at afternoon tea time the billy is boiled. In a cool shady spot there is stored quantities of butter and jam, scones and cake, so the womenfolk may enjoy the afternoon cup of tea without the thought that the field workers are kept waiting, or that it will be too late to enjoy it when they return. The younger members of the family are delighted with the arrangements —afternoon tea in the paddock is an unusual treat —mothers and sisters are generally too busy to bother putting in an extra ’’piece” and mug, even though the small person is prepared to tramp hungrily for a mile or more in the heat.

For the average country women there is very little rest at noontide, and the extra bustle when a hot lunch has to be sent out to a crowd detracts from the little leisure of the morning or the afternoon. When the farmer’s wife has no help, and all hands are wanted in the field, the motor car is a blessing to the woman who can drive. The ever useful sledge comes in handy in rough country, but often the mother has to carry out meals and babies as well. However, that is one of many hard tasks that is part of farm routine in harvest time, but in the ordinary course of things there is no reason why the farm wife should not enjoy to the full all the benefits and beauty of summer time. Wherever possible, there should be a time set aside for rest in the afternoon, and this should always be adhered to. Even if circumstances do not allow for a complete rest, relaxation of some kind or another should be taken, and the result will be greater efficiency and better health.

It is impossible to over-estimate the benefits of early rising. To get well ahead with one’s work there is need of getting an early start. The freshness of the early morning, and the amount of baking that can be done before breakfast with the first heat of the fire, makes up for the sacrifice of an hour or two in bed. But unless one can be sure of getting a rest later in the day, it is no economy of time or means to cut down one’s hours of rest. If there is need of early rising ind no opportunity of resting through the day, there is always the remedy, the rest that may be obtained by early retiring, but that again, like so many other good habits, sometimes requires an effort of will, and, of course, one has to consider other people’s convenience. “ Prevention is better than cure,” a little forethought may helv to ward off an attack of illness or a ternporary breakdown. Not only the mother with the growing family, but all the members o*f the home need relaxation during some part of the d'ay. The cares of the farm should not take up all the energies of the waking hours. Other interests, books, music, and all the recreations of the summer weather can be enjoyed even by those who can give but little time to them, but such time, given regularly, will be found to be time well spent. The farm girl can strive to follow’ some plan of reading in any favourite study, half an hour’s practice with racket and ball against the side of the barn, carried out every day, is better than a chance game once in three months, and a few minutes in the garden every morning will produce results that could not be valued in mere money. Except in the ease of philosophers and idealists all workers look forward to the time when toiling and skimping will be things of the past. ’Tis what every one is seeking as he hurries through the throng. ’Tis the thought of every toiler through the weary day and long, ’Tis the hope of every sailor, doing duty far at sea— The rest that follows labour in the years that are to be. All necessary economies practised now will give enjoyment and comfort later on when sickness and infirmity overtake one, but in working for material prosperity there is need to consider those other duties that are required of us all. To lay up provision for the future, we need to practise the petition of the woman’s, creed, “ And, O God, do not let ns forget to b® kind. ’ In these davs the after-

noon calls of years gone by do not seem to fit in with our work, but where there is a will there is a way—it is necessary to practise hospitality now, for who knows if that future of leisure will ever be ours? The homes in the city that attract us are those which were always open to neighbours even in the days of struggle and poverty. One of the best investments one can make for the future is the wealth of friendship, but like other gifts it requires cultivation. It must be of such a nature that it will withstand all the misfortunes that flesh is heir to, but it will stand the test of even death itself.

Duty to our friends and neighbours also implies duty to the State. We must take time to study the affairs of our country, and do all we can to assist those who are working for the future good of the world. We must not be content with abuses of any kind; any measure that is to benefit mankind should lie given the heartiest support. The busy person on the farm can, by giving a little time regularly to the study of passing events, educate themselves to be legislators of the future, for like everything else, unless one follows events, there is a chance of dropping out of things and becoming self-centred, and when the time conies that one might wish to take part in any great movement, it may be found that there is much that one must learn.

MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD.

SMITHFIELD PRICES. The New Zealand Meat Producers' Board has received the following cable from its London office, dated January 17, advising Smithfield delivered prices averaged for week ending that date as follows: — (Prices for the two previous weeks are also shown).

Lamb: Market very firm owing to smalt arrivals, but trade rather slow. Mutton Market: Demand is good for both wethers and ewes. Stocks short. Market firm. Beef Market: Firm with good demand. N.Z. Porker Pigs: Ready sales all arrivals at present prices. N.Z. Baeoner Pigs: Good inquiry for small quantities available.

BLUESKIN SHOW.

SPECIAL PRIZES AWARDED. At a meeting of the committee of the Blueskin Agricultural and Pastoral Society the following special prizes were awarded: — Society’s cup for most points in horses and cattle.—Mr W. Reid (Seacliff), who wins it outright. Mr C. T. M'Callum was runner-up. President’s cup for most points in cattle. —Mr W. Reid. Bland cup, for best 14st hack.—Mrs T. Dalziel’s Chrysler won for the second time. Society’s trophy for first lady's hack.— Mrs Dalziel Bland memorial trophy, for most points in show. —W. Reid. Sheep guessing competition (correct weight 2231b).—Mrs Samson (Dunedin) and Mr Haigh (Mosgiel) (equal), 22211 b.

rH 2 cd ri N.Z. Wethers and Maidens— aS 3 a Canterbury quality, lb. d. d. d. Selected brands 56/under 7| 71 7 57/01 .. 7 65 61 65/72 .. fiS 64 61 Other brands ., 56/under 71 57/01 .. 7 —- — 05/72 .. 6? — N.Z Ewes 6 4, under 54 4i N.Z Lambs— Canterbury quality .. 36 under » (Old season's) 37/12 .. «— 8£ Selected brands (New season’s) .. 36/under 11 10J 101 37/12 .. —— - —— Other brands— First quality 36 'under IOS 10 J 101 (New season's) .. 37/12 .. — — — Second quality .. 30/32 aver 9’ 91 10 Australian Lambs (new season's) — Victorian, first quality 36/under 9 1 S* S3 37/12 .. 9 84 8S Argentine Lambs (new season’s) — First quality 36/under S U 71 37/12 .. 8 71 ’ft N.Z Beef— Ox fores .. 4? 4’ 41 Ox hinds 6} 61 63 Cow fores Cow hinds — — Argentine Chilled Beef— Ox fores .. 5J 51 41 Ox hinds .. 71 71 Australian Frozen BeefOx crops over 1001b rc Ox hinds over 1001b . . Gi Gi 63 N.Z. Frozen Pork— Porkers, 60/801b . . 11 11 101 Porkers, 8 l/9!)lb . . 101 JOJ 101 Porkers, 100'1201b 10 10 10 Baconers, 121 1801b 9 — Frozen Veal — —