THE FARM

Patea Mail, Volume XLVIII, 15 January 1926, Page 3

THE FARM

NOTES.

The wheat crops in North Otago aro looking remarkably well and there should be a very heavy yield.

The crops of turnips and mangolds on the farms in the Waitotara district look remarkably well, notwithstanding the exceptionally dry season. This does not appear to be the case nearer Wanganui, as turnips hear Westxnere have gone to seed.

; ‘i; A. giant mushroom was brought to the ‘ ‘ Mataura Ensign ’ ’ Office the other morning. It weighed 2JIb and measured I2Jin across.

Dairy farmers throughout the Poverty Bay district are facing a serious shortage of feed at present, and unless rain i 3 -experienced in the near future the

position on the flats will be acute. Al- ' r ready many farmers have had to eu- ' “crouch upon their hay paddocks for feed.

In the course of its report on agricultural education the Board of Agriculture observes that it was shown in evidence that wherever boys ’ or girls’ clubs were properly organised, they greatly helped to awaken the interest of both parents and children in agricultural education.

That there is almost unlimited scope for the exportation of New Zealand apples to the London market is the opinion of Mr. T. W. Attwood, expresident of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Association, who has just returned to Wellington from England.

The annual losses in Canada’s field crops alone reach a staggering total. For example, grain smuts cause an annual loss of upwards of 12,000,000 dollars, and grain rusts cause an annual loss of some 5,000,000 dollars to 50,000,000 dollars. Losses from potato diseases annually total from 2,000,000 dollars to 5,000,000 dollars.

Statistics show that out of 1257 herds tested in the Waikato 112 herds, or 9 per cent., averaged 3001 b per cow. If similar progress had been made in other districts, we would to-day have 5000 herds in the Dominion up to 3001 b standard, and an additional revenue of more than £1,000,000 per annum.

A ‘Timaru labour agent a few days ago said that on account of the holiday season, the labour market was practically at a standstill. This does not include shearing, which is at present in full swing, with most of the blade and machine sheds well filled. There have been inquiries already from Southland labourers for harvest work, which is expected to be available towards the end of this month.

If the sheep farmers were attacked with the idea of creating a new Denmark, it would mean that the sheep industry would be sacrificed for an extension of the dairying industry, says the “ Southland News.” The Dominion eould not stand up to the process. The close settlement of sheep country must be carefully restricted, so that the industry’s power is not impaired and its ability to stand a temporary reverse is kept up.

A drover, Mr. Kelly, had a miraeulous escapd from a serious accident ■while crossing the railway line about half a mile south of Orari (South Canterbury) a few days ago. He was driving a horse in a sulky and leading another horse, also attached to a sulky, when the evening train from Ashburton ran into the horse that was being led. The animal had one foot cut off, and was otherwise cut about. The horse was destroyed shortly after the accident. The vehicle was damaged considerably.

The progeny of a cross-mating between two pure bloods can be expected to be very uniform in type, but if these crossbred pigs are used for breeding the next generation will consist of very mixed types. Breeding from crossbred pigs is therefore to be discouraged.

The following summary of the irrigable areas of Central Otago makes interesting reading:—Areas actually under irrigation on January 30, 1924, tottalled 25,750 acres, of which 21,400 acres were the result of Government work and 10,000 private enterprise. Local bodies were responsible for 4350 acres. On the same date, works under construction with a prospect of being completed in 1924 would cover 50,750 acres. Another 280,750 acres could be irrigated by the gravitational -water supply method and 42,350 acres were considered worth while when power became cheap enough to allow for pumping. The grand total is 408,600 acres, for 386,900 acres of which the Government is responsible.

The fourth Guernsey cow in Australia to yield 10001 b commercial butter in 12 months, under official test, is Parsons' Eed Bose XX., of Wollongbar. All four cows to achieve this honour have been located at the same Government farm. The actual figures for the year were: 14,8701 b milk, representing 86V-9651b fat, and equal to 1045.741 b commercial butter. In the 273 days' test she yielded 11,71131 b milk and 669.6151 b butter-fat. Parsons' Bed Eosc XX. is a junior four-year-old, and is by George XII. (bred at Berry Experimental Farm) out of Parsons' Eed Bose I. (imp.). She was bred at Wollongbar, and is of the same robust type as her dam. The average of the last two monthly tests was 341 b and 2.161 b butter-fat per day.