FARMING TOPICS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 12, 8 February 1907, Page 4

FARMING TOPICS.

A farmer of long experience in the Bruce district informs the Herald that the present dry season is really the best thing the farmers could have. Hs argues that the land has been so soured by constant wet that farming for grain and root crops wis becoming an expensive matter. The present dry spell opens up the ground, particularly the heavy clay lands, lets ihe air in and aerates it, making it more fruitful, sweeter, and better in every way than all the manures in the world could do. A normal season following on a dry one has always seen abundant crops. Then, again, the price of stocK is being maintained, and, with the Burnside works in full blast, lambs will be earlier into the freezer at a better price than last year. Indeed, the prices now being offered are better for this time of the year than they were last year, and quite an unnecessary howl has been raised as to the eff-ct of the drought, In reality there is only in one or two districts any cause for outcry jn. account of the absence of rain. The effect of one season's drought would not be noticed in New Zealand,'and indeed the present spell of dry weather is the best fertilising agent the farmer has had for many a year. The Danysz experiments proved conclusively that animals and birds are immune from rabbit disease. The majority of 250' rabbits on a separate run died through contamination with affected rabbits. This is regarded as an important test. A striking illustration of the effect that the present dry weather, with the consequent shortage of feed, is having on the stock market was afforded at the stock sale at the Tinwald Yards (says the Ashburton Guardian), when a line of ewes was sold at 3s nd. At this time last year ewes from the same flocks were readily bought at 18s, There is evidently going to be a shortage of fat stock in Canterbury before long. The yardings of fat cattle are falling off, and prime sheep and lambs are comparatively small in comparison with the numbers of half-fat sorts that are coming inio the yards. Beef is advancing in price, and sheep and lambs are very firm, the former beginning to show a rise.