Balfour.

Southland Times, Issue 9574, 20 July 1887, Page 3

Balfour.

(FROM OUB OWN OOBBESPONDBNT.) Last week we enjoyed a fine spell of drying weather. The ground was in fine condition for sowing spring wheat ; an opportunity the farmers should always be in position to take, for I have noticed the profit has always been on the side of early sowing. Frosts often come early, and late crops suffer and so does the farmer's pocket. Ploughing matches are all tbe go at present, but the farmeis do not take an iuter.it in

them as they ought for reasons too plainly seen. The following dialogue between Bandy Subsoil and Jamie Plainplough, at Balfour, on the night after the Waimea Ploughing Match, bears out the general opinion pretty clearly regarding them :— Sandy to Jara'e : " Was you doon seem' the ploughing match th' day ?" — Jamie : " Na, na I what would be the use o' me gaun there wi' my plain plough. I would only be laucht at."— Sandy : *« Weel, ye're quite ricbt there. We canna compete wi' oor ploughs as we us« them afc hame with ony hope o' success, a* lon* as this false style of ploughin' is looked up to aa the s andard." — T amie : "Dae away tbe cut and adopt a system of ploughin' that every experienced and practical farmer has proved beneficial for guid crop growin', and then the farmere wad tak' a lively interest in the matches, and we wad, beside*, get rid o' | that itber obstacle to local competition, tbe ' travelling advertisement,' that gangs aboot frae match to match wi' a plough eot up and keepit for the occasion." — Sundy : " And what does this fine ploughin', so called, amount tae? A've aften seen the first pr ; ze rig grow tbe puirest crop iu the paddock. False out is the proper name for it, an' nae misUk'. I consider it is good ploughiu' when it is ploughed in sic a manner that twa stalks o' corn will grow where only yin grew before ; but this false system reverses tke thing, and ae stalk grows where twa would grow if properly ploughed." — Jamie : " Weel, I never thocht ye kent sae muckle aboot ploughin', Sandy." — Sandy ; " Ploughin' I of coorse I ken aboot ploughin', and 1 winua stop at that, for I'd subsoil ; that's the idea for crop-growiu'." — After hearing these two farmers talking, I waa led to the conclusion that there must be something wrong in the style of ploughing now in vogue at the matches, and I would suggest — if a ditcher be allowed that privilege— to the farmers of Balfour and Longridge, that if they do get up a ploughing match, run it so that tbe rig bearing the best crop be awarded the first prize. ! None of tbe candidates for Hokonui baa j yet given us a visit. I believe our present j member will score high against all-comera ; from passing remarks I. infer he is generally much respected. 18th July.