AROUND THE FARMS.

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 24 January 1925, Page 12

AROUND THE FARMS.

NEWS FROM ALL PARTS OF SOUTHLAND. Wtj can do with all the Southland lamb we can get,” remarked a Canterbury grazier to a Southland farmer who was in Canterbury recently. He stated, further, that Southland lamb had already been killed in the Canterbury works this season. Oat harvesting operations are in full swing in the South Otago district, and the yields in most cases promise to be good. In the Pukeawa district are to be seen fields of oats ruined by the dreaded black smut, and it is doubtful if the oats will be worth threshing. Fortunately this is an isolated case. The Tapanui Courier reports that a consignment of lambs from Mr J. F. Herbert (Heriot) to the South Otago Freezing Works w’ent through all prime quality, and averaged 47.811 b, and as these lambs will nett the grower between 44/- and 45/-, it is a pretty nice return. In the Lora there is some high-class farm land, well cultivated, and the enterprising firm of Messrs Lindsay and Dixon carry on an extensive sawmilling industry. They have materially helped to make the Lora. To-day in the Valley there is a school with some 20 rosy cheeked scholars, and the attendance is gradually going up. Farming operations, as stated, are also carried on extensively. If the excursionist is keen on pig shooting he can also get plenty of fun for his dogs and ammunition in the bush portion. In the Otapiri, farm cultivation also abounds, and the land here again is rich in fertility. The flax-milling industry also flourishes, while the stock raised on both farm and station properties always finds a ready market. The Valley is also a wool producing centre of note. The Otapiri is one of nature’s beauty spots, and certainly the river is an anglers’ paradise. The trout are well-conditioned and plentiful. The roads ate good, and if Southlanders desire a day out in the country, a trip up either valley will convince them that all that has been said in these brief notes is perfectly true. Mr J. F. Winter, “Huntly,” Wyndham, has cut a fine crop of emerald ryecorn, which is to be thrashed for seed. In the north this ryecorn is used extensively as green feed for eating off in the autumn and early spring. It is new to the south, but should prove valuable, as it is fine feed for dairy cows. The continued dry spell is having a visible effect on the pastures in the Western District, as elsewhere in Southland, scorched areas being quite pronounced. Early strikes of turnips are still growing, and looking particularly well everywhere, but later sown ones are in dire need of a good soaking to make them start away. In the Western District merchants are talking 3/- per bushel and thereabouts for grass seed, maintaining there is a lot about. Several farmers are determinedly shaking their heads and stating 5/- as their selling prices, or the yield will be stored for another year. Undoubtedly two of the finest crops of perennial rye-grass seen in the Western District for many years are now in stook on the properties of Messrs D. Shedd an and T. Flynn, Waikouro. The weather has been so dry and hot, though, that a shower of rain is needed to set the stooks, otherwise they are so loose that a strong wind would blow many over, and a lot of seed would be shaken.

Most of the grass harvest in the Western District is in stook, and some early cut crops in stack ready for the thresher. Due to the dry season and the early ripening, paddocks saved for hay have proved that, although the bulk from the sole is there, in most cases the grass is short. This deficiency will be more than made up in the quality of what has been saved, very little of it, if any, receiving any weather between cutting and stacking. Several paddocks of autumnsown oats have already been cut, but the general main crop is still some weeks from being ready for the binder.

The cutting of the fescue and ryegrass harvest on the Waimea Plains is well on to completion, and in quantity seems to have achieved a record, judging by appearances and by the amount of twine used (states the Mataura Ensign). The quality this year also is very good, and an expert examining the crop of Mr William McDonald, of Balfour, asked that gentleman to save some of his ryegrass seed for inclusion among the items for the Southland bay at the forthcoming Dunedin Exhibition.

Wyndham farmers generally are emphatically declaring that unless rain descends in copious measure within the next sevxen days or so, there will be a marked shortage of winter feed this year. Some of the turnip fields are already stunted owing to a lack of moisture, and the prevalance of parching heat. The cereal fields, in most instances appear quite satisfactory, and, given suitable climatic conditions at harvest time there should be a splendid grain crop this year.

The destruction of the Drummond factory by fire has greatly inconvenienced suppliers. Some 15 to 20 tons of cheese were destroyed. Temporarily the factories at Otahuti and Otautau are taking the milk of Drummond suppliers, with the exception of a few isolated farmers, who are separating.

In conversation with Mr John Chism, manager of the Sugar of Milk factory at Edfflttble, a Wywlham Farmer reporter Hrsrned that everything was proceeding vwy satisfactorily towards a comphrte retrabiiiawon of the establishment that was dwtaoyvd by fire some little time back. The manufacture of crude sugar is going on smoothly; and the building contractor is making satisfactory progress. The refinery section is almost completed, and they should be in a position to commence refining raw sugar next week. The new building is designed on thoroughly up-to-date lines, including fireproof embodiment on the most modern principles. In addition to the manufacturing rooms, a commodious drying room has been provided, which will permit of quicker and better results being obtained, as well as guaranteeing a superior make of glucose.