ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 19823, 20 March 1926, Page 9

ON THE LAND

DOINGS OF THE WEEK. IN AND AROUND SOUTHLAND. HARVEST STILL UNDER WAY. The farming conditions have varied considerably during the week, but after an indifferent beginning drier conditions prevailed, and the harvest work has been pushed on, although there are still a number of crops to cut. These are ripening fast and should soon be in stook. There has been a slight improvement in the lamb market, with the result that the works are handling larger numbers. THE CEREAL HARVEST. The cereal crops are still being harvested in fair condition, and many good samples should be obtained. In some districts a few crops have been gathered without a shower, but as these are small ones they will not find their way to the market. As usual many inferior stacks are to be seen while travelling through the province, and unless these are well thatched a considerable amount of grain will be spoilt in the stack. Where the crop is being reserved for chaff, thatching is essential to ensure that the stack will be preserved in a sound condition. Nothing is more annoying to find on opening a stack that a considerable portion has been damaged by rain, more especially when with a little extra care this could be avoided. Thatching stacks always pays, and there are plenty of thatching materials available within handy distance of every farm in Southland. What remained in stook of the grass-seed harvest was cleaned up during the week, and the crops safely stacked. The quality of the seed this year will not be up to the previous season, as most of it will be discoloured, owing to the length of time in stook. Some heavy samples, however, have been obtained, but there was a considerable amount of “slake.” In the Kauana district the timothy crops have been cut and harvested in good condition, and should thresh out good samples. The land in this district is admirably suited to timothy growing, and good samples are invariably obtained. FAT LAMBS. The better weather has ripened the rape crops, and lambs on this feed are doing much better. The same applies to lambs running in chou moellier. There has been an improvement in Southland prices, which are now— Lambs up to 361bs .... 8?d 37 to 42Ibs .... 7}d 43 to 501bs .... 6M This is an advance of 4d in prices ruling a week ago. There have been more lambs sent in to the works during the past week, and those handled are in good condition. So far the tally is not up to the previous year’s total, but it is expected that the season’s tally will compare favourably with those of previous years. A comparison of the weight of Southland lamb over a number of years is interesting, and discloses the information that when large lambs were required for export, the average weight W’as low. The weight was gradually increased, and to-day is 41bs to 51bs greater in the average than it was 14 years ago. The following table shows the grading of the lambs killed at Makarewa and Mataura over a period of 14 years— MAKAREWA.

The dairying season is drawing to a close, and more cows are being dried off for their annual spell. The season has been a good one, and farmers should show a fair profit on the season’s work. The cows milked longer than the previous season, and the cheese manufactured should show a good increase. Prices have been uniform throughout and all the factories that sold their outputs should pay out a good bonus to suppliers when the final shipments are “washed up.” The cheese is keeping in good condition in the cool stores at Bluff, and if similar arrangements are made to handle it as effectively in London then there will be fewer reports about inferior cheese. The raising of the grading points has made managers more careful and, despite the increase of two points for Ist grade, there has been no falling-off in the amount of Ist grade cheese graded in the stores. PASTORAL. On the runs dipping has been the principal work during the past two weeks, but there is still a certain amount of this work to do in various parts of the province. The sheep are coming out of the dip in good order, and many farmers are pleased with the operations. Often when a dip is' mixed there is a certain amount of scum on the top, which those engaged in dipping often try to ski moff. This scum is easily removed by dragging a woolly sheep skin through the dip, as it adheres to the wool and can then be washed off. The greatest, mistake in dipping, however, is in the time allowed the sheep in the dip. The instructions state one minute, but few farmers allow their sheep that time to go through. Very often 30 seconds and in some instances 20 seconds only are allowed, and then farmers complain that the dip is no good. The Department of Agriculture take great care to keep the dips up to standard, and if farmers follow the directions given they will secure good results. CULTIVATION. Some of the early stubble land has been turned over in preparation for autumn sowing. The value of autumn sown crops is beginning to be fully realised by farmers, and with a good ration of hay these will carry the stock well into the winter. Western Wolths, chou moellier, Duns and Algerian oats, ryecorn, oats and tares and oats and vetches all have their respective supporters, and the only manner by which a farmer can solve this question for himself is to experiment with the various seeds on his own farm. Home experiments are : easily the best for the farmer, and do not take any extra time when sowing out a I paddock.

Over Any Average Season.28/36 37/42 42’s Weight. Weight. p.c. p.c. p.c. p.c. lbs. 1912 . 36.85 28.01 7.87 27.27 34.80 1913 . 46.26 29.68 7.26 16.80 34.63 1925 . 22.70 35.71 17.78 23.81 38.15 1926 to end Feb. 22.11 33.72 18.58 MATAURA. 25.59 38.09 1812 . 32.13 28.85 6.99 32.03 35.32 1913 . 43.14 28.59 6.68 21.59 35.66 1925 . 21.57 42.90 22.72 12.81 39.04 1926 to end Feb. 17.70 36.27 31.68 DAIRYING. 14.35 40.13