PUKERAU NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 19837, 7 April 1926, Page 8

PUKERAU NOTES

HARVESTING OPERATIONS. (From Our Correspondent.) The soaking rains of the past few days came at a most inopportune time for the farmers who are at present in the middle of harvest operations. However, as the weather has been cold, no serious harm to I the grain should result. The stooks have received a thorough soaking and a period of drying winds is required in order to put the stuff in condition for stacking. Speaking generally, the writer never remembers seeing better crops in the district, and does not know of a single crop that can be called a light one. Some of the fields present a regular forest of stooks, and the amount of twine used has been enormous. On some farms stacking is already completed, but in most cases this refers to crops sown in the autumn, while on others reaping has not yet commenced. Some crops have been more or less damaged by the prevalence of rust and smut due, no doubt, to the excessive moisture at different periods. Threshing I operations so far have been chiefly con- j fined to rye-grass and fescue, of which there is a large area, mostly in the Otaraia and Kaiwera districts. The only wheat crop in the district is a small area on Mr R. J. Potter’s farm which, judging from appearances, should yield up ! to the Southland average. j Mr G. Herron has a nice field of white I clover still to cut. This has been very slow in ripening this year and the present j wintry weather will further delay the pro- ' cess. The turnip crops are growing well, and should a renewal of warm sunshine be experienced the supply of winter feed, already promising, will be further enhanced. Dairy herds are steadily declining in their milk yields, although supplementary feeding on young grass and oats, etc., has been resorted to. The dairymen’s returns from the factory are the best received for several years past. A good many district residents are spending Easter week at the Exhibition, and as it is intended to run another excursion to Dunedin about the end of the month, no doubt there will be a huge crowd make the journey to see the last of the wonderful show. Tennis appears to have taken on wonderfully well here during the short time since the court was prepared, and next summer should see the game well established. The footballers have not yet had their annual meeting, but as most of last season’s players, as well as some new ones, are available, it is hoped the club will be able to put a good team in the field.