DISTRICT NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 20115, 28 February 1927, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS

PUKERAU NOTES. (From Our Correspondent.) The rain and cold winds experienced during the early part of last week, have since been followed by more summerlike conditions and harvesting operations are being resumed with renewed vigour. The .hay crops have all been safely gathered in, in good ordef and the stacking and threshing of the rye-grass and dogstail crops are nearing completion. The oat crops have ripened rapidly and the present week should see the greater portion of this cereal in the stook. The rain spoken of previously, although checking harvest operations temporarily, had the desired effect of killing off the blight which was appearing in the swede and rape crops. Many farmers are complaining of club root in their turnips this year, a disease not at all prevalent in previous seasons in this district, and there is no doubt that it has been introduced in the seed sown, as in some fields the bulbs from some brands of seeds are quite healthy and others are more or less affected. Turnips growing in virgin soil are also showing traces of the disease, and the hot dry days are conducive to its withering effect. The milk yield from the dairy herds is declining rapidly and the feeding of supplementary fodders will have to be resorted to very soon in order to check the falling off in supply, and to prolong the lacation period. FARMERS’ UNION. The monthly meeting bf the local branch was held on the evening of Saturday, February 19, Mr. A. L. McDowell presiding over the following members: Messrs S. Edwards, L. Woodfield, G. Scott, E. France, H. Marshall, F. Trapski, C. H. Tripp and the secretary, G. Gordon. Mr. Woodfield, delegate to the Provincial Executive, reported on the business transacted at the last meeting at Invercargill. A report of the Dominion Executive meeting was read and discussed at length. The loss sustained by growers of grain through the ravages of small birds was brought up, and the meeting decided to forward a remit to the Provincial Executive to the effect “That the Southland County Council be urged to undertake the buying of small birds eggs and heads.” The president, on behalf of the branch, congratulated Mr. Trapski (County member for the Mataura Riding) on the present satisfactory state of the district roads.