ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 20633, 3 November 1928, Page 7

ON THE LAND

REVIEW OF THE WEEK BETTER WEATHER AND PROSPECTS BUSY TIME FOR FARMERS With the advent of better weather a busy period is beting experienced by farmers throughout the province. Prospects for the rest of the season seem bright, pastures and stock quickly recovering from the unfavourable spring. With the favourable change in the weather farmers throughout Southland are exceedingly busy with cultivation work and during the next few days oat crops will be put in, the sowing of which has been delayed unduly. The planting of a considerable proportion of the potato crop still remains to be done and it too is receiving attention while the work of cultivation for turnip and grass seed sowing has also been delayed and will keep farmers busy during the next few weeks. Farmers are generally very much behind with their work, some estimating that they have been delayed at least six weeks by the weather. As a result of the better weather during the last week or so pastures have come on rapidly and have a much fresher appearance. There is now plenty of feed on most farms. Dairy farmers are benefiting principally and are now receiving greatly increased yields. Sheep farmers will also benefit from the change in the weather. Most of the lambs are now becoming well advanced and from the general appearance around the country they seem to be healthy and growing well. Dairying. The dairying industry is now in full swing and reports indicate that the supply of milk at most factories has been well maintained considering the adverse weather conditions experienced since the opening of the season. The bad weather which pertained through September and October severely checked the growth of grass with the result that production did not reach the expected maximum at as early a date as was desired. Nevertheless, the grading figures for the month of October for Southland, show that there has been a decided increase in the quality of cheese passing through the stores. A total of 1173 more crates were graded during October of this year as compared with the same month of last year. The quantity of butter, however, shows a drop of 382 boxes. The figures for the month are as follows: 1928 1927 Cheese 7513 6340 Butter 456 838 These figures represent an increase in cheese to the extent of 18 per cent, and a decrease in butter by 45 per cent. Prices on the London market through the past week have remained steady at about 109/- to 110/- for white cheese and 107/- to 109/- for coloured, which represents a decrease of about one shilling a cwt. The butter market has also averaged from 176/- to 182/- against 176/- to 184/for the previous week. Owing to the quiet state in the market, there have been no activities on a forward buying basis. The Turakina, which loaded at Bluff this week, took a consignment of cheese for London and West Coast ports. The Karamea, which is due to load about November 12, has an allotment of 9500 crates of cheese and 1000 boxes of butter for London. “Bobby” Veal. Killing operations of “bobby” veal at the Makarewa freezing works were concluded at the end of last month. In the meantime collections for the Western District are being continued and calves are being railed to Mataura works. During the killing season at Makarewa 7458 calves were slaughtered as against 6681 last year. Killing operations will be continued at Matauru for some time yet, the closing date not having been decided yet. Up to October 30, 13,200 valves had been slaughtered at Mataura which number is well in advance of the 12,620 slaughtered during the whole of last season. That the quality of the calves has been well maintained is evidenced from the fact that the average weights so far show a gratifying increase. Rejections have been very low and are not expected to exceed three per cent, for the whole year. Boys’ and Girls’ Club. The first root-growing competition of the newly-established Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs in Southland is now well under way, considerable enthusiasm being shown by the competitors. A short time ago, the Southland League communicated with the Minister of Agriculture recommending that a special officer should be appointed to take charge of the work in the South Island. The Minister has now advised that such an appointment was not required. His letter states, inter alia: “After going into the matter I have come to the conclusion that the appointment of such an officer is not required, it being considered that the most efficient method of carrying out this work is to continue under the present arrangement whereby each fields superintendent is responsible for the organization of the work in his own district. You will, no doubt, realize that dual control of the agricultural instructors would result in confusion and loss of efficiency, whereas at the present time all fields superintendents are in close touch with each other and the whole of the work being done in connection with the Boys’ and Girls’ Club movement is on uniform lines throughout the Dominion. With special reference to the Southland district, I would point out that an experienced instructor will be in Southland very shortly and the strengthening of the staff of the fields superintendent at Dunedin should enable a real forward development of Boys’ and Girls’ Club work in your district to take place.” Departmental Staffing. The revision of the staff of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture in Otago and Southland, consequent on Mr R. B. Tennent’s appointment to the position of superintendent of the division for Otago and Southland, has now been effected by Mr Tennent. Mr A. A. Hume, for the past two years assistant to Mr Tennent at Dunedin, is now in charge of the Dunedin area. Mr T. Selwood, a recently appointed instructor, has been given the North Otago district with headquarters at Oamaru, and Mr A. 8. Duff will continue as resident instructor at Alexandra. The appointment of a new officer for the Invercargill district has not yet been announced, but Mr J. E. Davies has been stationed at Gore. All these officers will work under the direction of Mr Tennent, who will decide on the experimental work to be undertaken each year. Experimental Work. An idea of the extensive nature of the experimental work at present being carried out throughout Otago and Southland can be gleaned from the fact that there are over 100 experiments engaging the attention of the officers of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture in this area. Mr Tennent has stated that this number will be considerably increased before the present season is concluded.