OUR FARMERS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6438, 15 January 1924, Page 4

OUR FARMERS

THE SEASON’S PROSPECTS

EFFECTS OF HARD WINTER

i THE MILK SUPPLY

In a conversation with a representative of the Te Aroha News a gentleman who .has had extensive farming experience in Te Aroha and elsewhere, expressed his views on the season’s prospects from the point of view of the farmer. Speaking particularly of the dairy farmer, he said that the dairying season this year has been a poor dne compared with the previous one ih consequence of the hard time the !coavs passed through during the ’ winter. Of course the late spring, the cold snaps and the dry spell before Christmas have had their effects. While the recent downfall of rain was welcome, it came too late to promote a good flush. As a matter of fact, spid our informant, the season Avas about six Aveeks late. The supply is now on the decline, at a time of the year when the coavs should be at 5 their, flush. The rain that has been falling is nevertheless doing some good, and if regular rainfall takes place from noAv on, the autumn season should be fairly good. The country as a Avhole looks in a fairly good state of SUPPLEMENTARY CROPS Hay crops, this year, have been on the light side. Turnips appear to be doing fairly well. Grpen maize has not been planted so extensively this season as last. Probably the labour attached to the cuting,,, carting and feeding is the cause. Millet and turnips appear to be the favourite crops this season. A Jew of Jhe suppliers are growing the kumikumi, and some are cultivating the mangel. FARMERS’ HARD TIME The farmer has had a hard time during the last nine months, said this practical man. His stock ip of course still suffering the effects of the hard winter and late spring. It will take the whole summer before , some of them are really back to normal.