STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1924, Page 9

STRATFORD NEWS.

SEASON OF HAY-MAKING

SOME SPLENDID CROPS. CO-OPERATION OF FARMERS. (From Our Own Reporter.) Stratford, Dec. 17. During the past week all over Central Taranaki hay-making operations have been in progress, and some phenomenly heavy crops have been cut. Unfortunately, the heavy rain which fell all to-day came at a most inopportune time, and many farmers,, who lipped to “save” to-morrow, have had to postpone preparations for the harvest. In the districts surrounding Stratford, the mild spring has stimulated a great growth of grass, and farmers find they could with ease carry much more stock. Even after making provision in exeess of their usual requirements for hay, farmers are finding grass going to waste, their stock in the pink of condition and their milk production tending towards a record. It lias not been a season for high tests, but the greatly increased flow of milk has more than compensated, and cheques are large. It is interesting at this season to review the various expedients and organisations brought together for the purposes of hay-ma King. All over dairying Taranaki little groups are forming, the members of which visit each other's farms in turn, each bringing a fork, horse or cart as required for the rapid stacking of acres of hay. In some districts these groups take the form of syndicates to purchase modern laboursaving devices, such as sweeps and stackers. While the initial cost of such machines is usually divided pro rata to the acreage of the farms of members, repairs and breakages are generally effected by the farmer on whose paddocks the damage occurs. The. system is a good one. and exists in many parts of Taranaki.

There are. of course, isolated cases o. farmers who employ their own labour and are interested solely in their own harvesting operations. For them much or the enjoyment and friendly rivalry of the group system is lost, but they have the advantage of being able to cut their pastures and gather their hay on whatever day is most suitable, without the risk of clashing with a neighbour’s date.

While many members of co-operative grcups make a practice of providing all visiting helpers with a "Tegular spread’’ at noon, others prefer to bring their lunches and picnic beneath the slowly growing stack. In the interests of the farmer’s wife the latter arrangement is perhaps the most suitable, and is becoming more general every year. It is argued that too much time is wasted in adjourning to the farmhouse for a meal.

The drying breeze and the ripening heat of the past week have brought the haying season on quickly, and given fine weather for the next few days, most of the farmers will have the matter of the provision of their main winter fodder well in hand before Christmas.

PERSONAL ITEMS. Yesterday afternoon an enjoyable time was spent at the residence of Airs. F. Bowler, when members of the Strut ford branch of the Home Economies Aa sociation assembled to thank the lecturers for the excellent series of instructive addresses delivered from time to time on matters affecting the home and home management. On behalf of the members, Mrs. A. H. R. Ames* (president) presented Miss A. Skelton with a crystal scent bottle, and Miss A. Ewing with a silver buttonhook and shoehorn as a mark of appreciation of their voluntary action in conducting the lectures.

Mr. A. Papps, of the local staff ofr the Bank of New South Wales, has been transferred to Matiere, and will leave to take up his new duties in about a fortnight’s time.

Messrs. D. P. Deere and K. S. Syme, of the Public Works Department, Stratford. have received notice of their transfer to Auckland, and will leave early in the New Year.