FARM NEWS AND NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1934, Page 24 (Supplement)

FARM NEWS AND NOTES

3 FERTILE OKOKE VALLEY. Despite the very dry spell that has been experienced production is keeping up well in the Okoke Valley. Though this fertile and well sheltered valley receives the full force of the sweltering heat of the sun during the day, it has its compensations in the shape of heavy dews at night, which freshen up the pastures. As a result it does not present as dry an appearance as some parts of North Taranaki. Wheat Crops Doing Well. The wheat crops, of which nearly 200 acres have been sown in a coastal district between Okato and Rahotu, appear to be doing well, despite the dry weather One area of about 12 acres which had been sown in somewhat light soil near the beach is already shooting into ear and it is expected should be ready for harvesting before the middle of January. The wheat sown is of the Major and Jumbuck strains. Care of Swallows.

Swiss boys and girls take a great interest in the migration of swallows. As the passage over the Alps is the most difficult part of the journey from England to Africa the children are always on the look-out to succour distressed birds. They pick them up and carry them in baskets to the nearest station, and when the next train arrives they are given to the guard. The train proceeds on its journey through the Simplon tunnel, and as soon as it arrives on the warmer side the lids of the baskets are opened and the birds fly away. The empty baskets are placed on a train returning to Switzerland and the children collect them ready for the next batch of exhausted birds. Calculations Astray.

The exceptionally warm weather and early season that has been experienced has caused the calculations of gardeners to be somewhat astray. Quito a number are finding that the peas Sown at a time, when in ordinary circumstances they would arrive at maturity just when required to grace the Christmas menu, have anticipated matters by running into pod too soon and will need to be picked at least a fortnight too soon for Christmas. Effects of Dry Spell.

The unusual spell of dry weather is having its effects on the pastures and consequently on the milk supply, creating a natural quota. The rain'that put an end temporarily to the drought of the early part of November has been followed by another long dry spell, which has had very noticeable effects. Fortunately, however, as an Okato coastal farmer remarked it had not been accompanied by drying winds, or the effect would have been disastrous. Rain, is urgently required to freshen up the pastures, and particularly to give a fresh start to pastures that have been cut for hay or ensilage. A heavy downpour of rain would also give a great lift along to the many crops of swedes and soft turnips that have been sown and of which many good strikes are to be noticed. The crops that had been sown early literally jumped away after the last rainfall. ' Backward Lambs.

One Central Hawkes Bay fat lamb picker told a newspaper writer that the lambs around the Waipukurau district were not as good as could be wished for, and the animals were fattening spasmodically. Generally throughout Hawkes Bay the season has been a very backward one for fattening, as the totals of killings at the freezing works indicate. The smaller number of killings that have been made will also mean that a greater number of lambs will be available for export during the January-March season,- in which mutton-lamb importations into the United Kingdom will be restricted.

Manorial Experiments. From the keen interest that they have taken in the farmers’ field competitions and field days and from their willingness to try out modem methods and to experiment with a view to finding the way to obtain the best results, farmers of the Urenui district generally have been regarded as some of the most progressive in Taranaki. Mr. J. Mooney has been one of those who, as a result of progressiva methods, has increased the butterfat production of his farm very considerably. He is experimenting further with a view to obtaining even better results and to that end has laid down six manure trial plots. In each case an application of 3cwt to the acre has been made, the different manures used being slag, superphosphate, sterling, bonedust, half slag and half super and half bonedust and half slag. With the experience gained by the competitions and also by the manurial survey plots laid down by the Agricultural Department, farmers now have the necessary knowledge to carry out interesting trials for themselves if they only have the inclination. Admittedly it may take a little time and cost a little more at the start, but it is time and money well spent if by so doing they are able to find out definitely what fertiliser will give the best results for the money expended. An exploding White Pine. An Opatu settler, Mr. D. F. McLeod, is greatly intrigued by the action of a stately kahikatea in the valley near the school, which because of its habit of emitting a puff of white smoke, he calls an exploding white pine. He says that in the middle of a perfectly Calm day at the end of January or in February he has seen puffs emitted, like the smoke when a gun is shot, at intervals of ten minutes or so, from among the foliage of the tree. He does not know what causes the explosions unless it is bursts of pollen that have accumulated dr possibly caused by moisture that has gathered among the foliage being driven off by the heat. He is anxious to know if any others have seen the same phenomenon elsewhere.

Money from Cocksfoot. . A King Country resident, who is fast approaching life's allotted span, knocked up a cheque of £l3 17s 3d for three weeks’ work in reaping cocksfoot along the roads and vacant sections, reports the Waikato Times. Cocksfoot is a valuable seed, and is always readily saleable at from 6d to lid per lb. according to how it has been harvested.