RURAL TOPICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10487, 24 December 1929, Page 3

RURAL TOPICS.

SOUTH CANTERBURY ACTIVITIES. SPLENDID GROWTH. The weather for this time of the year may be said to be rather extraordinary. Up to the last few days of November, climatic conditions were very dry. During the last few days of that month heavy rains fell, and the result was vegetable growth of all kinds was stimulated. It was expected that a dry spell would then be experienced, but the unexpected happened, and rain fell at comparatively frequent intervals, and what is making agriculturists somewhat apprehensive is that the wet spells are becoming more frequent' and more prolonged. The present weekend was exceptionally wet, and almost peculiar. On Sunday,' early in the forenoon it commenced to rain, and by mid-day it was raining heavily, and, as invariably happens when the weather is from the south, ’thereAt\va's“a < 'Chilliness in the air. Before two o’clock the rain had ceased, and the sun came out beautifully warm. This condition of affairs continued until when it was comfortably warm. About ten o’clock rain again commenced, and continued until after sunrise yesterday. It cannot be said that the ground has received a thorough soaking,' but there is no denying the fact that it is distinctly wet. All vegetable growth has been stimulated, perhaps to too great an extent. What is feared is that cereal and grass crops will be laid, and heavy losses incurred in that way. The lighter lands, however, will benefit greatly by the rains, and there need he no fears as far as crops going down there is concerned Cereal crops everywhere promise well, and some fair crops of hay have been gathered, though the weathet has been a little “catchy" in this connection. SHEARING AND WOOL.

Farmers have had considerable difficulty in getting their sheep shorn, owing to the wet conditions, but nevertheless most of the wool has been got off, and quite a lot or it disposed of. Some private buyers have been busy since the Tiniaru sale, .md, growers having become a little “gallied” at the prices ruling, have made deals with the private buyers, at prices ranging from lOd to 12d per pound delivered in Timaru or Christchurch. No doubt the uncertain tone of a not too good market has caused some growers to “get the wind up,” and it will probably be found that they have sold too cheaply. The indifferent, or rather reduced, prices realised lor fine wools has prompted quite a few growers to wonder whether they have not been giving too much attention to flne-woolled sheep and neglecting the good old Romney cross that has stood the test of years. It is yet too soon to stale what lessons are to lie learned from the sales, but it will not be surprising. if there is a swing over to the coarser wool breeds. The stock salts have already shown that Romney cross “woollies” are most keoitl) sought after. This may, however, not be indicative of a change, but may be due to the better prices ruling for that class of wool.

EXPORT L'AIMB PRICES. At this time of year, fat lamb growers tire usually keenly interested in the market for this class of stock, and on this occasion they are exceptionally so. At a- meeting of the Temuka branch of the Farmers' Union, at which there were a good number of fat lamb growers present. strong exception was taken to the attitude of the Meal Bottl'd in not giving growers information relative to the fat lamb trade, it was stated that exporters only gave out the information which suited themselves, whilst the Board looked on. It was decided to endeavour to get some regular information from the Board, as lo the market, and as to the quantities of lamb in store and afloat. On the whole, farmers seem fairly well pleased with the prices ruling for fat lambs, or it may be (bitt they expected a bigger drop in prices—compared with the opening of the market last year—than what has taken place. Buyers for freezing appear to be watching the stock sales fairly closely, and are adhering to the limits set. The over-all value of lambs sold recently would be from Sid to S:'id. but some buyers would appear to be exceeding these prices in private deals. Quite a large number of lambs have been bought in the paddock at 27s and thereabouts, which is approximately 9d for a 361 b lamb; but most of the lambs disposed of in this way would average belter than 36’s. Farmers are qti'ite resigned to 'he fact that the days of high prices lor lamb are gone, and that they are not likely to see anything approaching 10d per pound for quite a long time to come.

CONTROL OF BLOWFLIES

For some years past, farmers in South Canterbury, as well as other parts of the Dominion, have been deeply concerned regarding the depredations of blowflies. The need of some control of the blowfly pest has long been apparent, and it is pleasing to be able to report that Dr. D. Miller, of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, has been giving quite a deal of attention to the development of a parasite for the control of those pests. The matter has been discussed by branches of the Farmers’ Union; especially the attacks of blowfly maggots upon living, sheep, which have caused heavy mortality among sheep in many parts of the

Dominion. Statistics collected over a period of scvoraJ years show tlia throughout the Dominion the losses among sheep from maggot intosta!ion averaged some £400,000 annually. In 1920 Dr. Miller imported from England, the parasite alysia. and the first step was to develop a method by which it could be reared successfully for the p'nrposes of liberation. This having been accomplished. a small scale o', liberal ions was made at first, but owin'- 1 , to lacm cf funds, the muss production o' (he parasite necessary lor it:; rapid establishment could nal ho undertaken. However, the hew Zealand Sheep-owners’ Ecdovation hrs made a monetary grrni which lias unanlod the alysia to be developed on r large scale at the Caw.'hron institute and extensively liberated ing the pre-sent season. An examination of the maggot on miested earcases in a field where parasites were liberated last summer and autumn.

show Hint the alysia was btisily on gaged parasiting the maggots. Thi; is a matter of very great iinperi ance Io farmers, and in the meat’, time the liberation of the nai-mir continues from the lnstital.es 1.1 sectaries.