FARM NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13664, 31 March 1908, Page 3

FARM NOTES.

• A correspondent of ,tt^f aVke's '^y - Herald' states 'mat' \hp sheep-maggoi, : has been definitely recognised in. . i HaM'ke's Bay, in-the-Ruataniwha district, and, wJthoiit number, that it has already commenced operations on sheep and it is evidenti that it 13 goiixg to do , a great deal of damage. It is believed that the niaggbt fly has also vaade its appearance at Tonui, in 1 the WJiiraraya , district. The local stock osisi»* a& ll.B^l I . B^ samples fi tjie fly sent to him, which appear .to correspoiid exactly with tho description in t^ie. bulletin. - • Good ploughmen are < very scarce in the Ashbhrton county. #t present, and labour agents have boon overtaxed with Inquiries. An argent states that during , the, past fortnight ho kos had inquiries for twenty-three ploughmen, am? >nly nin^ have,. been available. The, Agricultural Department js •■atisfied that ; it- took. a. wise step when t purchased Angora j^oata in South Australia for bflaeding in the.Dominion. TJio arrivals, acQording to the Wellington Post, have .iqultiplied, in a <vonderfuJ majw^er. A large jnunber of the goats have iff&n so|d to settlers in { various parts oftho cotintry, and are proving invaluaWe in eating dowii the noxious weeds and shrabs. . The demand for Angoras is grpatfer than the <upply. A puce^wed Angora; ffl alel goat is worth from' l.5 v .io 20. guineas, Sqnjetimo ago tl» department) .pl^oed forty. >r fifty commons goats in »it enclosure itt the Pelorps syalley, infested with briar and "blackberry, andit r li»6 been found that they eat th> bushes with zest. An effort 3a now bbiiig jnade to jecure a larger area in order* tg further demonstrate' th© ,ft*ef ulness of tho animate in clearing land usetaM vegetat ion. •• • ■Hi ': .//*.' '■* ;' *