TUHIKARAMEA.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 110, 23 March 1897, Page 3

TUHIKARAMEA.

Farmers Matters. —Tiie late spell of fine weather has been very welcome, enabling settlers to push on with the grate seed sowing on the newly-ploughed atnbble lands, and, in a few instances, to get the threshing and chaff-cutting done. In the hitter eases Messrs Taylor Bros.’ steam machine is doing the work, but the bulk of the growers are waiting for Mr Hutchinson’s new threshing machine, which is expected in the district in the course of a few weeks. It is satisfactory to be able to state that in spite of the very unfavourable harvest weather experienced, the grain crops were handled in this district without any losses through the wet. No doubt tiie plan which is generally followed by our growers of helping each other in harvesting and threshing operations is a capital one as regards the prompt handling of grain, and where additional hired labour cannot always be obtained at a day’s notice, is often the only means of saving perishable crops. Respecting grain yields, they are expected to be close up to the average,, botli wheat and oats being well headed with plump, wellfilled grain, albeit the straw was uncommonly short, and, what is of much consequence, there has been a complete absence of the peculiar fungoid disease which affected the wheat so seriously last seasou by breaking down the straw and almost destroying the finest looking crops. Potatoes, also, have much improved during the past few weeks, and though the crop,is much later than usual in ripening, promises to yield fairly. A reduced area of these roots has been grown this to aeusnn, the heavy handling required, together with the uncertainty ot the markets. having, uo doubt, much to do with it. Turnips are now doing well, though the season has been much against them, and, to make matters worse, during the last rains the turnip caterpillar appeared in large numbers on the leaves, turning them yellow, and, no doubr, prejudicially affecting the growth of the roots. In some cases also the heavy rains rotted the young plants, and even some that were far advanced, so that taken all through it has been a trying season for growers, but the present warm weather will diy the land and harden the plants without cheeking their growth. Some large areas of swedes have been grown, and, iu view' of their requirements later on, our settlers have been busy at the sheep-fairs purchasing amt driving home mobs for fattening. The creamery question is still in the air, and a meeting of those interested is to be held shortly, so that something definite in the way of a list of cows guaranteed, site for premises, etc., may be put before the Dairy Association. The School. School matters are progressing satisfactorily under the able control of the teacher, Miss Johnstone, the attendance keeping at about twenty. Licensim; Election. Very little interest appears to be taken in the forthcoming licensing election, the old committee being generally regarded as having done their duty fairly and being worthy of re-election. Of the new men nominated, Mr E. Fitzpatrick, of Nguruawahia, who is so well-known and respected by Waipa settlers, is certain to receive a large amount of support.—(Ow n Correspondent).

Visiting cards printed, equal to copperplate, at The Akhcs office. Nickel bits repaired, also new rings fitted, by H. H. Howden, jeweller, etc., Hamilton. j£he chemical constituents of the musbrori are almost identical with those of meat, and it possesses the same nourishing properties, titone steps may be kept free from greenness, and will become less slippery, by adding a small quantity of chloride of lime to a pail of water when washing them,