FARMING NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1343, 29 August 1902, Page 2

FARMING NOTES.

The weather has shown considerable improvement during the week, warm southerly winds, with rain, prevailing for a few days. Southerly winds have agaiu set in, and the temperature is rather low at night for much growth. However, a distinct start in grass and crops is observable, and, should frost keep away, a fair growth may be maintained. The late rain was urgently needed, the laud beiug unusually dry for the time of year, and all young grain was looking anything but flourishing. Dairy cows are now coming in freely, and will require good feed if their condition is to be maintained and the flow of milk kept up. Various fodders oud roots are recommended for milkihg cows at this juncture, but quite a number of Waikato dairymen are finding that nothing is easier or cheaper to produce for cow feed than green oats, sown early in the autumn aud ready for grazing by the beginning of August. Though oi a somewhat washy nature, this food is found admirable for the purpose of carrying the cows on until the grass comes, while also promoting a heavy flow of milk. The lambing seasou is about over, good increases being generally recorded. With the advent of warmer weather, no time should be lost in cutting and tailing, as lambs suffer a greater check in their growtli if the optration is delayed until they get big. In the case of large or very fat lambs, which always bleed very profusely from the tail, it is advisable to tie a ligature above where the tail is to be taken off. This preveuts any severe loss of blood, which means a loss of so much flesh, aud not infrequently causes mortality, lambs being known to bleed to death within an hour of the operatiou. The little extra time thus spent in tying the tail and applying some carbolic ointment to the wound is far more than repaid by the quick recovery of the lambs, and the freedom from mortality. The marKets have been active during the week, farm stock being in strong demand ; prices about the same. Stores of all cliisscs are on the up-grade, and with a little warm weather would further advance. Grain and chaff are firm, with an upward tendency, the recent smart rise in maize affecting all classes of grain. Produce is in keen demand. Potatoes are sttadily advancing, and promise to rule dear before the next crop comes in. Butter is at record prices for the tm.e of year, the Australian demand keeping rates at their present extreme point. Poultry is in good demand at high prices. Eggs are more plentiful, prices being lower. The fruit market is about the same, fairly sound uppbs making from 7s (3d to 103 per case. Bacon and hams are in strong demand at advancing rates, but even now are relatively cheap when compared with the present rates for butcher's meat, Ihe great scarcity aud demand for bacon pit's are causing prices to advance throughout the colony, the Waikato Bacon Company setting its usual good example ot raising the local price, which is now Id per lb, plus freight. This price will encourage dairymen to devote more attention than hitherto to this branch of their business, and is already beiuq reflected in the market for young ptgS) which are in strong demand.