CROPS, PASTURES, AND STOCK.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 50, 6 October 1911, Page 4

CROPS, PASTURES, AND STOCK.

In many districts (says the Agricultural Journal) stock have come through the winter remarkably well —very much better indeed than had been expected. Sheepowners have been particularly fortunate in the season. With a shortage of special feed the winter was approached with considerable anxiety, but the absence of rain and the comparative mildness of the winter months provided ideal conditions for sheep: even the usual winter mortality was not experienced. Those who have been able to arrange for lambing during August have been fortunate. On many farms strong and thriving lambs are the rule.

Unfortunately, in some dairying localities cattle have not come to their milking season in a condition which will enable them to come at once to their full profit. In some of these instances the land has only recently been brought into grass and did not enable the provision of the essential winter food to be made, while in other cases the country is of such a character that cultivation is somewhat difficult. Winter food to maintain milking stock in a profitable condition, cannot be reasonably dissociated from dairy-farming. Fortunately, instances of failure to make provision for it are annually declining. The outlook generally is decidedly hopeful, while the dairyfarmer has probably never approached a season when such high values have been on offer for his products. This is essentially a time to appeal to him to do his share in the maintenance of a high-quality export article, by providing a clean and sound raw product, by keeping his stock in healthy condition, and. by observing strict cleanliness throughout his milking operations.