FARM TOPICS.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8052, 8 November 1906, Page 1

FARM TOPICS.

Messrs H. Ma! son and Co have I issued their Synopsis for I'JJG, a pub. lication that cannot fail to be of very j great interest to those who are interested in the agricul ural and pastoral pursuits of the colony. It is lull of inforiua'ion covering a very wide area of most useful matter, 'lhe year's returns from the wool, money, grain and live stock matke s are summarised briefly and effectively, railway tables for the carriage of j grain and stock are given, figun s showing the fluctuations in h ' vitlue I of fat sheep, statistic;.! tables co\ering j sheep leturns, export of produce, wool offered and sold in the colony and cereal returns for New Zealand and New South Wales and an estimate of the season's crops in America and Europe. Other tables show t'le exports of mutton and lamb from New Zealand and the imports into the United Kingdom, the average and highest prices for five years, shipments of meat from the colony and current prices of stock, skins, hides aud fat. The Synopsis is excellently illustrated, among t lie pictures being representations of some of tho nnsi charming scenery to be found in the colony. Of all classes of agriculturists who show eagerness to avail of the wider scope and opportunities of colon'al life the Scotch stand easily firs 1 ', (says the London correspondent of the Sydney Telegraph). On this account both the Lowlands and the Highlands have for many years been a favourite recruiting ground, not only for the Canadian Government immigration offices, but for the innumerable agencies of the big American shipping companies and the C.P.R., who have held forth alluring advantages in the way of accessibility, cheap fares, aod glowing prospects. The result is that many farming districts have been practically depopulated of all the most energetic and ambitious families. Still it is clear that many who have gone to conditions which are climatically little better than their owd, and often not so favourable, have sent home and brought honje stories that serve to make many of the cannier farmers and labourers pause. Mr T. H. Kirk, Government Biologist, lecturing at Eketahuna on the' potato blight explained that it WR9 a fungoid disease, and he urged all potato growers to pay strict attention to the spraying of their crops. Mr Kirk's advice to those who intended spraying was as follows: Spray at once before the disease appears, avoid delay ; spray the crop at intervals whilst growing; make the mixture in a proper manner ; see that the ingredients of the mixture are pure ; apply in an intelligent manner, using a side delivery nozzle; follow the directions of the Agricultural Department. With the arrival of the lambing season come also reports as to the depredations of hawks. Seagulls are also coming within the category of destructive birds in this district, says the Manawatu Standard, though so far the latter often arrive on the scene after the hawk has played the part of the executioner. Only recently a traveller on the Rongotea road saw a hawk strike a lamb and immediately tear out both eyes. This fact was ascertained by close examination of the lamb, which was at once put out of agony by the witness of the tragedy. Returning later along the road our informant Btates three seagalls were busily employed tearing the tender carcase to pieces. Several farmers now make a practice of placing the entrails of sheep in a convenient situation and shooting down hawks as they come to the feast provided. In this way great execution has been done.