FARM NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8087, 26 December 1906, Page 1

FARM NOTES.

The interim return of the acreage under corn and green crops in the colony for the 1906 7 season has been issued. This shows a gratifying increase in the aggregate. The nett increase is 93,122 acres, the advance being principally due to the improvement in the lamb business, the total increase being mainly due to the extended area in turnips acrts,

Oats show an increase of 36,304 acres, and bailey 3352 acres. The wheat area decreased by 11,036 acres, the mpjnr factor in the total decrease of 16,303 acres. Other increases are—Potatoes 4755 acres, rape 1957 acres, and other green crops 1081 acres. Deans show an increase of 25 acres, linseed 174, and hops 83. Other decreases are in maize 2397 acres, peas 1677, rye 398, mangolds 422, and other corn crops 250.

Ihe Wellington returns shew that f his season the area under wheat for threshing will be reduced by 1012 acres. Oats show an increased area for threshing of 1174 acres, slight increases for chaffing and feeding down, and a small decrease for ensilage. Barley is being sown on 312 acres less than last year (355 less for feeding down, but 40 more for ensilage). The area sown to rye is 37 acres less. Of maize 42 more acres are beiDg sown. Peas are being planted on a decreased area of 106 acres. Ninety-two acres less have been sown in beans. The statistics, compiled by the statistician to the Agricultural Department (Mr F. Hjorring) are very complete. In his introduction the Secretary for Agriculture, Mr J. D. Ritchie, says that weather conditions more especially in Otago and Southlaid, have not been favourable, consequently the areas under the various crops may have to be reduced.

The interference of middlemen threatens to seriously imperil the fruit industry of this country, for by allowing picking over —done against the recommendation of the Government Biologist and at the request of the trade—fruit infected with the Queensland fruit fly has been distributed through one of the most important fruit districts of the colony, that of Hastings. When it was discovered that portion of an affected shipment found its way south from Auckland prompt measures were taken to prevent any of the fruit being distributed, but before the State experts could follow up all the numerous consignments affected fruit had been distributed far and wide. Oranges containing maggots of the fly were sold on the Hastings Show Ground, to be taken on to farms and orchards throughout the district. If the conditions have been favourable for the development of the maggots, then it is impossible to say where the trouble will end. The probability is that the disease will be established in the district, and if not attacked by drastic means at the outset a great and profitable industry will be destroyed. Ihe actual position is that the maggot of the fly has been distributed throughout Hawke's Bay, and as nobody who purchased the fruit containing it is likely to have destroyed the maggot by burning the chances ate that it has been thrown on the ground to there develop into the pupae stage and later on, in the ccurse of a few weeks to take on the fly form. But even if these processes take place there is still a hope that fruit may not be attacked, and the pest thus end its existence. If the maggots had developed at once, and the pupae had passed into the fly in due course without any check, than the last form of the pest may have expended itself —its life in this stage being not more than a fortnight—before the eatly fruits would be soft enough for its ovipositor to have pierced the flesh and the egg be laid. It is to be hoped that all maggots which have found their way into New Zealand soil may have received no check in development, and that the fly came into existence and passed out of it before a medium was ready for it to perpetuate its destructive species. The Government experts are keenly alive to the necessity of prompt action, and growers may rely on their interests being protected as far as human knowledge is possible. Growers would be well advised to keep in touch with the Biological Devision of the Department of Agriculture in this matter, and as soon as any hint of a disease is heard to at once communicate with the division.