RAGLAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 250, 19 October 1907, Page 3

RAGLAN NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

The weather for nearly two months-past has been "terribly bad. The oldest inhabitants say there has been nothing like it-for overforty years. The roads are in a very bad state, and the ground Is so wet that cultivation is out of tile question. Seed oats, are still in the sacks, and scarcely any potatoes have been planted. Farm and garden work are alike at a standstill. ,

Stock of all kinds has suffered, not only from the wet and cold, but there, is very little growth in the grass, and most of the winter forage has been used up long ago. There has been considerable mortality amongst lambs, but perhaps the heaviest losers will be the dairymen. The quantity of milk being delivered to the local factories is much less than in the corresponding period of last the cows, instead of improving, are going down. Prices for all sorts of stock are good, especially fat cattle sheep and.horses, while the outlook for the butter and wool markets is very good.

The continued bad .weather may prove'to be a blessing In disguise for tnis district. A poll is to- be taken shortly to borrow £4000 for metalling and generally improving our roads; and It Is .possible tnat tme recent bad weather may induce some waverers to vote for the proposal. With the Increase In settlement, and .the extra traffic caused by the dairy factories, the old style of' clay roadS are not good enough.

The Raglan and Kawhla A. and P. association are having a change of offlcers this year. Mr. W. M. Bankart is president, and Mr Allan Gilmour, secretary. At the annual meeting it was decided to cut up part of the show ground for building lots. The Te Mata Dalry Company have sold their butter for the.season, while the Raglan. Co. are .consigning theirs to London. Those who sold last season did best. It looks as if the other side would have the best of it this season, but it is too soon to tell yet.

The question of what to put-in for wlnter feed is a problem, as the turnip crop turned out so badly last year. Some are talking of trylng mangolds, and the small lots that have been grown here in the past have done well. But. after all, I think most farmers will give swedes another trial. I don't think potatoes will be planted very largely this season. The crop is an expensive one to grow now, especially if you have to spray (and It does not seem worth while growing them if you don't), and the prices this season for imported potatoes has been so low that there has been little margin for profit;