JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14884, 26 January 1914, Page 9

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

An unusually heavy downpour of rain occurred at Waiau on Friday morning, ono inch being registered for a few hours' fall at the "post office, and 1.60 in nearer the hills. Farmers were caught in the middle of their harvesting rather badly, and a lot of stuff that was reaped but not stcoked had to be eet up while wet, a most unpleasant job. Threshing from the stook has commenced on the Downs, and some exceptional yields may bo looked for. That raspberry-growing may bo turned into a.profitable side line is illustrated by tho fact that the wife of a small farmer at Waiau has, up to the present this season, gathered over 6cwt off her raspberry plot. She expects to get quito half ns much again before the season is ended, and' the net returns selling at 6d per lb, with a good demand, mount, up to quite a respectable little sum. An export bxiyer operating in the Hawkswood (Waiau) secured a fairly substantial lino of fat lambs, the price averaging 18s 3d. One lino from Mr Barwellof 300 brought 19s per head. Tho labour market in Ashburton has been very brisk for the past fortnight, .and on three days of last week one agont- despatched 85 men into tho country, while for the week his total reached 150 men. The agent informed our Ashburton correspondent that fully 50 per cent, of thoso seeking employment aro immigrants from the Old Land, the majority having ' had experience in agricultural work. Threshing from tho 6took is becoming general in the Ashburton county, and of the forty mills in the county all but twelve have pulled out. Given fine weather, a record should bo established, as the bulk of tho grain will show a big yield.