THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15873, 12 April 1917, Page 2

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS

THE COCKSFOOT HIRVEST.

Portions of the Peninsula crop of grass seed still como along by launch or waggons to the plain wharf in Akaroa (writes our correspondent). Hough estimates assess the whole output as something like 18,000 bags, which is less than ouc-fifth of a good crop, say, eight years ago. Three drv seasons in succession have never been experienced before by farmers whose acquaintance with, the Peninsula goes back more than half a century. Alter such a set-back, the cocksfoot, so the experts say, requires at least two good years with copious rainfall before it is j again prolific. This last season's crop, below tho average though it was in quantity, yet produced some really excellent samples. | i'lio prices obtained, in some cases as I high as lOd and lUjd per lb, proved j eminently satisfactory to a few of the ! more fortunate growers. As evidence, | too, of the money there is in grass | seeding harvest-time lor the man who i is not afraid of long hours and hard work, mention may bo made of a few actual cases that came under the writer's notiec. For six weeks' wgrk a young fellow, not yet 20 years of age, drew a cheque of £G3 10s; while his mate, a sturdy lad three years i younger, became the proud possessor of I a similar sum. Another boy, working ; with them, had nearly £-10 placed to I his credit for the same time- And lastly, a strongly-developed man, ac- | customed from his youth up to the i work, pocketed the tidy sum of £110, j the result of not quite seven weeks' toil. There is no "go slow" policy about that. Gil EAT FLAG UK OF MICE. ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO WHEAT STOCKS. (from ora own cobeksvoxdext.) SYDNEY. Auril 4. Mice arc now being slain in nundreds of thousands as the result of vigorous operations in the Victorian and New fcjouth Wales wheat districts. As the iceult of favourable seasons —so say the scientists, at any rate—mice have increased in numbers to an extent almost 1 incredible. They have swarmed over tho farm lands and into houses and townships, and their attacks on the wheat stacks have caused enormous damage. All sorts of highly-coloured stories of tho plague have been coming in from the affected districts. It is an absolute fact that it is practically : impossible to buy a mouse-trap in Sydney—all available supplies have been secured by pedlers, who are gathering a rich harvest in the Country of the Mice. Of course, in the affected country, there has been concerted action agajnst tho creatures. The Lascelles Station, so far, has reported the biggest catch at a single wheat-stack in one night, the total being 30,000. At Marno Station, the figures for the first three nights were 8000, 10,000, and 12,000. Alter that, the figures stopped rising, and settled down to an average of about 10,00Q a night. Banyena and other stations on the Lubeck-Marnoo lino report similar catches. The system adopted is that of fencing in tho stacks with corrugated iron ana then, at frequent intervals in the fence, placing large traps, designed to accommodate mice either going in or coming out. Various kinds of fumigation are used to create a desire on the part of the mice to come out. At Wahrings the owner, wishing to kill the mice outright, used bisulphide of carbon, but although the animals left the stack in great haste, the majority of them wcro merely stupefied, and did not die—not, that is to say, as the result of tho gas. In many districts as the simplest solution of the problem, the farmers arc rapidly sending their wheat away. Tho' "Argus'" says that the more adventurous mite are coming down to the seaboard. Sometimes when railway trucks of wheat arrive at Geelong, the mice jump out in dozens. Up in the Mallee the mice are now'invading-the houses, and doing much damage. At Donald, a travelling representative of the Whea': Commission found one morning that a mouse had made a nest under his pillow, and it is 6aid that mice also eat holes in the bedclothes.

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. Mrs M. .Rutherford (Mount Beevor, Parnassus) has purchased Lady Campbell's English Leicester ewe'floek. The "Oaniaru Mail" says that the invasion of Australian oat* inio thb Dominion in large quantities has had the effect of paralysing the local market. Merchants aro very chary of buying in the present position of doubt as to the future course of the market, and there is very little business passing. Any lines suitable for seed or milling purposes would, however, find buyers, but these aro seldom discovered. The week's business was confined to a few parcels of light feed Cartons, which wore taken at country stations from 3s' Id to 3s 3d net, according to sample. The luxuriance of pastures throughout Southland at the present time is • nothing short of remarkable, even for Southland, and n-._; one travels over the country the fact is unmistakably driven home'that the province is largely understocked (says yesterday's "Southland Times"). Farmers state that, even with the same number of' stock as in former years, it is impossible to keep the grass down, and that the autumn has been a wonderful one. The pastures now are in far better fix than they were at Now Year time. In all parts of the province the turnip crops have come away .splep.didJy, particularly in the eastern district, and it is now quite certain that there will he a superabundance of winter feed in .Southland this yeai. HANMER SPRINGS. The Easter holidays passed off very quietly, and the weather was perfect, 'ihere was a large crowd of peoplo up for the holidays, and all seemed to have spent an enjoyable time. During Easter week a splendid fullsized billiard table (the gift of the Y.M.C.A. War Council executive) was erected in the Queen Mary Hospital by Aleock and Co. Mr G. H. Scales, Wellington, presented an up-to-date gramophone, and new records were presented by Mrs and Miss Brown. Mrs Meares, Mrs R. Anderson, Mrs Treleaven (Christchurch), and Mrs Bethune' (Wellington). Mr and Mrs D. Rutherford sent along to the hospital 'special fare for Easter Sunday: turkey, plum pudding, etc. The Red Cross Society (Christchurch) sent Easter greetings, with a beautiful cake (decorated by Broadways), also two hams, sweets, cigarettes, fruit, etc., and with gifts from Lady Liverpool's Fund of cigarettes, tobacco, and sweets. Mr J. Otley sent a box of sweets, Misses F. and V. Campbell (Dunedin) a box of sweets; Mr W. D. Meares,Christchurch, a bag of walnuts, and Mr T. Kincaid, per the Red Cross, a box of cigarettes. A most enjoyable day was sncnt by the inmates. On Easter Monday evening a very enjoyable concert was held in tlie Nurse Cavell ward ; there was a large attendance of visitors and residents. The following contributed items: Songs, Ex-Sergeant Woods, Staff-Sergeant-Major Peers, Sergeant Foote, Corporal Brunton, Corporal Dobsonr Private Anderson ; Tecitations bv Corporal Clarke, Private Bowers, and Miss Beekwith; songs by Mrs Gillies. Miss Watson, Miss Rowc, Miss Peters. Miss Menzies, Mr Hiast; piano duet, Misses Milligan,

(violin and piano), Mr Christcnsen. and Miss Eennell; piano solo. Miss Matheaon. The various prir.es won at progressive encliro. golf, billiard tournaments, and swimming sports were presented bv Captain W, J. Hardhanr, V.C. In the last list of gifts to the Queen Ma r y Hospital appeared a donation from Mr G. H. Scales, Invercarpill, of £5, to the Amusement Committee. This should have read Sir G. H. Scalcs, Wellington. CULVERDEX. Tlxe fine weather broke at Culvcrden on Tuesday afternoon, and heavy rain fell during the night, and continued on Wednesday, though it was not so heavy. It will bo heartily appreciated by the farming community, as feed was very short, and the ground too hard in most places for ploughing. A good soaking now would do a large amount of good, though it is very lato in the season for grass to make much growth before the frosts commence. lIANGIORA. The monthly meeting of the Rangiora School Committee was held last evening. Mr 1'- B. Lan-j presiding. The headmaster reported a roll number of 304, and that the attendance had been highly satisfactory during the past month, the average ranging from 94 to 97 per ecnt. A circular from the School Committees' Association, suggesting that a spocial effort should be made to arouse interest in the — forthcoming School Committee elections, was received, but it was decided to take no action. It was resolved to write to the Board of Education, pointing out that the eommittco had received no notice of the resignation of Claude Hoskin, one of the pupil teachers at the school. TEMPLETON. A public meeting will be held in tho Oddfellows' Hall, Templeton, on Tuesday next, at 2 p.m., to consider the question of the management of soldiers' farms. Mr Burberry, of tho National Efficiency Board, will be present at the meeting. DARFIELD. A number of ladies of the D'arfield district recently met to bid good-bye to Mrs I'. Boland, who for many years has been a resident of Darfield, and is now taking up her home in Cliristj church. Mrs Boland, by her skill and sympathy in times of sickness, has earned the goodwill of a wide circle of friends. On word being received that Sergeant A. H. Mulholland had been killed in action at Caza, flags were flown at halfmast, otx Saturday and Sunday at tho Darfield District High School and at the Soldiers' Memorial Hall. On Friday evening Mr and Mrs H. Valentine are to be farewelled at a brief ceremony in the v Soldiers' Memorial Hall. Mr Valentine has done much for patriotic work since the outbreak of the war, and his departure will be regretted by a wide circle of wellwishers. An 'opportunity will also he taken to bid farewell to Trooper T. Reardon. of Racecourse Hill, who is on final leave from camp.

WADDING! TON. The "VVaddington school-children, together with their parents, were most generously entertained by Mr and Airs l'\ Bull at their residence on Easter Monday. While the children were outside enjoying races and various other sports, for which prizes were provided by Mr Bull, the parents were entertained with a musical programme given by Mesdames Bull, Miller, and Hunter, and Misses I. Johnston and A. McMillan. After a bountiful tea, which was set out on long tables on the lawn, Mr C. Wilkins, the local schoolmaster, thanked Mr and Mrs Bull for their generosity, and three hearty cheers were given b.y tlie children. HORORATA. After a hot, dr*y spell rain started to fall at middav on Tuesday, and continued throughout the night up till midday on Wednesday, when .79 inches had fallen. Although not heavy, the rain will do a lot of good, as the grass and turnips have made a fair growth since the last rain on March 25th. All teams are busy in the district preparing to put in wheat, and now that the rain has com© a fair amount will be sown, as the ground was too hard in some" places to plough. ASHBURTON. The rain which commenced to fall at Ashburton on Tuesday continued throughout the night and right up-till midday yesterday, when it showed signs of clearing. The fall at the Domain weather station registered 115 points at 9 a.m. yesterday. This' rain, following on that of a few weeks back, will havo penetrated the ground to sonic depth,' and will ensure a good strike for all cereal crops sown, and will put the soil in good heart for receiving the grain to be sown as winter sowing. It has oome rather too late for the grass, as frosts are sure to follow. At a special examination held in Ashburton for proficiency candidates, two pupils of the Carew school—Miu~ Miriam Pratt and Miss Cissie Fairburn —secured honours. Some months o.go members of tho Bth (South Canterbury) Mounted Eifir started a fund to provide extra rations for mounted men in Ejrynt. .As r result of the recent camp, and contributions given bv members nf the regiment and civilians, upwards of £IC<l was raised, and the sum will he sent during t'ne present week to •LfieutenaniCoJnnel Findlay, in Egypt. At the A«hburton Borough Council meeting on Tuesday evening, a motion of sympathy was passed to Mr H. Craighead, whoso son. Private H. I/, j Craighead, was recently killed in action.