THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16268, 19 July 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. FAT LAMB SEASON. PRESSURE ON FREEZING STORES. Reference was made by the Council of Agriculture at Wellington on Wednesday to the accumulation of aew Zealand produce awaiting shipment, mo Council's report shows that m order to relieve the pressure on the freezing stores, only first-class stock should bo slaughtered, and second-class tat old, owes should be killed and tinned; further, that farmers be advised, in view of the possible shortage of shipping, to hesitate to fatten and freeze long-wool-led ewe lambs. _ . The Council realised, after going exhaustively into the position regarding! the prospects of shipping storage ofl meat, butter, cheese, and other produce, "that there is a serious position' to faoo, owing to the piling up of produce in New Zealand.'' Farmers were, therefore, warned that it might be impossible to freeze all stock coming to hand, and that winter feed should, ■wherever possible, be provided to rear any lambs left over, and recommended! to retain their best long-woolled ewd lambs. . Since the report above referred to was written, the Council has learned that satisfactory arrangements have been made regarding the present frozen meati export season.

"GROW LtJCERNE." Beforo the conference of the New Zealand A. and P. Associations in Wellington yesterday Mr A. Macpherson, Fields Supervisor, Department of Agriculture, Christchurch, delivered a comprehensive and highly interesting address on lucerne growing. I Answering tho question "Will tho farmer be able to bear the financial strain arising out of war conditions, if he continues to farm on the lints at present in vogue:'" Mr Macpherson said: — "Assuredly not; for to-day our principal cxpons—wool, frozen meat, and dairy products —are dependant mainly upon pastures which, in most instances, are not permanent and, if they are to be kopt in anything like a profitable condition, require to bo renewed in most districts ovcry three years, and when dry seasons come tiicy uuin up. . . . If farmers are to be stocked to their full capacity, it must be evident-that this cannot be accomplished by grasses alono, supplemented- occasionally with crops of turnips and rape. Some crops of a more permanent naturo should bo grown, which will produco abundantly, year in and year out. Crops not so susceptible to tho influences of the weather, or so subject to destruction or deterioration by inscct posts, or fungus diseases, mist bo grown, crops that can be saved and stored at little cost as food for stock in a sound and palatable condition for many years, if so required. The time has come when farmers, if they are to carry on successfully, will have to grow sufficient fodder, so as to be in a position to meet the set-backs that have occurred in the past through shortage of feed in dry seasons, or want of suitable feed for stock in the higher altitudes whon snow storms occur, and not depend, as is too frequently the case, on the Govcinment for assistance when disaster overtakes them. In short, if tho farmor is to stand the financial strain which will inevitably be brought to bear on him in tho future, he must farm diffcionily, and give up the present almost universal hand-to-mouth practices of feeding farm animals, ai.d lako a leaf out of the book of those farmors in other countries who aro making use of and growing those plants in their pastures, and as forage, which are of a reliable character and which will produce abundantly under almost all weather conditions. . . How are all tli'-so conditions to be remedied? There can be only one answer: 'Grow lucerne.' ' In tho course of further remarks Mr Macpherson gave the results of lucerne § rowing in diiferent parts of Canterury. At tho farm attached to the Canterbury Frozen Moat Compapy's works at Belfast the yield from three cuta of lucerno was equal to £30 18s yd per acre, and in the.lucerne test, sown last spring on the A. and P. Association's grounds at Ashburton, 6omo varieties gave a yield, for the first cutting, of over 8 tons of green lucerne per acre, or £9 17s 6d per acre for the first cut. Tho following results were obtained by an Ellcsmero farmer lapt season from four acres of lucerne: «-» £ s. d. First CutEstimated yield, 2 tons of - . hay per acre at £4 19a • 39 12 u Second Crop — 14001bs of seed for which Is __ per lb has been offered ••• <5 0 0 Third Crop— Estimated at £1 per acre ... 4 0 0 Total - ••• US 12 0 Or a return of £29 per acre. Mr Macpherson recommended I armors, who intend to grow lucerne, bofore sowing an extensive area, to test an aero of their laud, dividing it into four clots as follows : r —i'lpt 1, JiO^ps

treated with lime. Plot 2, with inoculated soil. Plot 3, no limo or inoculated soil. Plot 4, with lime and inoculated soil. JOTTINGS FOR FARHEUS. 9 It is reported that many of the win-ter-sown wheat crops in the Ashburton County are likely to be a failure, and in some cases farmers are making preparations for ploughing them in, and! rc-srowing in the spring. At the Council of Agriculture conference at Wellington yesterday, the following Waikato remit was carried ''That the conference recommends the Government that tho Rabbit Nuisance Act be amended in the direction of makinrr it applicable to conntiy held by loth small and large holders, and to tlii-.t end tin- conference suggests that Part? 11. and IVj of the Rabbit .Nuisance Act, ICBS. be amended and joined up into one workable part, providing for more extended rating than already in the Act, but with no further subsidy oh the r:itt-s than 3-ICth of a penny as at present provided under Part 111., and with i>owors to borrow for the rah-bit-nroof fencing, the area over which a Board may be crcated to be reduced to ot-0 acres or more." Mr Thomas Mess, of the National Efficiency Board, states that over 20,000 farmers and farm laliourors in the. Dominion have already been accepted for military service abroad.

LEESTON. Mr and Mrs H. T. Barker, who are leaving to reside in Christchurch, Mr Barker having sold his farm at Leeston, were entertained at n social afternoon by nienibcrs of" the Leeston Methodist Church. In presenting Mr and Mrs Barker with a very fino Morris chair, the llev. W. Laycock said that Mr Barker had been bom in the district and had been intimately associated with the church practically all his nicMr Barker's parents had settled m the Leeston district over 50 years ago, and the late Mrs Barker, sen., had collected £100 towards the erection of tho iirst Methodist Church built at Leeston, and over £50 towards the first organ. Mrs H. T. Barker and tho members of tho family had also been closely identified with the church and various organisations connected with it. Mesdames Harto, Hill, and Seaton, and M r G. H. Barnett .also spoke, and Mr Barker made a suitable reply. A presentation of a silver thimble was also made to Miss Bae Oppenheim, who is also removing to Christclmreh. . At a meeting of the Leoston Patriotic Committee, over which Dr. Yolckman presided, it was decided that in future all returned soldiers arriving back in Locston by train should be met at tho railway station by members of tho committee. • , __ , . Ladies' evening at the Leeston Wesley Guild passed off very successfully, the attendance being good. Tho programme comprised literary and musical items. Scen'es were given from the works of J M. Barrie, and from tho well-known book "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Tho Irwdl lady members presented ft sketch entitled "A Red Cross Meeting." _ Songs were sung by Misses B. Oppenheim. W. Green, R. Ramsey, M. Pearce, and A. Jones. Miss Green gave an excellent Shakespearean recital, Miss D. Ramsay a pianoforte solo, Miss Jones a recitation, and two choruses were sung by tho lady members. Mrs Green was tho accompanifito. The ladies were accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Mr John Heslop.

AMBERLEY. A welcome home -was tendered to Corporal G. W. Rhodes by the residents of Amberley on Wednesday evening. Mr G. A. "McLean presented Corporal Rhodes with a suitably-inscribed Maltese Cross. The prizes in the euchre tournament wore "won by Mrs C. WyldeBrown and Miss Jenkins, and Mj F. Pcnfoia and Mr E. "Wilson. Tho chairman (Mr G. R . Bolton) then asked Mr McLean to present the Territorial Challenge Cup to Sergeant J. Boyco, of Amuorley. This cup was presented by Lady Godley to the 24th Company, comprising tne Kowai County area, ana was recently won by Sergeant Boyce. The chairman tendered apologies for absence fromt Corporal Stackhouse and tho Rev. Mr Knowles.

RANGIORA. Last Wednesuay evening there was a crowded audieuco at tne Ocluioliowa' xiull, on tne occasion ot a concert ill aid of a lund to proviuo tne receutiyrormed i'rortoytenuu Uoy ojouts' txoop witn bugles auu a ketuo-arum. ' cnair wus occupied by tno Alayor IMf O. 1. Jennings;, and an eujoyaoie variety progiaoiime was' provided, maiuiy by members of the cnureii choir. 'xhe perlormors, most, of wxiom iiad to respond to encores, were: —Mesdames Onappeli, 'Iroilopo, and Uownes, ;UiS3C3 iiiiojiinau, G. ltogors, J. XJaiziel, al. Voung, E. Howis, K. iMcGruer, L. MeUiuor, A. Baiiey, B. Maranall, Rev. W. H. Howes:, Messis C. W. Bell, J. E. Strachan, and J. H. Downes. The Scouts, and a party of children, also contributed vocal items. On behalf of the congregation tne Hon. D. Buddo, M.i\, presented the instruments to the troop, and tho gilt was acknowledged by Scoutmaster C. IJGibson.

HORNBY-ISLINGTON. tii, who roconuy iu ».aui±> .uj u*iai juave, Wuj, uv.i»iiti Xiio v pnvutely >. iin a ox lUiiituij uru&ues oil uuliuii ui we lucai x'auiuwc UOiiimittoe. j/rivato uop perm, who ib U nua or Mr »v ui. or vjiuistouurcu, is -0 years w ago, rooeivo.l xus oaucatioii at tuo ami jieciuiicai ocnoois, auu uas been i'or a number of years m tuo employ or liw latner in tho uoxmakmg department at> tue Islington i. l roozmg \< orks. He leaves wnn the <±lst lieinforceinenta.

AKAROA. At a summoned meeting of tho Loyal Good intent in.u. i>io. i>. x-yio pi'ebiaaa. luy auditors suonnt-u(l uieir report ior the liair-year eiiucu j uuu Oui.lL. iiie urnount to credit) of sick ana lunerai lund was is I Da, or wnicn over iliUi> was out on mortgage. Tno report was adopted, tno «uuiiors tnankeu tor tnoir ser fices, and tue uauai reo parcel lor payment, xuo lonowing oinceis were installed: —iN.ti., lsro. o. W. L<eeto; V.U., uro. A. J. .farris; warden, liro. W. Aewton; guardian, isro. H. LeLievrej minute secretary, Uro. H. Hay ward. One new mCiiiuur was initiated. Sick pay was passed for payment in respect ot three orethron. The weather clerk has been ringing the cnaugus with a vengeance tnis last week. Monday's storm was foliowod by another day of sonny calm. nesday morning found a southerly breeze blowing that, as the day wore on, freshened to a galo. The wind howled throughout the night, raising a very livoly sea on the harbour. Only an odd siiower or two of rain feli though. Conditions are still unsettled, with a low glass.

ASHBUBTO'. Mr James Cow, president of the Ashburton A. and P. Association, and Mr J. 13- Cwistjan, secretary, are representing the Association at the an* nual conference of A. and I'- Societies in Wejijugwo. Grass land in tho Ashburton County is in excellent, condition for ploughing, and spring sowing is now being carried j out in many fields adjacent to tho • township. 1 On \Vcdnesday evening Mrs J. Stringfellow, of Lagmhor road, TinMaid, was thrown from her trap, owing 10 the vcliklo colliding with a post at> a corner. Mrs Striuglellow suffered several bad bruises about the body, and abrasions on the fate. She was removed to her homo by the ambulance, _aqd was attended bJ-JLICSaI d&ctfllV

The brickwork in connexion with the new Borough School at Ashburton is eomplotcd, and a start has been made with the placing of tho slato roof. The carpenters are now engaged in Greeting a large dome, on which, will bo erected a flag-pole. Tho dome, which is octagonafly shaped, will be 10 foet in height, and about 20 feet in circumferoaco at the base.

WAIMA.TE. Tho Red Cross Committee has i?pcided to hold a conference of town and country guilds to consider ways aud moans, the revenue for the last three : monthß not being sutficient, to uuy material for the sewing guilds. Violet Day was fixed for the second Saturday in August. It resolved to print a Red Cross cookery book, in aid of : the funds. Mrs Fred Jones was appointed editress. | Mr A. S. Calloway, Timaru borougn electrical engineer, gave a lecture cn Wednesday night under the auspicos of the Advance Waimate Association. About 250 people were present. 'n reply to questions formulated by ihe Electric Committee of the Borough Council, Mr Calloway stated that Waihao coal (brown lignite) mined eight miles from Waimate, was 7000 Briton thermal units iu quality as comparpd with best Wou>h_ anthracites 13,000. Compared with Kaitangata, ten tons of Waifiap coal would do wjjat eight tons of J£aitaog*t» would do. He showed by diagram that Canterbury wa s the leading province for available - undeveloped uydro-electric power, and the Waitaki river district the best endowed district in Canterbury, having a Quarter of a million horse-power at Lake Ohau. His opinion was that eventually Ohau would be harnessed to work in with. Lake 'Coleridge i>and Waipon for the electrification of the railways. The managers of the Technical School met cm Wednesday, Mr E. Hassall presiding. Flourishing wool, accountancy, dressmaking, cookery, aud motor engineering classes weie reported. The annual meeting was fixed for the third jy.ediiesdßj. ia