JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16414, 7 January 1919, Page 3

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Tliera is (writes tlxe "VVaitahuna coi- % the "Ot.goß.Uy '£«« > considerable stir amongst regarding the Rabbit Nuisauco Act passo't a'coEtlv and much comment anent the vovrer "given to the rabbit mepsetoi. It is contended tlmt such %wU toncl onlv to gtir up trouble unless gieat ot-ill and discretion are exercised b> ?he inspectors. The fact that rabbits nro more numerous tins summer tluin, for manv rears past makes the comin„ of the "now power 1 ' more objectionab*© to iho farmer. Despite the high pricc „aid for skins during the wunor and the prices still offering, it is almos« impossible to procure labour co destroj fi.p -nest, and farmers aro forced . w witch the destruction of their spring scnviiiK while they are making provision fo" winter feed. The position is difficult and thero is nobody more anxious than the farmer to find n remedy tor I his 'trouble". Noxious weeas, rabbits, ana i'arni labour are suojocts that make the farmer wrathful, and good prices for Ins products do not, ijti his opinion, compelling liim for the worries which ho 13 endurin". Growth of ai! kinds is' very backward, and although grass is plentiful on the low levels tlio position is unsatisfactory on the higher pountry.

A Ihiiiedin citizen v.ho spent the holt' dav season in the vicinity of the §c n " more settlement for returned eoWiers states that some of"tlie men are having ii prettv hard time in making ends meet, ana have to take on small contracting work etc., to enable them to obtain a little' extra revenue. The visitor from Duuedin savs that, trom what ho could anther from local farmors, the settlement was badly laid out in tha first, ■place, and that the allotments wero not hie enough, speaking generally, to ennblo the sokjiar-tarmera to have a fair ch-uice o! making a comfortable living. While the soldiers have been given flat land in their allotments they have uoq had sufficient hill country included, and the "result is that -when snow falls it lie* on the flat land and tho sheep have a bad tim«- If *>"*3 sullings, had been, marked off vnth the flat country the sheep -would have had a better chanca bv making their way to any &uusy faces. Tho shearing is very backward, aud the motion is rendered more acute by the fact that the farmers in that locality prefer blade-shearing to machine cut-

ting, as experience lias shown that the j machine lakes the clip off too close, and J in at many sheep then die if a cold snap follows. In the absence* of business in t ii* Oamaru market. tho talk i= now o: tno coming harvest and its prospect?. " 1d consensus of opinion is that tho harvest will probably be the best garnered m North Otago for several yo-irs. and a. holiday run through the country c ° n ~ firms thai impression (telegraphs tho correspondent of tho ""Otago -Daily i Times""'. The change .ihnt h:;s taken place in the appearance oi cover. 1 crops in all directions as a result oi the rams that have boon experienced since trio middle of November is roaliy remarkable. A couple of months ago tho outlook was far frcir> promising, both I and oats being threatened with iailure, partial if not total.. But there has .^°. a a great recovery, and even tr.e 1 i ghJ-■ er lands and the poorer soils good yiojas are now confidently anticipated. Tho area under v.-hear is somewhat less than ; that of las' year, bin the cleric iency in , arc,i v. ill be i'ully compensated by a. j bettor average of yields, "which are likely to show an improvement or five or six bushels per acre. Oats, -which hare been fully as widely sown, will, on present appearances, do even better tnuit this, for last year's a vera go was poor, and the incoming yields will, with fewexceptions. be good. Potatoes arc also looking well, but the area under croy is much below the average of former years. HA WARDEN. ' The Hawarden Mimaturo liiflo Club arranged a most enjoyable social and danco as a wind-up of the seaton. Thoro wus an excellent attendance. Tho proceeds are to lie- devoted to the Christ-church Epidemic Fund. The captain, Mr D. Mcintosh, reported that the season had again been' successful. both financially and in membership, and as to the general improvement ol shooting. He referred to the. success of some of the junior members of tho club, and . commented on tho help members had received who had gone into camp, one ! member having had tho satisfaction of ' being highost scorer of his compapv. ' Mr Mcintosh also made feeling reverence to the loss sustained by tho club ' in tho death of the lato president, Dr. C. T. AY. Little, and of Mrs Littlo. The ilov. Father O'Connor, in presenting tho prizes, nko eulogised tho lato I>r. Littlo as a high oxamplo of self-sacri-licp and a triio sportsman. Tho prizewinners woro as follows: First competition —A team: J. Pitcher 1, F. lladburnd 2, L. Wright 3; B team: I. Bradley 1, 11. Manning 2, It. Lewis 3. Second competition—A team: D. Mcintosh 1, T. Staunton 2, J. Doak 3; B team: }{. Manning 1, E. Mantling 2, J3. Watson 3. Bracelet competition— A toam 'bracelet): D. Mcintosh 1, J. Shelley 2, E. J. Crothall 3. The captain, 'who was winner for the second year, in true sporting spirit, handed tho bracelet to Mr Shelley, Mr Crothall taking 2nd prize, and Mr IX Gwatkm 3rd prize. Toam B (bracelot): D. Dalzell 1, G. Dalzell 2, B. Watson 3. llio new president's prize, for highest aggregate. was won by D. Mcintosh, wuh. a, record averago of GD.G. The_ captain's urize for highost number or consecutive bulk, was won by himself, with 23 bulls; tho prize was given to second place, J. Pilcuer, with 13 bulls. Non-prizewinners' highest aggregate: T. Dalzell 1, E. Doak 2. Junior merit prizes wore won by Masters J. Low© and \V. Harvev. Dancing was kept up to an early hour, Mr H. Picrcey acting as accompanist. Songs wcr© contributed by Messrs Price, Salter, ana | Piercer.

VADDINGTON. Tho rainfall during the spring and summer months has been 'very hea\ y, the averago monthly register for tnj last fire months being 3.3 inches. This rainfall, following on tho heavy snowfall of July, has been the cause or a lat© harvest. At present there are only a verv few early crops ready, to reap, or m stook,' tho main harvest being yet very -rreeh. -On the whole tlio crops aro looking extremely well, and some very good vields are anticipated. Tho frost on Thursday last did no appreciable harm. The rape crop, however, is not doing so well, the cold weather borne against a good growth, Tho rainfall for the month of December was 1.98 Oil Thursday ©veiling Mr and Airs H. C. Townshend, of Racecourso Hill, entertained tho members oi : tlio Patriotic Committee at a social evening at their residence. A very enjoyable musical programme was provided. The president, Mr TV. J. Jenkins, on behalf of thoso present thanked the host andi hostess for their hospitality. W AIM ATE. Tliero are only nine influenza cases in tlio public hospital, the lowest number since the first days of the epidemic. The Minister of lands will visit Waimate in three crooks time. Dr. S. Green is carrying on Br, Barclay's and the late Dr. Cruickshank's practice till l>r. Barclay returns from England.