THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16418, 11 January 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS IN OTAGO. FARMING OPERATIONS AFFECTED. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") DUNEDIN, January 10. Tho chief trouble resulting from tht almost continuous rainy weather is th( general upsetting of the shearing u Otago. The experience is commor throughout the whole district —th( northern- parts as well as the southern Reports show that the shearing is lat< by a month to six. weeks. No doubt th< influenza epidemic was chargeable witl part of tins delay, but the main cause is the weather. If fine weather sets 11 from now it is not too late to siiear. I] the wet weather lasts, there may b* trouble about getting the clip from th< sheep in some districts, but thero is n< call to worry about that at present. All tho grain crops aro late, but not so late as to give the farmers reason te fear a general failure. A few patche! of wheat, put in for patriotic reasons or land that is not well suited for wheal may suffer, but the oats and barley ar< sate so far, and so is the wheat on th< wheat lanas proper. Tho turnips ar< not coming on well. In several district the first sowing is a failure for tho wanl of warmth, and in this wet weather thi ground is not ready for a second sow ing. Tho rape crop in North Otago i: giving no promise at all. These adverse conditions have had th/ effect of lowering the prices of sheep In consequence of the threatened failun of the rape crop for lambs, and th< probability of a shortage of turnips fo; winter feed, wethers have dropped ii value by about 4s, and lambs aro dowi by from 2s 6d to 3s. DISEASE IN WHEAT CROPS. Mr C. Branigan, Government Field; Inspector, Asbburton, who aceoinpaniec Dr. Cockayne, Government Biologist on a tour of investigation amongst th< affected wheat crops in tho Ashburtor County on Tuesday, informed a "Guar dian" reporter yesterday that in inosi of the farms visited they had discover ed signs of tho disease in various stagos As far as could be learned from th< j present investigation, tho damage t< most of the wheat had been caused bj a fungoid which attacked the wheat ai the rout aid worked up to the firsi joint. A close inspection of a diseased ■stalk showed that near the point it liac a yellowish appearance, and in wind} weather the straw snapped off at thi: point and fell flat to the ground. Ii walking through an affected field th< straw icon gathered in wisps round th< legs. The investigations had alec shown that the damago was, in mosl instances, confined to .Solid Straw Tus can wheat, while other varieties ap peared to be more or less immune. Mi Branigan said that somo of the Solic Straw Tuscan crops were badly affected and one farmer at Lauriston considerec ho would lose fully one-third of hi: yield. It had also been reported thai tho diseaso had appeared in some oi the oat crops. Mr Branigan was now engaged on a tour of inspection ovei all tho grain-growing areas in tlx county with, a view to arriving at or approximate estimate of tho damage On Thursday lie visited the Methvcii district, and discovered that the disease had also made its appearance in that locality, but so far only in a mile: form. The wheat thero was very green at present, but, as it ripened, the disease would probably, become more acute. • Mr Branigan still had several districts to visit -before a full rcpori could be prepared. It was possible that the investigations might open up the question of pure seed. Some farmers had this season sown Solid Straw Tuscan -which was guaranteed absolutely pure. Thoso areas would bp carefullj watched, and if they proved to bp immune from tho fungoid it would provide a strong lever in favour of sowing the very best seod. At the presenl time a number of farmers did not beI stow any great amount of carc in the ! clafis of wheat sown, .which, no doubt i in the end all holped to weaken the variety and make it ''run out.'' At the present juncture, however, it was premature to speculate as to whethei the disease was itensified through weakness in xhe seed, but Dr. Cockayne wat collecting all information possible botli here and in North Canterbury, and his reports will be looked for with greal interest by wheat-growers. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. AVhat is claimed as a shearing record for Canterbury was put up by Air \V xiolmes, itakaia, at Mr P. Galhgan's sned, last week, when he shore 3o£ sheep in a working day. A useful industry has been established in Eltham. It is the conversior of lambs' stomachs (yells) into rennet. The stomachs are received from the Patea freezing works. They are blowc up like bladders, tied up at both ends, and then hung up on-wire to dry. It is said that New Zealand sends awaj £75,C00 per annum for calves' rennet —and that this money can within the Dominion by using lambs' stomachs. About 1,500,000 stomachs would be, it is estimated, sufficient for tho Dominion's requirements, and a* thero are between live and six million lambs slaughtered annually, it will be seen that there is no likelihood of any delicicncy in supplies. KAIKOURA. The Kaikoura County Council, as controlliiig tho Harbour Board, held a special meeting on Thursday to enquire into the origin of tho recent fire. The matter was taken in committee, but subsequently a report was supplied that it was decided to ask for a coronial enquiry under Mr T. A. B. Bailey. The insurance on the Harbour Board's building was £750, in the New Zealand office, and most of the goods stored were covered by insurance.. It was decided to suspend the wharf regulations owing to the fire, and goods must be taken delivery of as early as possible, and outward cargo sent as late as possible. The Council will meet this morning to consider the question of reconstruction, OXFORD. The Oxford Patriotic Committee met on -Monday night. Mr D. Hawke presided, and there was an attendance of twenty members. A resolution was carried expressing sympathy with Mr and Mrs E. G. Seed," on account of the death of the mother of- Mrs Seed. Privates H. W. Bluett and C. I'Bassett wrote, thanking tho committee for gifts of Y.M.C.A. coupons. A largo amount of correspondence was received in connexion with assistance to returned soldiers, all of which received favourable consideration. As a number of soldiers had recently returned home, and others were expected in the near future, arrangements for a social were placcd in the hands of the Social Committee. The question of the form that a war memorial should take was raised, and after a suggestion had been made, the matter was held over. j SOUTHBROOK. The scholars of the Soutlibrook School wero taken on Thursday to the Waikuku beach for their annual picnic. The children and their friends were convoyed in sundry conveyances, and there was a vcry large attendance. Sports and games were indulged in, «nid a v«ry pleusaut day was spenjn '

IvAIAPOI. ! Heavy rain fell in Kaiapci between 8 and <3 o'clock yesterday evening. A , spell of fine weather would be appreciated by farmers, as. it would ripen the crops and giro ail opportunity to get in the hay. LADBROOKS., Very wclromo rain fell during the week, and in suite ol the exceptionally heavy winds the crops are looking excellent. The most of the hay is in stack. • . . ' Already a large quantity of cocksfoot . has beeh reaped; Excellent results havo been obtained—the best iof years. Quito a gloom was cast over o'ir district .when the death of Mrs Payne, of Halswell, was reported. The deceased lady was very highly respected in this district, as was shown by the very large funeral "which took place on Monday last at Springtiton. Miss M. White, who was for some time a teacher at the local school, paid Ladbrooks a visit during the week. Mrs T. Trask, and li,er jiieoc, Mies Myna Webber, left this week on a visit ! : to relatives iii the North Island. | •Mr J. Hill, stationmastcr at Prebble- j ton, resumed duty yesterday, after a j very enjoyable leave. i Mr Pickering and Mr Millier havo re- i ceived advice that their eons will arrive ! in New Zealand in'the course of a few days. The home-coming of these two j very popular lads is being looked forward to. They were both wounded at the front. A speed contest took place on Wednesday, the distance being 200 yards. . One of the contestant's was a well-known lady, who was given 50 yards start by her opponent'—a young bull. The lady . won on the fence. ASHBURTON. ". Lieutenant. Blathwj-at (Officer-in-charge of tho Ashburton Area), and Mrs Blathwynt, have returned to Aehburton after an extended holiday on tho West Coast. At a sitting of the Juvenile Court yesterday, before Mr V. Or. Day; S.M., a lad, 16 .years of age, was charged with stealing a watch and chain, valued at 27s 6d, and 50s in money. The case was adjourned for three months to see how ho behaved himself in the meantime. The executive of the Ashburton (Second Division League met. on Wednesday, Mr H. M. Jones presiding. Tho main business was a discussion on the hat/hazard: way in which tho Soldiers' Financial Assistance JJoard had met its obligations to some of ; the reservists who had been in camp. Members referred to complaints received from soldiers of what appeared -unnecessary delay in • payments, which did not tend to popularise the board in the eyes of these who were on the waiting list. It was unanimously decided to assist any soldier by making prompt representations on his behalf, and, if necessary, to have tho representations backed up by the Dominion Executive at Wellington.