DISTRICT REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 48, 20 November 1907, Page 2

DISTRICT REPORTS.

[From Ora Travelling CoRnEsrdNDENT.] ■ It will, no doubt, be pleasing to Mr. J. 0. Wilson, President of tho Farmers Union, to know that his persistent efforts to advance technioal agricultural education have found response in a oaso at Kni Iwi, where a young farmer is this season conducting an oxporiment in growing' a crop of oats. A paddock has boon divided into four practically equal sections; on ono is no manure; and in the others one, two,andthree hundredweight: Of course the results will not bo known until the crop has been harvested, but at the present time, or, rathor, a short while ago, the difference in tho various _ plots was most marked. It is most gratifying to seo an experiment like this. It is all right to read about what is being done on experimental farms, but when wo can l)o brought face to face with an object leson of this kind it is more valuablo than tons of reading mattor. A farmer told we about ft now bird which he had seen, and had never noticed before. It was about tho sizo of a hen pheasant and similar in colour, but with a short tail, of slmrp flight, and with tho wings arched. From the general description I have no hesitation in saying that it was a partridge. This will, no doubt, be good reading to the Acclimatisation Socioty, n-s it shows that at least ono bird is there, and in all probability there may bo more. Silver Blight. ■ ■ Tho obecuro disease known ns silver blight is steadily making its way. In tho orchard of Mr. F. W. Smith, at Kai Iwi, I was shown its ravages not only on applo trees, but also on pears, plums, and apricots. I havo also seen it in another garden on lnm'OstinUß. No remedy yet scorns to havo been found with which to combat tho post. JLr. Smith told me that ho found tho contro wood of diseased branohos almost black, but whotlier this arises from the silvor blight is uncertain, an it is generally supposed to bo a fungoid disoaso on the leaf. However, scientists uro on tlio trnok of tho blight, and it is to bo hoped Uiat a remedy Will soon bo found. AVliat sippenis to me as being a peoulinrity of the districts on this part of ihe West Coast is the soi-icsof gullies and '..■iblelands, tho fonnur being geuerally rough and poor in quality, wliilo the latter are carrying splendid grass or crops. On some farms-thcsi»_ gullies cut up the properties' very awkwardly. No Noxious Weeds. I have not been over any extensive track of country whoro noxious woods are so littlo in evidence I daresay there aro Californiau thistle and others, but so far I have not seon a single plant. I Jiavo only soon one small patch of ragwort, of 15 roots: a littlo pennyroyal, but no giant" burdock. There are odd small patches df blackberry, but taking it on the whole, the fawners hero are to be congratulated on their freedom from what in many districts aro now a distinct mouaeo to farming. Stock of all kinds are looking remarkably woll; thoro is a flush of t grass here which I havo not seen in any othor district this soa« son. I saw a paddock yesterday which seemed to be simply alivo with lambs. I think tho percentage is about 140. It was a great sight, with tho lamUs racing and chasing ono another all over the place. Shearing is now on, and fanners aro anxiously looking at tho glass. Shearers are scarce—in fact, pretty well all farm labour is short. "Where are the good men wo used to get?" say somp farmers. Why, they havo done as you did, been careful, saved their money, and have taken up land on their own account.