GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 766, 15 March 1910, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

■ . —: f It is somewhat singular that in spite of the present being one of the hottest summers ' experienced in the Auckland district for many years past, the burning off of areas of ■ felled 1 . tush has not been'so successful; The "Star" says this is partly due to the fact that earlier in the season, when there had been no rain, it was too soon to burn off, as there .would , be great risk in - surface sowing of grass.' Then after Christmas rain set' in,., with the result that the bush was too .wet to burn. Since then there has, been rain about every three br. four weeks, with the result that many areas of- bush land are still lying unburned, and there seems every reason to fear that in such cases a year has been lost. ... ■ As in Auckland, settlers in the Marlborough Sounds are reported to be finding the season very unfavourable for burning 1 off their bush, and it is feared that a good deal will have to stand over until next season. , . ; The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, says lie cannot understand the complaints made in Wanganui that Moumahaki Experiment Farm is not what it used to be. The Government'has spent more money on the farm this year thaii ever, before. Mr. Bupert Parry, the well-known sheep-breeder, of ICingsdown, South Canterbury, suffered a loss, of about .£IOO recently through 27 of ' his stud rams dying after being dipped. An unusually . profitable investment in farming property in Southland has to be recorded. Six years ago a farm' of 700 acres in the Eastern District was purchasedfor '£7 105. an acre, and though, meantime, only .£2 an acre has bee'ii expended on improvements, the owner was the other day (says the "News") offered and refused £16 an acre, this showing a difference of .£6 10s. between the cost, and present selling value, or a total of .£'1550. The experimental pork shipments still continue. The Wakanui, which left for London on Sunday, had on board 108 carcasses of frozen pork from Auckland. No pork was sent from Wellington by this vessel. A purebred Holstein cow belonging tc Mr. R. H. Cameron, of Stratford, recently gave birth to four calvos at one calling. The calves all died.