GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 810, 6 May 1910, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

The export of draught horses in largo quantities continues. The Warrinioo yesterday took 18 horses' on board for Melbourne, and by the Ulimaroa to-morrow a. consignment. of 70 is to be forwarded to Sydney.

Sir. C. J\ Reakes, Chief Veterinarian, leaves for Napier to-day, on a visit of inspection, and will proceed on to Gisborne and Auckland, returning to tho city in about a week's time.

The flax market has improved slightly since last week, and. quotations yesterday were ,£2l 15s. for good fair and £2H 10s. for fair. These prices are practically nominal, as no fresh business is doing, most of the mills having sold their outputs up to the end' of the season. ! Tho grain carried over the railways in Canterbury, and Southland to date this season is stated by the "Otago Daily Times" to total over a million and a quarter sacks, which is roughly equal '(> five hundred thousand, sacks more than-was carried during tho corresponding period of last year. The amount of grain standing at the.various stations is, however, elightly less than was the* case at this time last year. From three Indian Runner ducks, a 'I'imaru resident,, Mr. Sapwell, of Hasscll Street, got no fewer than 85 eggs last month. The birds are last year's.

.; Monday's "Kaikoura Sun" says;— The Miticipated slump in the milk supply to the local factory came about yesterday, and now two vats only are required to deal with the milk. The total output of cheese for 1903-9 was 101 tons, while this year, however, has already seen an advance on that tota.l. The season's ontput'to date is; roughly, 216' tons—2s tone over that of the previous year, and still with two months to run.

\ Many farmers in South . Canterbury are said to be still dissatisfied with the Arbitration Court's award governing threshing-mill workers' wages, and state that it has not achieved its object. -In several cases the hands have struck, demanding' higher wages, and their requests have been complied with, as the award, it is alleged, binds-the farmers and not the workers. ....

The oat crop on the Upper Taieri Plat is reported by the Patearoa correspondent of the! "Otago Daily Times'? ..to be an excellent one. -The-threshing mill has just been up there, and the yield proves to bo about 60 bushels to the acre. -Messrs. , S. Blakely and the Pearce brothers and others expect from : 25.. to 2s. 6d. per bushel for their crops, on tho ground, as. the grain is of the, highest class, and fit for any exhibition. Tfie Upper Taieri was formerly part of Eocklands and Patearoa Stations, and was cut up a few years ago. There is a, large extent of fine ploughable land, there, and the.seasons aro generally good for crops of any kind. . ■

As showing the demand for farms in Taranaki it may be mentioned that' no fewer than seven outside land agents, each with a prospective buyer in tow, stayed- -on one night this week at one of the P.tratford boardinghouses, ■