NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1553, 24 September 1912, Page 8

NEWS AND NOTES.

_ PASTURES AND CROPS. LAMBING AND THE DAIRY PROSPECTS. The reports supplied to tho Agricultural .Department by tho officers of the Field and Experiments Division on the condition of tho pasture and crops during tho past month; indicate good prospects for tho season. These reports are as under :— Pahiatua—The weather was most suitable for all farming and station operations; The lambing: is' jjood. Dairy cows are looking well 011 their coming in, owing to good provision mado for them by their owners. AVaipukurau.—There should bo an abundance of feed for all classes of stock in the near future. As the district is also having a good lambing, farmers should have a very successful season. -> Masterton.—During tho first week in August- a severe snowstorm caused tho death of a number of young lambs, but on the whold it has been exceptionally # good weather. Feed is plentiful for t this time of tho year, and there is every indication of a record lambing, and stock generally are looking well. - Fann-work is going ahead fast, and-X anticipate a very large area under crop- this year. • '. Northern AVuirarapa. —If the fine weather continues there will scon be abundance of feed for tho young lambs. Stock generally are looking, well; tho weedy sort .are'.suffering ..at present, the young grass being- too strong for them. Sowing is going on apace, and there has boen a lot of ground t pi,oughed and sown within the last; month. , ~ * :Ga'rterton.-Ploughing and other tillagework is being pushed on apace, and gen-.-eral prospects of a favourable season have seldom been more promising, than at present. . AVellington.—Losses in young sheep are recorded, but stock generally are already showing tiio change from the biting cold,. ■' -New Plymouth.—Farmers have been able to get on well with their ploughing, and other work. Grass has made a dccided growth. Cows'are in much bettor condition than' usual at this time of the year. The s-upply of milk to the factories is increasing, fast. Stratford.—Stock of all kinds arc in good order, and have wintered well.) Farmers jiavc still largo quantities of turnips,.hay, and ensilage lelt. The lino month has enabled; the farmers to do a considerable amount of burning} stumping, and ploughing. Prospects are good for tho coming season. ... ; Hawcra.—Cows are coming in. well; dairy factories arc now in full swing, and supplies are satisfactory for this timo of AViinganui.*—Agricultural work has been vigorously prosecuted, and considerable .arrears of it overtaken, which had previously teon compulsorily postponed ow,ing to adverse climatic conditions. Pastures, though, showing green, are bare .generally; but, given reasonable rainfall, there is every prospect of good early feed. Ohakune.—Dairying lis • making, rapid progress in somo parts of the district, and farmers enter into this industry "under more systematic lines than have hitherto existed. Tho milk-supply for town distribution has increased within the month, but up to this period the supply was not equal to tho demand. Lambing is fairly general ..throughout tho "district, present indications pointing to satisfactory percentages; ' . Feilding.—Owing to tho recent warn, rains an early, spring is assured, and a, good percentage of lambs is being anticipated. Creameries are opened, and dairy*; ing is. in full swing again, Those who made ensilago and are now feeding it to their newly calved cows ara well satisfied i with tho results, and in some cases.are ! already preparing their land fqr nest season's sowing, and, intcrid growing more extensively, as it is freely expressed ensilago has become tho main feature in keeping up the milk-supply at all seasons of tlio year.