SANDON RYE PROSPECTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1626, 18 December 1912, Page 10

SANDON RYE PROSPECTS.

A FARMER ON THE CROP OUTLOOK. DECREASE IN AREA PLANTED. Discussing the crops in the Sandon district, a' local farmer states that it is difficult to estimate tho area down in ,rye-grass seed this season, but at tho same time he thought it could bo safely said that, there was not half as much as last' year, a number of growers having dropped out as a result of the low germination tests of their last season's crop. At present, indications arc that tho harvest will be an exceptionally good one. Even and well-headed crops, are to bo scan throughout the district and given favourable weather a fair yield of good sample seed seems assured. If, says our informant, the experts account for the low germination of last year's seed by the fact that there was so much wind and rain when tho "bloom" was on tho rye, the mild weather of last week is essential for the next fortnight when the pollen will have done all its work. This season tho "bloom" was first apparent about December 2, whereas last year it appeared about November 25. The crops will not be ready for harvesting before the first week in January, which is later,than lp.st year, but they are' in a much better condition for harvesting this season than last, when many were "laid."

The Dogstail Harvest. There will, it is stated, be practically no crested dogstail seed .harvested in Sandon this season. Practically no seed has been sown and there are onlv a few paddocks of second cut to be .seen. Tho harvesting of these is problematical. Many of last year's dogstail seed paddocks have been grazed during the winter and spring pud the results had proved very satisfactory. There is no doubt according to tho farmer in question, that although dogstail does not grow the same amount of feed as rye, it has capital feeding oualities. Given two adjacent paddocks, one of rye and the other dogstail and allowing the sheep the run of both, they will invariably be found in the dogstail. This, said tho fanner, applies to winter and spring feeding, and it still remains to bo seen whether dogstail retains any sort of growth through the summer, this being only a first experience of grazing dogstail without any other mixture. From personal experience and inquiry he had found that the general opinion was that the dogstail paddocks had carried a sheep more to the acre during the winter than the rye paddocks and at least one farmer calculated that he will get twice as many lambs away fat off his dogstail. "I am quite, satisfied;" tho fanner added, "that dogstail is under-estimated as a gross in the district, so far as its feeding and fattening virtues are concerned. Personally-1 think the sowing of mixtures, especially white clover, would greatly assist the dogstail. Oats, Barley, and Wheat. Although the early crops of oats aro looking well, the very late crops aro a partial failure and the result will be a very short straw and small yield. There is not nearly as large an area under oats as last year. Many of the crops sown at the end of August and the beginning of September look.very well. Crops on wot low-lying ground, however, have suffered severely, and aro very patchy. Une late crops are not showing any signs of growth, but are running to stalk too readily. Barley, most of which was sown late, lias suffered even more severely than the late oat crops, and to all appearances failure is written over the crops. Tlia effect iof the weather is plainly apparent, .the crops being .ciuite' yellow and very slow of growth. Very little wheat has been sown. As with oats, the wheat crops sown at the end of August and the beginning of September aro lookhir well, whilst the later crops have bseii much cheeked. Rape-and Turnips. Both rape and turnips have been greatly delayed, but next week should s,-c most of the sowing completed. Early i sown rape is not doing well, the state •af tho ground l»ing such that the seed did not germinate well, whilst the slugs have been very bad. Subsequently the crops arc on the thin side. The area under rape and turnips is much less, than last year. ,

Fat Lambs. Since early shearing, both lambs aiul owes have shown a marked improvement and all the sheep now being shorn are in better condition than those off the shears earlier in the season. .As a result of the fine spell of weather the wool .also is in better condition. Previous to the gend weather it was litrhi and dull and lacking in yolk. During the spring, lambs received -a check and this will, not be overtaken until they are put on the rape, so the fat lamb' draft "off the mother" will be very much reduced. In fact, some, of the' farms will not get any away. Last year some 50 per cent to 70 per cent went nwa-i-. but not half 'this number will be drafted tins year. However, there should be * very heavy first draft off the rone as niocfc of the lambs are in a forward condition, and a larsre percentage, although.net heavy enough for first draft, will take very little topping off. Signs of greater prosperity in business generally are not wanting at present. A sign of greater prosperity in dairy factories is the installation of "Victor"' Vat» These Vats drain off every <trop of whevl and ensure all the cream being secured Make 1913 a better year by ordering "Victor" Vatsnow. AlKrrt .T. Parfnn, Carterton, can tell you all about them.— A&vt. A. WINNER OF COMPETITIONS. The Egg-laying competitions for 1910-11 and 1911-12 were Iwth won by pens reared on "A. and P." Chick Raiser. The first essential for profitable poultry keeping Obtainable from all Storekeepers—Advt.'