CROPS AND PASTURES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1629, 21 December 1912, Page 10

CROPS AND PASTURES.

GOVERNMENT: 'OFFICERS'' REPORTS. Reporting on the condition of tho pastures . and crops during last month, officers, of the Department of Agriculture Lave the following' to' say:— ' Stratford.—Most of the cropping is well in hand, and stime of' the .more enterprising fanners are going in' for lucerne plots. •" ■ , , Hawera—Turnips, rape,: and .mangel crops have mado a good start, find the few cereal crops to be seen are promising well, also " potatoes, which so far show no sign of blight'. The milk-supply at factories is very heavy and is of good quality. , . Wanganui.—Pastures are supplying a fair 'quantity of feed. Crops of all kinds are backward, and early potatoes are showing indications ,of blight. Mangawcka.—A sharp frost did considerable, damage to potatoes and, tomatoes. Shorn' sheep appear to have come out of the .wool remarkably, well.. The , grass country is -looking very fine and grajn crops are fair, anil farmers would appreciate good weather so that ploughed land could be worked up for sowing. Small birds .',\vorking-diayoc with peas. that are appearing above Aground. 1 ] '••• Pahiatun.—The rain and cold winds had,a bad effect on all outdoor work connected with farm, station, orchard, and garden. Generally speaking, shearing operations. throughout the district are being delayed. Labour appears to be scarce as in several cases .. tho farmers' wives are assisting their husbands in the sheds. North WVirarapa— Notwithstanding bad weather crops. ,;aro' looking -particularly healthy and give promise of being up to the average, Thero is gross in abundance, but it is'soft,'consequently lambs 'are not fattening as they should, and the weakly ones aTC inclined-to scour. ilastertoii.—Work has been seriously hampered by tho bad weather. The milk supply to factories is hot nearly as good as it was the previous month, though tliero is plenty of grass, it is weak in character, and as a result. scouring is com-