GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1999, 5 March 1914, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Some time back the Eketahuna branch of tho Farmers' Union approached the stock auctioneers with tho object of arranging for a sheep fair to be held in Eketahuna. The chairman at Saturday's meeting stated he had been informed the wishes of the branch had been acceded to, and. that a special sheep fair would bo held ou I'riday, March 6. Mr. W. J. M'Cullougb, Inspector of llabbits and A r oxious Weeds at Tapa-. nui, has been appointed to assist Mr. A. Macpherson, Director of the Fields Experiments-in tho South Island. The. .work of "this branch of the Agricultural Department has considerably increased of late, necessitating Mr. Macpherson having an assistant. A good number of Canterbury breeders intend being represented at tho forthcoming Koyal Sydney Show at Easter. Mr. G. 11. Elisor, of White Rock, will be" exhibiting a number, of Corriedales. Harvesting is just about finished at Fhixbourne, and somo thrashing has been dono by a local mill. In one case a yield of over 50 bushels of barley is I reported, and the average will probably reach other years' returns. Lambs are now reported to be fattening fairly well, although they' were harder .to start than J3 usually tho case. -In tho Akaroa district this season has seen the increasing use of small | threshing plants driven by oil engines, I the wholo outfit having to be small and compact to ennblo it to bo sledged on tho hills from ono threshing floor to another. From nil accounts tho "combino" has proved very successful, and will bo of great, service where- labour is in short supply. Tho Morven correspondent of the Oainaru "Mail" writes:—Threshing mills are. 'busily engaged threshing, principally from the stook, in.the Morven and Olenavy districts, and as was anticipated a good many of the crops on tho heavy land arc not threshing cut well. Tue following aro a few of I the returns of wheat: —30 acres, 45 bushels 'Marshall's white; IS acres,' 40 bushels rcdchalf;' 3b' acres, 35 bushels Marshall's white;. 20 acres, 30 bushels Marshall's White; 12 acres, L'B bushels redchaff. From Motucka, 3400 cases of' apples aro being sent per s.s. itUapehu, ro bo lunded at Monte Video, 'this makes tho second shipment of tho season, 2400 cases having been sent last week. The- farm of.iVir VN Hunt,;sit.uatcd.near 'Mr. Lethbridgo's''place'," Makiho, was sold on. Monday to Mr. JJoivo lor £35 an acre. -.'.•'■ Tho -dangers of hydatids and the great spread of tho diseaso among sheep and dogs, with tho consequent infection of ihuman beings; was referred to . at a meetiiig of tho .farmers' Union held in Christchurch. Mr. F. G. Livingstone stated that the attention of tho Government; s'liould bo drawn. to tho matter, and that it should be\ urged to.do something to stop the spread of tho disease. The president (Mr. C. H. Elisor) agreed that the matter was of great importance. lie thought that the farmers should bo niado aware of tho dangers that existed of tho transmission from animals to human, beings. ' "'J'ho worst of all," ho stated, "is the nasty, dirty little lap-' dogs that 'ladies carry about with them." "What are they to do," remarked a frivolous member, "if they haven't anything else to carry about " The Akaroa, correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times" states that now tho cocksfoot harvest is practically finished and growers aro busy cleaning tho 6ecd, a muro definite- opinion of the quality of the crop can bo ascertained. It is generally admitted that there is a largo proportion of light seed, especially in respect to that'grown on the higher levels, in some instances as low as 'Jib. seed to tho bushel.; Consequently thcro is a much-brisker demand for the heavier seed,'l3lb. seed realising 4d. per lb. and in somo cases a good bright saniplo 4Jd. It is generally stated that the reason of so .much light seed this season is the long spell of wet weather- in tho spring, causing an abnormal amount of straw to the detriment of the seed. At Motueka this week the Anchor liner Kaitoa loaded for transhipment ro tho lluapehu at Wellington about 3100 cases of apples to be landed at Monto Video, states the Nelson "Evening News." Tho shippers aro Messrs. K. Burton and Co., Ltd.,' 2600 cases; Moutero Fruit-growers, Ltd., 500; Moritzson and Co., 300; Stoke Association, 27. This makes the second shipment of tho season, 2400 cases being.shipped last week.