GENERAL FARM NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2447, 28 April 1915, Page 10

GENERAL FARM NEWS

■ Periods of drought that visit every •i '. ebuntry from time to time direct attention to _ the importance of bringing Wilder cultivation crops that will serve .stock when the ordinary crops are deploted and a prolonged spell of hot - weatnsr. is in prospect. Tho..;recent drought in the HawkeY Bay district 1 has, jt.,is stated,, raised the question of growing-maize ; on more.extensive lines; . than -hitherto.. In: ■ Horowhenua and . . Manawatu- some-of the-smaller holders have-'given" considerable attention to . sjaize, and their, have been amply rewarded. >. But it is a moot point wn&~thor the olimate is ' sufficiently stab'e, jso far. as warmth is concerned, to grow it to any -large extent in those coun- ,. ties. further north 'the climate is ideal.' and in the- Poverty Bay district amuoh more organised, effort, should be ■ made than has hitherto been r tie case. • farmers will find the steins in the oar- > Ser growth to be an invaluable feed for cattle ; maize flourishes in hot climes, where: droughts-are not uncommon. It is a staple feed in various parts of the world, - and in South Africa, where" of recent years an enormous improvement, bas taken -place in- stock -of all Kinds, maize "is'regarded as'.'.''the ideal i'*ed. Tracts:' of country ' once regarded' as desert have been irrigated andput under maize cultivation, mth astonishing results.; This; year the crops . bave been so prolific; that, excellent as the railway:'facilities; are, j th6y are q U unable to 'cope with the supplies.' Even if they were got to port, it is questionable -whether the. 6nippihg space iwould be sufficient for purposes ' of 'ex-' port. The South. African maize export -. trade to the London markets is , a vei7 ■ large one, and is yearly growing in volume. Some people seem to think that the land campaign, which was gathering strength on, tho outbreak of the war, has been done for by Armageddon. I do not think so,for a moment. The: case of oreating a better, brighter, and lovelier countryside is stronger than ever. We see that, in a time of emer-. : genoy, : the ; strong .back .and clear' eye of the countryman-are'the very reservoir of national strength. , .We realise as wo' nevSr did before how much it concerns the welfare of. the United Kingdom to make rural life a Buer thing than it has been-.—"Home Counties" in the "World's Work!" , Fifty-three' bushels 'of wheat to the acre on a five-acre plot jg claimed by : Mr. J. H; August to be a record for the -Wairarapa ' (says the "Wairarap'i , Daily News"). The same farmer h*s grown also this year 46 bushels of wheat to the acre,in a crop of 35 acres on his ; Woodside property. This t;so . is claimed to be a record. The straw : yield in both of Sir. Augustus crops is i ' exceptionally good.. .

.Industrial troubles in the agricultural World of South Africa are an almost unknown quantity. There'the labourers are almost all natives, and a very ( happy time they. have, The usual remuneration for these labourers is from 10s.-to- a month, though many of them, as the writer knows from ,ex- ■ perience, are paid less than that, but i when the money ; becomes payable at the end of the quarter the kamr with his twenty-two and six -is a Croesus. 1 These men work hard, and with the ex- , ception of a few Boer farms, in tho remote districts, they pass a happy enough time. They add to their le- . ; muneration by getting permits to work in the mines, and with this they buy a Variety of. articles, from the mouthorgan to a string of beads. Tbc Tactions consist of mealies (maize), with, in some cases, ; milk- and meat two or three times a week. On the northern frontiers of Cape Colony -natives sometimes work for rations and receive a heifer (worth about £3) -at.the ond of , the year. Women do a great part of the hard labour on the fields. „••••!

To you who want actual results—to you who weary of the publicity pabulum and tho salve ;of accumulated results— we would gladly prove our merchandising; ability, and our .general business progress. .We can. do with large quantities of Home-separated Cream, Butter and Eggs. Be assured that your goods will govern our efforts. Send us your cream, butter, and .'eggs,", Wangahui Fresh Food and Ice Coy—Advt. '

There's not a mors' efficient helper to the man on,the land than the Richmond Oil Engine. Easy, safe, aaui reliable to work, it equals many hired hands; is always on the spot when- needed and ready to start. Choose the Richmond because of the many points in which it excels, ,of its solid construction, and allround goodness. Ask or. writs for particulars. A. J. Paxton, Plumber, Carterton.—Advt.