GENERAL FARM ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2970, 6 January 1917, Page 10

GENERAL FARM ITEMS

A .Nelson resident returned from Blenheim informs' the "Colonist" that tho grain- crops in that district will yield heavily, .though in the Seddon district tho caterpillar is causing some damage to tho barley crcps. Labour is scarce, and Is. 6d. per hour is offered for • harvesters.

Tho crop which was growing on the unlet portions of the Seaforth Settlement, Washdyke, realised by tender £650. Had these blocks been' taken up the settlers would have had the crop given in.

The Sruithfiekl and Pareora freezinf works reopened for the season on Jan uary 4.

Many young farmers in South Taranaki, anticipating the timo when they will ho called up, aro trying to quit their places, offering them at cost price, and on easy terms.

Bush fires on both sides of the Ramutaka ranges have cauoed settlers much anxiety during the past few .days. Considerable areas of land have been burnt on the Wairarapa ■ side and around Kaitoke. At cue place on Tuesday the fires had swept so clow to a homestead that aid had' io be summoned, and a score of men, women, r.nd children turned out to beat down tho their combined efforts proving effective.

The Dannevifke "News" of Thursday last states that tho worm summer showers experienced during the last few diys havo been welcomed to some extent by tho forming community, while on the other hand they have proved most Tin-welcome. This time or the year farmers are- busily engaged getting in their crops. Those who took advantage of the long spell of dry weather succeeded in stacking their winter feed 'before tho rain, but some were caught in the act. In the majority of the cases the harvest in this district is stacked, and consequently the damage is not gieat. Crops are reported to he' good.

The Nelson "Mail" remarks that the raspberry orop in tho Bay distriob is a poor one this season, and unless rain falls very soon growers state that it will be a complete ffiilure.

Several of the hop gardens in the Motueka and surrounding districts have been abandoned this season, the ground "being used for other crops. The reasons given for this tre. partly the scarcity of labour and! partly because the hop crop has not .been, sufficiently payable during the last season or two.