GENERAL FARMING NEWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 84, 2 January 1918, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS

R&in is badly needed at Nelson. Pastirres have been dried brown by continuous sunny days, and the hills around the port and town arc destitute of green vegetation. Crops alO already In the stook or stacked, and only a few are still standing. It is a fine education to see iho iruit farms at Stoke, and the visitors are impressed with tho considerable area under cultivation.

Mr. Lamb, secretary of the South Island Dairy Association, advises that Bluff has been allotted cheese space for 5500 crates, subject to the arrival of a certain steamer. Shipment will bo made in Jamiary.

The Otawhao correspondent of the Dannevirke "Evening News" says:— The grass grub beetle Hies in hundreds of an evening, and has stripped lucerne and fruit trees clean. The past mild winters have increased the grubs, and next spring will probably show the results of their visitation. The only enemies seem to be about five magpies, which have taken up their abode on the block, and large droves of. starlings. The latter are very busy.

■•• Tho Stratford correspondent of the '"Taranaki Herald" says there is a. hopeful prospect now of the shipping and storage combined, and with the .aid of. advances from the Imperial Government, ensuring the prosperity of -the dairy industry for present season. ■This, .he declares, however, ought not to encourage any trusting to luoli for' next'season. Whilst money is

plentiful every precaution that prudence and thought can suggest should be taken to enable us to sea next season through ■under possibly worse conditions. We know how noarly we have touched an absolute block of produce just recently. Mr. Duncan Sutherland, well known throughout Otago, and particularly in North Otago, has put up an interesting record. He has just finished superiii' tending his fiftieth year of shearing at Omarania. During that period 2,200,000 sheep have been shorn in the Omarauia sheds. Mr. Sutherland, it may be mentionod, had for some years the management of the Morven Hills aiid Ardgowan properties, and during that time quite a million sheep were siun. A point ioi' , dairy fow.-s Ip" ■ match, especially at tlio presonf, U that they seoure sufficient rail!: cans to tido over the steel shortage.. A. ,T. Pdrton, Cnrterton, advises us that iip Ji.is a small supply of steal, and crin 'accept orders for a limited number of cans. Promptness in ordering is ndvisoti.—Adrt.