FARM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 101, 22 January 1918, Page 8

FARM NOTES

Sonie fine-looking turnip crops are observable in the Fitzherbert West district at the present time, says the "Manawatu Standard."- The tops are beautifully green and healthy looking, and quite free from the fly and blight pests, and the bulbs are well developed. It was explained to a "Standard' • reporter by a well-known- farmer in that district, that, from his experi-

ence, tlic pests referred io wero considerably worse in some seasons than ill others. This year was a good one 111 this respect, and turnips were doing well as a result. A paddock of barley ill tho same district is considerably above the average, and indicates that tho locality is well suited to cereals.

Fifty-four and a half tons of butter was the output of' tho Farmers' Dairy Union during the month of December, and tile sum of £6414 2s. 3d. jvas paid to suppliers. The output is about equal to that of the corresponding month of last.. year, and is also on a par. with that of last November. Strawberry growing in Palmerston lias not been a payable proposition this year, according to one grower, who has over 3000 plants under cultivation. "The season opened with splendid prospects," said this gardener, "the plants being loaded with fino quality berries, but owing to the ravages of slugs, 1 lost the greater part of my first crop, while the second crop did not come on at all owing to the unfavourable season. Tomatoes are also likely to be a failure, as blight has now set in, and from present appearances, if I gather a tenth of my crop I shall bo lucky."

Rain is interfering with the harvesting work in the Sandon district. So fRr, only the grass-seed crops are being reaped. The seed is of excellent quality, weight and textyre, and the yij>ld is expected to be quite a good one. Wheat grain has filled out very well in tlie ear, and it is expected the linrvest will give a most satisfactory return. Tiic- first of tlie new season's crop in South Canterbury was to comc into store in Timaru on Saturday, according to the Timaru "Herald." The grain ia Algerian oats from tho Waitohi district. They yielded nt the rate of 70 bushels per acre.