FARM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 109, 25 January 1918, Page 10

FARM NOTES

The Tasmanian area under wheat has this season dropped to 21,000. acres, and tho forecast is for a crop of 379,575 bushels. The area under oats has also declined 32,047 acre's, and the estimated .yield is 807,581 bushels. Tho area under peas in the island has been increased, and 58f1,9fi0 bushels are anticipated. Pretty well all the autumn and win-ter-sown oats have been cut, and a great quantity is in the stook awaiting a chance'for-thrashing, states the Oamaru "Mail." .It is not improbable that this enforced delay in getting the grain into the bags will affect the colour of a good many of the samples, even if the quality is not prejudiced. A spell of dry weather with a littlo wind would he highly welcome just now, as enabling thrashing to be proceeded with and tho mills made free to deal with the wheat as it ( becomes ready. No new season Gartens have, yet been submitted, but a few samples of Algerians have been presented. The majority of these are of really good quality, but at least one can only be classed as fair. No sales have as yet been made, and there is really nothing to determine values.

The South Canterbury Farmers' Union on Saturday passed a- motion supporting the Slaughtermen's Union in refusing to work with Australian slaughtermen in New_ Zealand. The mover of the resolution said it was absolutely unfair that Australians should refuse to take their part in the war and then come over to New Zealand and take the place of New Zcalanders at the war. They might as well import a horde of Indian coolies or Chinamen. (Hear, hear.) Mr. M'Cort snid that not only should Australians be' prevented from coming over here, but those who were already here should bo denorted.

About six months ago a movement was initiated locally to encourage home cultivation among the residents of tho town, says Wednesday's "Mimawatu Standard." The chairman of the committee which had the matter in hand (Councillor H. E. Bennett) states that the scheme has had good results. Numbers of people have turned their household areas into gardens, and in many cases lawns were converted into prolific potato and cabbage, patches. The practical results of the movement had proved quite satisfactory. >

The general opinion expressed at a meeting held on Monday evening at Nelson in connection with tho National Apple Show was that it was a mistake to hold a show this year. It was felt, however, that as the show had been decided on, Nelson should to be represented in the plate classes and ;dso in the trade classes, and growers throughout the province are to be communicated with through the various associations, with the object of securing the representation of the province at Auckland. The meeting unanimously decided against taking part in tho provincial court competition, there being a pronounced opposition to these displays.