GENERAL FARM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 113, 30 January 1918, Page 8

GENERAL FARM NOTES

. The Palmerson Efficiency Trustees have been successful in placing 23 schoolboys in positions on farms ...to assist in the harvesting operations. ..The fruitgrowers of the Otago Central district this season formed an association ;for the better distribution of stone fruit. Invercargill has an trgency, and supplies last week were phenomenally large, nearly -1000 cases coming to hand (says the- "Southland Times"), The quality is exceptionally good, and prices are ruling low, especially so for apricots,' peaches, and plums. New season's apples arc now coming 0 n to the market. Nectarines are coming forward in moderate quantities, also Otago Central outdoor tomatoes. Canterbury hothouse tomatoes have been scarce, and fairly dear. Mr. William Rayner, of Masterton, topped the market for flosk Romney rains at the Gisborne ram fair last week. Mr. A. Watson, of Stewart Settlement, has grown a remarkably fine crop '•■ of Dreadnought wheat (reports the : Oamaru "Mail"). Every head is well filled with a berry that is about one and a half times the size of the ordinary berries of other varieties. , The straw is a beautiful colour, and the heads' aro free from' any form of diseasp. Altogether the crop is a remarkably fine one, and should yipld a great crop of splendid grain. Mr. Watson has 65 acres in tthis variety of wheat. Tlia weather is now very good for harvest work, and farmers are com-' meneing to cut their wheat (states the "North Otago Times"). A few mills are thrashing oats and barley, but very few samples have come to hand yet. Any offered are easily placed at current rates for the respective descriptions. Thev comprise chiefly Algerians and Carie Barley, varying considerably in quality. Smut is very noticeable both in oats and barley, owing doubtless to the rains experienced at critical periods. Tt is too early to give quotations until more' samples are on the market and actual business has been done. At a general meeting of the executive of the Egmont A. and P. Association, Mr. William Wilson, of Whemiaknra, was" elected an honorary life member of the association.