FARM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 125, 13 February 1918, Page 8

FARM NOTES

■ It looks as if dairymen are going back to ton years 'ago—for big stock, tho same class that produced the big leaders in tho yoke team that drow the timber out of the bush for tho "old Inau's" whare. ' Ten years ago and inoro tho big cows were noticeable in tho dairy herds, -then the smaller breeds Ijccame popular. Now the big animal is again to the fore in prices at ; the saloyarck—Opunako "Times." ' The Mataura Island branch of the .Farmers' Union is of opinion that the Government purchase of meat should bo placed on the same footing as that of dairy produce, and payment made after '28 days in store. A paddock of 13 acres of promising turnips, adjacent to the Wallacctoirn saleyards, Southland, has, saye an exchange, been sold for £100—over £7 10s. per acre. Tho conditions brought about by tho war have catisod fanners to depart from many of their old ways, and laet year several small blocks of rape wero allowed to go to seed in order that a, sufficient supply should be available for sowing this year. At the Amberlpy market recontly, says an exchange, Mr. H. 'James yarded 67 lambs, which were fattened on rape from colonial-grown seed, and topped the market, securing iios. sd. per bead. No doubt in future rape seed will be extensively jirown in the Dominion, as experiments made of growing this' fattening commodity alongside English seed haw • proved that the colonial seed is superior! Already there has been a big influx of visitors to Dannovirke for the Dannevirko A. and P. .Association's fijhow to-day and to-morrow. Tho exhibition of stock promises to bo one of the best in tho history of the society, while in all other departments the show will eclipse the standard of previous years. Train arrangements are convenient for residents of the province to 'visit the show and return home tie same day, and the most complete arrangements have been innde for entering for them, so that a pleasurable and profitable day may ensure. At the Feilditig Shoir the artillery horse class was won by J. Sieley, Mrs. V. A. Densham beiiio; ieconcf. An important disperinj ealo of stud Lincoln sheep, on belnlf of Mr. A. T>. M'Master, he held at the Alasrerton showgrounds on Saturday bv the Wnirarapa Farmers' Co-opera-tivn Association. Thn total offering will be about 810 head, particulars of winch are advertised.

Inauiries made by- g reporter (sav 5 our Napier correspondent) indicate that there ,is no real .shortage of station managers in Htiwlte's Bay. while farm hands can stil]/fje obtained where reasonable wages ajd prospects of a period' of work are iljrerinfi. Some difficulty has been experienced in obtaininn; labour for hamstinc, but, this was generally in cases Y>'hpre only one or two days' work was offering.'