GENERAL FARM NEWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 149, 13 March 1918, Page 8

GENERAL FARM NEWS

The fine -weather that ha s prevailed for some time past'in the country districts south of Dunedin has proved extremely favourable to harvesting operations, and wherever agricultural land is seen these are in full swing. On most of the farms throughout South Otago the crops have all been cut, and a great deal of the grain is'either standing in stook or has been "led in," while on a number of places thrashing or chaff-cutting plants are already at work. It is a little' -too parly to estimate wha-t the yields will be. but, judging from appearances, some of the crops will produce a very fine return. While the weather has been little short of ideal for harvesting work, it has been rather dry for turnips and grass, and in somo places complaints were heard that the former were suffering from blight. In many of tho districts, and particularly around Lawrence, where the weather has been abnormally drr of lato, a good shower of rain would be heartily welcomed.

At the last Masterton Show some sheep which had been exhibited disappeared. At the meeting of tho general committee of the Masterton A. and P. Association on Saturday last, Mr. J. Strang asked if anything had been heard of tho missing shcop and whether any steps had beon taken in_ the matter. Mr. Strang said that his brother had lost one sheep out of a first prize pen, and he had heard of another exhibitor losing four, though he could not vouch 'for tho truth of tho latter report. Mr. Strang was informed by the president that nothing had been .done in the matter. _ A preliminary estimate of tho value of tho field crops of Canada has been published bv tho Census and Statistics Office at Ottawa. It shows a total of £217,037.400 received bv farmers and •other producers of the Dominion during 1917, the figures being based upon current market Quotations during tho season. In 1910 the value was set officially at £172,089,200. To last vear's abrogate "wheat contributed ■C 90,074,500: oats. £47,228,400; and bay, etc., £28,672.332; root and other crops being responsible for the balancc.