Farming Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 137, 9 December 1893, Page 2

Farming Notes.

(By Agbicola). Election matters seemed to have absorbed the attention of "Your Own" lately. If it has however, it has also taken up much of the attention of the farmers whose chief topic of conversation has been on politics. Farming notes of course are a secondary consideration when the very atmosphere seems to have been impregnated with politics. It is very amusing if not edifying to hear the various opinions — some of them, more expressive than polite— given by farmers. One farmer informed me that " there was never better ti.nes in New Zealand than since the Liberal Government had been in power." I asked him to give me his reasons for such an opinion. " Oh, well, you know a few years ago it was such hard times with us farmers— we hadn't a shilling to bless ourselves with at times, but now we can put our hands on a few pounds." «Do you really think," I said, " That the Ministry of the day has done this?" "Yes, said he," I | then pointed out to him what I, as well as many o thers think, has been the cause of the prosperity of the colony. The establishment of freezing companies and the opening up of the Home market for the sale of our products. He then scratched his head and acknowledged that "it might be so," but like the old woman "Convince him against his will, he's of the. same opinion still." The majority of farmers, I find, notwithstanding the baits that have been thrown out by the present Government to catch their votes, are not favorable towards their policy. The results of the late elections have come as a surprise to the farmers in general. One says "Look here, we, who are the backbone of the country, are not represented in the House ; it is the working men who have all to say." Well, Mr Lethbridge knows that he was supported by the principal portion of the Rangitikei electorate. It was that blessed Ohingaiti district. Haymaking. I notice that the haymaking season has commenced, but so far the weather has been anything but favorable to preserve the winter fodder in good order. Some farmers did not shut up their paddocks for hay until late in the season. They consider, by observation, and (experience, that about Chrismas time is the best season for haymaking. It is to be hoped that they will be more fortunate than those who have cut lately, Shearing. The season has been very " catchey " for shearing operations. The shearers will not have made- big cheques in a short time this season. lam told that the wool is in a much better condition now than it was at the commencement of the season. A quantity of wool has been sent away lately, and yet numbers bsve not shorn their sheep in the district.. CBOPS. The wheat, oats, etc., throughout the district are looking healthy. It was prognosticated that we should have poor crops this season ok account of the lateness of the year, but the weather has been favorable, hence the prospects of a good harvest.