Farming Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 232, 6 February 1894, Page 2

Farming Notes.

(By Agricola.) the bot fly. What a lot of talk one hears of the hot fly. From expressions used both by writers and talkers, a person might come to the conclusion that this fly was never heard of before. By the descriptions given me (I have not seen the fly yet) I believe it is the same I was familiar with when a lad working on my father's farm in the old country. It was termed a " wasp " and would attack both cattle and horses. I have seen a mob of cattle standing quite terror struck, their heads close together, shaking with fear; no horning one another ; all appeared to be in solemn oonclave— a sort of committee meeting. The wasp was about and they knew it. It was generally considered a cure indication of rain approaching. Then all of a sudden one of the beasts would be attacked and off it would rush with a bellow and tail up, from one end of the paddock to another, sometimes rushing madly through or over fences. When a beast was seen rushing about the pad* dock in this style it was said in the common phraseology of the country "It has got the wasp." Often when working the horses in the summer time the drivers had to tie a piece of sock under the cheek, as this was the principal place the wasp attacked the horse. It was about the size of a bee, with a fang at bis tail with which it stung the beasts. Eggs were also deposited by these wasps, but I never beard of any damage caused thereby. Horses in teams working in the paddocks have often gone off at a pace which has left Hodge sprawling on the ground, and caused serious damage to both teams and implements; and the cattle have often broken their legs by jumping fences when attacked by this said wasp, bat beyond that there was no serious damage* HARVESTING. Harvesting operations are now in full swing. lam informed that the crops on the whole are not first class. It will be remembered that it was a very wet season for cropping and most of the crops were put in late. On the ground which is not low- lying the crops are fairly good, but on the ground where the water could not get away the crops are very poor. BAIN. The clerk of the weather seemß to favor one part of the country more than another. About Sandon, Carnarvon and Cawpbelltown the ground looks very parched for want of rain. About Wai* tuna, Eiwitea and Waitapa the country is quite green. STOCK BALES. The clearing-out sale held at Mrs Campion's, Carnarvon, on Wednesday last, by Messrs Gorton and Son, was, taken aa a whole, very good. The sheep, it was stated, did not fetch a high price, but the cattle did, and I think most of the goods and chatties sold very well. There was a large attendance from all parts of the district, and the auctioneer did his beat to get the highest bids and to keep the audience in good spirits. The settlers expressed surprise at the high price cows fetched, some of them as high as £10 10s.