BY THE WAYSIDE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 19, 6 February 1937, Page 15

BY THE WAYSIDE

Notes of Interest to H.B. Farmers SUB-CLOVER IN 1912 Subterranean clover waa iirst groTTii jn Hawke's Bay on an Argyll farm ii1912, claims a correspondent, xeferrin;to a recent articlo in the "Herald Tribune ' ' on the introduction of thi plant to Hawke's Bay. "In 1912 i number of drought resisting plant were grown in this locality, includc among which was subterranean elovei S'everal plants wbre exhibited at a hor ticultural show held at Hampden, ' says the correspondent. "They attract ed considerable interest, as the seasor had been a dry one, with an almost entire absence of rainfall." The White Butterfly, The white butterfly has had a better ; season in Hawke 's Bay this year than | for some time past, and farmers have i found that their Tape and kindred ( crucifer crops have suffered a greater degree of damage. This has been entirely due to climatic conditions which not only favoured the butterfly, but also retarded the operations of the parasite which in paJst seasons has ex> ercised such an effective degree Of control. With fine weather, however, the parasite should niake up for much of the lost time eaused by rain. The Honey Crop. The present season has not been as satisfactory for beekeepers in Hawke 'a Bay as wafs originally anticipated. Cold weather and winds have both had a deleterious effect on the honey-gath-ering and yields have consequently tjeen reduced. An improvement has been noticed since the New Year, but more warm, mild days, with little wind are wanted if hives are to produce good, payable erops. Beekeepers are dependent to a greater ©xtent on the weather than any other branch of primary production, apd, unless" the right weather is expeyienced at honey-gathering time, the /ear's work of preparation is wasted. Shelter Belts. It is important that preparations should ,be made this autunm for the planting of suitable shelter belts on che, farm. The lines should be laid ofl and the ground turned over in readiness for the planting of the young erees. Super In N.Z. "It is difficult to understand why farmers in New Zealand want to bother about expensive insoluble pho!spnatic fertilisers when they can buy this plant food in an efficient and much cheaper f ora, — superphosphato, ' ' comments Professor A. E. V. Bichardson. Lice In Sheep. During January, 109,049 sheep were inspected on Gisborne and Coast ro ada and saleyards, and only 836 were found to be infested with lice. A Teport to this effect released by the senior stock inspector at 'Gisborne, Mr. F. E. Bould, is a very pleasing' one, and shows a big improvement on last year, when many saleyards pens and several mobs on the road were lice-infested. Much more dipping appears to have been done this season. The position was all the more

remarkable, Mr. .Bould said, when it was shown that in over 727,000 sheep on the roads not one lice-infested sheep was found. The 836 discovered were among 37,000 sheep in the saleyards. Export Schedules. Keen competition for lambs i'or export has resulted in a further rise in the export schedule, which has been advanced id per 1b. over all grades. Prices are now on the basis of 9d per lb. for lambs up to 361b. The number of , lambs oft'ering is now deelining, the peak having .been passed. Even so, a prolonged season is oxpected, according to a correspondent. The Export Season, To date this has been an exceptionaJ season in many respects. Wet weather provided an early setback and consequently the bulk of the killing has been done ' much later than usual, but priees have been profitable. Schedule values to-day are ld to l*d per lb. higher than the level at this period last year, while.the enhanced value of wool has created a strong demand for ewe lambs for bredineg purposes, and prices have risen to high levels. The Annual Trek.

The annual movement of Eomney breeding ewes from the east coast to Soath Auckland is now Teaching its peak, and it is estimated that by the time the transfej; is completod at the end of March no iewer than 260,000 sheep will be absorbed by South Auckland breeders. The movement of sheep from the east coast to the Waikato is somewhat later than usual this year. The long spell of wet weather experieneed in the Gisborne area during Decomber and J anuary caused a delay in the shearing, drafting, and culling operations. A large proportion of the sheep drafted to the Waikato has been bought for forward delivery, while the balance has been forwarded on consigninent and will be offered for teale st large sheep fairs that have been scheduled to tako place at the main centres during the' nest f ew weeks.