Southland's Spring.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 October 1913, Page 4

Southland's Spring.

There is every reason to believe that if the season continues for a

j few weeks longer to be as favourI able as it has been sincc the beginning of September, Southland will have a record year for production (says the Times). During the past few weeks the grass has come away at a phenomenal speed. As one farmer put it "You can almost hear the grass grow." Feed is everywhere becoming plentiful and even the stock, which fared notte too well in j,he winter, are rapidly coming into condition. The iii-takes at the dairy factory are increasing daily, and if fulfilled the output of cheese will largely exceed the figures of past [ seasons. It is not too much to hope that lambing will be the best that Southland has yet had. A stockman of experience who can be relied upon not to exaggerate, gives it as his opinion that the average over the whole disfviel will be about one hundred and twenty per cent. This is, of course, his own estimate. It is not based upon returns or upon carefully compiled statistics, but it is the estimate of an authority who has travelled widely through Southland, and who has carefully noted the paddocks that have come under his observation. Ilis calculation is that the average lambing will be one hundred .and twenty per cent, and he is satisfied that, if the young lambs meet with favourable conditions, the lambing will be the best that Southland has vol had. The outlook is in the highest degree encouraging, and since remunerative prices are assured the large increase in production menus an enormous return to the producers.