THE SURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 397, 20 September 1911, Page 6

THE SURAL WORLD.

WELCOME RAIN. The change in the weather during the past week will be of untold value to agriculturists, many of whom were becoming anxious about their crops and pastures. Welcome rains have fallen over the greater part of both islands in sufficient quantities to promote vigorous growth, which for the time being will be sufficient. It is seldom that a season opens that shows equal commercial prospects to the present. The markets for all the staple products of the soil are full of promise. All that is now required to ensure a record revenue from all sources is suitable weather conditions, for no matter how perfect all other details connected with production have been carried out the ultimate success depends largely upon climatic influences. The past season and the winter and spring of this year have been unusually dry, and farmers have been rather taken by surprise by the altered conditions, and have not made provision for conserving the moisture in the soil, or in laying up feed for j stock. Last week reports from all parts of the country showed that the situation was being viewed with alarm by many and pessimists were beginning to bewail for the future. So far there has been very little cause for alarm. True, the. soil is dry for the time of ths year, and feed is scarce in some parts, but the scarcity of feed is to be attributed more to the effects of the devastating influence of last autumn than to the snrinsr of this

season. Farmers have got used to seeing their farms thorouhgly saturated with water at this time of the year that many of them seem to think that because high boots and gaiters can be dispensed with this year disaster must follow. While it is admitted that the soil is all the better for a good soaking during the winter, it does not follow that frequent heavy rain 3 are of much advantage, especially where the land is not | deeply drained and porous. Where j ! surface drains are relied unon the

I suiplus water runs directly to the l water courses or lies about in pools, i as soon as the soil has absorbed as I much as it will hold. This is rather la disadvantage than otherwise and the j present state should not cause a great deal of anxiety. So long as occasional I penetrating showers are forthcoming j all will be well. Every season brings | along its peculiarities and lessons. It I is the observant and provident man who takes note of nature's warnings and who generally succeeds by so doing where others fail. The less provident say that this is luck, but it is not, it is common sense. The time has gone for trusting tu providence in all things connected with farming. The men who are meeting with the most success Jo-day are those who are turning reverses into successes by making the most of their opportunities, by forestalling unfavourable conditions both by scientific tilling, and the cultivation of such crops that will stand by them at ail seasons.

STATE DAIRY COWS

A COVETED ANIMAL. A few weeks ago it was reported that a Manawatu breeder had made an offer of £2OO for one of the Hoistein cows at Weraroa State farm.The offer was refused. The tempting price of SOO guineas was tendered for the same cow but a negative reply was received. Speaking to a New Zealand Tii-nes' representative the disappointed would-be purchaser said that he considered the cow for which he made the offer, is the best of her breed in the Dominion, but he was afraid ttiat money would not attempt the department to part with her. Following last year's example we are informed that the yearlings from Weraroa will be offered for sale by auction at the Palmerston Show in November. It will be remembered that three yearling bulls were sold iheve last year and made goodprices, the figures realised being 30, 47, and 73 guineas each. The highest price was obtained for the younger ft'om the cow that gave 15,2171b of milk with a 3.8 test, producing 5791b of butterfat last season.

"1 consider the rating on the unimproved value is the only fair and j .equitable method of taxation," said \ a jEJunnythorpe farmer to a Manawatu Standard reporter. "Hern am I paying ovejf £Q for under fifty acre-3, just because I have a snug homestead, and have spent money in making my home pretty and comfortable. I pay at the rate of 3s 7d per acre. Now, take some of the big estates. I could specify one of nearly four thousand acres, and the rate do not come to ninspence per acre, or about one-fifth of the amount per acre that I have to pay. Mow and again an effort has been made to change the rating principle to the unimproved vajue, but the other system still The more I ! improve the higher is my valuation, and the higher are my rates. Does that encourage the small farmer to improve his property? It will always be so so long as the rating principle remains as at present." [ "Yes, that crop of green oats will take some beating," said a Bunnythorp.e farmer to a Manawatu Standard reporter, pointing with some pride to a very heavy crop, from which he was cutting for his milling cows. "But for that patch and another whiGh I used before I started on it, my cowa would have been dry, for the grass is not long enough fpr them to get a bite. Of eoui'ae, J sowed pretty heavily, much more heavily than for grain, but I am reaping the benefit now. I have not seen a better patch in the district. When

we ploughed the land for it, it was J during the drought, or just after it. I The soil came up in such huge blacks that neither the harrows nor the roller could do anything with them. I went over it with axe and a maul and broke it up that way, and got the seed in. Now look at the result of my labour.. Jsn'j; there satisfaction in. working when you get a ciop I'ike that as a result? I can tell you it takes she sweat out of me to cut and load it, and you should see how the relish if. It hay paid me all right, There's not much use always waiting for the weather on a farm, or your cattle will suffer. That's my experience."