GLEANINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8347, 6 February 1913, Page 2

GLEANINGS

That tlie cultivation of lucerne is gradually being adopted is shown by the taict that! Feilding mid Hnstnigs a plentiful .supply of this luscious fodder was provided for feeding the stock on me grounds during the snows. An Australian visitor to Feilding when speaking to a gathering of farmers on Tuesday evening said that with its rapid expansion Australia would continue to provide a profitable market for stock, especially draught horses, provided the standard of animal sent over was kept at a high level. They did not want any of the weaklings and rejects from New Zealand. .At the Feilding A. and i*. Association's smoke social Mr Jlalcombe, the Jersey judge, claimed to be the oldest breeder of purebred Jerseys in the Dominion, and incidentally mentioned that the first importation, consisting ot a bull end two heifers, were brought out from tho island of Jersey by a Mr Beyers and were located at VVoodordean, near Marton, in 1864. These animals were subsequently sold to air Haniell, of Wanganui, who kept them a few years, when they were purchased by Mi’s Haicombe, sen., and formed the nucleus of a herd from which units were distributed to all parts of the colony, A speaker at the Feilding Show social evening, who described himself as a “horse lunatic/' made reference to the importance of jumping competitions and other ring events in cecuring the success of the annual show. Tho stock pens may interest a few specialists, but it was, in his opinion, the competitions that drew tho crowd. Judging from the applause that followed it was evident that many others in the room held the same views. Growers of rye grass seed in the Mauawatu are well satisfied with this year's harvest. The area under crop is not quite so extensive as usual, but tho sample of seed is equal to the very best that has been grown at any time. The seed is dressing out well, and ,is of splendid weight, many of the samples going from 301 bto 321 bto the bushel.