THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24411, 24 September 1940, Page 2

THE RURAL WORLD

'-. By RUSTICUS.=

FARMING PRACTICE IMPORTANCE OF CULTIVATION AVOIDING SOIL STARVATION A great weakness of New Zealand farming lies in the excessive reliance, especially in the northern districts, placed on the relatively favourable climate, which certainly gives more even distribution of grass growth than in less favoured countries. But every year there are many deaths of stock due directly to starvation or to disease caused by partial starvation. Few farmers appear to realise that two-thirds of the grass growth occurs in four months (one-third of the year), only one-third of the growth occurring in the remaining eight months (twothirds of the year). By saving surplus grass as hay or silage this unevenness can be partially levelled out. but there is still plenty of scope for the use of supplementary feed crops states the National Council of Primary Production. . , If ploughing has been earned out early, there is vet time to prepare the ground thoroughly for root and greenfeed crops for'the coming year. The spring-sown cereal crops should be all sown by the end of September, late barley crops being an exception. Heavy rains may make it worth while to delay sowing barley to prevent the crop from being drowned. As autumn-sown cereals are fed off. they should be harrowed to aerate the surface and scatter clods which have been broken by winter frosts. For root and forage crops the soil should be brought to a good tilth —i.e., a seed bed that is clean, moist, firm and deep. In addition it is important that the seed bed should be fine from top to bottom. A superficial cultivation that leaves a few inches of fine soil above a cloddy layer is most unfavourable to crop growth. The clods should be brought to the surface with a cultivator if necessary, and broken down by roller and discs. Land" for potatoes that has been skimmed in the autumn should :be cross-ploughed ready for the working up and planting of the main crop in October. Every care should be taken to purchase seed potatoes free from disease the only reliable method generally being to buy certified seed, since virus disease cannot be detected by visual examination of the tuber. All possible use should be made of the implements at this busy time, though heavy soils should not be worked under unfavourable weather conditions. Farmers who cannot themselves fully employ their tractors—and many tractors are not fully employed—shoul'd endeavour to co-operate by hiring them to other fanners not possesing one. In preparing land for sowing lucerne in November, it should be remembered that lucerne must be given a good start in its competition against weeds. Arable land that is prone to weed infestation, especially of twitch weeds, is not. therefore, very suitable. Accordingly, it may be advisable to sow lucerne on land which has been in old pasture and which is. to be ploughed over only for lucerne. This normally gives a seed bed with but a small degree of weed infestation. MORE HANDLED MARKET FOR CALVES SKIN PRICES LOWER The substantial increase in the bobby calf killings of the New Zealand Cooperative Pig Marketing Association was indicated by the chairman of directors. Mr W. A. Phillips, to-day when he stated that killings up to the end of August had reached a total of 191,000, against a total of 153,000 for the corresponding period last year. The association was markeling the product of 61 p--;ols against a total of 41 pools last year, the association's calf •oools now 'extending right through both islands. Over £60,000 had already been paid out by way of advance payments for calves received to (he end,of August. The peak of supplies had been experienced in about the third week of August. The season had been earlier this year and the calves in better condition because of the favourable winter and autumn experienced. Condemnations because of immaturily had consequently been considerably fewer than last vear.

Prospects for the season at the begin ning of the year in regard to skin prices had been better than they were last. year, but since then, the loss of many former markets for the manufactured product had resulted in the market for skins suffering a rapid and substantial decline. Actually, the United States and Canada were the larges' buyers of the raw product, but these countries had lost their markets for the manufactured products because cf. the war.

NEWS | FROM CLUBS

Eighteen members were present at the monthly meeting of the Enfield Club, which was held on the 2nd of this month. The speaker for the evening was Mr J. D. MacLeod, who gave a short address on " The War Effort as it, Affects the Primary Producer." During August a number of club members attended a lecture on increased production given by Mr B. B. Blackmore at the Waitaki Boys' High School.

The last meeting of the Lochiel Club was held on September 12, when Mr Colin Lindsay spoke on the "Raising of Fat Lambs."

The Tokorahi Club held its monthly meeting on September 11, when Mr T. A. Sellwood. of the Department of Agriculture, Oamaru, showed some films in connection with the inci'eased production drive.

The Otama Club held its last meeting early this month, the main business being that of making arrangements for teams in connection with the debating contest which was later held in Gore. The speaker for the evening was Mr A. Mackay, who addressed the members on ." Farming in the United States."

The last meeting of the Crookston Club was held in the Crookston Hall on September 10. There was a large attendance. Two members were appointed to act as attending members at the next Kelso A. and P. Show. It was also decided to ask Mr R. G. Buchan. stock inspector, Department of Agriculture. Tapanui. to speak at their next meeting. The speaker for the evening was Mr S. H. Saxby. of the Department of Agriculture, who addressed the meeting on the question of the identification of grasses. This address was divided into three sections, the first dealing with the relationship of the various grasses to the conditions under which they grow, and which was illustrated by a few lantern slides. The next section consisted of a small competition in which club members were asked to identify a number of living specimens of pasture plants that were laid on the table. The third section consisted of an informal discussion led by the speaker, who demonstrated to members the various ways in which the more common plants could be readily distinguished from one another. Amongst those present were several members of the

Moa Flat Club. At the conclusion of the meeting a welcome supper was supplied by the local branch of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union.

The last meeting of the Dipton Club was held in the first week of this month, there being 13 members in attendance. After clearing up the matter of expenses of the concert held the previous month, it was decided to make a donation of £5 to the Red Cross Fund. There was also a discussion on the forwarding of parcels for members serving in the overseas forces. The speaker for the evening was Mr C. Johnson, a club member, who spoke on his visit to the Canterbury Agricultural College, where he attended a 10day sheep farmers' course recently.

The West Taieri Club held its monthly meeting in the Agricultural Hall, Outram, on September 11, when arrangements were made for a debate with the South Taieri Club on September's. It was also decided to hold over the planting of trees in connection with the Centennial tree-planting scheme until next April. There was no speaker for the evening, but several members gave short speeches, after which an impromptu debate was held.

There were 16 members present at the monthly meeting of the Balfour Club, which was held on September 10. There was a discussion on the questioji of forming a club library, after which a report was given of trie debating contest recently held in Gore. Following this three club members gave short talks dealing with " The Management of Breeding Ewes," " Trees," and " Experiences in the Wool Store during the Season."

Advice has been received to the effect that the Taieri Agricultural Societv has once again made a donation of £2 for a Young Farmers' Club stock judging competition, to be held at their show on' November 16 next. These competitions have each year proved to be very popular, and the assistance given by the Agricultural Society has been greatly appreciated.

rn 5 e P s , l^?, 1 otago Youn g Farmers' * "£ s ~h <l l d their annual seven-a-side football tournament on September 14 when seven teams competed for the J. Wilson Challenge Cup. The winning team was the Upper Manuherikia Club, with the Arrowtown team run-ner-up. The Roxburgh and Alexandra teams were third equal. Unfortunately the Upper Clutha Club was unable to be represented. Good, clean, fast football was the order of the day The winning team deserved its position, although the Alexandra B team had it worried for a while. The backs of the Arrowtown team gave a good exhibition of general handling of the ball. The referees were Messrs A.. Marshn, A. Robinson, and C. Rowley, who at all times had the games well under control. At the conclusion of the tournament a dinner was held at the Bendigo Hotel, where Mr A. Kinnaird, chairman of the Central Otaeo District Committee; was in the chair. Mr W. R. Harris, chairman of the Otago-Southland Council, who was present, replied to the toast of "The Young Farmers' Clubs." In doing so, he urged members to carry on their clubs during the difficult period of the war, in order that members later returning from overseas would still find their old clubs functioning and carrying on the ideals of the club movement. Members were also reminded of the assistance which the federation had pledged to give towards the national effort for increasing primary production.

The following is the fifth of a short series of articles on the preparation and delivery of wireless talks by young farmers' clubs, and has been prepared by Mr S. R. Whyte:— What has been written previously in this short series of articles has deaif with the subject and its preparation for broadcasting. It is now possible to give some hints on the actual delivery of a talk to that great unknown—the radio audience. Each individual will have his own reactions to the Pew experience—that of his first broadcast. However, it seems quite usual for beginners to suffer alternating sensations of loneliness and foolishness. The announcer will usually explain " when that little red light comes on you will be on the air." That is when a peculiar feeling of loneliness arises; to be followed later by a feeling of foolishness when the speaker finds himself talking to apparently nothing more than an in-triguing-looking gadget hanging or standing 15 inches away from him. Nevertheless, he is speaking to an audience which he can neither see nor by whom he can be seen—sometimes perhaps fortunately for all concerned.