DISTRICT NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9367, 9 February 1909, Page 5

DISTRICT NOTES.

(From Onr Travelling Representative. ) Farming in general appears to /be most satisfactory this season in the Waitnna and Bewa districts. There is an abundance of grass for ail stock. Large droves of fat lambs left these districts this year for the freezing works, a good percentage having been taken from the grass. Owing to this heavy drafting of young sheep it is considered probable that there will be a scarcity of tiwotooth wethers on the market next season and consequently those who have this class of sheep for sale will be able to command a high figure. It is generally found that the Romney and Romuey-Lincoln cross do well on the hilly country, and farmers speak highly of this breed as a wool grower and mutton producer. The land where ploughable is admirably suited for agriculture. Some good fields of turnips and rape may be seen, while several pad - docks are being stumped“and cleared ready for the seed next season. On the way from Waitnna to Pakihikura men are at work with the sickle on the roadsides and in the fields cutting cocksfoot for seed and it should pay handsomely at ninepence a pound, which I understand is its value at present. At this'price the crop would pay 'admirably if specially cultivated when it could be gathered by the machine. Cocksfoot is of a hardy growth and resists the ravages of rough weather far better than rye grass, which is grown extensively for seed in the Hawke* Bay district. There is evidence of the Waitnna township developing. Two buildings are now in course of construction. A six-roomed house is being built for Mr H. G. Mason and one of eleven rooms for Mr C. O. Eggers It would be an excellent thing for the district if a few of the large landholders could be induced to cut up tbeir estates into small holdings suitabe for dairy farms. “Road metalling has commenced. Mr J. Myers has the contract from Cunningham’s corner to Waitnna, a distance of four and a half miles; and another metalling contract has been let for six miles from Waitnna to Rewa. At present there appears to be a a scarcity of labour in the back blocks, men are difficult to obtain, all available labour being required for harvesting.