DISTRICT NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9395, 16 March 1909, Page 2

DISTRICT NOTES.

Trom Onr Travelling Oorr,esp9ndent. We are continually reading in the daily papers of by the unemployed in the cities, and immigrants having arrived in,, too Dominion whoiate to obtain employment. While, travell- ; ing through differentdistnctsl meet with landholders and oontraotors who are complaining about the scarcity of labour and they are willing to give good wages to capable men. If the unemployed of the city are anxious and willing to work they should make their way into the country, where there is a Pfospeot of employment. Only recently 1 met with,, instances where immigrants jußt out have made their way Into country towns, registered their names at some employment bureau, and in a few days have been sent to farm work where they receive from twenty-five to thirty shillings a week and keep. Some of these men having just arrived from England are now raw and new to this conntry, hut being able and willing they had no difficulty in obtaining situatlTS*large quantity of 8! al . n __f been forced on the the past few weeks, consequently quotations are low and not at au satisfactory from a farmer spoint of view. Many declare that they will not sell at the present ruling prices and intend to store their° ats Wheat until such time as the market rises. There have been .excellent- yields in the and Oroua districts this year, hut great crops do not always IEQ Pjj a money return commensurate with their .size. If prices are ’ producer does not receive full benefit from what his land has produced. New Zealand is known as the land of experiments and in nearly every district we find small plots set apart for experimental A few acres are being utilised for agricultural experiments on Mr «. ». McKenzie’s farm at Carnarvon, ihe land selected is not of the tost, tor Mr McKenzie contends that any crops can thrive on good ground, but if the quality of the soil used is of an inferior nature a farmer is better able to judge by the use of certain manures the quantity and quality_o manure required on that particular land to insure a fair return for the outlay. Facts and figures in connection with test crops are not yet obtainable. Maize, sorghum, kohlrabi, and lucerne each occupy a half acre section. The maize which makes an excellent forage when out green did not do well owing to the [dry winds this season. If this corn is to he grown successfully good shelter is necessary. Sorgum which belongs to the millet family and is used for fodder shows a good crop and suits the ground well. This plant is not easy to handle in stacks, bnt makes good ensilage if cut when in „flower. The kohlrabi was not sown thick enough, but considering the season has proved a useful crop. Lucerne will thrive well in ground if properly treated, and kept free from weeds, but blight has made its appearance in a few lucerne fields in, Carnarvon this year. The soil should he thoroughly worked and cleaned for this crop, and if put in well twill last for many years. If sown with a drill about 201bs is needed per acre, and the--land, is poor it should be well manured. Top dressing on poor pastures proved most successful, results of which have been published in these columns. Basic slag is about the most economical dressing and also prov?s effective in restoring the growth of the finer grasses. During the pasc few weeks of weather a blight baa made its pearance in most of the rape and turnip fields throughout the distrct, and a small fly has also done considerable damage to these crops. , The rain is welcomed by all, and now the land had a thorough soaking, farmers can go ahead with their ploughing, while sheep-owners who were unable to commence dipping (operations owing to the scarcity of water, will now have more than* sufficient to fill thier dips.