THE MAN ON THE LAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 26, 29 January 1913, Page 3

THE MAN ON THE LAND.

Mr T. Miller, of Teven (U.S.A.), has grown cucumbers 4ft. 6in. in length and 6in in diameter. The seeds of this variety originally came from In-' dia. What is claimed as a record droving trip for Glen Innas is reported by the Sydney Daily Telegraph. About three months ago Drover Kimmorley left Roma Queensland in charge of 11,000 young wethers, the property of Messrs Hugh Hutchison and R. O’Hara. They travelled via Goondiwindi and Yetman and thence on to Glen Inncs, where they arrived in splendid condition, and without loss of a single animal. On arrival in Glen Innes 7000 of the wethers were sold at a good profit. A threshing machine proprietor at Kyle, Canterbury, has constructed a contrivance which he has attached to his mill, whereby the services of one stackman and the band-cutter have been dispensed with. The elevator is attached to the combine in such a way that it cuts the bands and conveys the sheaves to the self-feeder as quickly as the forkers can throw them in, the bands of the sheaves being cut by knives protruding l upwards from the rbottom of the elevator box. The device was given a trial on Monday in a paddock of Algerian oats and did satisfactory work. Prairie grass, according to an expert, is to play an important part in agriculture. Owing to the avidity with which stock will eat this grass, it is not ranked amongst the grasses that will stand, because it is generally not given the chance to seed. It is a fine pasturage grass, and is good fattening and grazing feed. The late Mr John Grigg, of Longburn, said an expert to a Timaru “Herald” reporter the other day, was a pioneer in agriculture, and he was so impressed with this grass and used it so extensive)’ that he became known among his friends as “Prairie Grass Grigg.” For prairie grass a future is predicted in the agriculture of this country.

A farmer at Stirling, lost a valuable bullock in a singular way (reports the Clutha Leader). A rcw bags of Malden Island guano were standing in the open and the bullock coining up to them ripped the corner of one bag open with its horn. It had licked up about a cupful of the manure when Mr Anderson noticed it, and had it driven away, but the bullock walked only a few yards before lying down an(l commenced to breathe heavily. A purgative was given without avail, and in a short space of time the beast died. When opened up it was found that the coating of the stomach was burnt away, through the action of the manure, it was presumed.

There arrived by a recent intercolonial liner two immigrants who had come out to New Zealand to follow farming operations in Southland. A good joke is told about one of the pair who commenced work for a wellknown Riverton farmer (reports the Southland News). “Can you plough?” asked the owner of the land. “(|h, yes,” came the reply. After showing the newcomer where the stable was, the farmer directed him to harness up a horse and put it in a double-fur-row plough. About an hour later the willing ,hand returned to his boss and said, “Haven’t you got a smaller hor.se?” “What do you want a smaller horse for?” inquired his employer, who was beginning to doubt his employee’s ability. “Well, I can’t get this moke in the shafts,” came the answer.