SOUTHERN JOTTINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 32, 30 April 1927, Page 18 (Supplement)

SOUTHERN JOTTINGS

COMMENCEMENT OF RAINY SEASON COUNTRY IN GOOD HEART WELLINGTON, Friday. Has the rainy season commented? That is the question now being asked in view oi recent heavy fails. Along : tUe West Coast ram fell on several days during the past and one or two downpours were of a Torrential nature. The East Coast too has been visited, and towards the week-end farmers were pleased to see that it was not merely a spasm. The rain was fairly heavy and being quite warm, a vast amount of good will be derived therefrom. The country was in great need of an extended steady feU, and it got just what it wanted. The southern provinces are now in good heart and the cheering message of the Prime Minister that the farmers* outlook had improved has caused some of our producers to wear a more cheerful countenance. The paddocks are presenting a fine appearance and here we are, at practically the beginning of May. with plenty of good feed for stock, prevailing everywhere. In Taranaki and Wanganui "districts on one coast, the Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay province on the other side of the range, thence are many producers to say that not for [ many years, has a winter been approached under more favourable conditions. With normality still ruling, therefore, the period of cold and rain generally expected during May June, July and August months should have no terrors for the farmer, particularly the man who has plenty of supplementary feed ready in case of emergency.

CULL COW DRIVE In one part of the Taranaki province an effort is being made to get rid of cull cows by means cf a drive. The Toko branch of the Farmers' Union have arranged this novel way oi introducing discarded cows to the butcher. It is not known yet how many cows will be forthcoming, but it is hoped that the movement will be well supported in the district. It is considered a very' safe and most effective way of getting rid of the cull cow, without the danger of these useless animals getting into the herds of other farmers. If this means of farmers protecting each other’s interests throughout the Dominion were adopted, what splendid herds could be established. As a rule when a farmer finds he has a “dud” he doesn’t care much how he gets rid of it, 'nor to whom it goes, so long as he disposes of it to advantage. The result is that, many of these cows are passed from one herd to another, instead of being sent to the works immediately the discovery is made by testing, that they have become valueless as cream producers. Toko’s move, which is a distinctly good one, will be watched with interest. HAWKE’S BAY FARM SCHOOL

A meeting was held at Hastings a few days ago to further consider the establishment of a farm school, in connection with the provisions of the Howard Bequest. The committee’s report recommended the purchase of A. V. Collins's property, consisting of 1,770 acres, but when it was received by the general meeting the question was raised that the price was too high. Sir Andrew Russell was present, and he expressed the opinion that they were advancing on an extremely dangerous scheme and that they were going in for a big financial responsibility. The committee, he thought, had quite got away from the idea of the more modest ways that they had previously discussed. The whole question was bound up in what class of school they were going to run. Eventually the meeting was adjourned as all the districts concerned were not represented.