FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 207, 9 February 1915, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

A Mastertonian who has just returned from Australia states that the effects of tile drought are still being severely felt. Tile depression in the cities is very marked, and there are thousands of unemployed iu Melbourne. The wheat crops in the agricultural districts of Victoria have been a complete failure, and many farmers are in a bad way.

Flocks of lambs aggregating 1000 unci onwards are comparatively rare in any of the. saleyards of the Dominion, but occasionally lines running into four iigiires are oli'ered for sale. It is seldom indeed that lines of such dimensions average over 20s per head. However, an instance of this sort happened in Canterbury during last week. On Thursday at llawarden sale Messrs 11. Matson and Co. oli'ered on account of .Mr. Leicester Matson, of the Brookdale Estate, 10(10 particularly line lambs, which realised prices ranging from 22s to 255, the average for the line being 22s Gd.

A point of considerable interest to ' slice]) breceders was referred to at the Feilding A. and P. Association's sniokft social on Tuesday night by Mr Perry,' the well-known sheep breeder, says a Wanganui correspondent. Mr. Perry said that he did not consider the sheep of the Dominion were fleshy enough, compared with those of Britain. Climatic conditions,' perhaps, were partly responsible, but he thought that the want of lime in the soil was a contributing factor. In view of this, he was pleased to see that an ell'ort was being made to work the large and important lime deposits of Manawatll.

While there has been a general outcry for rain in New Zealand, Otago has experienced a thoroughly good season (says the Otago Daily Times). Reports of excellent grain crops, fruit yields, and of satisfactory wool cliprf indicate a phasing measure of prosperity and a continuance of the progress of the important resources of the province. North Otago, however, has hardly fared so well, although it is felt that even that district may yet recover very substantially from l'ie dry weather. Crops in the Totara and Maheno districts are said to be in splendid condition. Soutii Otago gives great projnise from an agricultural point of view, what, oats, and tiTiup yields being of high order. In some respects that districts, indeed, is a veritable picture, and the crops are everywhere well forward. Further south, in the confines of the Mataura district, particularly at the river Hat lands and in some of the valleys, the crops would gladden the heart of any fariiur, Tl'e recent br : ef spell of exceptionally dry weatlu r has not materially affected the crops. Central Otago I'as (j).erienced a good season, although in various districts early frost spoiled the fruit yields. On the whole, Otago can claim to have done well. The green pastures and other conditions prevailing cannot fail to impress visitors from the north. A North Island farmer at present in the south expressed admiration at tlie flourishing stato of affairs.

Over 80.000 carcases of meat and lfi,000 bales of wool will bo shipped from Napier within the next fortnight.

This season lias been an exceptionally favorable one for growers of onions. A Feilding farmer selected six large onions from his crop, and to his surprise found they turned the scale at lOlbs. The onions were exhibited at the Feilding show, and were greatly admired.

A local resident who has returned from a holiday in Nelson, states that the drought has been severely felt in that province. The ground is thoroughly parched and there is not a blade of grass to he seen. No rain of any consequence has fallen for about nine months. Fruit crops have turned out well and the hop crops are expected to be very good. L-V large area of first and second-class land in the Hauraki Plains has been opened for settlement and will be, allotted by ballot in Auckland on February "2.). The total area for which applications are now invited is 10,o!)G acres. Fifteen of tlio sections, ranging in area from 07 acres to 20S acres, arc situated near Waitakaruru, on the western side of Hauraki Plains. This land is offered for settlement on renewable lease. The other block for settlement comprises 82!l7 acres situated to the south-west of Waitakaruru. It is divided into five sections of first-class land and 28 sections of second-class land, the areas ranging from (18 acres to SHTS acres, and the, land is offered on the optional system. Applications for botll blocks will he received up to 4 p.m., on Fcbruarv 22, the examination of candidates will he "made on February 24, and the ballots will take place on the following afternoon.