AGRICULTURAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1308, 26 February 1885, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL.

TO THE BDITOB. Sir,—Should you be able to find space for the following' remarks, entirely grounded on experience, they may prove of interest, and I trust, value, to lome of your numerous readers. Doubtless the sudden change which took place in the weather yesterday afternoon was the source of anxiety to most of our farmers, especially to those who had prepared for commencing or continuing stacking today. That anxiety was temporarily removed by the stiff squall from the South carrying all rain clouds over in a few hours, without even laying the dust, and leaving a bright starry sky to gaze on before retiring to rest. This morning brought a steady downpour, which must necessarily stop carting operations for a few days, even if it should turn out all that is desirable to-morrow, and continue so, which is the hope of all. If such is the case, I have no hesitation in saying that the temporary hindrance may prove a source of congratulation to many a disappointed farmer. Be it far from me to recommend farmers to lose an hour of valuable weather in securely stacking their crops as soon as fit. I condemn the system of sending teams to reap a few acres for neighbors, when it is possible that the time so spent may prove a loss far exceeding all the earnings : but this has always been too common with South Canterbury farmers. It is my intention to show that It is equally dangerous (especially after an exceptionally moist season like this, with a rank growth of sappy straw, unequally ripened and full of green vegetation) to commence stacking prematurely. In all like seasons, after a short run of sunny, hot weather, heavy crops will rapidly assume the appearance of ripeness, far exceeding their real state. It may be sufficiently advanced to justify the cutting, if subjected to a long fielding of fine weather ; but this is now very often abused by farmers, from want of observation, or ignorance. A little thought'will clearly place before any observant man the fact that heavy crops now cut by reapers and binders must require four or five days more fielding than when cut by a side delivery, and tied by hand. With the latter we could always leave any green patch, or one with more than its share of weeds, for a day or two prior to binding, for the beneficial action of the sun and wind. With our present machines ripe and green, clean and foul, is all cut and bound as it comes, and the stooker alone has to follow. A few sunny days gives the stooks an outward appearance of dryness, and the ears may yield a fair sample, but this is not the case with the interior of the green cut sheaves. I fear that a good deal which has been carted this year would have been better left for the chance of another storm, rather than the great probability of its being greatly deteriorated, if not entirely spoiled, by overheating in stacks. I trust my fears, for work already done, may prove ungrounded, and it will be very gratifying if my feeble attempt to explain the cause of one of New Zealand's greatest losses is a sufficient warning to guard farmers against the error during the remainder of the harvest. My advice is that, instead of trusting to outward appearance, the hand be thrust into the centre of the sheaves where cut green, or with an undue proportion of foreign vegetable matter, and if a coldness or dampness is perceptible, give more time, and if practicable, turn stooks to hasten results. If satisfied that carting is advis- , able, give preference to the narrow and high stacks, which will shorten the time necessary for the wheat or other corn to pass through its natural sweat or fermentation, and reach its moat valuable and marketable stage. In ordinary seasons I have found the time necessary between stacking and threshing to be at least six weeks, and I think this year that eight weeks should be the minimum. Guard against threshing from stook (except in exceptional cases with light crops ot oats, in dry season for immediate consumption, or for early seed wheat or beans in late harvest) as all corn which is denied its natural fermentation in stacks must pass through it in sacks or where shot in bulk in warehouses. This is the cause of large quantities shipped every year either by merchant or farmer, in apparently firstclass condition, turning out such miserable disappointments, and often necessitating a refund of part of money advanced prior to shipping, instead of the expected balance after sale. It is of equal importance to our farmers, bankers, merchants, and millers to use every endeavor to put a stop to threshing from stook, or till corn has passed through its necessary time for heating and hardening. In England, 1 believe, a farmer would be actionable for selling a sample which had not been stacked. If stacked for a week or two, of course, any corn (if harvested in the best condition) would be too relaxed and tough for threshing or milling, and must necessarily remain its proper time. I have had conclusive evidence that this has been one of the principal, if not the greatest, drawback to the advance of N.Z. wheat in the London market.—l am, etc., EXAMINJR. Temuka, Monday Evening, February 23rd, 1885.