FARMING GOSSIP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1497, 9 October 1886, Page 2

FARMING GOSSIP.

CONTRIBUTED. Aa we have now reached the Bth of October, after an unprecedented wet &.nguat and a stormy September (with only short intervals of fine weather to enable farmers to operate on heavy lands), it may be looked on aa impossible to drill anything like the extensive area of land which was intended to make up for the short sowing of early winter wheat. These lands must be utilised in other ways, aa it will soon be too late to risk that crop, with the probability of too rapid growth, when late to risk the grazing off by sheep. It is well known that a fast-growing late spring wheat is seldom capable of attaining its full growth without kneeing, which almost universally e ids in rust, and short returns of inferior qualify, It would bo the height of folly to supply the void by a proportionate increase in our barley and oat crops, as it would render them the next thing to valueless at threshing time. The question naturally arises, “ What should supply the place of our old hobby, the white straw crops T ” If the majority of our farmers have been slow in realising the fallacy of the exhaustive system practised on our fertile plain and down lands from their earliest settlement, the ruinous results of the past few years must have convinced not a few that an immediate reform is a crying necessity as the only possible chance of maintaining their all-important position in this truly agricultural and pastoral district of New Zealand. A few of the more experienced and intellectual farmers (I mean the tillers of the soil, and combined stock breeders and feeders) have long seen the prospective distress, if not absolute ruin, that must sooner or later visit us, when the only object of the farmer was to plough and sow immense areas of little else than wheat and oats, often on borrowed capital at ruinous interest. It must be plain to any mao of agricultural experience that this was the most reckless gambling, pending the possible rise or fall in the London market. Some who were fortunate in their first large stake were again induced to make still larger ventures, often ending In loss of everything, including horses and imp’ements. I believe it was generally more fortunate for the inexperienced, impecunious corngrower if be experienced a loss in his early career, as it often brought him to a more sensible, if slower, method of utilising his acres to the best advantage. At no very distant date live stock was a rarity on many large farms, the result of which was that the straw was consigned to the flames, instead of being used for forage and converted into manure for future return to the by no means too rich soil. Little attention was paid to laying down in pasture till the land had reached its last stage of exhaustion—and then often with little more than ryegrass, which, if allowed to seed, is worse than any corn crop to impoverish the soil. For some years more attention has been paid to combine the stock and tillage farm, but with only partial success, owing to the non-provision of winter forage sufficient to maintain the condition of store and feeding stock throughout the winter and early spring months. It is generally the case that during the summer and autumn months our live stock are rambling over twice the acreage which their number justifies ; and the fodder which should be carefully kept for winter necessities is trampled under foot and rendered next to useless. This false economy, and niggardly treatment of live stock, has to our day been a very pro- ' minent cause of the present depression in this colony. A neglect not less pro- ' minent, has been the almost utter neglect of root crops, which, when sown, have been allowed to take their chance, with* out hoeing or thinning. This plan with turnips has demanded three times the acreage to be sown broadcast which would have been required if drilled, and horse and hand hoed and singled. The cry has been, “ Hoeing will coat too much in labor.” This is a perfect farce, when some can afford to pay rent and tillage for 300 acres for no other reason than that they must scatter their turnip seed with a wide sower, and allow them, with all weeds that can find room, to mature as best they can, instead of drilling 100 acres, spending £1 per acre in horse and hand hoeing, and trebling or quadrupling the produce per acre. Every farmer should have a certain proportion of his tillage cropped with roots, which should receive the most stringent attention, cleaning and singling at the proper stage of growth. This, with the sweet haystack, means a great deal, viz,, the overflowing bucket when batter is at its best price ; the superior quality of beef and mutton for the regular supply of our refrigerating works and Howe consumption ; the maintenance of a uniform and strong staple, with extra weight and value in the coming wool crop; the steady growth and development of all young stock, and a large percentage of early and strong lambs which, with well fed thriving mothers, will soon net a handsome return. The treatment of live stock for 1 many years past by the majority of our 1 farmers could not bring the return from 1 flock or • herd which proper care and regular feeding insure, but in many ini stances heavy loss. In summer and , autumn all revelled in a super-abundance , of feed, and owners thought themselves understocked, and often bought in at the highest prices; while in winter all pined a.vay, in proportion as the pasture became exhausted. What shortsighted folly to allow all that the past summer and autnmn has effected in the growth and feeding of stock to be sacrificed for the want of the hay which has been trampled under foot when feed was abundant, and the roots utterly neglected which should always form a part of every farmers’ produce ! This miserable improvidence forces many who have need of the best prices, to force large numbers of cattle, sheep, and pigs on the market, where few buyers are to be found (too many being in their own state of famine), and then only at ruinous prices to the seller. How can farmers expect land to pay a return where stock is winter starved ? There is a fine old proverb : “Starve the cattle and the land gets lean.” This is at once obvious to all practical men ; as winter is the season for making all the most valuable manure with extra good feed. Our one important consideration is, “ What is to supply the place of the short acreage of spring wheat V It ia too late to substitute beans. Barley in ia always useful; if oot

saleable for malting it will pay well in staple of bacon. Peas deserve more attention than has ever been paid them, being a most valuable item io the production of the best mutton and pork, as well as preparing land for the reception of wheat next winter. A crop that should interest every farmer in this district, and should be grown by all in small areas, is the “ flax," which is now being turned out in touch aud twines, including binding twine, for the farmers’ coming crops. It is a crying shame to those who cal) themselves encouragers of local industries if jjur flax factory (which has now btdught to a working state of perfection sufficient for some years) should be prevenletTfroni making;the return it is ckpabld of' simply because the farmers will not grown any crop, although last year those t who grew it had better returns per 'acre than for wheat. To those who are short of feed for immediate use mustard is a valuable crop, which in a few weeks brings to sufficient maturity for,, grazing off by sheep, after which a crop of 'turnips can betaken to advantage. Carrots, mangolds, swedes, turnips, etc., etc., must have their place, but I must talk of them another time. , Deficilia Nonount Impotsib&a,