RURAL MATTERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9080, 2 May 1908, Page 5

RURAL MATTERS.

CHATS WITH FARMERS

TWO BANEFUL PESTS. WINTER PROSPECTS. THE SHEEP FLY. "I believe many farmeis in this district, and indeed other parts of New Zealand, regard the danger from the sheep fly, and the amount of damage it can do, as more or less exaggerated," stated a Masterton farmer with a Home experience to an Age reporter yesterday. "Though the season is now too late for this fly to "get a hold a few details concerning it may be interesting, especially as it has appeared in other parts of New Zealand.

"An impression prevails that the fly (Lucilia Sericota) only attacks unhealthy sheep, but I have seen the pest attack flocks in the primGst condition. As a boy I attended many sheep which fell victims, and I became so experienced in treating them that I could tell from a distance of two hundred yards whether a sheep had been struck or not. At Home the fly in places is a real scourge, in fact so bad that every sheep in every flock has to be inspected every day, and a practical sheepfarmer will realise what an expense that mear.s., The fly flourishes most in districts where the weather is of a damp muggy character. Where sneep are more exposed to cold or dry winds the fly is not nearly so troublesome. There must be a certain degree of heat to germinate the maggots. "The deadlines of the fly can be judged from the fact that I have seen more than one sheep die two days after being attacked. This sudden development only occurs when a sheep is struck say near the abdomen. As a usual thing the fly strikes on the back or loins, and the animal can be treated. Ten per cent, of some flocks have been known to succumb to the ravages of the fly, ro 1 hope in New Zealand, who have not had the better experience of some British farmers to guide them, will not in future heed the appearance of the fly as a matter of little consequence. At Home we had numerous specifics on the market to treat the fly-attacked sheep with, some of which were very efficacious."

THE BOT FLY. A horse, saddta and bridle for £2, was on the face of it a temptirg offer to make to the reporter, but this was the prbe of such an equipment submitted by a local resident the other day. It was not the cost of the upkeep of the horse that was troubling the owner, but the fact that the animal was a tottering wreck from the ravages of i the bot fly. Inquiries made later from a reliable authority elicited that the past summer has been more than usually favourable for the propagation of the pest. "This fly," said the authority referred to, "is now almost natural to New Zealand horse?, and was introduced sixteen or seventeen years by a cir.'us, from America. It is not dangerous > c o long as it does not become too numerous, the fly rarely being more th in the indirect cause of death, which usually ensues on a rupture of the stomach.' "Is there positively no cure for the pest 9 ", was asked. "Well, the difficulty lies in the fact that the grub feeds on the waHs of the stomach, to which it tenaciously clings, and anything strong enough to kill the pest has a similar elfect on the horse. A remedy which has been givnn mc as very effective, but which I have never tried, is as follows: — Starve the horse for a day or two, and then give it two quarts of sweet milk to drink. The effect of this is to give the grub a surfeit of food, and it relaxes its hold on the stomach somewhat. Two hours after the milk has been given two quarts of raw linseed oil should be given the animal, and this will have at least a marked effect in reducing the number of grubs in the stomach."

THE PASTURES,

Most farmers hold the same sanguine opinion expressed by Mr W. C. Buchanan, that the farmers' cloud is beginning to wear a silver lining, and the coming winter will see an all round improvement on present conditions. The excellent state of the pastures is now the general theme among farmers, and jubilation prevails at the grass having beaten the frost hy several weeks. "Atiothsr fortnight of the present weather," said an Upper Plain farmer, "and the pastures need nothing more. There is this to be said, however, there is just a tendency to scour showing itself, as the grass is rather soft and watery. Added to this there is the fact that no dry feed has been left to eat along with the green, and purely green feed is not, of course, fattening. However, flocks are rapidly recovering from the evil effects of the drought. That cannot be denied. "

SOWING WINTER FEED.

On the Upper Plain and Fernridge teams are coming out now to prepare the ground for winter feed. Mr D. J. Cameron has one paddock in already, and lookintr very well. Mr Stempa has an area under plough, Mr D. McGregor, senr., has also made a start, Messrs Dagg Bros, have two fine paddocks in, and other neighbouring settlers have various areas ready for sowing. One of the best cultivated paddocks in the district is just now ready for sowing, and is situated between the railway line and tho Carterton road, on Messrs Judd Bros.' property.