RURAL TOPICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9136, 11 July 1908, Page 5

RURAL TOPICS.

(By Agricola.) THE WEATHER. July is generally accounted one of the most inclement months in our winter calender, and this year it is so far bearing out that character. Saturday morning last was exceptionally cold, the thermometer registering below thirty degrees. A fine sunny day followed, but in the evening rain set in, which continued without intermission till Tuesday afternoon, causing heavy floods in all the rivers in the Valley, as well as in the East Coast and Casllepoint districts. Since then the temperature has remained cold. There has been a considerable amount of rain, and snow has fallen on the Tararuas. No very serious damage is reported as resulting from the flood. A fuw acres of crop in the vicinity of (he Ruamahanga were submerged, and will require to be re-sown. The roads, with the exception of a few slips, have escaped any material injury. The ground is now thoroughly saturated with water, and from this and the cold the grass is feeling the effects, and there is an appreciable cessation in its growth. The flood waters in the creeks on thc'Gladstone-Wharau and Glenburn main road rose to a great height, and an accident unfortunately occurred to the Te Wharau coach at the crossing of Jackson's Creek, a horse being drownej and the vehicle carried some distance down the stream. This accidents pointi to the necessity of the Pahoua, Anderson and Jackson's Creeks bting bridged, for they are dangerous, being very rapid when in flood. Jackson's Creek is particularly dangerous, as there is a sharp turn in the centre of the ford. THE ADVENT OF SPRING.

There are those who prognosticate an early spring; this in consequence of the fact that sparrows and starlings are even now building their nests. This may not be an unmixed blessing, as there will in all probability be two broods of these birds to levy toll on the farmers' grain. THE CONDITION OF PASTURAGE. 'A resident of thirty years' standing in the Te Wharau district reports that feed is very scarce and stock are looking none too well. ■ It may be expected now that the colder weather has set in that the soft watery grass in most parts of the Wairarapa will be cut off. Thot-e who have saved artificial feed will now realise the beneficial effects of it. Cattle and weak sheep are row beginning to show loss of condition since the cold snap set in. THE SYDNEY SHEEP SAIES.

The outcome of the salea of New Zealand rams which has recently taken in Sydney is not at all encoU-::gin£ to those who made the Vehfcur: :i trying that market, for there could have been but a bare margin of profit on animals, many of which realised under £3 per head. It would be interesting to knovv what was the quality of rams bringing such low figures as cne guinea eacji. They cculd hardly be creditable to the'bomliripnt.

A NEW FODDER. The Victorian Agricultural Department seem fully alert to the importance of furthering the dairy industry by the introduction of new fodder growths. It has now under notice the "chou moellier" plant, a variety of the kale family. It is claimed that it is a heavy cropper, yielding as much as four tons per acre, and it is anticipated that it will prove of very high value for feeding dairy stock. " THE CONDEMNATION OF RED BIRCH TIMBER.

Mr Ronyahe, General Manage of Railways, has given his opinion that tho red birch timber is quite unsuitable for railway sleepers, as they are not durable. Notwithstanding tbtf opinion of such an official authority, there are numbers ,of settlers who will differ with him, and wfe? Jook upon this wood as one of the most lasting of our timbers; also as being strong and all but fireproof. The writer knows- of red birch posts that have' been in the ground for fully forty years,. ai>ns are now as sound as the day they Were split out of the tree. If retf birch (or, more correctly speaking, beech) is to be discarded, then there are enormous forests of the timber hitherto deemed invaluable by old colonists, wnich may now be looked upon as worthless. In the Wairarapa this timber has been used for bridge decking, fencing and house plates, and has been found satisfactory. I had an opportunity once of inspecting some railway sleepers which had been taken out from the Wellington line near Kaitoke, which were un- ! doubtedly decayed after a few years' i use. The reason was not far to seek, ! for they had a large proportion of J sap wood on them, and apparently split from young trees. Given old, mature trees and there need be little fear of the timber decaying for a great number of years. One has only to go into any of the beech forests and there will be seen huge fallen monarchs which have been uprooted and lain prone for perhaps half a century or more, as sound as a bell. It is characteristic of many New Zealand timbers that their durability depends upon the nature of the soil and country upon which they have grown, as well as upon tho age of the trees and the season when felled.