TUHIKARAMEA.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 361, 1 November 1898, Page 4

TUHIKARAMEA.

Weather and Crops.—The late showery weather has caused quite a luxuriant growth in grass and crops, even those sown extremely late are getting a splendid start. So far the season has been more favourable for farmers and graziers than has been experienced for some years past, and judging by present appearances some heavy yields of grain and potatoes should be recorded, the only fear being that perhaps we may have an excessive quantity of straw in the winter wheat.. One of our grain growers has within the past few weeks turned his sheep into the young wheat and oats, feeding it down pretty close, and the result appears to be a marked improvement in the crop, the plants since the sheep were taken off sending up very strong and vigorous snoots and also stooliog out well. In this connection the opinion has often been expressed by Southern grain-growers that if Waikato farmers checked the, at times, rank growth of their grain crops by grazing with sheep in the spring, they would probably get more grain and less straw, towards which result, also, the mere fact of consolidating the light soil about the roots of the plants would materially assist. At present our farmers are busy preparing the land for turnips, most of the ploughing being completed, and .some small lots for early feeding will be drilled during the next week or so, but the main sowing will be deferred until December. Though only a short time in possession, Mr Wheeler has done a good deal of work on the properties purchased by him from Messrs Davys, having already a good scope of land in grain. Mr Wheeler, I believe, purposes putting about 40 acres in swedes, for which the land is well adapted. A striking proof of the grand turnip crops that are obtained on this land with a minimum of labour and manure, has been given during the past season, some six acres of swedes carrying about 200 sheep for three months, without having any appreciable effect upon them ; then more sheep and cattle were put on, yet fully half the crop will be left in the ground to rot. School.—During the past week the annual examination of our school has taken place at the hands of Mr Mulgan, Visiting Inspector, with the result that only one scholar failed to pass. This is very satisfactory, and also highly creditable to our teacher, Miss Cunningham, who spares no paius to pusli her little flock ahead. Unfortuoately, through departures of familiss from the district, the attendance at the school has fallen off, being lower, just now, than for some years past, a state of affairs that is discouraging to the teacher. Illness. —I am pleased to state that Mrs W. Livingstone, who has been residing in Hamilton for some months past, for the benefit of medical attendance, is so far well enough to be able to return home to Tuhikaramea again, and we hope it will not be long before she is fully restored to health.—(Own Correspondent).