FARMING NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 411, 18 March 1899, Page 4

FARMING NOTES.

The weather continues dry, and growth, except in a few favoured spots, has practically ceased. Some light showers have fallen during the week, but they we're insufficient to have any appreciable effect upon vegetation, or even to moisten the surface of the soil, which has now become dry for a considerable depth, and nothing short of a heavy downpour will do any good. In addition to other drawbacks, a keen southerly wind has set in for Beveral nights, reducing the temperature and lessening the dew, so that vegetation generally is having a hard time of it just now. The turnips have experience a severe check, and cannot, uodcr any circumstances, turn out so well as at first anticipated. Owing to the unusual moisture and warmth, the swedos came away with a rush from the start, and quickly reached a stage, which would have been better eained by a slower growth, and with the sudden change to hot, dry weather, they went off greatly, and now present—in too many instances—a sorry spectacle The later rains may pull them up a bit, but a big, or even good average crop, in now impossible, and this means not only a lessened capacity for carrying stock through the coming winter, but alao reduced grain yields next season. As anticipated, stock have declined in value with the continuance of. dry weather, present market rates being much lower than were current a month ago, cattle being chiefly affected by the drop. Sheep, if of good quality, and not too old, are still makiDg fair prices, and are likely to improve, but aged and badly fed sorts, are dull of sale, and, unfortunately, more of this class- are oh offer than is desirable in the interests of the district. .Now that weaned lambs are being largely dealt in and purchased for holding over to the spring sales, it should not" be forgotten that a good drench has much to do with keeping them growing and in good health during the cold season. Once lambs or hoggets get a check to their growth, either through running upon dirty pastures or from tack of feed, they do not readily recover, and in the majority of cases become infested with various kinds of worms. In dealing with these cases nothing is so effective or prompt in action as a good drench. " Sonjet " has fully proved itself to be this, and may be used with confidence, and even though the lambs are not actually showing any marked signs of falling off in condition, a dose of " Sonjet " has a wonderful effect in pushing them ahead, and with weak or stunted lambs it simply means saving their lives, and therefore is about the best investment the sheep-owners can make. Before leaving the subject it may be remarked that the idea so generally held that lambs do not become wormy before weaning ia totally incorrect. From the time the lambs begin to graze, that is when about a month old, they are liable to worms, and more than one of our up-to-date sheep-breeders has found the benefit-of drenching-lambs while suckling. A <lip and a good drench will often do more for a mob of lambs than a fortnight on the best of feed, and now that the production of fat lambs for export is likely to form an important branch of Waikato sheep-farming, more attention will have to be given to the points just touched on. Threshing is now proceeding, but no great amount of grain has yet come _to hand, the market being mainly supplied with old grain. From late reports it would appear as if the abnormally low rates now offering for grain are not likely to last long, the indications being that good samples of wheat and will realise better prices if held back a bit. The markets have shown but little change during the week, farm produce, save for a few lines, has ruled low and in fruit'it seems hopeless to look formuch improvement this season. Pigs, alive,, or in bacon, are scarce and selling well. It is noteworthy that large numbers of bacon pigs are being sent from the North Island to Canterbury, where they are in good demand at from 4£d to 5d per lb, dead weight. Poultry have dropped for all but fce3t table fowls. Butter and eggs are slightly higher, and with the continuance of dry weather and scarcity of feed, the former is likely to rule strong for the balance of the season.