FARMING NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1054, 23 September 1901, Page 4

FARMING NOTES.

The weather has c mtinued fine during the week, and very favourable tor pushing on with spring work. It Inis also been favourable for the conduct of Messrs McNicol and Co.’s horse sale, which opened at Cambridge ou Wednesday and was concluded on Saturday last. The prevalence of keen westerly winds as, however, not been indueive to a fair growth of vegetation, and many complaints are heard respecting the backwardness of tht season, and scarcity of feed.Pastures are green,hut Stock are still in need of turnips and hay. The losses in cattle, chiefly young stock, have, we regret to learn, been very numerous during the past few weeks, and many stockowners have had a hard experience. The roads are last getting into good order again, the few showers tailing doing moie good than harm, as otherwise, the clay roads form very rough thoroughfares during the early spring months. The need and scarcity ot good road metal is a great drawback to many parts of Waikato, and it is to bo hoped that the large stores of limestone, existing in the upper country, will yet be made available at a moderate cost for use by our local bodies. The markets have been brisk during the week. Fat cattle are in brisk demand. Sheep are also higher. Store stock are at late rates, anything fit for fattening bringing full prices. Grain and chaff arc firm, oats being in strong demand with very small quantities offering. Good chaff is getting scarce and will be so until the next crop comes in. Produce is firm, potatoes being unaltered. A good demand for seed potatoes is now setting in. the quality of those offering being first-class. Butter is scarce and selling well, prices about the same. Eggs are in brisk demand at 7d to 7Jd per doz. Fruit is bringing good prices, the market being chiefly supplied by shipments from Australia and the Islands, Poultry are scarce and dear. Cheese is dull of sale, also bacon and hama.