FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 309, 17 September 1908, Page 6

FARMERS’ COLUMN.

STOCK SALE DATES.

Waipukurau — Tuesday, September 29th. , on Hastings —Tuesday, September 22nd. Kaikora North— Thursday, September 24th.

A farmer in Ashburton County claims to have killed recently 108 sparrows with one discharge of his gun, the cartridge being charged with sparrow-shot. The gun was discharged while the birds were in the act of rising from an oatsheaf stack.

Mr John Maxwell, of Whareama, has achieved a result in winter feeding of sheep that will be hard to beat, states the “Pahiatua Herald.” He has fed ninety wethers for five months on a three and a half acre patch of turnips, and the sheep are said to be thriving well.

A Palmerston South farmer informs the local paper that during the present season he has discovered rock salt to be very beneficial to stock. He had a large number of sheep on turnips, and was much concerned owing to the abnormal mortality in his stock. He was advised to try rock salt, and procured half a ton, at a cost of about £2 10s. The salt was taken full advantage of by the sheep, and marvellous to relate, not a single death has occurred sine® the salt was placed in the paddock.

Writing of the sheep market, “ Drover,” in the “ Witness,” says “ The winter has been exceptionally mild, and sheep have done well on the grass, which kept in fair order all along. The local market is easily glutted, and the best policy for farmers is to export as much as possible as their sheep and lambs become fit. The local market will advance as the surplui is exported. This is how the dairyman acts, and consequently prices are high, as the poor consumer finds to his cost.”

Oats command no attention in Canterbury markets, and business during last week has been practically nil (says the “ Lyttelton Times ”). The amount placed on offer has been very small, but more than sufficient to meet the demand. At present it would be difficult to obtain a higher price than 2s. f.0.b., sacks included, or equal to Is 9d to Is lOd at convenient country stations. It is rumoured that large shipments of oats are to be made from Southland to the United Kingdom by steamer, but inquiries go to show that up to the present no definite arrangements have been made.

Old pastures covered with cattle droppings should get a turn or two of the harrows this month, and if required, a partial seeding followed by the roller. Where the land has not been limed for some years, half a ton of lime per acre, to be followed in one month by a dressing of superphosphate and kainit, would work wonders. On poor pasture land, the field may be worked, seeded afresh, and manured with Bcwt of basic slag and 4cwt of kainit, and afterwards with lewt of nitrate of soda on the braird. The result will be a most luxurious growth of grass and clover. This dressing is said to be effective for four years, when it is desirable to apply 2cwt more of the slag.

A new system has been adopted in the south - western part of Queensland (says the “ Sydney Morning Herald”), where a cooperative sheep-shearing company has been established. The headquarters are at Charlesville, which is the centre of a district in which there are many selections carrying sheep. There will be a permanent sheep-shearing plant, and here all the selectors will be able to get their sheep treated. For greater convenience the plant has been laid down at the woolscouring works. It is expected that owners of travelling sheep will also take advantage of the System. One reason for the establishment of the concern is probably the stringent conditions required by the Shearers’ Accommodation Act in the matter of accommodation. etc. Selectors will be spared this expense.

It is stated that in the United States an area of about 8,000,000 acres of arid and almost sterile country has, by the introduction of irrigation, been converted into a thickly-populated and highly-pro-ductive district.

A cargo of 55 sacks of wheat arrived at Auckland by the Tofua from the Islands. On inspection it was found that the whol e shipment was infested with moth and weevil. The shipment has been sent to a freezing chamber for ten days, by which time if is expected the pests will be killed. Several cargoes of wheat thus infested have arrived lately.