FARM CHAT.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1194, 21 February 1880, Page 2

FARM CHAT.

In many districts farmers have commenced to tsike out their crops of potatoes. vVith the long spell of dry weather that has lately been experienced the tubers have quickly ripened, m some ca^es prematurely complaints are being made in not a few cases of potatoes being diseased, some quite rotten Those who anticipated splendid returns, judging by the strength of the taps are disapuointed, and will not have an average yield. It is of importance that the crops are all dug and housed before heavy rain set in, which, followed by a hot sun, m'ght play givat havoc with them. It is a great mistake to let them lie in the ground for weeks after they are lit to lift, for they ai c almost sure to get soft or otherwise injured.

THISILES. This question is again being agitated ; and so lone,' as the weeds grow and luxuriate, the subject will remain a problem difficult of solution. A great deal may be said on both sides ; bilt the j matter may be v arrowed down to the i pomt — will it pay to exterminate them ? And if so, how is the object to be accomplished ? It is contended that thistles ! improve the soil, and thus ultimately benefit the pasture. This may be gravely questioned. If they were mown down with a scythe or machine, dried, and burnt, the ashes migh , prove a valuable application to the land, but then the grass and clover would have to share the same fate. An! if one farmer attempted to rid himself of the pest, unless his neighbours followed suit, it would be of little practical value, as seed would be still wafted to his paddocks from holdings all round him. Thistles are a terrible nuir-ance, a great and constant eyesore, robbing the soil of its nutritious properties, smothering the youug and tender gra^p, u&urping vast areas of land, and growing so high and rank as to hinder stock from grazing. What a pity they cannot b© utilized ! As, however, the general opinion neems to be that they bhould be permitted to grow and dw out, one crop after another, what can one do but bow to that opinion, and suffer the abominable plant to flourish and spread ?

THu! SPY APPLE. It is now admitted by experienced nursery men that there is no apple equal to the northern spy as a stock. The winter nmjetin has been extensiTely u^ed, and does not readily blight, though blight has been seen upon it ; but the roots travel to such an immense c^anoe that it would hardly be possible to manure apple trees giwn Q» that particular stools, Lot any

one on the other hand examine the roots of the spy and they will find one mass of fibres. Grafted upon such a stock a tree can be kept w-thin reasonable limits. It can be trained as a dwarf if desired, and no difficulty would be found in enriching the soil around it ; but apart from being grown as a »«tock it is worthy or extensive culture for its fruit. The tree is not only a rapid grower and very productive, but for beauty and excellence some affirm that its fruits stand unrivalled, via America, it o iginated, and where it is grown I suppose, in every State, it it regarded an one of the most delicious of apple.*. Eeing late it is rapidly taking the place of others, such as JNewtown. pippin, as an apple for export. It is true the tree does not bear very early; but ouce it makes a beginning, the fruit will astonish the owner ox it. It is a variety also that requires rich land. Ihe fru t, if thick on the tree, should be thinned out pretty freely, or it is apt to be small. n immense number of trees of this splendid apple have been planted during the past couple of years, and in the course of a comparatively short time, there should be abundance of spy fruit in the province of Auckland. Stocks are easily raised from root cuttings, though for bearing txees it is necessary to have them worked. Thof e who first introduced the spy into the country — though probably, only as a business speculation — are worthy of the thanks of the community ; for there is no doubt that the possession of blight -resisting stocks has been one amongst other things that has given ft great impulse to the planting of apple trees. And as there are now some hundreds of varieties in the province, all of which can be worked on the spy, vre ought before veiy long to have apples throughout the whole year.

AGMCULTUBAL STATISTICS. At considerable expense to the country these statistics are regularly collected, but who can tell what particular good results trom the labor and expense ? It is well to know occasionally, how farming is progressing, and what are the average return in roots, grain, or other produce, but it is possible to pay too dearly for even this information. Although the collectors must be aware that a great proportion of the statistical intelligent supplied is pure guess work, for how can it be known how many tons of potatoes are in a crop before they sire dug out, or how much grain is in a stack before it is thrasheu ? — Still, year after year, these collectors will visit the homesteads of settlers too early and fill up their papers with imaginary details. This is to be regretted. And I think it will b generally admitted that it" the month of April were adapted, instead of February, for the compilation of agricultural returns, a much more truthful and satisfactory report for the entire colony would thereby be oblained.

GOOSEBERRIES. Waikato is a famous district for the production of these small fruits; and money i^ to be made by growing them I do not remember to have seen larger bushes anywhere ; and by proper attention they beein to bear excellent crops of fruifc. It is often a point with growers as to who will produce the largest fruit, the gooseberry or strawberry. Some 6ettler3 t however, go in i'or quantity. On visiting a small holding the other day I was taken quite aback at the prodigious quantity of gooseberry the owner had forwarded to the Auckland market, the fruit having realised, on the average, sixpence per lb. Although the garden looked comparatively small, and the but&es not very numerous, he had sent by roil, this season, 17 cwt. of gooseberrys, worth between £40 and £50. This shows that while one farmer is grumbling about the price of cheese or butter or eggs ; and another about potaoe& or oats being a drujr in the market, a third one tries some ofctier economic, and in addition t.o his dairy, makes a haul with gooseberries. Yeohas.