RURAL TOPICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2169, 27 August 1907, Page 3

RURAL TOPICS.

In view of the failure of this year s turnip crops in AVaikato it comes as rather a shock (says tho AVaikato Times) that there are signs of a substantial ndvanco in tho price of swede and turnip seeds.

Lambs are being dropped all over the Rn'kaia district,. South Cantorburv, and are said to bo looking very strong. Tho cold weather will he a tr uiust thorn, but it is expected that the ewes will bonofit from the growth of feed that should follow the recent rains.

The annual report of the committee of tho Canterbury Sheopowners’ Union, which was read by the president at the last meeting, oxprossed gratification at the very few thefts of sheep which had been reported by members during the past year. The committee wished to impress upon members tho advisability of promptly reporting to tho union any supposod cases of sheep stealing, so that immediate steps could bo taken to report the matter to tho authorities.

Alucli interest is being taken by farmers in Taranaki and other dairying districts in tho Government experiments with the Shorthorn strain at the Levin State Farm (says tho Elfcham Argus). The Government lias recently purchased and imported Shorthorn bulls of the best milking strains and farmers think that in a few years tlioy should have the opportunity of buying stock from these farms and knowing that by doing so they are securing animals that can be safely guaranteed.

There is a scarcity of pigs in SoutliJa nd, and probably tho pigs fit for curing which are handled at Invercargill do not average twenty jior week. Representatives of northern companies have scoured Southland for porkers, buying in lots of 100 to 100, and securing the best available. It is remarkable that Invercargill provision merchants can buy their bacon ready cured from Christchurch at Jd less than it can bo cured for locally, and this in spite of tho fact that Christchurch buyers pay id per lb in freight more than the southern buyers.

The following pars taken from the Lyttelton Times of AVednesday last indicate a much mo-re promising state of affairs in the South: A return of fine weather in North Canterbury will enable farmers to push on with their spring sowing. The rain that has fallen will give tho winter crops and the grass a good start. Numbers of young lambs are making their appearance amongst the small flocks, and farmers are rather concerned about- feed for them.

Th e recent rain will break lip the long spell of dry weather in the AVinchester district, and will -ave the country from a very bad season. Even the rich swamp lands of Alilfortl were feeling the effects of the dry weather, and on one of the largest farms there was a scarcity of water. A paddock of 100 acres of wheat had to be resown recently, as the seed had failed to germinate, and in one case a farmer was reported to have sown a paddock of oats three times.

The fall of rain is expected to do a very great amount of good to cereal crops and -grass pastures iin tho Ashburton County, and, if it is followed by warm, sunny days, crops and pasturage should advance rapidly. According to the statements of farmers, the rain, which has penetrated grass land to ploughing depth, is the best fall experienced for at least 12 months.