ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3122, 19 January 1911, Page 2

ON THE LAND.

A Post of Blowflies. It is reported that blow-flies have Wen troublesome to sheep in several districts this season. Mastezum is among the districts from winch complaints have come. Tim pest is iar less troublesome liore than in England and Australia, in parts of which countries it is serious. Recently an Australian paper published the following information as advice in the matter of dealing with the blow-fly pest : ‘•Mr. J. D. Low, «f West Plains, announces a very* successful means which he has adopted in minimising the blowfly pest which pest has for some time being tiie bane of sheep-owners. Mr. Low, observing that trappers dip rabbit skins in arsenic water to keep weavils, etc., out, decided to add sugar to the preparation, and immerse therein the carcases of freshly-killed rabbits as well as the skins, leaving the former in the vicinity of tanks or dams where flies congregate. The proportions used are: Arsenic 3jlb., soda 71b., and sugar 61b. The arsenic and soda are put in a kerosene tin nearly filled with water, which is allowed to boil for a quarter of an hour. It has to he stirred. The mixture must be left simmering for another hour. Mr. Low states that the number of flies killed is truly wonderful. He advises the mixer not to inhale the preparation, nor to allow it to get into cuts or sores. Cenera! Items. Caterpillars are playing havoc with the root crops :n iiie Y\ ainiate Plains district, Taranaki. In some cases whole crops of mangles and carrots have been entirely destroyed. At a meeting of the Hastings branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union, it was decided that- it was advisable to warn larmers that, owing to a shortage of rape, there would be a big surplus of store hoggets, and to urge them to plough for turnips, no matter how hart! 1 the ground. An instance of a small settler in Ilntuir.a, who turned up baked lea land with a single furrow and a pair of horses, was given t' 1 show wh :t the farmer could do if he wouldxmlv try.

Grain crops in Marlborough have been attacked by rust, which is playing great havoc. The caterpillar is, also, much in evidence, and between the two there are few <-n ps <m the \\ airau Plain which wil give anything like the yield originally anticipated. \\ heat will be a long way below last year's averages. 'Barley has, perhaps, fared the worst, for besides there being a smaller yield than usual most of the grain is discolored owing to the heavy ruins lieiore Christmas. The only other crop that lias not suffered to any extent are the potatoes. There is every reason to believe, says ’the ••Southland News/' that turnips will he at a. premium during the coming winter and spring. During the time that the majority of the crops were sown, and for some weeks afterwards, dry weather prevailed, with the result that tlra crop braided bully, and in some cases, absolutely failed to braid at all. When the green leaf did manifest itself, the turnip fly commenced its depredations, with disastrous results, the drying winds which prevailed during the latter part of November and early in December, being conducive to the predatory-habits of the pest. Many farmers have rc-sown their crops twice, in some ersos with indifferent success.