LAND, STOCK, & CROPS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9373, 31 October 1921, Page 2

LAND, STOCK, & CROPS

Wood ashes contain an appreciable amount of potash, a valuable plant food. The material is a good substitute for farmyard manure for such crops as potatoes, turnips, carrots, onions, etc. The ashes from brushwood contain more potash than those from timber, vegetable refuse, weeds, and hedge bottom clearings, all of which, however, are worth collecting and burning for the sake of their ashes to be used as a soil dressing. The ashes should be collected, sifted, and stored m bags m dry place; otherwise it quickly loses its, value. Even then they do not keep long, and by far the best plan is to burn the rubbish when the land is ready to receive the ashes, which can then be spread over the soil, and at once dug or ploughed m.

An interesting decision to sheepowners was given m the new Zealand courts, which lays down that a halfbred sheep is not a crossbred. The term halfbred m New Zealand is understood to be applied either to the progeny of a Longwool and Merino either as a first cross or inbred. The owner of a South Canterbury sheep station who owns a flock of 2246 crossbred and 11,251 halfbred sheep, was prosecuted for failing to dip his sheep between Ist January and 20th April, 1920, not having obtained an extension of time from a stock inspector.

The magistrate held that the information did not apply to the halfbreds, and fined the owner for not haying dipped the crossbreds. The stock inspector appealed to the Supreme Court against this decision, and the case was heard before Mr Justice Sim at Dunedin. A large amount of evidence had been heard from sheepfarmers, wool classers, and stock agents, who were all agreed that the term crossbred had always been used with regard to a distinct class of sheep with a coarse, fairly long wool, and included sheep exclusive of the distinctive 1 breeds of sheep. On the other hand, a half bred was a distinctive breed, with definite characteristics, and a firm, short wool. It was recognised as a separate class for show purposes, and for woolclassing. A said of halfbreds would not be ratified by the delivery of crossbreds, nor conversely would a sale of crossbreds be completed by the delivery of haifbreds.

For the appellant^ it was contended that the term crossbred included any cases of cross-breeding. His Honor said that the terms had to be construed m the wav m which they were understood by those engaged m the industry, and the Legislature must bo taken to have used the term crossbred m that sense. The magistrate had come to that conclusion, and it seemed to him (the judge) that- it was impossible to say that the magistrate was wrong. The appeal was therefore dismissed with costs. As the law now stands, a halfbred sheep, m New Zealand at least, is not a crossbred.

A potato grower on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Mr B. Wylie, tried the experiment last year of heating seed potatoes to a temperature of 125 degrees Fahr. for four hours. Enough were so treated to plant an acre. Very encouraging results followed. The pota.toes from this plot were planted this season without any further treatment, and have carried the effects of the heating to the second generation m a remarkable manner. The plants are much more vigorous and healthy-look-ing than m any of the other crops m the vicinity, and there are no misses among them. So far as the experiments have gone, says an exchange, they have proved that clean seed can be produced by this means with little difficulty or expense, and that heating exerts some influence upon the vitality of the seed, which ensures a more vigorous growth.

An English breeder of dairy Shorthorns who is the third generation of his family to engage m the breeding and improvement of this great dual' purpose cow declares it is particularly

adapted to those countries, or sections, of country adjacent to large industrial centres where there ib a good market for both milk and beef. For this reason he looks for a Keen demand for the dairy Shorthorn m Eastern States, m the industrial sections of South America, New Zealand, and many other countries whose cities are growing m size. With these he might well have included Eastern Canada, but before doing so it would be necessary to modify the claim somewhat. From observations m Ontario and Quebec we 'believe that there is a widespread demand for a cow' that will be an economical producer of milk and at the same time be able to produce a number one beef Bteer.

This demand does not cover the entire territory, however, as there are large sections close to the cities and large towns having good market facilities for milk and cream where only the high producing strictly dairy type of cow is desired, and m so far as these specialised sections are concerned the claim of the British breeder is not well founded. It is m the outlying sections of the two Provinces, and we believe the same might be said of the Maritimes, that the dual purpose breed finds its real adherents. Various attempts have been made by farmers m such sections to secure a dual purpose commercial animal through crossing a *beef and a dairy breed. Rarely, if ever, has this proved successful, and very frequently it lias resulted m a lot of nondescript animals that would neither give milk or produce beef at a profit. Many of the men who have failed m this experiment are now looking for a breed m which the dual purpose object has been kept firmly m mind since its foundation, and it is this demand that justifies the claim of the British breeder — a demand that to-day is greater than the supply.