Farm and Garden.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 387, 8 October 1903, Page 7

Farm and Garden.

OBI3INAL ARTICLES. . THE JEKSEY BBEED OF COWS. fiOftOMETIMES objections have been raised to the Jersey breed of cows JfcsSi b y those who have not had any practical experience with that breed,'and they often say that those cows ■re delicate. But that la a very fallacious idea. That breed of cows are possessed of a beautiful deer-like head and fine lege, which are generally admired, and which is evidence of the purity of that breed, estimating the product of her feed in the pail, instead of laying on flesh. To those. unfamiliar with her she bears the impress of delicicy. But the reserve nervous force, which a'one enables her to produce year in and year out, stands her in good stead in case of tuknesa, and like the wiry man, Bhe more often lives through such illness than one of a more lethargic disposition, who is apparently but not really stronger. Also sometimes objection is raised by some people that the Jersey breed of cows are more subject to tuberculosis than some other breeds. Bat statistics prove the inaccuracy of that assertion, and that tuberculosis is no respector of.breed, but that all suffer alike. Those people who Btudy that dreaded disease know very well that the contraction of tuberculosis is a matter of surroundings and situation, or the coming in contact with the bacilli of tuberculosis. All breeds are t qually liable to contract that disease, either beef or dairy breeds. The Jersey cow has ceased to be the giver of a small quantity of rich milk, but judged on a year's basis is the giver of a large quantity of rich milk, rich in butter fat and casein, at the lowest cost of production. Many exhaustive and lengthy dairy testa have proved the fact that the Jersey cow comes into profit at the early age of two years, and that she is productive to a ripe old age. Her tenacity in milking, and consequently in butter, making, is a fixed characteristic, established beyond all doubt, as an all round year's milker; on an economical consumption of feed no other breed rivals, her. Her milk contains a greater quantity of butter and of cheese per hundred pounds than t.ny other breed; also the quality of butter and cheese is of the very best, because Bhe can assimilate and take care of her food to better advantage than any other breed. i

CHICKEJf CHOLESA. There has been some complaining about chicken cholera is some parts, and it ma; be advisable to make some remarks concerning that complaint. Chicken cholera is a highly contagions disease, affecting all poultry, and generally acknowledged to he caused by bacteria. Like many diseases affecting human beings, the infection occurs by taking food or drink contaminated by the excrement of sick birds, or even by inhaling the germs which may be floating in the air. The disease may run rapidly through a flock, destroying a large number of the fowls in a very short time, or it may assume a chronic form, spreading slowly, and be troublesome for some time. The earliest symptoms are a yellow colour of the urates or excrement, the sscretions by the kidneys being affected, and that is followed by loss of appetite. The bird so affected separates itself from the other birds, tne feathers become rough, the wißgs droop, the head is drawn towards the body, and the fowl becomes very weak and sleepy. symptoms are usually accompanied by a high fever a&d intense thirst. The disease in an acute form usually lasts about three days. Medical treatment for this complaint is not of so very much value, but a dessertspoonful of a solution of one dram of carbolic or hydrc chloric acid in one quart of water is recommended for adult birds. Birds affected with this con-plaint should be isolated, and the greatest dependence should be plecad on a thorough disinfection of the premises, and on sanitary precautions; a thorough cleaning of the houses, yards, and whatever ground the poultry frequents. For disinfecting purposes there are a great number that might be used with more or les3 (fii jiotcy, as chloride of lime, phenylr, or a solution of carbolic acid; but perhaps the cheapest wovli be sulphuric acid, which is advised by sone people, but it rt quirts care in handling, as the pure acid is very corrosive and turns the flesh or clothing. One pound of sulphuric acid in fifty quarts of water is the right proportion to use for this purpose. Pour the acid slowly into the water, as it generates considerable heat in mixing. Sprinkle this solution freely around the fowl home and on the grcuad fn qaented by,the poultry. Thoroughly cleanse the drintiag and feeding vessels and keep them clean. Persistent measures are necessary to get rid of cholera when it gets anon g poultry.

'TYPOGRAPHICAL HUMOUR.' Charles Kingsley is said to have expressed his surprise that the Newgate Calendar does not appear to record the ease of any writer having been hanged for murdering his printer. Authors who are fortunate enough in having to regularly; correct proofs will appreciate Kingsley's feeling in the matter. It would seem at times as if Erasmus were right when he stated his belief that Satan himself, presided over the composingroom. We can readily understand that the bishop, who was reported as having stated that'he had been on the drink for some time/ instead of 'on the brink,' would be in cordial sympathy with this sentiment. So would the company promoter, who must have been startled when he saw; his new venture described in a leading London daily as ' the issue of one hundred thousand new snares .of one pound 'each.' A cute member of the Stock Exchange remarked that the printer had unconsciously spoken the plain tiuth. Of course, the natural enemy of the Spirit of Mischief, who at times presided over the destinies of the composingroom, is the proof-reader, and a large part of the!humour is strangled by him at birth, tut it is surprising what does get through. ;i i , I The Virtue of a Comma.

Often so email a thiug as a comma gives a ludicrous i turn to the sentence. A Scotch : divine, whose sermons are eagerly lookrd for, must have had his Christian forbearance pat to a Bevere test when he found that he was responsible for the following! utterance: 'Only last Sabbath, my dear friendf,: a young woman died in this pariah very suddenly,, while I was endeavouring the : preach the Word in a state of beaatJy intoxication.' Of course, it is in provincial papers we get the bits of numour, A piece of writing a|ways considered sacred is an editorial-corn paent. w He, would be a bold compositor or proof-reader" who dared to intetfete, with; it, so we must not blame them for ■.the following choice comment added ;to jaipodm" which appeared in the Poets corner oi a Yorkshire weekly.: 'These'lines iwere written fifty .'years ago by » for /many years lain in! his grave for his own amusement;'

'.'•., Wear an apron oi white oilcloth when washing "ultebea or clothes. This will save the diess and prevehi the w«arer getting wot. T ■