THE FARM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 291, 7 December 1900, Page 3

THE FARM.

Causes of Exhaustion of Grazing Lands.

'A writer in the "Pastoralists' Eeview" denounces as a myth the theory that pastoral lands gradually deteriorate through the exhaustion of their fertility by the long-continued grazing of stock without the assistance of artificial manuring-. He points out, and with much reason, that grazing lands are injured in stock-bearing capacity by the action of fire. There is not a doubt that this is so. Experience has proved in the case of a natural grass country that the continual burning off of the old grass to make fresh feed is the. surest way to run the stock-carrying capacity of a run. The surface of the soil is rendered almost absolutely sterile in time so far as grass-growing in concerned. There is, of course, a scientific explanation for this which we need not stop at present to give. But we may pass on to refer to bush lands cleared by felling and subsequent burning, and afterwards surface sown. This is the system pursued on thousands of acres of forest land in New Zealand, and we do not say that under the circumstances surrounding pioneer settlement the system can be avoided. But there is no doubt that what is called a good burn, where little debris is left on the ground unburnt, the land has been robbed of a certain amount of fertility which it would not have lost in the case of a bad burn, where many logs are left unconsumed, and dead" trees standing, to decay slowly, and become incorporated with the soil in the course of years. In many parts of the country there has been evidence of the superiority of the pasture in after years on land where the bush in the clearing operations has only been partially burned, as compared with areas over which a hot fire has raged, converting almost all j the timber into ashes. Of course in j the former case i t is longer before j the ground is cleared of logs and looks clean and tidy, but in the long run the land will be more fertile and carry a better sole of grass, although af first a better pasture will be obtained where there has been what is called "a good clean burn." No doubt the exhaustion of pasture lands by mere grazing of stock is very slow; at the same time the phosphates are gradually exhausted where young stock and milk are produced on a farm year after year, and sold ofi; it, and the skim milk is not returned to the farm. This is proved by the fact that old paddocks are so markedly benefited by applications of soluble phosphatic top dressings.

Weaning Young Pigs.—l am aware that there is a great difference of opinion in regard to age that young pio-s should be allowed to remain with their dam (says a writer in the "Farmer's Advocate"). I have no fixed rule, as I am guided largely by the way in which the young pigs are thriving. I have frequently noticed that the milk of the dam does not agree with the young pigs, causing excessive diarrhoea, and in this case we wean the pigs at six weeks, but as a o-eneral rule I have found better results by allowing the pigs to remain with the dam until eight weeks old. A great many young pigs are injured by feeding the sow too liberally upon striong, rich food, and not having much exercise in the open air. I would strongly recommend moderate exercise, with plenty of fresh air, which is quite as essential as pure food. After the young pigs are ten days old the sow should be liberally fed upon bran a..d finely ground oats, with the addition of a small quantity of ground peas or corn, but great care should be taken that the sow should not receive much grain for about ten days after farrowing. Many young pigs are so seriously injured during this period that they never recover. The Bot Fly.—The Stock Branch veterinary surgeon (Mr J. D. Stewart) has submitted to the New South Wales Minister for Mines and Agriculture a report on the bot fly, which has become acclimatised in New South Wales, and concerning which inquiries are often made. He states that the fly is specially prevalent in the southern parts of the colony. It deposits its eggs Jon the breast, shoulders and forearms of horses when turned out to graze. The egsrs, which are of a conical shape, and a yellowish white colour, hatch out larvae after about four tor five days, which causes irritation, and in licking the irritated parts the horse receives the larvae into his stomach.. To prevent this the affected parts should be smeared with preparations of tar and grease. Oil of cresote and linseed oil (one of the former to 10 lof the latter) make a very effective dressing. Many of the sheep dips diluted with water when used as a wash destroy the eggs and larvae on the skin. Care should be taken in summer not to apply the smears' in too concentrated a form, or they may blister. The presence of a number of larvae in the stomach may be a cause of indigestion leading to colic of a fatal termination. When once they become attached to the lin-

The report of the South. Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association states that of the 5000 new shares authorised last year, 3000 tad been issued and allotted, and that probably the remaining 2000 would be disposed of during the present year. The increase of business had necessitated increased accommodation. Plans had been prepared for new offices and merchandise stores at Timaru. The building will be two storeys. The largest room will be a drapery shop 110 ft by 40ft- The net profits for the year were £16,249. The directors recommended a dividend of eight per cent, and a bonus of one per cent, on share capital; seven and a half per cent, bonus on shareholders' purchasers; seven and a half per cent, bonus to the staff; to refund thirty per cent, of auction and grain commissions; to to add £3000 to the reserve; to write £1000' off the freeholds; and to carry Hhe balance forward. The capital at the end of July was £33,246, and the reserve fund £18,706. The turnover this year had been over half a million, an increase of 150,000 on last year. The number of shareholders was 1560.