THE LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 4 August 1923, Page 20

THE LAND.

GROWING TARES. Tare:- can bo sown from now on as a I luiwuve witb. any of the cereals for \ jcoding later on, "or for mowing to be (.irteil to stack on the grass fields. Or i the crop can bis left until nearly ripe and I tut with the reuper and binder and stacked in the ordinary way and chopped lor all kinds of stock. Later on, tares i-an bo gown pure and let go for threshin £ purposes. In the months of October and November tares can be sown with the rape crop. This makes valuable grazing fur fattening lambs or old ewes, ;md being a legume, the land is enriched in nitrogen instead of being robbed of this valuable plant food. BAIKY COW TYPE. Fifteen years ago an, experienced breeder and judge of dairy cattle remarked that "all good dairy cows are built on the same keel." The truth of that statement is more apparent now than it ever has been in the past. Apart from heads, udders, teats and colour markings, dairy cowe of all the leading breeds are markedly alike, even if they vary considerably in size. Moreover, tha best producers of reproducers are much alike in temperament. Experience has shown that dairy cow efficiency, for breeding or at the pail, is associated with certain commonly recognised and well-defined characteristics of form and behaviour. There are, of course, exceptioins to the general rule that the wedge-shaped type, a roomy barrel, a thin neck and lean thighs, wideapart hip joints, and a large, well-shaped udder are the primary indices of dairy cow excellence. A few cows, like some geniuses, defy conventional classification. On the whole, however, pure-bred or high-grade dairy cows are essentially identical in most of their major characteristics, by which they are known and identifiable. The widespread, popular knowledge of tliis key fact accounts in part for the remarkable developement and expansion which the dairy cattle industry lias undergone in recent years. It will prow more rapidly and more substantially in the future if the owners of pedigree breeding herds will work together, as they are beginning to do,

through their organisations. Even j where they may differ, they are not far [ apart. Their larger interests are tied 1 up together. Competition has made co- s operation necessary. To increase the popularity of an efficient dairy cow v type is more useful and productive than g to vaunt a breed in a partisan spirit. c Breed propaganda in that spirit has had I its day. 1 SHEEP DOG TRIALS. * _____ i A MEAN'S OF IMPROVEMENT. ' A writer in "Studs' and Herds' An- c nual," dealing with the subject of sheep- ] dog trials, says there is always a ten- «• dency to regard with the minimum of i interest the world's oldest and most use- > ful servants. This explains, or partly I explains, the public's neglect of the shep- j herd's collie. Now and again, of course, i the sheep dog appears in literature; but { the place of prominence which he de- < serves, particularly in the pastoral world, < has never really been conceded. He is ] only a dog, a slave, to be bought and i sold as the caprice, necessity, or greed of his master may desire or dictate. "Still," he says, "there were always men, perhaps not many, but always a few, who gave the sheep dog a place superior , to this. We have known veteran hill- , men who talked to their dogs and ac- , tually held fellowship with them as though all differences in aspiration and ■ destiny had been removed. Those men ; were the true emancipators of the collie. I Tiiey discovered in the dog not only a priceless servant, but the most faithful and self-sacrificing of all friends. To-day the sheepdog ia more discussed and is better known than almost any other representative of the agricultural circle. The outside or non-agricultural world, having been made aware of the great exhibitions of canine sagacity and skill, now come out in their thousands to witness the art of the dogs, and thus get into the deeper and more- edifying meaning of the long and romantic relationship between the shepherd and his friend. That trials are effecting a rapid improvement amongst sheep doga generally we do not contend; but there can be little doubt that a public exhibition of dogyorking in a given district creates interest which must sooner or later issue in progress." FERTILISING PASTURES. The Journal of the British Ministry of Agriculture states that an experiment made some years ago at the Midland Agricultural College and afterwards repeated at the Harper Adams Agricultural College, deserves to be brought again to the notice of dairy farmers. Part of the pasture field was dressed with fertiliser and part left unmanured; the plots were completely fenced in and the cows were grazed on them. At the Midland 'Agricultural College the experiment was rontiniieTl for three years, records being kept of the quantity and composition of tho milk. The fertiliser lised was a sin K le dressing of four hundred-weight superphosphate and one and a half hundredweight sulphate of potash an acre. The results when worked out as gallons ol milk an pere are as follows:—Yield on

unmanured plot, first year, 136 gallons \ per acre: second year, i 64 gallons per I acre; third year, 137 gallons per acre. I Yic\d on manured p\ot, Irst year, 22.0 g&V ' Jons per acre; second year, 250 gallons per acre; third year, 218 gallons per acre. In the fourth, year the increased yield was 119 gallons per acre. Even at (id per gallon the whole cost of the manure was paid oft' in the first year, and there was a balance on the farmer's eiclo, while tho whole of the inCTeased yields in the second and third years were clear .profit. Analysis of the milk showed, as a result of manuring, a large increase in the total amount of buttenat, and no appreciable change in the percentage of other constituents of milk, though, of course, an increase in the total amounts. The Harper Adams experiments were on slightly different lines, there being three plots —one unmanured, one receiving superphosphate only (two and a half hundredweight an acre), and the third received superphosphate (two and a half hundredweight an acre) and potash (half hundredweight sulphate of potash an acre). The average yields of milk for tine threo years summer grazing (20 weeks) were:—Yield on unmanured plot, 175 gallons per acre; yield from superphosphate only, 208 gallons per acre; yield from superphosphate and potash, 212 gallons per acre. Again a distinctly profitable increase in the use of fertilisers. GRASSES AND PASTURES. LECTURE BY DR. HILGENDORF. Dr. F. TV. Hilgendorf, of Canterbury Agricultural College, recently delivered lan address on grasses and pastures. He ' divided Wβ subject into four divisions, namely, poor scrub land, rich wheat land, swamp land, and the downs with solid clay subsoil. With regard to the first division, he said it was a most difficult problem to know what kind of grass would take permanent root. He thought this was a case where the Government ehould take a hand and experiment witb various grasses, and find out which was most suitable. He was sure that farmers would receive some benefit if they applied to the officer in charge of that

particular department. Personally, he had a craze for cocksfoot, and would like to see it tried on land of that scriptionA great mistake many farmers made was in sowing cocksfoot with other grasses, instead of with white clover only. The land that would grow any kind of grass, such as the rich wheat land mentioned was sadly neglected. Farmers who owned this class of land were most careless, and did not get from it all they might. Instead of putting in a mixture of grasses, they should sow one paddock with,-say, ryegrass and red clover, or eockefoot and white clover. For swampy land the grass that would do well was timothy, and with this should be sown alsike, which did well in wet land. On the downs land, where it had a clay bottom, almost any kind ot' grass would grow, but if farmers wanted really good pasture they should lime this kind of country. Tbe lime made the clay more porous, and thus the water escaped more freely. In bis opinion farmers should experiment mere with manures and grasses. A NEGLECTED COW FOOD. The chou moellier, or the marrow stemmed kale, is one of the most valuable forage plants for dairy cattle.. It was introduced by the Department of Agriculture more than twelve years ago. The plants grow to a height of from four to five feet. The main stalk has a juicy pith or marrow, and from this its name is derived. A large quantity of foliage is produced from the upper part of the stem. The leaves are particularly palatable to cattle. They continue growing for a considerable time, and from the point of view of the dairyman there is the great advantage they do ndt taint milk. This plant has a wide rage of climate. It is grown in the dairying districts of France and in the colder parts of Holland. In Xew Zealand good :rops are produced from Southland to Auckland. Where this crop is grown extensively as in areas of several acres, it may be sown as mangels on tho raised ridge or drill, and the same treatment may be extended to it as to those roots. Inter-cultivation should not be neglected. When the foliage commences to shade the ground it is advisable to use a moulding or breast plough to earth up the soil as a support to the plants. It ie, however, suggested that not more than an acre should be planted the first year, tor this purpose the soil should be "sown in boxes as with the cabbage for the garden, the plants should be pricked-out from these before the transplantation in the field. The rows may be 3ft 6in apart *« c planti ! at distances of 2ft 6in. lne first sowing ghould commence in March and they may continue through to October if a succession of forage is desired. It ie to be recognised tha? this L, plant occupies about the same time to mature as the cabbage, and that it is : the autumn sowing that produces the early chop. The chou moellier is a i strongly growing plant: it produces a large quantity of foliage and the stems, • that are themselves edible, add consid- > erabljr to the weight of the crop. For I these reasons manure should be liberally i applied and it should include nitrogen at

nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia. This crop can be fed off and if not closely eaten it will afford a second eating off. It is much the better practice to pull ■the leaves and cart them opt, but that cannot apply to more than a small area and to a few cattle. This seed is stocked by merchants throughout the Dominion. WATER FOR THE COW. Anyone familiar with the cow knows that such an animal is by nature slow and deliberate. Many is tbe time we have seen a cow directly approach a watering tank only to pause a few feet away from it and stand motionless in contemplation for perhaps ten or fifteen minutes. Undoubtedly she had it in mind to drink, but for some reason or othet she preferred to indulge herself only 'after mature deliberation. A cow will drink ore wmater if she can tke it at her own leisure and without being rushed. Under the stimulus of pasture grass in early summer her production at the pail is heavy, and it '• must be remembered that for every pound of milk produced a dairy cow '. will drink from two to three pounds of water. In tests it has been observed , that in the case of high producers the , daily production of 1001b of milk is ac- ; companied by the daily consumption of ' from eomewhat over 20011$ to more than ; 3001b of water. The fact that pasture grass in spring 1 carries an amount of water far in excess 1 of the drier summer and autumn feeds 1 is offset by the circumstance that the ' cow's body loses quantities of moisture | through evoporation. This results in a ' loss of moisture far in excess of what ' occurs from this source in winter. Henci ' it comes to pass that the cow's need oi water in summer is probably more mii sistent than in winter, just as it hap. pens that humans consume more liquid! i ordinarily in the warm part of the year . With people, the consumption of liquids i in warm weather is largely a means oi s promoting bodily comfort. The cow t drinks at such a time not only to pron mote bodily comfort but she must also in t this way make provision for supplying '• 80 per cent of the raw materials oi 1 which her milk is composed. With these facts as a background, il g is profitable to return to our considera 9 tion of the waterless pasture. Fortun g ate, indeed, is the dairyman who car c turn his cows into a pasture and not a have to worry about their going thirsty a 'Where the formation of the land wil s, permit, as it often does, of the laying o I- pipes in the pasture, this can be kep r supplied by the overflow of the main y cistern. It is not necessary to bur; ■ «ucl» pips* They can be run alous th (

ground next to the fence where they will be well out of the way. The cost of j such a system is largely the cost of the pipe. Sometimes a sunken tank is pro- j vided alongside the windmill. When the mill is working this tank is filled and, from this tank the pasture tank can be refilled by the operation of a ball valve. If the slope of the land is not sufficient for the installation of either of these methods the elevated tank will probably answer, and if ono already exists on the farm the carrying of water to the pasture, in the way indicated, is a matter chiefly of expense for . pipe—provided, of course, that the pasture, is not at too great distance. It i is not s unusual, of course, that the driving of a simple bore pipe will release a \ splendid water supply in a pasture. : Some of the finest drinking waters we ' have ever seen have been uncovered in : I this way. Every locality, of course, presents an individual problem. The ■ dairyman must be guided by local con- ■ ditions. Once he is convinced that be will be pounds ahead by supplying his " cows with water, he will probably find a way to provide it. Where cows on pasture have access to 1 a stream or other watering places, the ' miljf producer's chief concern will be to ; make sure that the water is not polluted, or if the body of water is a very I small spring or stream with sluggish action it may become so fouled by the ; animal's droppings as to introduce a i menace, in which case it will be well to 9 fence it off so that the animals cannot s get to it. The same is .true of muddy b watering places into which the thirst i for water may tempt the animals. It t is perhaps in place here to point out c that many a taint in milk comes from f the water to which cows have access. * The thirst for drink will impell them to - resort to stagnant pools or the semis ooze in boggy places. Water of this sort '. is apt to impart its odour to the milk, s Regarding troughs, concrete for such f purposes is fast coming- to take the v place of other materials. These troughs ■ are permanent and easily cleaned. Whati ever the nature of the trough it should ? be kept clean and free from growth of. t slime and moss. A periodic cleaning will effect this. The drinking places should t be located reasonably convenient to the l- spot most frequented by the animals. i- If there is a particular patch of shade n which seems to .be a favourite shelter for t the cows the placing of the trough in •. close proximity will incre°se consumpII tion, for while a cow will slake her 'f thirst at almost any sort of a plnce if it the want of water is strong, it is also i true that she will prefer to go thirsty J rather than travel the length of tbs c pasture to visit tluj trough.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. I iBNF.LL asks for the name of .1 quickgrowlng evergreen creeper to cover about Gft Of an old wooden fence.—Solanura la»mlnoldee grandlflora la suitable. Ivytpa red Geranium Madam Crousso would look very well but would need supporting. This could he done by fixing wire netting a few inches away from the fence and lpttins the Geranium grow between It and the fence. The Geranium Is quick-grow-ing, Iβ always green, and the flowers are very »bowy. ORTH AUCKLAND writes: Is there any manure that will hasten the growth or Pine trees? I hare Borne I'lnes planted two years, and they appear to progress slowly. I» cow manure beneficial to them, likewise horse manure? —It la not usual to do luueb manuring, to Pine trees. In a young stage they arc somewhat •lowgrowing for n year or co, but once they get a firm noU they soon make headway. Either cow or horse manure put round them and forked in would be beneficial. MATCXR (OtnMihu) wntee: (1) What is the most suitable quick-growing plant for foliage to mix with cut flowers? (2) I have a bed of Oerbernrt which dops not seem to bear many (lowers. At what season of the year do they flower l>est, and what manure suits them? There are a few od<J buds on the plants now; should they bo picked off to strengthen the plant? (3) At what age will a Jacaranda flower? Will the young plants stand tlio frost"; tlio trf*e like n dry or moist BitOβ - tlon? <-t) Would you please give mc a llet of flowers to grow in succession to keep np a supply of cut flowers for decorative purposes throughout the summer and autumn.-m Asparnsus sprengerl and Asparagus plumosus. (2) lue Gerbera flowers during spring and autumn. They nre not particular to manure, a litJlo bonedust Is ns good as anything. Thet-e is no need to pick off any flowers that are coming; the, plants should be strong, enough to carry flowers. They will improve with the warmer weather. (3) Jacaranda in a suitable position It Iβ a sub-tropical plant and will stand very little frost. H Hkoe a deep, welldrained soil. It is a tre« that, so far as Auckland Is concerned, only does well iv certain well-sueltered position*. (4) Sweetpeas, Coreopsis, Stocks <Ten Week anrt Beauty). Antirrhinums, Koses, Chrysanbut the above will give a succession, and almre easily grown and good ioere. V.C.W. (Birkenhead) %vrltes: As one who greatly appreciates your notes, I would bo pleased if you would advise mc as to the most suitable hedse to put in. My section is very mueU exposed to the we»terly winds, and 1 wish to grow something that- will form a dense windbreak ac quickly as possible, say, auout 10ft high. Wouia you mind briefly stating the respective merits of the following, and the time It would take each to grow to the height mentioned? Tamarlx galUca, Llgustrrim sinensis, Acmena floribunda, I'ittosporum erasslfollum, Cupressus La-wsouiana.—The beat hedge for your purpose is Cupressus Lawsoniana; this would take about six or seven years to grow to the size mentioned, that is, to form a wind-break 10ft uinn. It largely depends on the state of the soil how long these plaute take to grow to n particular size. Tamarix gallieu would be no good for your purpose. I,igustrum sinensis is quick-growing, but the roots are agKresslve. It would accomplish your purpose In five or six years. Acomeua florilmnda is a very good and effective wind-break; would take seven to niiie years to be effective at 10ft. I'ittosporum crasslfolluin is good, nnd in good soil would take ten or twelve yeare to reach iOft. ROSE PRUNING RULES. A etrong-growing Rose will stand hard pruning. Leave no spindly pieces, and. remove alt dead wood. Always cut just above a leaf-bud which will turn the growth outward l tit a quarter of an inch above the bud " Use a sharp pair of secateurs, so that the cuts cau be made clean. Ragged ends do not heal. The shoot dies back to the shoot beneath the break. Prune most Hybrid Perpetuals back to within 18 inches of the ground. Hoses like J. B. Clark and Frau Kar' Druschki can be treated as H.T.s ant be pruned like you would cut Maraai Cochet or any other good grower. Any of the plants which make a loi of dry wood, like La France, should not be pruned hard. A moderate cuttinj is all that is good for them. Weak "ro\viii<i Ro=es should, either be taker back to a brace of short stems or b< thrown away. The latter course is th( better, as there are many other verj likely things which give one good return; for time and trouble. Plants which tak< mildew badly can be thrown out. J good mildew host will spoil the look o any garden. The Hybrids that throw very lon canes should bo tied down to force bifi display of bloom. Select last PC£ eon's canes and bend them down to sui the situation. The bending make . every top side leaf-bud break. Some ver iretty effects axe had in this way.

Climbing roeee should only be pruned on the old wood. The new growth must on no account be cut away. Those long canes which grew so well last season are to bloom in the spring time. Remember this and only put the kr'fe into stalks which have already borne flowers. Anyone can see the difference between the long, straight new growths, which <Jo not carry any eign of laterals (side shootsl, and those which are older and consequently of less service. If you cannot do this, do not touch a climber until the matter hae been made plain to you. GLADIOLI. A few of these popular burboue flowering plants can be planted now. For beds or border* they are particularly good, and are suitable for small areai m they will bloom in a email space, their foliage taking up little room. Planted now they should flower early in November. They can be lifted when the foliage begine to turn yellow, and can 'be planted again about midsummer and will bloom the following autumn. The ground should >o rich, and co long as the soil is fairly rich and well drained, heavy soil will suit them as well or even better than a light one, although the latter is usually recommended. Place the bulbs about three incbee below the surface and six inchos away from each other. Planted in clumps of ten or a dozen bulbs they make a fine show. There are numerous varieties to euit all tastes, but the new Primulus hybrids ehould not be overlooked. These do not have such massive spikes as the older kinds, but are lightei and more usefui for decorative purposes in a cut state. The shades vary from light cream to deep amber and copper. CARNATION BEDS. It is always, advisable to have Carna tion beds higher than the footpath, as this ensures better drainage and oftet prevents the loss of some good nen variety. Worn out soil is of no valu< for growing Carnations but to heavil) manure euch soils just before planting is to encourage excessive sappy growtti and make the plants more prone t< disease. There is nothing to equal fresl loam cut from an old paddock, the firs nine or ten inches. Thie is full of gras; fibre, and if taken and chopped up sm.il about the size of walnuts so -that it wil paßs through an inch sieve, and sony rotted manure added, it will make i first-class Carnation soil. Many canno get this -and have to be content wit] the soil that is already* at hand. Oooi Carnations can be grown in ordinar soil if a little care is tnken. The followin are some good short hints: <1) Buy stron well-rooted layers; (2) plant firmly an don't let water lie around the plant (3) keep picking off dead and disease loaves; (4) keep tbe plants tied up ol the ground; (5) look out for green flj keeping the flowering stems free from it (6) diebud if you want good blooms an good plante; (7) use liquid manure dvi ing the flowering season; (8) use plent of wood ashes, theee provide pota?h, most essential ingredient of the soil fo , Carnations; (9) shade the heliotrop . colours, in fact most of the blooms ar . better for ehading from the sun; (10 i, protect the blooms from rain, 'but d I not shade the foliage; (11) do nc : coddle your carnations, keep them tie securely and a breeze will do more goo : than harm; (12) remember Carnation simplyylinger and die when shade, eta; 1 nant "water at the root, or a stagnar 1 atmosphere surrounds them. l

PHVHIMG OWART ROSE*. ?* Tte ever anxious amateur probably |P< <rives more thought and attention to £ the pruning of his Roses than to any other gardening operation. He knows » full well that without the use of tne knife his trees will not, generally epeak- £ ing, prosper as they ehould; but he also knows that in unintelligent hands the P knife is an instrument fraught with " exceptional powers for evil. Conse-P. quently this season of the year usually \ finds him in a quandary-, and any friend i' whose kindly offices assist to a successful issue " from the difficulty may " be ever afterwards regarded in l the light of a lifelong benefactor. ' Although it can scarcely receive too . much attention, pruning is not, after all, so puzzling a subject as is some- ( times thought. The initial difficulty usually presents itself in the question of when to prune, and here it may DC said that c, very common mistake is •] to make too early a commencement. It ie always best to leave the operation r until there is some appearance of fairly mild and settled weather, as at present, ? for if the back buds are forced to start , I too soon, they may be caught and in- t

I PRUNING DWARF ROSES. i jured by frost. The present is a favour- ! able time for tho district about Auckland, but further south it should : be delayed for a week or co, and in high country were late frosts are frequent, the beginning of September will be soon enough. Then, when pruning, quite as j important often as the condition of the ! bush is the object for which the blooms • are required. This settles the question lof hard or light pruning, the former being advisable when only a few blooms of exhibition standard are required, and the latter when it lis desired that the plant shall ■bloom to dts fullest possibilities. The • difference between the different methods 'of pruning is shown in the accompanying figures. In regard to dwarf bushes, : Fig. A, shows an unpruned plant; B i the same close pruned; C, its appear- - ] ance after being moderately reduced; ■ I and D, the bush lightly pruned. If the latter method is adopted the resultant show of bloom will be very gratifying. A point which is often overlooked i? the necessity to always cut back to a bud ■ pointing outwards, as this produces a much more open shaped plant, of which i the growth will have a better oppor- • tunity of becoming well ripened in due ; season, I JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE. • New plantings of these should. h» [ made without delay. Choose medium- \ sized tubers and those as smooth as I possible. It is most important to plant 1 only the best-shaped tubers, for the Arti--1 choke is naturally inclined to be an ' ; ugly shape, and it is only by jndicious -! selection that good-shaped tubers can be J produced. The tubers, if large, can be I cut eimilar to a Potato, allowing each rI a pair of "eyes." Plant in trenches ' six inches deep,' leaving about fifteen 7 ■ inches between the tubers. The rows -! should be at least three feet apart. 5 The soil should be well worked and fairly r well manured, although fresh rank ' manure ehould not be used. Cultivation i and soil requirements are eimilar to that required by Potatoes. EARLY PEAS. These should now be sown in a warm - border. Sow the seed in broad drills., s In a fortnight's time make another eowa ing, consisting of first and second early v varieties, on an open piece of ground c sheltered from the south and east. Those y having heavy soils to contend with would g do well to sow none but round-seeded i, varieties for the next few weeks or until o the soil becomes drier. Covering the h seed with an inch or bo of old potting t soil is a great help to successful germinaa tion when the staple is of an adhesive II nature. U Peas just through the surface should c have guards put over them to screen a them from cold, cutting winds. It ,t guards are not available, put short h spray stakes along each side of the row, d not quite close to the plants, but some j. four inches away. Put the stakes in ,g upright, as if they are put at an angle ,g so that the tops meet they keep a lot d . of sunshine off the plants. d PARSLEY. ff .. Parsley.—This takes a long time to ..' germinate, and should .be sown early in fairly firm soil. It makes a good r edging along the side of a garden path. , y The drill should be about one inch deep, - a and the seed thinly sown. As soon as jr J the plants are fit to handle they should )e be thinned out at least six inchea apart. )) DRAINAGE. lo The recent bed weather hae shown the it value of drainage. Even where thb ■d garden is drained, it has been too wet >il to work the coil, but where drainage is is bad it will .be -some time before It g- can be worked even after the weather it clears up. All gardens should 'be drained jso that the surface water can be carried

.way quickly. If no other nieane is oseible, open drains should be cut. >"o iO\lbt ma.wy plants wVft sviffer owing to he prolonged saturation, and in unrained soil the roraing sea.-on will gee aany plants dying from "no apparent auee." In lowlying. level gardens where, . nving , to circuin?tancee it ia ainiost im(Oesible to drain the ground, the best nethod of overeomin? the difficulty is iy means of raise./ beds. This can be ,one -by making the W-de about three eet wide, %vit\i iv footpatli between them, rile soil irom the p;ith .-iioii.'d 'be dug iut about six inches d''ep and the coil ;hrown on -t.i the beds. This will raigb he beds and l/'ie paths will act as drains.