THE LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 76, 29 March 1924, Page 20

THE LAND.

IMPROVING MU.K PRODUCTION

The national effect of raising the average milk production of the cows of the United States is making a strong appeal to the commercial men of that country. Among the many announcements that form part of the propaganda to bring about this increased production, it is interesting to consider the effect of the better breeding of the cow on milk; production and very decidedly it ia of interest to realise the immense effect of this greater production on the wealth of the nation.

We must always remember that cows originally only produced enough milk to satisfy the requirements of their calves. By careful breeding and special selection the yield has been increased until milk has become one of the important articles of human food. But more is aimed at, viz., the elimination of all cows which do not come up to a certain standard of production, and to this end American commercial men, who are studying dairying with a view to tho extension of credit, have been making investigations as to the average yields.

From the 25,000,000 dairy cows in the United States an average of a little over 36001b of milk is obtained, in contrast with more skilfully bred and more carefully selected cattle whose average output is 6000, 8000, 10,000 and even 12,000 a cow, with individual records mounting still higher. Prom this the conclusion is reached that half the cows of the United States give less than 3600 lb of milk a year.

By the elimination of the poorest onefourth, or 5,000,000 of these cows, it would reduce the output of milk by not more than one-sixth, a loss which could easily be overcome by improvement ia the care and feeding of the remaining cows.

fh-us, in promoting dairy credits and ■working constructively for the elimination of the scrub cow and the scrub bull, commercial men have taken up a work which tends to create wealth in a simple, direct 'way, and entirely within the range and scope of the progressive farmer. By the elimination of the 5,000,000 cull or boarder cows and the 500,000 scrub dairy bulls, and replacing them with well selected, pure-bred dairy cows and sires, great additional wealth would come to the country, which in a ,few years would be measured in terms of millions of pounds.

The propaganda of the American commercial man may well find an echo and an intimate application in New Zealand with its million and a quarter dairy cattle that average only 1001b of butterfat. SULPHATE OF AMMONIA AND WEEDS. It has been ascertained that heavy applications of sulphate of ammonia are of immense help in checking the growth of -weeds, the sulphate of ammonia exerting what might be called a selective action. A chemical acting in the dual capacities of a fertiliser on crops and a planticide on weeds has far greater value than one that acts only in the latter direction.

Sulphate of ammonia fn a concentrated solution like 175 to 2251b in 60 gallons of water has been compared with with the usual strength of copper eulphate solution, 3 to 4 per cent, as a spraying agent for destroying weeds. For small quantities this strength can be obtained by using from 31b to 41b of sulphate of ammonia to one gallon of water.

THE SYMPTOMS OF SICKNESS IN COWS.

A valuable dairy cow is sometimes lost because'the owner is uncertain as to -whether or not the animal is really sick. When a cow shows indications of illness there should be no delay in an attempt to check the trouble. The best thing to do is to call in a veterinary surgeon, if there is a good one in the neighbourhood, and the trouble shows signs of being serious. In examining a cow with a view to finding out whether she is really sick, or knowing just what is the matter with her, the first thing to do is to take her temperature. A self-registering veterinary thermometer is a part of the dairy equipment on a farm and every dairyman ought to have one. The normal temperature of a cow is from 98 to 100 degrees, and there are some animals in which it may be even higher. In young cows the temperature is likely to be higher than older once. Any rise of temperature above normal may be viewed as suspicious, and should be kept in mind when the rest of the examination is being made. After getting a record of the temperature the cow's pulse should be taken. The best place to do this is at the angle of the lower jawbone, where it may be plainly felt. The normal pulse of the human being is about 72 per minute, but that of a cow is much lower, being between 50 and 60 to the minute. In case the pulse count is higher or considerably lower than these numbers the condition of the cow is not normal.

Respiration is another index of health or sickness. If a cow breathes much faster than usual, or much slower than the normal rate, this tells something_ of her condition. Count the respiration of the cow by watching the sides of her flanks or by pressing an ear to her sidee where the noise of her breathing can be plainly detected. The normal respiration of a healthy cow is from 15 to 20 per minute, or just about that of the human in normal condition.

If it is found that the temperature, the pulse, or the respiration are varying from normal, there is no question but that there is something the matter with the cow. If these variations are marked, the animal is to be regarded as ailing, and these variations, taken iv connection with the general appearance of the animal, should gigve a clear idea as to the need of dosing and treating her.

When the nose of the cow is hot and dry, the hair rough and harsh to the touch, the eyes dull and glazed and the ears cold, we have added evidence of sickness. Other signs to be watched fov are lack of appetite, sudden shrinkage of milk, and the cow ceasing to chew her cud. These outward indications "wul usually be noted where the pulse, "Piwtion, and temperature are abnor-

the fir * £° COW U foUnd t0 te Bick > of th? w ng Vl°h *° Bet8 et her out •hto I,h and ,? lace her in comfort- - where she will not be ■ - r.

near any other cattle. Where there is the slightest suspicion of any contagious disease this should be done at the earliest possible moment. Her milk, of course, must not be used as it would be unwholesome, and where the cow has been attacked by such a disease os tuberculosis her milk would be actually dangerous.

Every dairyman should observe his I cows so closely that he will be able to ' detect at once a slight departure from | the appearance of perfect health. Stand- j ard books on the diseases of cows and other stock cost but little, and every keeper of cows should have one or more and be so familiar with their contents that he can form an intelligent opinion as to tho nature of the trouble when any of the cows arc ill. And he should keep on hand and know how to administer simple remedies for minor aliments. But except in the way of giving first aid, he should not attempt to treat severe attacks or cases less violent but manifestly eerious diseases. DRY AND WET FEEDING. J It seems clear that the pig is intended by nature to masticate its food. When supplied with soaked food very Jittle mastication takes place, the food being simply swallowed. With dry food, however, a pig has to masticate before he can ' swallow, and this means the food is | thoroughly incorporated with the saliva, I whicli is the first step in the process of satisfactory digestion. With soaked food it is necessary for a- pig to swallow a very considerable amount of water in order to obtain the necessary quantity of solid food, and in winter there is no doubt that the water that the pig has | to swallow is greatly in excess of his I requirements. With dry food, however, provided the pig has proper access . to water, which is an essential part of | the system, he will himself decide on the quantity of water he requires. THE SEPARATOR. Do you ever test the skim-milk to see if the separator has removed all the cream? One man recently said "I am not very particular about skimming clean as a little cream in the milk is good for the calves and pigs." This is ' true, but when a person buys a cream separator and turns the milk through it he naturally expects all the cream to be removed. If -properly adjusted the machine will make practically a clean separation. But with so many machines they are not set level, the bowl wobbles, j and the speed is low, resulting in incomplete separation of milk and cream. This is a loss which can be remedied. No one wants to do half a job. Very often a few minutes is all that is required to correct the defects in the separators; why not do it and get all the cream? GYPSUM AND ANIMAL MANURE.j Not all the loss from stored animal manure is caused by leaching. No small part is occasioned by the loss of some i of the elements that are released by j the micro-organisms that effect decom- { position and that '■ . 'igh their action j become unstable. -emedy for this I is the use of a good preservative. The j most economical and efficient preserva- • tive is unquestionably gypsum. Various j experiments indicate that the more j valuable elements of animal manure are preserved by this means. One great I authority says that the plant food so preserved is worth ten times the cost of the gypsum when both are estimated, at current prices. In practice one hundredweight of gypsum is sufficient to ten hundredweight of manure to conserve the chief value of the elements j of plant food.

In association with this, there is the later aspect of the value to the plant of sulphur, and gypsum, or calcium sulphate, holds that element in combination with lime. It has been known for many years that sulphur has an important part in the economy of the plant, but to what extent and possibly in what form it is availed of may not have attracted the attention that recent research now claims for this element. In this question—the conservation of the more valuable constituents of animal manure, and the part taken by gypsum —it should be remembered that under the more usual name of land plaster it was in comparatively general use thi the farms of Europe and America before the advent of artificial fertilisers. Among these, and in the highest general esteem, is superphosphate. This is phosphates rendered soluble through the agency of eulphur in the form of sulphuric acid. In this we almost come back to the practice of the earlier generations of the men on the land, who, not guided by science, but through observation taught by experionce applied sulphur to the land in the form of gypsum. Now modern practice avails itself of the same element in superphosphate and we are recommended to use this gypsum —land plaster—to conserve animal manure. The application of this preservative should appeal to the modern agriculturist. It is no new thing. His forefathers learned its use although in those days they were but homespun I husbandmen. THE BLACKBERRY MENACE. The blackberry season is now in full swing in the Franklin County, and picnic parties from town by train and motor may daily bo seen filling their billies and other veseels. Whilst it is against the law to openly expose the berries in course of transit, or even when travelling to be caught in possession of them, the love of the delicious jolly and jam whicn they make is the delight of many households. Some excursionists have been caught as it were "redhanded," and compelled to dump their treasure in the harbour or elsewhere, but such cases

are very unconunon, and in town nnd country at this time of the year blackberry picking is all the rage. It must not be supposed that the blackberry does not thrive in the city. Anyone who doubts this fact has only to take a walk through the ' streets of the suburbs. On almost every vacant section, in the gullies, and in a hundred and one places where one would never expect to find them the berries are found in plentitude, and ara eagerly sought after by youngr nnd old alike. Of course it is in the country wherp the blackberry chiefly nourishes, and in some parts of this county, through neglect

and otherwise, it has assumed such a hold that its eradication offers a serious problem, which even the landowners themselves do not care to face. In many cases the menace has assumed such proportions that it would appear I tliat the holdings have been abandonea, and the land gone back to fern ami blackberry. And this despite the tact that the berry comes under the Noxious Weeds Act, with an army of inspectors who have for years been paid to see that its provisions are carried out. Under the County Council regulations the owner of each property, in addition to keeping his own property free of the pest, is responsible for his portion of the main road being kept clear, but how I few take the trouble or go to the cxI penso of doing so. The prevalence of blackberry, together with the rabbit nuisance, are the two chief drawbacks that landowners have to face in thl9 district, and united effort on the part of farmers would do much to successfully cope with both evils. The Govern- ! ment and county councils- could also I greatly assist the settlers by themI selves clearing their own properties, thus preventing the spread of the pests. LUCERNE AND LIME. j Of all farm crops, lucerne demands the most calcium —1851b for a five-ton crop. This is equivalent to 2501b of lime and 4021b of carbonate of lime. On an acid soil, therefore, it is quite necessary to supply this legume with sufficient 1 lime. Frequently lime increases the lucerne yield 400 per cent, and even I 1000 per cent. The place for the lime is in the top eight inches, regardless of the fact that the subsoil may be acid and that limestone may be found at a depth of two or three feet. 'subterranean clover. Although it is an annual it can be rej, rded as a perennial, for when once established in a field, that field docs not require a further sowing. As soon as ] the flower fades, the undeveloped seed ! pod gradually turns towards the nearest 1 ground, and those nearest the soil eventj ually bury themselves. With the first autumn rains the seed quickly germinates, and within a month the field, which before appeared barren, is transformed by the quick-growing plants, upon which stock begin to feed. Through the winter and spring, and right on into the early summer, there is an abundance of succulent nitrogenous herbage, on which all

stock quickly fatten. Horses and sheep will fatten on the seed in the pods when there is nothing else left in crops, and it will do exceptionally well, at the same time improving the soil by introducing nitrogen—one of its strong and valuable characteristics. When cut green and with favourable weather it makes excellent hay, which is readily eaten by horses and cows. When sowing the s eed, very little preparation is required. .Scattered on the surface it will grow and take root readily, although a light harrowing and rolling is beneficial. To ensure a good crop on poor land, all that is required is about 2 cwt. of superphosphate to the acre. This application should bo repeated every three or four years. It is noticed that even fern has had to give way to subterranean clover. If this plant is capable of the control of the fern and comparatively useless grasses that grow on the more or less barren hillsides, it will be a most valuable forage plan. In fact, any country of suitable climatic conditions, will yield excellent results. The seed should be sown from the end of March until August. As the initial cost of sowing is the only one, from 61b to Sib of seed an acre will give splendid results; but a smaller quantity, say, 21b an acre, is enough to start it, and ensure a good bottom of clover. JOTTINGS. For two reasons milk should be strained immediately it leaves the cow. In the first place, it is desirable to remove the extraneous matter before it has time to dissolve in the warm milk. Secondly, the warmer the milk the less viscous it is. The viscosity of freshly obtained milk increases aa the temperature lowers. Cold milk does not easily pass through the filtering medium which must be very fine in order to cleanse the milk thoroughly.

Give young pigs as much sunshine and exercise as possible. Both are essential to their future success.

The dairy cow produces milk, an *inrivalled human food, with much greater economy than beef cattle, sheep, swine, or poultry produce human food in the form of meat. For this reason the number of dairy cows steadily grows as our population increases.

Experiments and expedience havo taught that the most profitable feeding is iiberal feeding, such as will supply tlie animal with its requirements.