EDITORIAL FARM NOTES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8676, 28 December 1893, Page 6

EDITORIAL FARM NOTES.

" Weekly Press^^ THE SEASON AND,THB CROPS. ; The remarkable phases of weather which we have beeu experiencing for. some time past baffle the. memory- of the oldest j farmers to remember an equal—sweltering ! nor.'-westers, followed In rapid succession j by cold south-west wind*, varied at ettort 1 intervals by chilly easterly breezes, bo j far an North Canterbury i>s ; concerned,, the tall of rain has been none too ranch, while oar friends further south have-a superabundance of moiatare. Shearing has been much hindered thereby. Haymaking is being carried on ■ under difficulties. What with catchy showers and -high winds the saving of; the- crop (a good one) is attended with ■ much additional expense. • We regret to learn that there are extensive failures, Jα the potato crops, the sets having.failed by what i* known as dryrot. This, has"been particularly the case where the seed has been cut. Bust. —We were in hopes that the high wince and driving showers would have dispelled the rust, this, however, has not been entirely the case, an some crops have suffered very extensively from this plague. The small birds' nuisance is becoming more serious each year. Already the damage done to early barley crops is j so great as to render some of them not j wonh leaving for a , crop.; they have j already attacked the young wheat earn. ! Drastic measures will have to be taken if grain growing is to be continued. Our rurmerewill do well to lay themselves put i for united action against the common foe. The young mangold crops look remarkably well, although the birds have, pulled up large quantities. Turnip sowing will now be general, and with bhowery weather the strike should be a good one. TRIAL OF CLOVER THRESHERS. Oar readers will remember that Messrs GreensJade-Gardiner and Andrews and Beaven exhibited a clover threshing machine each, the conditions being that the machines were. to. be subjected to a trial before any prize was awarded. A sub? committee of the members of committee nan been appointed to carry oat the trial, which, of course, must be deferred till the new clover crop comes in; probably in March next. As the growing of clover for seed now forme a most important feature in those lands suitable for the.plant it U of the utmost importance that the best machinery for threshing and- cieaulng should be available. Large sums of money have been expended by "a local firm in producing a machine which they claim will do all that is required of it. Be this as it may, all opportunity will be afforded the above owners of showing what their several machines can do. - . MILKING MACHINE. Mr B. Withell having;, perfected. his m&eniue to his own satisfaction, has. issued circalare inviting the. public to witneae a trial of his machine at work bnliis farm at Brookside. The strides which the dairy industry in making demands that a more certain method of milking should be supplied than that of the hand.. There are several machines in the field: Tho»e who have seen Mr Withell's invention declare that ir is the best they have a% yet seen or read of. However, we hope to be able to give afull report of its doings in next issue, lathe meantime Mr Withell deserves to succeed, as a reward for his persevering, industry, and pluck. ... .. DEHORNING CATTLE. Stock-owners generally will read with satisfaction the following report made by Mr Principal Thompson, of Hawknbury Agricultural College, New South Wales, who has been experimenting with »oine 'calves, with a view to testing the efficacy of caustic potash when applied to the embryo horns of -calves.- -He reports that a calf three weeks, old was experimented upon. A little of the hair was removed, and a few dabs of caustic applied to the moistened surface. The result has proved entirely satisfactory, as the calf ie now over six mouths old and there is not the sign of a horn, while other calves' of the same age have grown two to three inches long. Mr Thompson is also carrying _ oat experiments iv the same direction by. applying a red hot iron to. the embryo horn. The former plan is, however, the more humane. The matter liar, much interest for dairy farmers and others. It is estimated that horns reduce the annual returns from, dairy stock by at least one pound per bead. Those who may be disposed to try the experiment will do well to remember that caustic should be kept in a glass-stoppered bottle KO as to retain it in its solid form. As much can begot for two or three pence as will operate upon half a dozen calves.