THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16209, 11 May 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES

M ALVERN A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

At the last meeting of the Malvern A. and P. Association the secretary was authorised to pay out prize-money amounting to £2o(). "Winners of special prizes (most points) were as follows: — Light horses, "William Deans; harness horses, A. A. Fantham; cattle, AY. J. Jenkins; fat lambs, McClelland Bros., Hon. Mr C. A. G. Hardy's cup, R. and J. lleid. In the grain and seed sections ("Weekly Press" prize), W. JJenkins; oats, "W. J. Jenkins; wheat, L. T. Wright: potatoes, T. S. Innes: turnips and mangels, L. T. "Wright; root scction, L. T. "Wright; garden vegetables, L. D. Kipg: house and dairy (most points), Mrs <T. Fleming 1, Mrs j. Kilty 2; Beath's special prize, Mrs J. Fleming; bread and scones, Mrs JKilty; cake, Mrs J. Fleming; fruit, Mrs G. F. "Wright; weight-guessing, Mr Charles Gamble, 3495, correct weight 3491b.

ELECTRIFIED FARMING

For a good many years past it has been known that an overhead discharge of electricity stimulates vegetable growth. Adam himself probably noticed that tilings grew moro rapidly in "thunder weathor/' Experiments along these lines havo been in progress in this coiuitrv, in Germany, and in America lor several years past. The "Journal of the Board of Agriculture" relates in its number of last April the latest of these experiments at Linchiden Mains Farm, in Dumfriesshire; oats worn chosen for the experiment. Of a field of nine acres, over one aero was treated electrically. Tho overhead clectrical discharge was obtained and applied by means of a series of 21 wires running across the area. These were supported at a height of about 7ft above tho ground. The current. used was direct—3 amperes -0 v01t5.....

The treatment was applied as soon as the oats were up, and was carried on continuously in daylight and line wear ther up to August 17th. It, was not used at night or in wet weather.

Briefly the result was this: The increase of grain on the oleetrifiod area as compared with, the control of untreated areas was 49 per cent.: the increase ill the straw was no less than !" ; S per cent. The grain increase would have been heavier but for severe thunderstorms, which laid the heavy treated crop and caused delay in cutting.

Such results are sufficiently startling, but the methods employed are open t° several serious objections. .In the first place, the whole field must be housed in. with a network of wires, the working cost and maintenance of which are au cxpensivo item. Then the current having to be applied continuously, tho electric installation must bo on or near the area of cultivation.

To the newer process of what may be styled "Electro-Chemical Farming" thoso objections do not apply. In the first place the overhead wiring system is not used. One wire only is buried at a deptlf of two to threo inches in the ground. It runs right round tho field, constituting the negative pole. The positive polo is connected with iron electrodcs driven into the ground along tho central axis of tho field, at an equal distance from the side.

The current employed is intermittently induced high tension and continuous, supplied from a portable dynamo and induction coil coupled with a" petrol engine; primary voltage 110, secondary 20,000. The treatment, instead of being a continuous one, is intermittent, applied for four to six hours overy two, four, or six -weeks, according to tho nature of tho crops to bo treated.

Thus - 'one portable installation _ can treat a score or more fields, all widely apart, instead of a .stationary installation being required for each separate farm. At present 5 quarters of wheat of 4801b each aro considered a good return from an acre. But with the treatment described ten to twelve and a half quarters are obtainable. The straw is also of a much finer quality. Equally good results have been obtained from barley, rye, and peas, the yield in somo cases having been actually quadrupled. —(By F. Chamier, D.Sc., in "London Daily Mail.")

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS, "1 know a share milker who did so well that he was able to buy a motorcar in two years," remarked a witness at a sitting of the Military Service Board at Hawera the other day.

It is reported that a native crow in Australia is attacking sheep in exactly the same way as the New Zealand ke:i, by a perverted taste, has learnt to attack them. The report is a note by Mr J. A. Hill, of Golton South, Victoria, in a oopv of tho "Emu," tho journal of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. "This year,'J. Mr Hill says, "tho crow has been a terrible scourge among our ewes and lambs, and often before the ewo could get up the crows bad tho eyes plucked out and tho lamb killed. But another feature has come under my observation lately, which has not been noticed in this district before. The crows actually picked a hole in the sheep's back right into the kidneys, to get the fat I This sheep 1 to kill, as the poor thing would not have lived much longer. I thought that th's was an isolated case, but one of my neighbours had three or four, and another neighbour had ono, tho crows doing exactly the same thing. _ This would almost point to , a time in the near future when the crow will be as baa as the New Zealand kea." ROTHERHAM. On "Wednesday a most enjoyable children's concert was given in aid of tho .Red Cross Fund by the children of Rotherham, who had been carefully trained by Mrs T. Castles and Miss Gwenyth Brown. "While the quaint little songs, recitations, and other items were very much appreciated, perhaps tho chief feature of the programme was

a charming littlo play, in which, ail tho Nursery Bhymc family appeared in costume. Even tho Queen of Hearts honoured the occasion, and all spent ahappy time together. After the con- j cert supper was served, and dancing j commenced, music being supplied by , Mesdames .Hunter and Davison, who had motored from Culvcrden. The proceeds amounted to close on £20 ; contributed to by a large sale of homemade sweets, nuts, flowers, and programmes. In res]X>nsc lo_ an appeal song, effectively sung by Miss Gwcnyth Brown, many silver and copper coins were thrown. T>ancing was continued till a lato hour, concluding a- delightful evening, which had been enjoyed by a largo number of people from far and near. HORNBY. At a special mooting of tho Hornby School Committeo it was decided to hold the annual Empire Day concert on Friday, June 7th. It was also arranged to call for competitive designs for a water tower, for a soldiers' memorial to be erected at the school. ASHBURTON. Sir James Cow, of Ashburton, while at Christchurch on Wednesday was taken suddenly ill, but was able to return home to Tinwald. where he is resting for a time. MAIREHAU. A memorial service -will he oonducted in the Mairehau Hall to-morrow afternoon, at 2.30, in memory of the late Private E. J. McFadden, who was recently killed in action.