LINCOLN COLLEGE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24802, 16 February 1946, Page 3

LINCOLN COLLEGE

DIRECTOR’S MONTHLY REPORT

The report of the director (Professor E. R. Hudson) to the monthly meeting of the board of governors of the Canterbury Agricultural College states that the weather during the last month had been particularly favourable for harvesting. There were a number of days on which the high winds were troublesome, but apart from this, the weather was ideal. The rainfall during January amounted to only 125 points. Good progress had been made with the harvesting of crops, and the handling of those most susceptible to damage or loss through weather conditions was now almost completed. In response to the appeal for increased production, the cropping programme undertaken for this harvest was made more extensive than usual. In some instances, this had resulted in lower per-acre yields than had been customary during recent years, and an appreciable disruption of the farming routine had also resulted. It would not be possible to secure a similarly large acreage of crops in the coming season.

On the two farms this year’s programme embraced: 575 acres of grain, pulse and seed crops. 130 acres of forage crops, 25 acres of root crops, and 100 acres of lucerne for hay and silage (cut several times). On the whole the yields were not outstanding, but could be classed as good, the weather in the early summer months being responsible for a marked recovery after the earlier dry period had threatened" to result in very low yields.

MINERALS FOR STOCK

NEEDS OF GROWING PIGS Minerals are essential to the proper nourishment and growth of all animals. Some feeds lack important mineral elements and require appropriate mineral supplements. A Canadian experimental station mentions the most important of these, particularly in respect of pigs, and as there is a likelihood of this declining industry undergoing some degree of rehabilitation in the Dominion in the immediate future mention of them may be useful. Four minerals are needed in fairly large amounts by all farm animals. These are sodium, chlorine, calcium, and phosphorus. Sodium is needed by the blood, while chlorine forms a very important constituent of the digestive juices secreted by the stomach. These two important minerals are supplied by common salt. Because of the continuous need for these minerals, salt should be available to all animals at all times. For pigs, mixing salt with grain at the rate of 1 per cent, by weight is probably the most satisfactory method of supplying it. Calcium and phosphorus are required chiefly for the growth and maintenance of bones and teeth. These minerals are found in the fodders, roughages, and grains, with calcium most abundant in the plant portion, while phosphorus is found chiefly in the seed portion. Therefore growing pigs, which require relatively large amounts of calcium and which receive chiefly grain as a food, require additional calcium. Ground limestone, mixed with the feed at the rate of 1 per cent, by weight, is very satisfactory. Cattle and sheep, which eat large amounts of roughage, have a greater need for phosphorus. Bonemeal or monocalcium phosphate, left where cattle have access to it at all times, makes a satisfactory supplement.

lodine is .mother mineral element which is often deficient on some soils. An ounce of potassium iodine, dissolved in a pint of water and sprinkled over 151 b of salt, is excellent for sheep, cattle, and horses. For pigs an ounce of potassium iodine, dissolved in one gallon of water, and given to pregnant sows at the rate of one tablespoon a day, is ample to prevent hairlessness in newborn pigs. Iron is another important constituent of the blood, which is often deficient in young pigs two to eight weeks of age. which are raised inside. Ferrous oxide should be fed to pigs at this • age, either by putting a small amount directly on each pig’s tongue or by sprinkling a small amount over fresh dirt to which young pigs have access at all times. This will -help prevent anaemia, which annually causes large losses amongst our pig population. Other minerals required by animals include copper, sulphur, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and cobalt. These, however, are usually found in sufficient quantities in the ordinary feeds.

SOUTHLAND HARVEST A LATE SEASON Harvesting of the wheat and oat crops in Southland is fully a month late this year, but prospects are for yields up to the standard of last year, says a southern correspondent. Among wheatgrowers there is a saying that “if you wet the toes of the wheat it will grow.” Rains recently have given the crops a good start and growers are now looking forward to better weather for the harvesting. This year’s Dominion crop is the smallest for the last 20 years; 165,000 acres have been planted compared with 189,000 last year. Oat crops were satisfactory in Southland last year and they would be equally as good this year. It was estimated that 206,000 acres were planted this year as against 228,500 last season. With the more settled weather lately farmers have been busy with the seed harvest at the moment. The threshing of Chewings fescue has begun in the Waimea and Mossburn districts and indications a?e that the harvest is not sd heavy as last year’s record. Those Southland farmers who have grown ryegrass in spite of its uncertain germination have done well during the war. White Clover

Southland farmers, have established themselves in white clover growing and the Department of Agriculture has entries for 338 certified acres this year as against 314 acres last year. In South Canterbury forecasts are that there the 2472 acres will yield one sack an acre.

RAM AND EWE FAIRS

DATES ALLOTTED February 21—Christchurch Stud Ram Fair. March I—Kaikoura Ewe Fair. March 4 —Amberley Ewe Fair (southern). March 7—Hawarden Ewe Fair. March B—Rakaia8 —Rakaia Ewe Fair. March 11—Amberley Ewe Fair (northern). March 12—Waiau Ewe Fair. March 13—Geraldine Ewe Fair. March 14 —Culverden Ewe Fair. March 15—Methven Ewe Fair. March 18—Ashburton Ewe Fair. •March 19—Sheffield Ewe Fair. March 21 and 22 —Christchurch Flock Ram and Ewe Fair. March 25—Oxford Ewe Fair. March 26—Coalgate Ewe Fair. Reports from the Auckland province indicate that many dairying districts are passing through the worst drought period on record. The autumn butter production is therefore certain to show a very sharp shrinkage. In the Bay of Plenty, according to a letter received from that district the other day, hay was being carted out to dairy herds in January, and pasture roots on the hills were being burned out by the intensity of the heat and the continued absence of rain. The thin soil covering of much of the hill country makes a reasonably good rainfall necessary to save grass roots from this risk. Reports from the North Auckland area have been disquieting for some time, and the damage has been intensified lately by grass fires.