A GOOD SHEEP LICK.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 55, 21 February 1913, Page 1

A GOOD SHEEP LICK.

Tho value to owners of live stock .if a good "lick" was incidentally demonstrated in tho course of some cxporij merits in the control of worms in sheep 1 last year at Glen limes (New South Wales) Experimental Farm. It had been previously noted by the manager of the farm that certain sheep had done exceptionally well on a lick made up of five parts of calcium phosphate, one part of sulphate ol iron, and -K) parts of Liverpool salt, and during 1912 a special experiment was arranged to tost this lick, one lot of' sheep being placed 011 it. and another lot on a simpler lick consisting of 0110 part of sulphate of iron and -10 parts of Liverpool salt. Unfortunately, thw very dry season necessitated the sheep being run together after three months' trial, but tho superiority of the "complete lick," as it aws called, was so constant up to that time as to call for remark. The average gain in weight of over 20 sheep on tho complete lick was 101b, against less than (jjlb gained by a similar number on the incomplete lick. There is a story going the rounds that one farmer remarked to another: "i'our land is no better than that of other farmers in your district, yet you always produce better crops than wo do. What is tho secret of your success P" The reply was: "I always tell my man to harrow the land until it has been harrowed twice too much, and then 1 tell him that it has not been done half enough" (writes "Rusticus" in the 'Lvttelton Times'). There is a great deal in that reply, particularly when dry weather is about. No doubt land can be worked to too line a tilth if wet weather is to follow. It runs together like cement, and then bakes and cracks when dry weather comes upon it. You have got to take a risk one way or the other. A pretty safe rule is to leave tho land nice and curly, lumpy, but not with clods as big and rough as a horse's head , when the land has to lie over winter, but in summer work it down to a fine tilth. Tlw particles of soil being small will hold more moisture than when the land is cloddy. The harrows put the surface in good condition to retain the moisture, while the disc and the grubber, particularly tin* latter, is needed to put the land into a fine state of tilth underneath. The roller must also be used to compact the soil, particularly on light land. The barbarous custom of firing a horse's mouth as a cure for lampors has fortunately been discarded for a more humane remedy. A horse so affected should he given a good dose of laxative medicine, such as three-quar-ters of a pint of linseed oil to regulate, the bowels, and one of the following powders might, be given in the feed once daily, and be continued for one week:—Powdered nitrate of jwitash. 2 drachms; powdered flowers of sulphur 2 drachms; powdered aniseed, 4 drachms. The diet should consist of soft, easily digested food, green food if procurable. An occasionable brau mash will be found beneficial, but no oats or maize should be fed.