GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1076, 15 March 1911, Page 10

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

: In the latest-received -number of the "Live Stock Journal" (London) appear photographs of Mrs. J. D. Ormond's two-year-old colt' Bonny Glen, and three-year-old fill}' Maggie Glen. They are presented' as being "tho'type of horso which finds most favour in Now Zealand at the present time."

Judging by the number of sheen that aro being imported into Canterbury at the present time, it would appear that stock feed in Otago and parts of Southland is becoming very scarce (says the "Ashburton Guardian").

A German syndicate is attempting tho production of fine wool on a large scale in German South Africa. The wool clip of Germany has fallen off largely of lato years, the country outproducing. 26 million pounds, against a consumption of 440 millions. .

. There have been several aspirants in Australia : this season for the biggestapple'honour, which now appears to rest with. a\ Monaro grower, Mr. Fred Moore, of Bonibaln, who has an apple of the Lord Nelson variety which weighs 320z. The fruit is quite sound, and free of any disease.

A. and P. Associations are already being notified to prepare remits for tho consideration of the conference of agricultural associations which is to sit in Wellington later in the year.

This yarn comes from Canterbury. A lady and a gentleman who had a quiet and very slow old horso decided to dispose of it and get a smarter one. They consulted a horso dealer, who gave them £9 for Tom. After somo months the dealer went to them with the news thr.t ho had at last found the very horso tliey wore looking for. They had a trial, and bought it for £17. It suited admirably. The horso they had sold was one with a long coat and tail, while this one was a smart-looking clipped horsei with bang tail and hog niano In.'.the fullness, of time r the tail, and tho. mane and the hair on the other parts grew long, aud'Tora'stood revealed.

English : files state that large - numbers of the South Devon breed, of cattle are being imported to South Africa.

A shipment of 500 cases of apples from' tho Bathurst Experiment Farm was dispatched to London last week by tho R.M.S. India. The varieties mainly represented are Jonathan and Cleopatra, while there are also a few Rome Beauty and Granny Smith. The fruit is of first-class quality this season.

Ashburton farmers are complaining that, owing to the dry weather, tho work of skim ploughing grass, land cannot be .perfectly carried • out, as the soil is very hard. At least three inches of rain are needed to enable ploughing to be effectively done. The dry weather has, however, one redeeming circumstance, for it is favourable to the work of successfully clearing land of noxious weeds;, but it is stated that farmers do not avail themselves of opportunity in this respect. Yet, owing to tho dirty or weed-infested state of some of the finest land in the county, its value for cereal production has been reduced by several pounds per acre.— "Guardian."

An interesting experiment in the. housing of cows was recently tried in various places in America. It contributes (says an oversea' exchange) •to labour saving, and to the production of cleaner milk than is usually the case with'the ordinary method of stalling and furthermore it assists, much in the preservation of the manure. Tho method .referred to is that of using covered yards for the cows, cow-byres being merely accessories for' milking purposes. A somewhat similar plan is adopted for farm horses in the East of England, where'the stables are only used for feeding, and with satisfactory results to health, but possibly tho supply of milk would not bo satisfactory throughout the winter were cows to bo treated in this manner, though bore again it is sometimes adopted in tho same locality in open yards.