GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1235, 18 September 1911, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

A recent official inquiry addressed to GOO Missouri farmers' wives brought from M ncT cent, of those who answered the reply tlrat the cause of their dissatisfaction with farm life is that they have 110 running water in tho house. It is 110 small matter to carry water from a distant pump a dozen times a day.

A suggestion which is well worthy of consideration was thrown out by Mr. Booth during an informal discussion at last week's meeting of the Wnirarupu and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Society. The di.-cassiou turned on the t-ruo' Tvomnoy, the true Suutluloivn. the true Ayrshire, and other breeds of and cattle,'and this prompted Mr. Booth to suggest that it would, no an excellent > thing if a description of the. true—the

typical—Romney, etc., could ho posted up in every A. and I'. associations' looms. It should not bo a diliicuU or an expensive matter tu cvl a really <\pviL summary of each type of the foremost breeds, and such would undoubtedly be of value. •American, investigators who have br-ii abroad studying a number of important matters connected with Hie hydro-ekc-tr.io scheme have returned home. At tho electrical exhibition at the commissioners saw a model farm, fully equipped with electricity, and a practical (■'- nionstrntioii of electric ploughing, where from 2j to HO acres was being ploughed per day with one plough. "In practically all the European countries," they report, "electricity is largely and extensively used ou farms of from 23 to 1000 acres, fur light and power purposes, such as threshing, cleaning of grain, cropping, root cutting, wcod sawing, pumping water, milking, warming and lighting houses, stables and barns." 111 view of the mild Jersey boom in tho North Island, the following points given by a Canadian as to how he cared for a Jersey bull which he was preparing for tho show ring may bo of interest:—A Jersey bull, to obtain proper recognition in the show ring, should not be in fit condition for tho butcher's block. A medium degree of tlesh is all that is necessary. Any feed or care which will producj this condition in tlesh, giving hair and skin a glossy appearance and good feci is all that is necessary. To. this end a moderate amount of linseed oil meal, say from one half pound to a pound a day, should l>o mixed with the other feeds. The animal should be carefully groomed and covered with a blanket for several weeks previous to being taken to the show ring.. An animal shows off much better when exhibited if he is well disciplined in.handling. Make it a point to lead, him out every day and teach him to occupy a position that will show himself olf to the best advantage.

If co-operation is the greatest lesson the outsido world can learn from Denmark, remarks a Danish writer, there are others nearly .as great, viz., that of not. wasting much land on permanent pastures or relying too much 011 the expensive hay in milk productions, and especially the testing of cows which lias brought the farmers to a late realisation of tho mistake in following the English ideal of beef types in dairy cows, and to judge them more by performance than by their sleek appearance, at a show.

A paculiar happening is reported from South Canterbury. A farmer "noted for being a most kind and humane man" bought covers.for his cows in the autumn so that they would feel "nice and warm in the winter months." AYheii feed began to get scarce, the farmer in'question put the c-ows in a field where there ' was a strawstack, and as much grass as anywhere else on tho farm. Unfortunately, says the author of tho paragraph.• he could not tlvjit notice their condition, nnd on getting off their covers a week ago he found the . wretched beasts were reduced literally to skin and bone. Since then two have .died, and tho others stagger over it." The "most kind anrf humane man" would have done himself and the cows a service if he had tiiken the trouble to remove tho covers occasionally.

It is stated.that the grass grub has done an immense amount of harm cvery.where in South Canterbury, and on the north side of the Rangitata Eiver ninny of the paddocks are now absolutely bare.

Seventy horses, including 24 heavy draught 'geldings and mares, were shipped from Lyttclton for Sydney by the Jtoerftki.

Several Asliburton county farmers hayo consented to carry out experiments ill field plots under the direction of tlio Department of Agriculture this season. One farmer intends to sow silver beet, thousand headed kale, and Buda kale in plots of half an acre, and to place an equal number of sheep oil each plot when the plants have arrival .at a stage of maturity for the purpops'of testing the relative feeding qualities of the thrco claaes of fodder.