GEEERAL FARMING NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2501, 30 June 1915, Page 10

GEEERAL FARMING NEWS

A farmer from Hawko'a Bay was in Taumarunui recently oil his way to the Ohura in search of laud. He was looking for a farm of about- 900 acres. He eamplains bitterly of the want of feed in the Hawke's'Bay district, and lias himself orer 100 bead of cattle, wnieh he must either, find grass for or sell for their- hides. His son oountcd 26 dead cattle on the roadsidt, during a 10-mile ride. He advises men with sons, whom they wish to settlo on the land, to leave the old districts of high-pricad farms and go for oheaper land and bigger areas in the King Country. Afrikander cows"' when milked - by hand will only give up their milk to the milker in the presence of their calf. The plan adopted is as follows: —The calves are kept separate from the oows and are driven .into a separate kraal adjoining the kraal, in which the cows are placed. When the milker eomes lie. calls to the boy in charge of the cakes to Ist a certain calf out, which, as soon as it escapes through the gates, runs to its motiiar,- and commences to milk.. The cow then allows the milker to fasten her hind legs together with a thong (called a / "renn"), after which ho knocks the caif away from the udder, and commences to milk. The same process is repeated with the others. It the calf of one of these cows happens to die, the cow refuses to give up her milk, and very soon becomes dry. A stratagem to deceive such a cow is often tried, and frequently succeeds. It consists in skinning thedead calf, stuffing the skin, and laying it alongside tho mother, who smells it and is comforted, and commences to let down her milk.