FARMING NOTES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3128, 31 July 1922, Page 2

FARMING NOTES.

COW DISEASES. Lecturing before farmers at Ofcorobainga recently Mr R. F. Hardy, a veterinarian, opened his lecture by a lengthy discourse on “slipping,” or abortion, and emphasised the necessity of farmer® knowing something of the causes of this disease, and the organisms which led to it. It was mentioned that in rare case® the causative element was found in bulls, and because of this all sires should be thoroughly tester) and examined before being added to the herds. After detailing tbie various method® of dealing with the trouble. Mr Hardy stated that strict attention to sanitation in aJI department® connected with the milking and use of dairy stock would do a great deal to aid farmers in getting rid of the disease, and enable them to get more and better milk from their animate. A number of other complaints affecting the cow wore dealt with, one of particular interest being mammiti®, which usually makes its presence felt each year to no inconsiderable extent. The lecturer mentioned that in this disease there was no positive cure, but it responded to drenching, hot fomentations applied to the affected quarters, and massaging and bathing the mammary veins with hot water, while in some cases an application of kerosene oil was useful after the fomentation. The trouble was mainly caused by a ehiTT. As a general rule a. drench consisting of four ounces 1 of camphorated oil to one ounce of turpentine and ten drops, of tincture of iodine given daily was recommended as a possible remedy. Cow® suffering from mammiti® should not ho 4n:ilked by machine as the disease was contagious and other animate might he affected. Foot rot could usually he remedied by a change to drier pasture in the early stages, as the cause was feeling on wet flat country. Milk fever a® it was usually, though not correctly) called, could almost certainly be avoided by leaving some milk in the udder for the calf to remove naturally. GOVERNMENT WHEAT POOL DEFICIT. After an interval of four mouths the Australian Wheat Hoard, which controlled the Government Wheat Pools from 1915 to 1921, inclusive (six harvests), has issued another statement, giving the receipts t6 May 29, 1922. That statement shows that the Australian pool is in debit €795.000, duo wholly to the operations of the New South Wales section, which is in debit €953.000. The Victorian section is m credit €62,000, the South Australian in credit £83,000, and Western Australia in credit €13,000. Hut these accounts throw little light on the deficit I of the New South Wales 1920-21 pool. In March last we stated that the accounts published under the Wheat Marketing Act of 1920, showed on that pool a deficiency of about two and ahalf million. The accounts published under the Act do not form a balancesheet, but are merely statements of cash receipts and disbursements. It was stated officially that there were still some realisations to be received, and that these would reduce that deficit. The latest account published by the old State Wheat Board of cash receipts and disbursements is for the period ended March 31st. That account showed receipts mounting to 0 8.663,158, and disbursements £21,351,953, leaving a deficiency of £2,688,795. That deficiency was met by a cash advance of £855,065 from the old pool, a net cash advance from other States of £775.000, and a bank overdraft of £1,122,851, loss £64,121 ships’ charges to be recovered. The public accounts of the State show that the bank overdraft had been reduced on May 31 to £962,751, so that the wheat accounts so far as they have been published, show a deficit of £2,528,695, on account of the 1920-21 harvest. THE MILK-PRESERVING PROCESS. Ships have carried cows before now in order to ensure a supply of fresh milk, and some carry frozen milk for the run; but the condensed article is popular with the commissariat, but not appreciated by passengers so much as the milk fresh from the cow. The latest thing in milk supply on board ship is the emulsifier. It is used in the preparation of the full cream milk powder for making liquid milk. The steamers of the New Zealand Shipping Company are trying it. A start was made with a small experimental equipment, and was so successful that big capacity plants are now being installed, and the result is said by experts to be an unqualified success. Unless one knew what it was before hand, it is said that the emulsified article is difficult to tell from fresh milk, and besides, cream can be extracted from it m the process. The. sea trials have been so successful, it is said, that the great , problem of fresh milk on ships is solved, and that this new treatment of milk in powdered form may presently be adopted on shore to mitigate, if not to prevent, the occasional difficulties experienced in obtaining fresh milk regularly and of satisfactory quality. SKIMMINGS. The Pacific Rural Press, writing on the Queensland export meat trade, says“ Australian stock interests are raising a howl about what the ‘American Packers’ Trust’ is doing to their foreign demand for meats, and to profeet their own output, the Australian Government is preparing to pay a subsidy on the export of beef and mutton. If they are right as to what causes their troubles, and they ought to know if anybody does. the said ‘packers’ trust’ must be functioning especially well in favor of our products.” Air D. L. Post. Pennsylvania, is the owner of the new Jersey champion of the senior four-year-old class of Penn-; sylvania. Gamboge’s Ida Tiola takes the lead in this class with 11,9451b milk, yielding 743.821b fat. During the test she carried a living calf 200 days. Her record began at four years and seven months of age. Mr Herbert Preston, of Stamfordbridge. Yorkshire, lias a draught mare which has just foaled her 14th foaif in; vemrly succession. The marc has not vet arrived at her fßth birthday. All the foals have been reared, excepting one, wlr’cli was accidentally killed. The skins of sheep are now being put to a variety of uses. The threeqnWrter Border Leicester, with lung staple and poiinted tip, is being used for mats, while the liner skin of the Southdown, with it.s shorter wool, is being made into imitation Inis. Thus flesh, fat. wool and skin a»e all going to influence prices to lamb raisers. Clydesdales as seen at Kilmarnock show, at least some of them, suggest a. return to the hairy-legged sort that were in favor 40 years ago. It is not a> good sort, states the Scottish Farmer, which goes on to say “Ivory bones) appear to be a characteristic of the Bonnie Buddy vie strain. It i® a. very desirable feature, ami worth cultivating. China produces 200,900.000 bushels ol wheat annually, states a report of the Australian Trade Commissioner. There are 125 modern flour mills in the country. but local production is not sufficient to meet requirements. Ibe United States has recently been selling wheat in Shanghai cheajK'T than Chinesegrown.