FARMING NOTES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3130, 14 August 1922, Page 8

FARMING NOTES.

THE FUTURE FARMING. The value of scientific knowledge for the future farmer is emphasised by “Rnsticus” in the Mark Lane Express. He says: “It is gratifying to know that the National Farmers’ Union is not only showing its sympathy with, bap is aiso giving valuable help in organising instruction in agricultural subjects for the sons of farmers. It ’« absurd to say that such teaching is rut required, or that it is not valuable because- the boy's father never had it. A man cannot knoAV too much about his business, and a knoAvleclgo of book-keeping, soils, plant foods, and other scientific principles on Avhich practice ?s based cannot .fail to be helpful to the lad avlio intends to be a farmer. Most farmers’ sons get a secondary education, but they learn little of the things we refer to though they get the training at school for acquiring special subject kuoAvledge. For various reasons only a ioAV lads go to farm institutes and agricultural colleges, and what avc want is more and still more e 1 asses in rmal districts Avhich farmers’ sons may attend Avilhont being taken from the atinosphere of the farm. There are matters of economic importance to I aimers that can only be learnt in the classroom under an expert who has specialised in the subject, and this knowledge is best acquired during the years Avbich folloAv the end of school days.' SOUTH AFRICAN WOOL. The avool prodnetion ol the Union ol South Africa for -he year endec, fln.y 3). 1921, is estimated at approximately 490,000 bales, of Avhicli about bales Avere exported, leaving IUMH 0 bales unsold in South Africa at the end of Jnlv. These figures (remarks Jialgetv’s RevieAv) refer to the 1920-21 clip onlv, and do not include carryover stocks from previous seasons. Ihe remainder of the old clip was purchased bv the British Government, about 90,000 bales having been registered under the purchase scheme of the Imperial Government. , , . Some notable changes are revealed m the statistics relating to the expons from the Union during the first hall ol 1921. The exports of scoured s lioav a decline of 5,365,6561b, compared with the corresponding six months oi 192 , Avliile the exports of greasy slioav an crease of 2,295,2441b. HANDLING 7 THE~CALF. Water and salt should be ayallable for calves at all times, particularly aliei the- calf reaches the age when fo is able to eat roughage. Even mg fed on milk the calf will dnnk watGi if (>iven the. chance. The' bull calves should be separated from the heifers at about four months of age. They aie few- and handled in the same manner as the- heifers, with the exception that it is desirable, that they he given a- little mere grain, in order to insure niaxnmun growth. Kindness is a- factor m call' raising that should not be overlooked. If they are handled frequently, the calves aa - i 11 soon learn that theie is nothing to fear, and this will prove a hig advantage when the heifer experiences her first calving. The calf should 1)0 halter-broken and taught to lend when it is a few months old. As the heifer approaches calving, it Ayill be time well spent to frequently handle and massage the udder and teats. This aa'i 11 help to quiet her and lessen her suspicions the first time she is ini Iked. If each calf is given a name, and that name- used av he never the- calf is spoken to, it Avill aid in handling them ais- a herd after thev have passed their calfhood da vs. 'The age at which the heifers should be bred depends largely on breed and conditions. As a» rule, they arc bred to drop their first calves when from tAveiity-fonr to th rty months old. Calf management is hut one of the essentials for' a good' producing herd. With it must go good breeding and good feeding, and also good management of tlie producing herd. Hoavever. if a man can raise good calves, he is well started on the road to a successful d'airy herd. SHIMMINGS. Legumes snch as clover and liuerno are inexpensive sources of protein in feed rations. Give the scrub sire an excursion trip to the butcher’s block —and don’t buy a return ticket. Every additional expense which the farmer has to bear adds to his costs' of production. Coavs and calves require shelter on cold, Avet nights unless there is some natural shelter in the pasture. The leading manufacturers of agricultural implements in Canada announce a reduction "of 25 per cent, in prices'. Heifers, in order to have good udder development, must be fed heavy rations during their first lactation periods. It is better for the farmer not to sow lucerne unless he is willing to place his land in proper condition for groAving the crop. Ewes should he in good condition at breeding time. Thin owes- seldom do as avc 11 at lambing as cavi-s in good condition. It is an ill a\-imd that bloAvs nobody good. Cheap grain is not Avelcomed by those who groAV it to sell, but it means a lot to stock-keepers:. Rightly organised country life offers move in the way of intellectual enjoyment and satisfying social life than is possible in any other stir roundings. The ideal cultivation of stnhhlcis is that Avhich ensures a maximum of tveed germiiiation anti expose® 1 all rubbish to the action of son and Avind. It is important to the collar fit the liorse and the harness' fit the collar. If the draught is too loav. there is a tendency to bruise the shoulder joint, causing :i serious injury. The traces should be the same length, and as short ns possible. A good dairv coav aaTk-ii in milk aa - ill nrodnee enough milk to feed tAvo calves a year, and an exceptionally good coav Avon Id bring up three calves. Unless such it cow is stripped tAviee daily she Avill fall off in her milk yield. The fanner has the surest job in the list of man’s employments. Throngh :ilI ages the products of the soil, the herds, the flocks, and the studs have been the foundation of human existence. A special forecast of the Indian aa - lieat crop, published by tlie Department of tSati.sties, giA'es the area soaa'ii as 2N,635.000 acres', compared Avith 25.N21,900 in 1920-21. The yield is estimated at 352.055,000 bushels. The previous harvest, Avhich was affected by drought, only produced 250,472.000 bushels - . Taken altogether the volutin; of meat shipped from Argentine during 1920 AA'as practically the same as that _exnorted during 1919. The falling-off in frozen beef Avas more than compensated by slnpinments of chilled beef, and that in frozen mutton bv increased export of frozen lamb. The figures for 1920 AAx-rc: —Frozen beef quarters, 4,549.670; chilled beef quarters, 029,213; frozen mutton carcases, 1.193.863; frozen lamb carcases. 562,854. Tin- corresponding figures for the previous vear Avere respect!A'ely : 5.033,596. 74.598, 1.125,845, 218,332. Meat exports Imve been very Inxivy (luring the opening days- of the current veni — sAvellcd by lavo very large shipments from an np-ri\er port.