BELGIAN HORSES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3132, 28 August 1922, Page 2

BELGIAN HORSES.

Before the war Germany bough L a considerable number of draught horses in Belgium, amounting to about .'IO,OOO horses a year. From 1900 the export towards this country had been constantly increasing, and when the war came many horses- of Belgian tyjie were seen again in Belgium with the German Army. During the occupation. requisitions of horses were very severe. In August, 191 I, the horses were not even requisitioned', but just stolen all along the route of the invasion. During 1915 and the first half of 1916. requisitions <'.f horses \\<.'ri> fairly infrequent. The communal ninth or itiets wevv obliged to be present at the collection of horses, but were not allowed to take note of the animals removed. Iu 1917 the requisitions were very severe, and continued through 1918. In the region under military government there were practically no horses left to the Belgians. After 1917 the communal authorities kept note of all the animals removed. Many of them \vw<i not used For war, but were sent to German agricultural centres, and sold at auction. Germany thought she had completely destroyed the horse-breed-ing industries. The recuperation of horses has proceeded in Germany, but the number oF animals returned to either Belgium or France is' altogether insignificant compared to the number taken away, and which are still in Germany. Large sums are being spent on the German horse-breeding industry, as Germany intends to try and keep the Belgian horse trade. IMPROVING HEIFEPS. With a. view of developing the milking finalities of a heifer, and to increase the milk yield in future lactation periods, it is desirable to prolong the first few lactation periods of a young cow as much as possible within reasonable limits, and not to allow them to dry off too soon, as this has an adverse' effect upon the quality of the future yields in succeeding lactation periods. In the case of heifers the operation of milking is oFten continued after all the milk has been withdrawn, with the view of stimulating the udder. The greater the stimulation is the greater will be the development oF the milk organs, so that thorough and complete milking of heifers and young cows is especially to be desired as tending to improve their milk-yielding qualities, whilst if the milking process is carried out in a careless or perfunctory manner, the opposite effect is the result. SKIMMINGS. "A remarkable feature of the lambing season this year," remarked a large run holder to a Manawatu Standard reporter, "is the phenomenally large number of twins and triplets recorded. Lambing generally is proceeding very satisfactorily throughout the district, the season so far bavins': been conducive to an exceptionally light mortality. II tlvc season only holds good lor the remainder oF the year, lambs should be well forward for freezing somewhat earlier than usual. The very dry weather of June and .lulv wan not unwelcome to farmers in Tarauaki. and the back-block roads remained in far better condition than usual. Some anxiety (states the News) was felt as to whether the exceptionally dry and cold weather would continue long enough to check the growth of grass, but August has dispelled these fears a.s the higher temperatures and gentle showers have encouraged growth and the heavy rain of Sunday night gave the ground a thorough soaking. The Fall in New Plymouth was 1.34 in., making the total For the mouth about two inches. That even in these hard times the milk oF human kindness and consideration has not quite run dry is evidenced in the Following incident (relates the Wanganui Chronicle) : —A farmer had purchased a property and had invested the whole of bis Funds therein —a sum. of £4OOO. The Farmer, after struggling against financial difficulties For some time, Found be had undertaken far more responsibility than he had anticipated. The Future was hopeless, and he made preparations to abandon the property and his interest therein to the original owner. The most interesting part of what would otherwise be a ■-ad story is the original owner's part in the proceedings. When told of the outgoing farmer's intentions be made up hi>- mind to lighten the financ'al blow as much as possible. When, therelore, he met the outgoing fanner lie sympathised with him in Itir- misfortune- but what is more to Ihe poini be sympathised with him iu a practical, manner—by presenting him with a cheque for CIOOO to make a fresh start with! The wholesale (nice of South Island potatoes in Wanganui at present is CS IDs a ton. a quotation which is much above that in Canterbury. "I am not in sympathy with any of the gol-rh h-qllick schemes I hat have been suggested," Mr L. A. Bulherford said at tbe Canterbury Farmers' I'nion meeting. "Co-operation, if it means working together in harmony and peace is good, but when dreamers propound such airy schemes as agricultural banks to give unlimited credit without sound security, wholesale poolings, and producers' shipping lines, they must he Followed with caption." A valuable Jersey cow w:is losi by a Levin resident last week. The annual was drinking from the water-race and its horns became en I angled in the wires of a fence on the edge of the race. It was unable to raise its head from the water, and was eventually drowned.