AGRICULTURAL

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 143, 17 June 1916, Page 10

AGRICULTURAL

THE TUBBRCDLIN TEST

There has uevor been satisfaction in England among breeders of stud cattle* in regard to tiie tuberculin test, tnough many oi them now recognise its eilicacy and sell their ttock subject to the test. Argentine buyers have to insist upon ths test, otherwise they would suil'er heavy loss, especially in tlie%a-sc of high-priced Snorthorira, if their purcnases wereiounri to be sutieirmg from tuberculosis wiieu landed in South America. .Papers by mail etuto that a great etir has been caused among stock owners, particularly Shorthorn breeders, by the action of the leading Argentine exporters m practically refusing, m the future, to purchase any purebred imiirinl which has been entered at a public Bale as having passed the tuberculin test, unless an absolute guarantee bo given that such animal will stand a good fresh tcifc within thirty days after the sale. This second test is to be carried out by the oxporter's own veterinary surgeon on his own premises, and if the animal does not pass.this test, it is to bo returned to tho original sailer, and the full purchase price demanded back. The seller is to have notice of this second test co that ho may either be present himself at the operation or be represented; but oven with this concession it is easy to see that the claim is to bo a serious one for sellers. It will place them almost entirely at the morcy of the purchasers' veterinary surgeon, while all the time their animals will be out of their hands. Irish cattla breeders have already taken action to bring about a conference in order that some workable scheme might be arranged.

WHITE AND YELLOW MAIZE,

• The ditfapenco in tho market prico of yellow and white maize »&ems incomprehensible, and it is surprising that such a condition has continued for so long (remarks the Sydney Morning Herald). There is undoubtedly a popular prejudice against the white colour, but thai prejudice is not supported by facts. The popular belief that yellow maize is milch superior to white 'in feeding value is n-sithor based on chemical analysis nor on systematic experimental data of feeding results. It is dilticult to explain why the illusion has persisted co long. In reality there is very little difference in the nutritive value of various kinds of maize, however different the variety or colour. The truth is that white maize is in disfavour with buyers of horse feed, because when, hones are accustomed to feeding on yellow maize they do not take to white maize readily for./ a. day or so when their feed is changed. But some of the shrewder carters have accustomed their horses to tho ohunge of colour, and now buy white solely at 2d or 3d per bushel cheaper than the yellow maize. Many years ayo tho difference in prico was 6d or 9d m favour of yellow maize, and it speaks well for the shrewdness of the buyers of white maize that they have decreased this difference so much by their demand. There is perhaps another factor 'which has helped to narrow the gulf between, the _ price of white :vnd yellow maize. This is the increase in cornflour manufacture, for which yellow maize _is unsuitable, owing to tho undesirable tintit gives the flour. White maize has a reputation for yielding better than yellovy oii second-class soils, but, although this is not true with every . variety of white maize, it is the case with the variety of white maize which is most largely grown, viz., Hickory King. It does not seem fair that a. grower who has second-rate land, and who is restricted to growing Hickory King, or another white maize, in. order to g«t the best yield, should be penalised further to the extent of 2d or 3d per bushel because of the ignorance or prejudice of buyers.

There was at one time a distinct partiality for red maize on the part of buyers, and this still exists in Victoria. This colour, however, is not fancied now in New South Wales, partly owing to some red varieties having a low bushel weight, and partly to the excessively dark red colour induced by breeding red, maizes. Such a dark colour is not favoured by poultry men, because fowls will leave it on the ground when it is thrown'to them. As regards the merits, of whits and'yellow maize for poultry feeding, it must be emphasised, that the only difference lmown is that white maize gives paler yolked eggs, and that th-e feeding or nutritive value is practically the same. In fact, it may be n, surprise to "many to know that there is sometimes a slight difference in nutritive value in favour of white'maize as determined by'the chemical analysis'of different varieties.

The largest incubator in ihe Commonwealth is at Dayton Farm, Richmondroad, Bla-cktowii (says the Sydney Morning Herald). This farm carries 3000 head of poultry; White Leghorns (Tim Barren's and Wickoff's strains), Black Orpingtons (Fisher's noted Victorian strain), Rhode Island Reds (Dalrymple's and imported American). This largo "Candee" incubator has 'been purchased by Mr. Spear for £500, free on rait Blacktown, from America. It has a capacity of 6000 eggs, is 45 foet long, 5 feet wide, and stands 5 feet. high. It contains 10 sections, with two compartments each, contaiAicg- four trays for eggs each, totalling 80 trays of 75 eggs each. Each compartment can bo worked independently. Neat and effective thermometers aro installed, and everything is worked and regulated automatically. Heat and light. are_ supplied by an acetylene gas plant, which also provides heat for a large and novel brooder for 2000 chicks. This" monster machine will b© in full working order during July, and is housed in an excavation 60 feet long, 11 feet wide, and 4 feet deep, so as to reduce vibration to a minimum. Mr. Spear intends turning out clucks by the thousand. This' mode of raising chicks is new" and hovel in Australia;, but has stood the test of time and efficiency for years in America.

The Sydney show this year was greater than ever (says a Sydney -writer). These continual successes suggests the query as t-~> where this great fixture is eventually going to land. One day there was a gate of _95,000 people. Likely enough next year this figure will grow to six figures. There h-bs net a department which could not be desoribed as great. It is astonishing-how widesprad are the people to be met' at this gathering—from every corner of Austvalia_ and New Zealand, South Africa, America, and f rom Europe. The' evidences of the war were present, but the evils of the drought .wore more pronounced; though New South Wales has wellnigh forgot' her troubles in this respect. The war a-s a stimulant to production made its i!?ark, especially in the constructive industries, for we now find ourselves making things which we did not dream of doing boforo the cataclysm. A point of interest was the dearth of vets., so many having gone to the front. But if there were no departmental officers'of this sort left, His committee made'up the shortage by appointing its own vets, to do the weeding out in the horse sections, arid arc to get the Government to ratify it. The catalogue contained no less than 8275 exhibits,' easily' a society record. Big as were the pavilion arrangements," the management had at tho eleventh hour to mako temporary arrangements for a lot of the tilings. Cattle numbered 700, and horse 6 400.

Argentina, is now supplying the United States with"a largo quantity of mutton, as well as refrigerated hcof. The National Provisional- notices the arrival in New York of a. steamer with 83,321 carcases of mutton and lnrob, and 10,000 quarters of beef. The American Consulate at Punta. Arenas, Chile, has also notified that there are available 2000 tons of frozen dressed sheep, at s£d per lb. f.0.b., shipment in June and July.

The Lire Sioclc Journal reports t.lw..t tho Brazilian Federal Government has purchased in England 26 yearling Heroford bulls and 13 vca-rlin^s for shipment to that country. This is the first la.rffe shipment of pedigree stock mado by the ]:'fovcfovd Herd Book ' Society. It has hesn found' that iliis bro;d do particularly «-el! in Brazil, ard siand tho hwi.t

and li«rclfhips hotter than other beef l.veeds. The. Hereford-, were selected from v.sll-known, herds. The same agency j.i«o (;urch(!(*«s SO Osioti 'Pown *!i««i', 34 Berkshire and 2i> Large Black pigs. '