AGRICULTURE.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2575, 5 March 1915, Page 4

AGRICULTURE.

THE DEPARTMENT'S JOUUXAI

In the February issue of the Journal of Agriculture., farmers will find some fine articles of the usual nature, touching on 'matiers of interest at the present time. Oniy ;i few days ago it was stated at a noxious weeds conference in Feilding that California!] thistle spread through the seed being introduced with oats and other seed crops imported into the district. Mr TO. Bruce Levy writes upon the subject of pure seedK. He deals principally witfi sorrel and clock/ and he gives helpful suggestions for ascertaining the quantity of weed seeds in any line of seed. i The value of lucerne in a son is expatiated upon by Air W. S. Hill. Hardly any matter could be of more interest to/dairymen a* the present when the milk , supply has fallen so low owing to the long spell with no rain to sneak of. Mr Rill quotes some MarUiuroiigh farmers as saying lucerne was the only thing that was doing, "wl thai; the only green colour to be seen for many 'miles was the hard-grazed lucerne, i The manufacture and uses of lin-seed-oil v cake, are described by Mr T. W. Donsilalu. The cake is a most useful food for all classes of stock, being esnecially valuable for fattening. New Zealand, Mr Lonsdale says, is well suited for the cultivation of the flax from which the seed is taken, and he thinks there is no fear of the supply over exceeding the demand. ' Mr'\Y. M. Singleton, the very popu- | lav official of the Dairy Division of j the Agricultural Department, who is always so welcome in any farming j centre in this district, continues x'jis i articles on semi-official testing. He j reports that there are now 90 breed- j ers whose herds are ou test... and it ', would seem that the iesfiiig is being ' conducted in a satisfactory manner. j oino interesting fads are given on the work. Mr \V. Wright, Tsew Zealand Dairy Produce- inspector, London, confcri- , Lutes an informative article on dairyi ing in Sivitxerlancl, describing coI operative cheeseniaking, laboratory ; work, breeding, etc. "The great value of silage for ensuring a supoly of succulent fodder in the drier months of the year and in winter, ,and especially as a standby in nei-iotls of dry weather, is being appreciated Ly an increasing number of farmers." ' These words commence an article on the silo, in which the principles of ensilage making as recommended by Mr Dibble are dealt Avith. Mr Primrose McConnell con jumps his new feature in. the Journal in the shape of a catechism of practical agriculture. In addition to being practical, the answers are sometimes entertaining. Mr McC'onnell also writes up-tlip work for the cumins month. "And the- usual fenlures," adds the contents bill. These features are extremely valuable. Kditor Ginning is one of the best friends the farmer has. Bis journals arc a handbook on farming work.