ON THE LAND

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2219, 28 May 1929, Page 7

ON THE LAND

NEWS, VIEWS ANI) COM-

MENTS

J t is advisable tot feed hay with ensilage owing to the acidifying effect tlio latter has on the cow’s stomach.

The suceeni of New Zealand pastures has been due to reliance on phasphafie manuring. •:

Tbe farmer who ean combine, en-

silage and roots lias a,n advantage over bis neighbour who sticks to one or the ether.

It is the Government’s intention to divide the Weraroa. State Farm into nine sections, ranging from GO to 70 acre in extent.

The first lamb of the season in. the Waikato made it appearance last week ou Mr If. Gooder’s I arm at 7,’harepuTjungii, near To Awamutu.

There will be over 40 herd-testing officers taking t'ljfe special herd-test-nig eourke at Massey College this winter.

“We have not got oO per cent, of the farmers of the Dominion witly in our Farmers’ ITnion ranks.”—Mr W. J. Poison, M.P.

The best returns cannot be obtained from: fowls unless they are sup plied regularly with succulent green food throughout the year.

The milk supply is dwindling at many, of the factories and a number of Bay of Plenty herds from tho plains have now let for the. hill country winter grazing.

IE ban been shown that, while oil 'some farms no return whatever was secured from pigs, there are farms in the Waikato and Taranaki which showed a profit of £o per cow from pigs o.n the farm.

It has been proved that the system shown to provide the biggest profits from pigs was that i.n w'ljioh tho farmer Ijfed liis own pigs and fed them to maturity. Thks is a system that should become universal in dairy ing.

If .you must catch a fowl during tbe. day then, without exciting her, drive her into a- quiet corner of the

run, talk to her soothingly; and with a suddep swoop get both handu to he*- body. Don’t catch, her by one wing or a leg.

Small farms of from -50 to 100 acre*,are finding purchasers in Taranaki and the- market appears to be imploring. Prices paid have ranged from, £2O an. ;ncre upwards a-nd deposits have varied from £'soo to £IOOO.

A. fowl’s appetite for greenstuff is formed during ehieken’tyjod and in the rearing pen. Some birds seemingly will get along without regular or any green food. It is largely a matter of early training, and Midi birds do not give peak production.

A Bushman writes: Having a pony with very tender feet and hoofs that were inclined to crack, J. tried a newremedy. Blue oil, or wood-preserv-ing oil, such a-s is used for timber painting and fowlyard work, was painted all over twice daily, for about a. fortnight. It was then able to walk over rough metal.

for the period to A lay Id, the Hcrefanga Group Herd Testing Association show group averages as folios; Milk, 41 libs; test, d.G; butterfat, 23.151b,5. Air Lassen, slows tlic highest herd average with 33.01 lbs of butter Fat and Airs 11. Al. Anderuon the highest cow G2.0-.tlbs of butterfat . The lowest lierd average for the period is 1‘2,981bs of fat, and the lowest cow 2.011 by of fat. That it was not generally known it was an offence to shoot n weaccJ was stated by Air C. 33. Macmillan, AI.P., at the annual conference of the Auckland provincial branch of the Farmers’ Union. Air Macmillan said lie Lad recently applied to have the protection car weasels removed, but lie had been advised that there were districts where the weal-el helped in keeping down rabbits.

One of the best vegetable lines for . . r present sowing is beetroot, says an Australia,n farmer. It does well in oinst soils and is g, good seller. The pigs* relish the roots and fatten on. them. ‘Egyptian Turnip Booted is one the best varieties. To aid quick germination, soak the seeds Tor about 12 hours in water warm, when, the seed is immersed. Don’t row too deeply and keep the soil loose hilling up as the roots grow. .

About 90 per cent, of paddock dam*, are ugly boles of muddy water with dusty bare margins. Trees

would add greatly to- their efficiency as well as looks, it is objected by some that trees suck op water and break tUrough bank,. Planted too close that may bo the case, bin a horseshoe ioi'iuatkjii or angle ou tho windward side n(4l pay by reducing evaporation and making the water more palatable to stock m hot weather.

“Is youij printing done out ol town?” asked Mr P. ih Mood at the meeting of tho A. and P. Association at Marton, and \d!jon the reply came ‘m thei affirmative he described the policy has a had one. VA local institution which depends on local

jieople for support should distribute iAs expenditure locally,” lie said, and when informed that tenders acre called and the local price was 'higher, he replied that local industry should he supported .even if there was a few pounds difference in a big order.

“Every other country f . is making a feature, of the products, from tbe smallholders,” mid .Mr W. F. o’Donnell, secretary of tbe Auckland A. and P. Association)., “and, New Zealand is fast coming to the time when the small-holder, as, a,, .producer, is going to be "a, very big factor in the future production of this - country.” Tlte speaker was stressing the importance of displays ol' products at shows as a, means of valuable industry and district publicity, apart from advantages by way of increased local eonisumption that I'ollowed such activity.

Laud owners are beginning to realise that the heavy lands of a great portion of South Canterbury are cro psick. This is .noticed on land whc‘i'o blight in hot’ll potatoes and

turnips is an annual visitor. 'When Hi freoli piece of land has been broken up there, is frequently not a sign of any of those) troubles for the first year or two. Tile first indication of it should bo a warning to the farmer to oea.se growing that particular crop on that particular piece of laud. Growers notice, too, that these troubles are. worst in rich

lands, especially in lands that suffer from lack of proper drainage.