FARMS AND FARMERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 8

FARMS AND FARMERS

NEWS AND NOTES.

(By

"Rouseabout.")

The Government is to be urged ,o revert to pre-war rates of railage on show stock with a view to encouraging breeders to exhibit their stock. Herd-testing is being enthusiastically entered into at Dannevirke, where 73 suppliers have guaranteed 2475. The- canvass for members has not yet been completed, and several more suppliers are expected to join up. At one time Welsh Black cattle were divided into different tribes or races. The Black cattle of South Wales, known as the Castle Martin, are said to be distinct from those of the cattle of the north-west in Anglesey and elsewhere. The two societies amalgamated 20 years ago, and the cattle are no longer distinct. « It is a familiar plea in these days of scarce help that we can’t get time to keep records. The truth is one cannot afford not to do it. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t take much time. Half a minute a day per cow will cover all the time involved in weighing and marking down the figures. That is five minutes per day for a herd of 10 cows. There can be no doubt that the establishment of courses in live stock will arouse a great deal more interest m stock breeding, feeding, and management than at present prevails, and that, further, it will make it possible for a greater number of farmers to deal effectively with those high-grade animals which they are being well advised to secure. It is rumoured that the Danish dairy farmers, alarmed at the fact that New Zealand butter is realising as good or better theifo, (gyn, in spite y/feij , 5>t > >?/7

Alany people tire apt to siiWH old idea that the moon’s beams i i powerful, influence on the of seed. The old idea, based on observation, has now been confirmed by experiments. Light from the moon is found to be “polarised,” that is, its vibrations are all in one direction, and the concentration gives a spirit to seed germination. Sow at a time of full moon may be good advice. The Department of Agronomy at Cornell University, New York, has this to say on the use of high-grade fertilisers. “The fertiliser that is cheap per ton is not necessarily the most profitable one to use. In the case of factory-mixed fertiliser the reverse is general}' true. Invariably highanalysis mixed fertilisers furnish plant food at a lower price per unit than do those of low analysis, and will generally be found to return greater profit on the investment.” ..The use of linseed in the ration is supposed to give the animal fed upon it a glossy coat. The oil ration is at all times ■ advantageous from a digestiev point of view, provided the oil does not create digestive disturbances, as when fed in too large quantities. The linseed included in the horses’ ration, coupled with vigorous grooming, will give a beautiful, silk}' coat. Potatoes require good land and liberal treatment. The cultivation is necessarily expensive, as are also grading, pitting, and marketing. The sets, too, are a heavy charge, far beyond that of ordinary seeding. The prospects of a crop depend so much upon good cultivation of the land, and of the plants when up, that, it is a pity to injure them by defective tillage. As a rule potatoes require deep ploughing, and the soils on which they succeed best allow of it. Students of the Aberdeen College of Agriculture journeyed recently in a snowstorm to Upper Deeside and inspected tlie herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle kept by the King at Abergeldic Alains, and also the model dairy at Balmoral Castle. The herd has gained a name for itself as one of the best of the breed. Royalty has for long admired I lie beautiful glossy black Aberdeenshire cattle. In 1867 Queen \ ictoria had sent to Windsor for her inspection the famous ox Black Prince, and she accepted a roast off the animal ■when it was butchered. So impressed was she with the breed that she commanded the establishment of a herd at A bergeldie.