Farm & Station

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10456, 10 December 1927, Page 5

Farm & Station

TESTING OF COWS. THE EVASIVE ANSWER. VALUE NOT RECOGNISED. Many • excuses are put forward by fanners for not having their cows tested. These excuses cannot be dignified, as arguments or reasons—they aro palpably only evasions—sidestepping of. a reform that is known to '■ he needed, comments an exchange. Ono farmer would not have Ids cattle tested because he could pick Ins good cows from the bad ones lor himself. When asked how he could do it, he told Die organiser that lie took samples of each cow’s milk and stood- them in bottles and watched the cream rise. ’This man was milking a herd of over sixty cows. Although it was explained to him that even the amount of cream that rose to the. .top was not always a into indication of the richness" of the cow’s'milk, as the cream from some cows would not also as rapidly as others, and then even the croain. varied in richness, he still was of the opinion that ho could thus pic.; them. As a matter- of fact, he probably never took milk samples for such a, purpose. ' .

man on a river farm valued at £7O per acre, every, inch of which was cultivatable, would nob havo his herd tested because he stated he was giving up dairying and was going To rear and fatten bullocks on his farm. Another would not test last- year because lie was going to sell out shortly. Both these men arc still on the same farms, and still have the same excuses. Still another would not test because if he did, the testing might reveal that he had some “dud” cows and the department would get to know it, and as lie could not afford to- cull them out he would lie classed as a very poor type of farmer! Although considerable time was spent in presenting the work in its truo light to this mail be still adheres to hiy excuse.

(The shine mails next-door noigh- , lior would not test because “If Mr. | X would not take' it on, then he I would not, because Mi'. X knew more | about farming than lie did; and if ho I said ‘Xo,’ then there must bo some- [ thing wrong with the scheme!” I The organiser is sometimes told by I the farm occupant that lie is a greater nuisance than an ever-persistent agent or hawker, and often he conics back to his headquarters wondering whether it is truo that lie has been trying to advocate something that will really assist the farmer to improve his herd and increase Ids cream cheque, or whether by any chance lie lias been dreaming and his “goods” are in reality inferior and not what lie represents them to be. Perhaps some day in the not far distant future there will come a time when it will he recognised as necessary lor all farmers to have their herds tested. When that day comes, there will ho a good many wondering why they did not start testing long before. MILK FEVER. PREVENTIVE TREATMENT. Math the growth of dairying in New Zealand, and the steady development of the high-producing cow, there has likewise been an increase in the number of cows suffering each year from milk lever. The air inflation method of relief universally practised is fairly satisfactory, but each year a number ol l valuable animals are lost through lids complaint. From Canada comes word of a preventive treatment which, while not yet sufficiently far advanced as to bo regarded as absolutely reliable, bids fair to he successful. Tim treatment is simplicity itself consisting merely of an addition of sugar to the ration prior to, and immediately after calving. Research into the problem of milk fever there established the fact that it was due to a sugar deficiency, but scientists have so far been unable to decide what type or quantity of sugar will give complete immunity. This again is another valuable indication of the need lor sejentfie research in tlio dairy industry! THE JERSEY AT HOME. REGISTRATION METHOD. GREAT CARE IN .SELECTION. On the Island of Jersey the powers that be have made regulations which ensure that no animals shall be registered in the Jersey Herd Book unless they show an individual confor- . mation which moots the approval of an inspection committee, which has been specially appointed for that purpose. Before a calf is -18 hours’ old a provisional application for registrar I tion is made. The application must- j be signed by a neighbor who has seen the calf with its mother, and i any specially identifiable markings, i etc., are noted. .If the animal be a female, the final < test before registration takes place i soon after she has dropped her first calf, when, on specially appointed days, each owner brings his animals to the inspection committee, at a central place, for iuspecion, when she is either rejected altogether, or accepted and classed as commended or highly commended. .If the animal is a bull it must be* accompanied by its dam, unless she •be dead or has been exported, otherwise lie cannot go before the committee for inspection. This ensures that the bull can only be registered providing that its dam is ail animal of superior type, and it is for this reason that of all the bulls born each : year probably only about five per cent, are finally registered in the Island Herd Book, and they are either “commended” or ‘‘highly commended,” according to the opinion 1 of the inspection committee, and in making their decision they are guid- < od both by the bull’s appearance and ■ the quality of its dam. 1 As the * island is only about 10 < miles long and o miles wide, it is ’ always possible for the committee to i efficiently carry out its work. It will 1 be realised that with such a regular 1 system of selection ,aaid rejection 1 each vear, the type of cattle on the I Island of Jersey will always be main- t tained at a high standard.

-It- is said that the average Canadian eats over his own weight in meat every year. The consumption per person averages 102.2/lb annually, and pork is the most favored dish, 50iu0"77.441b being eaten by each person yearly, as against 75.451 b of beef, while lamb and mutton consumed ranks at O.oSlb. There are 74 meatpacking plants in the Dominion, and these represent- an investment of 10,709 hands. To Great Britain. Canada sent- bacon, hams, beet and mutton to the value of £4.125,241 last year.

RED CLOVER HIGH NUTRITIVE QUALITY. PUB UL ABIT V IN CUE ASIN G. The cultivation of*ed clover is extending annually, and it is probable that a-s it becomes more widely appreciated a considerably large area of land will he sown down to if. Red clover is valuable lor pasturing, or it can be cut and made into hay of high nutritive quality, and greatly appreciated by farm animals of all kinds. The first growth can be converted into hay, and the aftermath provides grazing which, if showers occur to freJ/'m the crop, remains green and succulent through autumn months. In Great Britain,red clover is one of the principal pasturing crops, and tho varieties that hare given the best, results are Montgomery and Cornish marl red. The seed growing of Montgomeiy red clover is confined to a comparatively small area in tho east of Montgomeryshire, and extending for a few miles into'Sliropshirij. Most of tlio seed crops are grown on moderately heavy soils hut earngood crops aro obtained on fairly light land. The seed of Cornish marl red clover .is produced exclusively in Cornwall. The soils on which the crops aro grown are generally .of a calcar--eous nature, and the valuable qualities of the variety aro often attributed to tho fact that it has been grown for a: great number of years on marly'soil. An article in the May issue of IDo Journal of the Ministry of A grim l-

turd (England), by Mr. If. D. Wiliams,’ Mi. Sc., Welsh Plant: Breeding Station, Aberystwyth, gives some interesting particulars of red clover. Jt is definitely known that the two above-mentioned varieties have been grown continuously in their respective areas for more than 00 years, but their, exact origins are still obscure. The view sometimes expressed that Ooruish marl originated as a result of natural crossing between ordinary red clover (Trifolium medium) is erroneous. Tlio theory is untenable for two reasons; in the first place Cornish marl does not possess a single character That suggests that it is of numerable minute brown bodies known as spore-balls. The cells of the potato tuber in which the sporeballs are contained die, and on their decay tlio latter arc set free, and are visible with a lens as a brown or ol-ive-brown powder. Many of the spore-balls are liberated before the tubers aro lifted, and this brings about- contamination of the soil. When the spore-balls have disappeared from tho surface of the tuber a small circular open scab is iett which, with the naked eye alone is olten indistinguishable from a spot- of ordinary brown scab. The presence of a few .small scabs does not seriously injure the tubers, but occasioualjy they occur so numerously that the market. value is depreciated.

When corky scab ‘assumes -its severe form, actual destruction of tho llosh of the tuber takes place, the ultimate appearance presented being of flic nature of a canker. Between this canker form and the small scabs described above, all transitions occur. In yet other cases scabs are found in protuberances or. abnormal outgrowths on the tuber. It is not certain whether the protuberances themselves are produced entirely by the parasite, or whether they are not merely secondary or late outgrowths, which owing to their tender skin, are more susceptible to attack than the older parts of the tuber. The production of a canker from a corky scab is generally due to the presence of a wot, poorly drained soil. That this is the case is shown not only by its distribution and by direct experiments which have been conducted both in the open and under glass. The disease is, moreover, less prevalent in dry seasons, and there can he no doubt that abundant moisture in tho soil is one of the uioaL lavorable factors for its development. The presence ot an excess of lime tends to increase and intensify the diseaso. In additiou to attacking the tubers, sponga-spora infects the root ol the potato plant and forms on them small whitish galls abut the size of a pea. somewhat similar in appearance to the bacterial nodules present on the roots of tile pea and been lamily. These galls are sometimes present in considerable number, but apparently they dd not exercise any injurious' influence on the growth ot the plants. Spore-balls are formed in tho root galls as on the tubers, and on the decay of the galls they are liberated in the soil. This takes place early, and subsequently, the root-galls are not often observed, as by lifting time they have mostly disappeared. As will he gathered ironi fhe aboro description tlio injury produced by corky scab is, as a rule, not great. In mild cases it consists merely of surface scabbing. This, while it causes disfigurement and depreciation of the market value, is not in itself serious, nor does it materially injure the crop. In the case, however, of a severe attack, much of the crop may be lost. LAND VALUES DECLINE IN U.S.A. Taking U.S.A. as a whole, land values have declined since 1920 approximately 30 per cent. Approximately three-quarters of the capital wealth of agriculture is tied up in land values. So that 30 per. cent, runs into billions of dollars. There is a very close relationship between live stock and land values. The most drastic reductions have taken place in those regions where fewest livestock are kept, chiefly in the cottohbelt and ill the cash grain sections of. the Upper Mississippi A'alley. Declines were severe throughout- the Middle AYest too, especially so in those sections where farmers depended on wheat and cash corn as the chief sources of their income/. In those sections where they depended on livestock declines in land values were not so great. The most fearful declines in land values occurred in the eastern cottonbelt. If wo go westward, where the livestock industry is mo-st- important, we find-that land values have declined less, or in some eases even advanced slightly. The live-stock industry of the State of Texas lias been no small factor in maintaining land values on a relatively high plane. In the range States land values have held their own very well, especially in the livestock producing sections. The Pacific Const and extreme- north-west-ern States have likewise maintained values' of relatively high levels.

The heaviest planting oi early potatoes in the history of the industry on the north-west coast of Tasmania is taking place. Filty per cenL more superphosphate has been ascii this season than last.

| NAURU PHOSPHATE. INCREASING - PROD LOTION. THREE YEARS’ FIGURES. :x- Shipments of phosphate from Nanile ru and Ocean Islands for three years p- ended June 80 last—-the seventh tinea del- tho control of the British Phosed phate Commission—were approxior mutely 593,300 tons, as compared of \vjth_ the previous highest output of ly 470,700 tons in 1924-25, an increase xll of about 122,000 tons. This result n- was owing mainly to unusually lavtji orablo weather throughout and satisrs factory labor and health conditions, ns During 1925-20, when adverse weatlim er and labor conditions were exporiI enced, shipments were only 91,700 :ie 1 tons. id Delive rius ot Xauru-Oceun pliosie phate to New Zealand for 192(j-2i -d were approximately 135,200 tons, as ig compared with 77,400 tens for the id previous corresponding period. These I® quantities, however, were insufficient ll - to meet the -rapidly increasing def-’- maud, and the Commissioners pur’n chased on behalf 'of the fertiliser manufacturers considerable quanti--0 ties of phosphate from outside sources at the lowest prices obtainable, > though at a considerable increase on ’■ Nauru-Oeoau rates. This outside ,s phosphate is of lower quality, but by .' judiciously mixing it with the rela- !" lively large supply of high grade the 1_ manufacturers have been able to n maintain the high standard of phoss phatie fertilisers obtaining in this market. With the object of increasing the output from both islands an oxien- ’ sive programme of development has " been decided on, starting with an im- ■" provoment of the shipping facilities. ' Contracts were signed in'March last I with Messrs. Henry Simon, Ltd., of II Manchester, lor the construction of 7 a loading cantilever at Nauru and r an improved steel jetty at Ocean Ls'x land. This work will probably ex- ! tend over two years, entailing an .. expenditure of about £250,000,-which will be financed by the Commission. } The cantilever lor Nauru embodies i some unique, features suited for the . special conditions pertaining there. s It will project about 180 ft beyond : the edge of the reel, and will permit f of discharging the phosphate direct . into the vessel's fore and alt holds • simultaneously, thus dispensing with . the present system of loading by . means of small lighters. The - * mat- . crial will he transferred from the 12,- - 01'0-ten shore- storage bin to the dis- ; charging points of the cantilever by rubber-belt conveyers with a total capacity of 000 tons per hour, thus enabling tile loading of a- 0900 ton vessel in a day. The outer arms of the cantilever a ill operate oil the principle of a wharl-crane, permit- , ting them to swing in on the reef j when not in use. The whole plant , will be operated eleetriuilly. It is ; hoped that on completion of the can- , tilever installation the annual output 1 capacity will lie increased to between ; 700.000 and 770,000 tons. ' . Other improvements facilitating ■* production and transport are also to : bo put in hand at both islands, with ‘ a, view to getting the best service * from the improved- shipping arrange- * meats. *- f OAIRY RESEARCH. 1 MASSEY AGRJLCI LTI, RAL } COLIEGE. f PROBLEMS AHEAD. a The work - which is to be attacked ‘ at the Dairy Research Institute (New t Zealand) next year, is of special in- 1 terest to all dairy farmers. The in- I stitute, which will form a part- of flic L Massey Agricultural College at Palmerston North, will be under tin; control of Professor Ricklet. and will directly tackle many of the problems which have given trouble to the in- o dustrv for many years. Ol' special a interest will be the work m eoniiec- r< tion with herd testing. In every dis- s' tried where this is carried out, valu- h able, data i« obtained, but the benefit tl of this is lost to farmers by reason »• of the. fact that the testing associa- k< tions have necessarily to confine - s ) themselves to the main work and « have no time or cash available for I scientific research. Tim efficiency ol w various types of milk and cream ll coolers, and trials with various sys- ol terns of pig feeding, will be among tl the first problems dealt with. Now st that the marketing side of the pig H business is receiving attention, “ and more farmers are turning their D attention to thin profitable sideline, -Slsome work to ascertain the most pro- l j fitablo feeding methods is very essential. Every farmer knows that 111 skim milk or whey fed alone are not tl as profitable for rearing as when combined with qt-her foods. The tl tiling 'they want to know is what o' foods "make flic best- combinations. This knowledge will be available kc when the feeding trials are com plot- °i ed. “ ff> w: id FARM JQTTINCS, H A recent experiment- abroad in feed- a ing farm forage to breeding sows ra seems well worth mentioning. Twen- ci-ty-six sows of the large white type Oi were being maintained on 2i acres of gt pasture sown down in 1921. No food ni other than the pasture was given *‘j them until five days before farrowing, Dwhen'the sows were brought indoors AY Every sow was in the pink of condit- AY ion showing no signs of under-feeding, ‘-J and large, healthy litters were produced. The pasture had been dressed with phosphate and potash in the winter and by nitrogen in spring and summer. It • was -divided into four jq plots each of which was stocked in pr succession at weekly intervals; that is eo to say, a week allowed for re-growth cli in each plot after feeding off. ki Tho Hedgehope district reports W i some striking results regarding the at value of top-dressing (says the Ma- 52 taura Ensign). An area of inferior od land responded with remarkable ra- 0 t pidity to the use of fertilisers. At wi the outset the land would carry no bo more than 200 ewes, and the farmer su in question had to grow a large loi quantity of supplementary feed _ to of keep,, them going during the winter ]!! and spring. Some years ago liming an was' commenced, followed about four Tl years ago by extensive top dressing, wi superphosphate and also basic slag to: being used. To-day he has_ on lr.s ru farm 1100 sheep, 4CO of which are co hoggets, and the area under root picrops is to he reduced this year to AY about 20 acres. The difference in the ial appearance and weight of tile sheep re is beyond all expectations, and the co hoggets are so lively and fine a look- th ing lot- as could be seen anywhere. A th neighboring farmer is having equally Bi satisfactory results from top-dressing th and lias more than _ doubled the in; c.lirTinji capacity ot ms property in tlio past- two and a-linlr years.