Farm and Station

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11915, 8 April 1933, Page 12

Farm and Station

(By “RUSTICUS’L)

THE BABBIT PEST,

DESTRUCTION IN AUSTRALIA

300 MILE BOR DER. SC.VM

MELBOURNE, March 16

'Most, of the .additional £IO,OOO which the Employment Council has granted to the Vermin Destruction Department for the destruction of. rabbits on Crown lands and forest reserves is to he spent, in the Malice. .About 500 men are to he engaged forthwith for two months, and will operate between Swan Hill and the South' Australian border and from Wyrheproof, Speed, Onyen and MnrTnyville northwards to the river Mnvrav.

About 2SO men received, work when the £IO,OOO previously granted was spent. As in that case all the men required will he selected from local sources, as it is considered that for this particular work men from iho city are not suitable because of their lack of experience. A suggestion has then made to the department bv the South Australian authorities that they should he permitted to transfer certain sections of the rabbit-proof fence on the border to another location. This fence extends 300 miles from the Murray to the sea. There are so many gates for tracks in it. and these are so often left open, that the effectiveness of the fence is not as great as was predicted when it was first erected. In parts of the Malice the sand drift has buried two and Ihree fences which have been placed one on top of the other. In some places only the tops of the posts are to he seen above the sand.

FIELD PEAS

GOOD FATTENING CROP

COUNTER TO WHITE BUTTERFLY

FEILDINO EXPERIMENT V

Using field pens instead of rape .and chou-moellier in an effort to combat the ravages of the white butterfly. Hawke’s Bay farmers would find this a distinctly profitable crop, besides making a. very good-fattening crop, says the Hawke’s Bay HeraldManawntu farmers who have grown field peas are loud in their praises, and recommend a far greater use of this crop.

Talking the white hntterfiv problem over with a local, farmer the other da)a’, the nnestion as to what were the best alternative crops to plant to replace rnne and ehon-moellier arose. Knch is the ingenuity ef the farmers of the world that no matter what problem arises, farmers -aWavs seem to -find some avov of combatting, or side-stepping Iho problem. With the white butterflies, a combination of both tactics would npnenr to he the host—use of parasite control, and the growing of field peas. The use of field peas as am alterna,tiA r e, jerop to rape and chou-moellier for the purpose of lamb fattening is an established practice in the Map a watu district, particularly around Feikling. The farmer mentioned that during a recent visit to Foil ding district he had noticed the field pea crops, and was agreeably surprised with the results- Some of the Feeding farmers had .sown rape and pens as a mixture, but the white butterfly grubs had attacked and eaten the .rape,; 'while leaving he peas alone. Contrary to a somewhat general impression, lambs thrive cm the pea crops. Fenced off into breaks, and fed off in this manner, the returns compare more than favourably with rape or cbou mocllicr. The essential point in the feeding off of the pea. crop is to turn the lambs on to the crop when the peas are soft. This accustoms the stock to the peas and later when the peas harden up, the lambs continue to graze on the peas. The farmer who told the “Tribune” inf this crop .said that it was interesting to watch and hear the lambs greedily devouring the hard peas, fracking them Avith their teeth.

“One farmer T met,” said our informant, “had sent 300 lambs away fat 'in the first draft, and these were raised on the first feeding off of the pens. When I saw him. he had another 150 lambs ready for the.fat buyeroff the second break. The lambs I saw were equal to any T have seen in Hawke’s Bay.”

Not 'Only is this pea 'prop a good fattening crop, hot the surplus that is not required for feeding can he threshed. The farmer previously mentidfned, who had fattened so many lamhs, obtained from 45 to 50 bushels .of peas per acre, which, was quite profitable at 5s per bushel. Needing very little: manure, and not taking much from the soil, the growing of peas seems to' he a< solution to farming troubles . in Hawke?s Bay. Cleaning the land of weeds, and improving .the sVoil condition, the writer would strongly. advise, greater use of field peas-in the cropping programme.

CARE AT WEANING

NEEDS OF PIGLETS.

Little pigs when on the, mother suckle every two or three hours. This should be borne in mind at. weaning time, for it is a golden rule to feed little and often, snys an overseaswriter. This is time well spont, and

makes all the difference between profit and loss. Little'pigs newly weaned should he fed five times a day at regular- intervals. No sudden or drastic change should ho made.

Continue with the feed they were having at Avoaning time. Above all things avoid overfeeding; this produces digestive troubles and retards growth. Warmth is essential for young pigs, hut it should not bo obtained by the sacrifice of fresh air, for thorough ventilation is necessary. A good bed of clean, dry wheat straAV for thorn to get into and fresh air (free from draughts) will not hurt them. As the pigs grow older they may he fed at less frequent intervals, but it is doubtful if if. is at all economical to fed them less than three times a day.

When four or fivn months old pigs are able to digest any of the class of foods fed to them, hut it is not advisable to feed to them foods of a. poor composition or of an indigestible nature. Pigs have only one stomach and are omnivorous animals, and should neA'cr he given foods Avhich are of a bulky nature or require a In| of digesting.

WHEN PTGR. LOSE TTIETR TAILS

Little pigs horn during the first three months of the year are very apt to lose their tails—either wholly or in part. This is the result °| frost-bite, and although the loss ot its tail may not he of great moment to the pig, its owner svill certainly suffer financially if the animal he offered for sale in the pedigree market. On the face of it this may seem to lie ridiculous (remarks a Avritcr in a Home exchange), hut the fact re mains that looks do count, and tho absence of its tail may make many guineas difference in the price that an otherwise excellent pedigree pig will fetch either at a public or a private sale. The commercial buyer probably does not mind very much whether a pig is provided Avith a nice early tail or not, biit even here a ppea ranees do sometimes count to some extent and, anyhoAV, a pig with a docent finish to his anatomy must always look hotter than one which is lacking in that respect.

If little pigs which r-i’e horn if. cold weather are nroperiy looked after there is no reason Avhy they should lose their tails. If -he sty m kept Avell littered, so that the pigs’ tails do not get Avct and draggled in filth, all will he woil. though it is by no means a bad plan to make assurance doubly sure by dressing the tails every two or t! roe (.ays with oil.

The danger is most pronoun-cd during the first Aveck or so afte" birth, hut it is well to continue precautionary measures for another Aveek c r two should the weather be. cold and frosty.

NFAV LIGHT ON WORLD’S WOOL

TRADE

Nearly one-half of the world's raw wool, and over two-thirds of the avoo! entering world trade, is produced within the British Empire. Those facts are revealed in a new report on the production of, and tmdo in, avool received from the Empire Marketing Board, and termed a Wool Survey.

The Avorld’s sheep population is estimated at nearly 800 million, head, of which about one-third arc in the Empire. These sheep produce oc tween 3500 and 4000 million lb. of wool per annum, and of tins amount about 1500 million lb., including much of the best woo] in the world, comes from the British Dominions of Australia, the Union of South Africa and New Zealand.

Among the other important producing area*., '•onsisting of South America, the United States of America, and Russia, only South America ha.s a. surplus for export. The United States of America is largely self-sufficing as regards merino and crossbred wools, but impoits carpet wools. Russia produces almost entirely car pet wools, and imports both the finer wools, and wools of the carpet type. Neither of those countries seems likelv to assume any importance in the near future ns an exporter of raw wool. MILK-RECOEDTNG NOT NEW. The practice of keeping a record of the quantity of milk yielded by the individual cows in a herd was known and adopted by a few progressive farmers in Britain about the middle of last century. S°mo of these men tried hard to got their brothei fanners to take up the practice, and the R..A/.S.E. Journals from 1882 onwards contain occasional articles pointing ut the advantages in the selection and breeding of dairy cows and in their feeding, to be derived .from, the study of records of individual yields. . The earliest mention of, milk-recorcb ing which the writer has been able to find is in a little-.known hook, published in 1820, entitled ( Thc Uai leian Dairying System,” and describing the'pioneer work of Williams Harley in the production and sale of milk in v

the city of Glasgow. In Mr, Harley’s cowshecli "one■ clay in every week at least (Friday was the usual day), it was the custom to measure the milk supplied hy each cow, morning and evening” ; further, lactometers and milk tubes were used to determine the quality of milk yielded by each cow and in the selection for creamraising of the milk which showed the greatest depth of cream.

COR3UEDALES' IN KENYA

A POPULAR BLEED

APPRECIATIVE LETTER: FROM AFRICA.

Our Dominion is well-known for its Corriedalo sheep, which are a true Now Zealand breed. Not so long ago, a largo consignment was sent to South America, where the. breed is very popular. The following letter from a farmer in Kenya, British. East Africa, shows how the Corriedalo is appreciated in other parts. Deferring to a ram which ho imported from the Hui-Hni flock, this farmer writes: —

“The ram arrived on December 10 —rather soft after the journey, hut very well, and I like him immensely. My head shepherd tolls me he likes the 1020 one better, and if that’s so he must have been a corker. I like this ram’s chest and ■withers, which were the weakest points in. tho original importation in 1024—well-sprung ribs and a good back and quarters. Long may he live. “T have to keep him separate as his health certificate lms not arrived yet. He broke out two days ago, and he certainly did not apnear to suffer from softness on the 8600 ft. altitude be was awn T into the bine with four .Tumbwns after him, and he gave them a run for their money. T specials noted his boTd carriage and good paces, and his eyes missed nothing. T sheared him on arrival, and got 2331 b of wool off him of a pleasing quality. "Two of the original importation of three owes are still breeding—not a tooth in their beads at TO years old, rising 11 —and tho old ram got a few lambs this year, though he soon tired, and nowadays doesn’t knock the 'Youngsters down like be used to. He lias developed into a farm pot. and seems happy.” BESTBICTTNG PRODUCTION. finder the heading of "'Should Production he Restricted?” the "Farmer and Stockbreeder” has the following: "There is one great difference between the positions of the factory and of the farm. The factory produces an article at a known cost, and soils it at a price that is based °n the cost of production. Tf sales arc sluggish it may in some cases be possible to trim prices a little to encourage the demand, but if this is not sufficient the factory begins to work' short hours, and, at worst, produces no more than it is able to sell without incurring a loss —even if this sinks to nil. Normally, it will restrict production to the amount that it can sell at some sort of profit. Yet this may mean that a proportion of the usual workers are paid off and that the remainder are employed on short time. The farm cannot produce at a fixed cost. Weather and seasons see to this. Much less can it fix the price of its produce at a figure based on the cost of production. And it is equally powerless to curtail or suspend production at a few weeks’ notice on the report of its sales department. On the average, the farmer is looking about a year ahead. He is now making his plans for what he hopes to sell in 1934. How he uiay sell it, or whether he can sell it, he does nob yet know. "Tt is not deemed a serious offence for a. factory to pay off employees or to work part time when the exigencies of the situation drive it to this course and all Norfolk appears to ho doing j s to be looking a year ahead, as they must, if they attempt to put what are their factories on short time.

!f Tt is possible that the stops being taken to stabilise prices and regularise production will do something, possibly much, to minimise the gamble inherent in the farmer’s business. Except in such abnormal times as the last half-dozen years, it has generally -worked out to a reasonable average. Although in these times there is some evidence that the salvation of -farming cannot ho found in the restriction of production, we do not assort that the Norfolk executive are wrong, much ns everyone hopes and many believe they are, in the lead they have given to their members. In offering it however, they have shouldered -a grave responsibility, that is their own concern. “The general trend of opinion does not follow the Norfolk attitude. Farmers general] v are anxious to increase production, and appear willing to carry some of the initial risk incidental to qualifying for the greater scope in <mr own markets that the Ottawa agreements and the Government policy have been designed to give them.” ' (Norfolk branch of the Farmers’ Union advised”the members to restrict production and discharge nl» workers who could possibly he done without.)

MASSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. (University of New Zealand.) , monthly”bulletin. SEEDING OF PASTURES. (By W. A. Jacques, R.Se., N.D.A.) IMPORTANCE OF INITIAL CARE. > TN SELECTING TTTE SEED. Of the several fundamental features of practical importance in laying land down to grass, the outstanding one is tho use of correct seed. This in, it-

self, however, is no insurance, against failure. It should rather be regarded as leading to success only where the other cultural operations in pasture establishment are rigidly observed. If those are neglected or insufficiently performed then no amount of good seed will compensate for this omission. Naturally, tho different typos of land need somewhat different treatment before grass can be successfully established but seed mixtures have now been reasonably standardised.

Pasture Seed Mixture.—There arc three basic mixtures for pastures on ploughable land and they each have their special place in farm practice. ‘

(!) The Temporary Mixture which consists of 25-30 Tbs. Italian ryegrass and 6lbs. of Red Clover. This is intended to stay down for one or at most two years. This mixture is put down where a high yield of palatable grass and clover is essential, without any regard for permanence. Tt makes an excellent temporary pasture and can ho sown either in autumn- after, say, a grain crop or in spring following on a crop of swedes, ehou rnoellier, etc. By sowing in autumn a useful winter pasturage is created and, what is more important, one that can if necessary he treated more severely than permanent pasture. Tt can definitely he said that much actual damage is done to permanent pasture by too close grazing, particularly with sheep when the first spring growth is made. The establishment of temporary pastures uot only helps to obviate this hut also sweetens up the laud, and allows for the production of heavy crops of grass, ensilage or hay.

(2) The Short Rotation Mixture is intermediate between the temporary and the permanent mixture and is required to stay down for two or three years. The seeding rate is: Italian ryegrass 151bs, perennial ryegrass 15 lbs. red clover 41bs, white clover 21bs. This pasture is specially suitable for farming conditions where crops other than crass are the main consideration or where satisfactory permanent pasture is difficult to obtain and maintain. Here again permanence is not desired and a big proportion of short lived plants with a high producing capacity are used. Tf the pasture is to be kept down for three Years. Pits cocksfoot could replace 41bs each of the ryegrasses.

(3) The Permanent Mixture. —For general conditions in Now Zealand the following seeding; is recommended —Certified perennial ryegrasses, 20-25 lbs; N.Z. cocksfoot, 10-lolbs; crested dogstnil, 31 bs: Timothy. Dibs ; N.Z. wild white clover, 21bs; rod clover, 3 lhs.

This is the mixture where permanence is of much value and at which research extended over many years has been directed. Where the summers are dry use the larger amount of cocksfoot and the smaller amount of ryegrass. For fertile swamp land up to two pounds of Poa trivialis and six pounds of meadow foxtail can replace cocksfoot nr where paspalum is used, ryegrass.

\ CONSIDERATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.

Certified Perennial Ryegrass: This seed should take pride of place in the mixture. Its permanence, hulk yield, recovery after grazing, response to manuring and power to withstand heavy trampling make it one of the most useful plants in this country. It is essential to sow seed of high germination for host results, Tho idea that the best strains are associated with a low germination capacity has been exploded and good linos can be had with as high a germination as the poorer ones. Where certified seed cannot he obtained o r is too dear, lines which are graded as satisfactory when tested under the ultra violet lamp should be substituted. Cocksfoot and Paspalum: Only Non Zealand cocksfoot seed should he used as this has proved of considerably more value than Danish. Where paspalum naturally thrives, O-Slbs can bo used to replace cocksfoot. Well harvested New Zealand seed i s as high, in germination as the imported Australian seed. The' seed can he soaked in order to increase the speed of germination, though this does not materially improve the germination capacity. An immersion of the seed fo r five minutes in water at 60deg. C. (ldOdeg. F.) gives good results and 1g.04 hours at. room temperature is equally successful. Temperatures over GlTdeg. C. cause damage to the seed and a consequent depression in germination.

Wild White Clover: This should also be of the host New Zealand permanent. pasture strains and the shortlived types though suitable for tho temporary pasture's must ho avoided for the permanent ones. Red Clover: Though frequently only of value in the early life- of the pasture, there are strains which persist for a. longer period than others; those known as the late flowering group are at present under critical study and offer possibilities for greater permanence in this species.

One of the best-known and most useful is Montgomery red clover.

Timothy and Crested Dogstail vary as between samples, and only good seed with high germination should he considered. For dogstail germination capacity and not colour should he the guide for purchase.