FARM and DAIRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 March 1925, Page 13

FARM and DAIRY

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The improvement shown this year in the turnip crops is ascribed mainly to to'the more propitious season. There has been copious rain, as a rule just when wanted, and the season has generally been more equable.

It is generally acknowledged that, though good crops may be grown above Eltham Road, they are not generally so good as below that line.

A Hawera resident, when recently in the Old Country, travelling inland, stopped for a day or two in Hertshire and saw something of a large experimental area surrounding a' country house. In that area was a slice of land devoted to the growing of wheat. He found on inquiring, that this had grown wheat continuously for eightvtwo years without intermission, and the yield for last year was no less than 49 bushels.

It has been said that lucerne, though it keeps the cows in good condition, will not affect the milk supply. But several farmers said the other day that when the dry spell was experienced in Janaury, the feeding of lucerne at once made the falling test go up considerably. Probably, however, a root crop as a balance would be even more effective. The experience of farmers in any part of the district would be useful, and would be much appreciated by the editor, and probably be of value for information and advice to other farmers.

Water on the farm is a valuable asset, and those farmers who have a reach’ of one of the fivers flowing from Egmont to the ocean are lucky indeed. The original holders probably were guicl ed in subdividing by the vargaries of the river. Some of the holders nowadays, perhaps get a sizeable trout for breakfast on their way to or from the milking shed, when "the season is not too busy.

An incident of a man lost in the hush near Lowgarth, was recalled the other day by a farmer of the Hunter Road, when talking of old times. He said he remembered as a boy ot nine, tramping up to where Lowgarth now is, to attend some family function, and about two miles above the Eltham Hoad, heard that a man was lost in the bush. This was not very big in that 'locality, buf it was very thick, and anyone getting far from clearings might have a' difficulty in getting back. On this occasion/ the search party had some trouble, and actually he was located by the use of a gun barrel as a sound carrier; somewhat like a megaphone.

“Denmark does not grade any higher than we do,” said Mr. A- H. Cockayne to the Board of Agriculture at Wellington.' “Denmark, 1000 miles from England, with an organisation which cannot be surpassed, does not grade any higher than we .do. Our butter, 'sent 12,000 miles, at time passes the Denmark figures.”

Timothy is a grass of which cows are very fond. Most farmers rise it freely in laying down their pastures.

After March, no farmer expects his cows to go up in milk yield, though the test is high. Liberal feed is necessary, however, to keep them in good condition against the winter and the coming calving time in, July or August.

Concrete is one of the farmer’s best assets, said a man of long experience the other day. There, is no doubt, however, that, though many farms have concrete sheds, yards and races, there are a. very large number who have, still to go in for this most useful, in fact, essentia] adjunct to t}ie farm.

“Six years ago,’' said a farmer in the Lougarth district, “I had stamps in every paddock. 1 have taken some out every year and put down pastures and crops, and now they are. practical! v all cleared ”

A farmer of many years’ exoprience said he once had a cow sicken and die, and when he skinned it and examined it, he found that the veins were full, apparently of milk. He buried the carcase deep, but was told by another farmer that it would have been better had he burnt the carcase, for fear of infecting other animals in the herd.

A resident who has been, through the inland Otago districts, says that the lucerne in grown the irrigated land, which was formerly devoted to mining and was considered worthless, is remarkably good, and a standing testimony to the value of irrigation. Efe also saw land in the Clyde district, where a farmer put the seed on the hard surface and flooded it with water. The crop came up although the conditions seemed hopeless, and jater he put on sheep and they materially helped to secure the good results.

An old farmer of the district recalling Alton days, said he used to go in there working when it was alj standing bush. The name of the settlement then was Woodville.

The germ of contagious mammitis is termed “streptococcus inastiditis,” and mammitis is a general term including any form of udder trouble. The magnitude of the mammitis trouble amongst cows is'realised when it is known that experienced farmers estimate that nearly 25 per cent, of dairy cows in Taranaki go out during the milking season, mostly from udder trouble of some form or other.

Udder trouble' is one oj’ the best breeding grounds for contagious mammitis. Want of condition is a fruitful case also. Keep your cows in good condition, and so ward off many troubles.

Hemlock is a weed of which one does not see much in Taranaki, but there are some farms that have it pretty badly, and it is said to be n very difficult one to got out of the paddocks.

“The best roads and the worst telephone system in the Dominion are in Taranaki,’’ said a visitor from another part the other day. He added that he came from the north, where in some cases they had no roads. “But, said, a ]ocal farmer,” we have to pay for the roads—los or 11s an acre in some cases. “And you do not grudge it, do yon?” said the visiting farmer. •STAUNCH freeholders. AN OBJECT LESSON. In various parts of the district, will be met farmers who have grown tip almost on the same farm Such cases reminded one of the position in so many parts of the Old Country, where a family stays for generations. But the main difference is, that in New Zealand such farmers are freeholders. An

'interesting story was told by a farmer jin South 'Taranaki, whose father, after | doing work contracting many years ago, [saved enough to get a small area in a I good locality. After some years, work- | ing hard, he sold out and took up a | somewhat larger place, getting better stock and general farm equipment, and by dint of hard work and progressive methods, he acquired a competency, and, leaving to spend his later years in town, left his son to carry on the work he had begun so well. The son has a good farm and homestead, and is one of the most progressive farmers in the district. These are of the type of farmer who make tire district go ahead, and who keep the country good and tended. It will be well known that in districts where suen men live speculation does not florish. It would have been good for Taranaki had there been enough of spelt farmers to occupy the whole of the Province. They realise that their farms are really worth what they can produce, and they set a great value on their own home area.

WORK ON THE FARMS. AN EYE-OPENER. The tour round with the judging party for root crop competitions in any district, is an object lesson, serving to bring forcibly before one’s eyes the huge amount of concentrated activity necessary to keep the farms going well, and the cows giving that daily yield which brings in the cheques at the twentieth. Each farm where success is achieved —and hard work is necessary, for a farmer must do the work or get out —is a rea( hive of activity. When one sees the thousands of acres in luscious pasture, and the hundreds of acres under cultivation —lucerne, turnips, carrots, maize, artichokes, chon moellier and other subsidiary crop — one realises that the life of the farmer is not an easy one, and that there is much more than just bringing in the cows, milking them, cleaning the machines and engine, keeping the sheds and yards clean, and then turning out the cows. These are, of course, essential, but by far the hardest and most intense part is done away from the shed. Jt makes one realise the inner working of the farm, the constant work, with the elements to light and to bring to one’s aid, —often the unfavourable season must be heartbreaking—and the general planning and oversight. Let the townsman but go over the farms for a day, and he would at once appreciate these facts and agree that all the farmer makes he is richly entitled to, and more. He will realise too, that the. farmer well deserves to lie cajled “the backbone of the country.” Without him no country such as this could continue.

MANURES FOR AUTUMN CROPS. It has been definitely eatablished that autumn manuring pays. Crops are like stock, they winter well when they are well fed. Give the crops manure in the autumn and they will winter both themselves and the stock. Fertilisers promote the development of a deep broad root system in the life of the plants, which enables them to withstand the frosts. They become vigorous plants which yield and winter well. It pays, therefore, to manure liberally any crop sown now, and for general purposes a complete manure is best, that is mixtures containing a moderate quantity of nitrogen and potash, as well as the all-im-portant water soluble superphosphate. A combination of these manures with a- little Nauru phosphate or bonedpst will assure both a yield and quality in the crop. Manures of this nature can profitably be applied at the rate of two or three cwt per acre. It is a safe rule In apply manure to every pasture and crop’for stock. Jt is not only necessary, to feed the herd, but the food must he of quality.

ORCHARDS IN SOUTH OTAGO. To see the Southern fruits is a revelation. Central Otago is largely responsible, but all round there is evidence that the climate suits the peach and nectarine, plum and apricot and pear to perfection. There is a flavour about this fruit that we never get in the North, because our climate is better suited for other things. Apples, of course, require a colder climate to bring out the real cookers, and to make wont easier by killing fruit pests. I noticed that Italian lemons were on sale in the shops at 3d each. That surely,is a trade that the "North Island could handle. Tomatoes were from 4d to Bd, all very good, with some of the most beautiful hothouse tomatoes I have ever seen and tasted at Is 3d. . Altogether, the displays of fruit in the shops, chiefly by Europeans, were on tbe lavish scale that I saw in California. Big open shops, piles and piles of well-arranged fruit of excellent quality, and good service all proclaimed to the observer that it was a fruit-eating people. Our Auckland shops will seem very small by comparison with those of Invercargill and Dunedin. TESTING OF PUREBRED DAIRY COWS. (W. M. Singleton, Director of tbe Dairy Division, Wellington). With the exception of a few uncompleted returns, this month’s |ist —which gives particulars of certificate’s issued in January—finishes the publication ol records for 0.0.11. cows qualifying during the calendar year .1924. Many good performances appear. Among them is the senior four-yeaf-okl Friesian, Jlinemou Beauty, owned by Mr. T. R’ -'Hades, of Ede.udale. She .vas on test last year, when" she qualified for a certificate on a yield of 812.44 lb. fat. This year her record stands at 822.37. That is to say, in two consecutive seasons she has averaged, on C.O.R. test, 817.40 lb. of butterfat. At the head of this month’s list for nature Friesians is Lady Zozo Alcartra ran Raeelnnds, with 832.59 lb. butter*at.. She was tested by Messrs. C. W. ,3a!dwin and Son, Ngatoro, Inglewood, and at the conclusion of her testingleriotl was purchased by- John Court Limited) for the J. C. L. Hobson ’arm, at Panmure, near Auckland.

The outstanding Jerseys of the •urrent list are both owned by Mr. A. E. Watkin, Taknnini. Lady’s Perfecion, a four-year-old, has been issued i certificate oh 770.29 lb. butterfat; and Mystery’s Golden Girl, a. mature •ow, produced 753.73 lb. butterfat. The chief feature of tbe present list, fiowever, is the appearance of two new -■•lass-leaders, both in the Milking Shorthorn breed. Dominion Esau of S-uakura adds yet another name to his steadily increasing list of distinguished .laughters. In last month’s Journal reference was made to Matangi Violet Ind as a new leader of the Milking shorthorn senior four-year-olds (621.54 lb.)- Matangi Ruth 2nd (half-sister) has since completed her C.O.R. test

n-itli a yield «»f 644.90 !!>.. and thus ' moves to the lie;ul ot her class. nc a,lso heads the senior three-y ear-old class on her last season’s production ol 747.86 lb Both cows were tested by .Messrs. Ban stead Bros. The other change in class-leadership for the Mil kins Shorthorn breed, occurs i„ the mature class. The good record which Maniaroa Princess made during the 1919-20 season has at last been “ito,; b, Mr. A. J. Melville's 01e.,I home Lady, who goes to the head ol tbe class. Her fine yield ot Sob.So lb. buttertac surpasses that of the piev .ons leader l>v no less than 106 lb. Imtterlat. Glenthorpe Lady is one of the older veneration, ancl neither her exact age nor her pedigree appears in the Herdbook This latest record is the third performance in which she has qualified tor a certificate of record. Her tot season on 0.0. R. test was in 1920-21, when in the mature class she yielded 570.05 lb She was then rested a season, and'in 1922-23 was credited with 671.63 lb. When to these are added her last season’s hgures—Bob. bo <». butte if at—it must be admitted that Glenthorpe Lady has proved hei capabilities as a producer. In the same class ot the eminent list appears Mr. Melville’s Glenthorpe Daisy, with 694.10 lb This cow also has two previous records—one ot MJ.-to lb. and another of 674.46 lb.

LINCOLN COLLEGE

MINISTER’S VIEWS

When asked his views after a visit co Lincoln College the Minister ot Lands said this was his htst v, «‘t the college, and from what he had t>een there was little doubt that from an educational point of view those in charge were very much hampeied bv the inadequacy of the buildings. 0 far as the laboratories were concerned, many of the ordinary high schools weie better appointed. It Lincoln Tofle was going to be made what was wished, '•onsideraoie expense would have to be faced by somebody. Once the question of colleges for the North Island and South Island was definitely faxed, the Government would undertake the pioper financing of these colleges lhc Board of Agriculture, 0,1 . representatives of the Agricultural D partment and Educational Department, would decide where the colleges were to be situated. Whether Lincoln C 0..i©ir e would be decided upon he was not in a position to say but it was a aood place for central education so far as the South Island was concerned.

SHEEP IN FRANCE. As the number of sheep in has fallen from 16,000,000 in 1914 to 9 500 000 .in 1920 the wool situation is important in France. ihe chutillonais of Burgundian Formos a tvpe ox merino, is highly diseaseresisting and more precocious than the Rambouillets, and also more pioductive of meat. The meat has no tallow flavour. The special qualities u the wool produced by the Burgundian merino are its length, which depends on the feed of the animal, its hneness and uniformity, is always strong ant elastic, and ol all the French wools t is that one that breaks least frequently when combed by a machine Any producer of this wool is sure of a marKet, as' its quality tops the market thioughout the world. A s France produces onlv about 1-20 of the wool that it uses, there is a great need of native wool. A veterinarian in southern France recommends that ewes should be allotted to have one more year of productivity than at present, as now they go to the butcher at the age of five, when they have usually produced.only three lambs. The Breeders’ Gazette.

IN SOUTHLAND. the farm IN MARCH. END OF~HARVEST. How different are conditions, in Southland from those ruling here can be realised from the following extracts from the Southland Times, giving wor which is seasonal for the farmer. Thete cropping is a, main industry and consequents the value of ploughing is stressed.' It will be noticed that the need of thatching stacks is emphasised The farmers must be able, to build better than many seen in other parts. The work however, on permanent pastures is largely common to all districts and the suggestions will no doubt be of value. The writer, it will be noticed, favours autumn sowing of grasses for pastures, and that is endorsed hv authorities here. March' generally sees the end ot harvest operations and this season the number of crops out after the end o the month wil) be few. Crops in most cases are being stacked under ideal conditions. Farmers should endeavour to protect that good quality by thatching all stacks retained for spring use, as there is often great loss when stacks are unprotected, and a spell of wet weather is experienced. A well bunt stack will turn off a lot of water, hut when long periods of damp weather are experienced water frequently finds entrance in the water side, even m the case of stacks that have been well, built, and the loss is frequently great. PERMANENT PASTURES. In manv districts March is quite a good month to so\y permanent pastures, while in others where early frosts are experienced is iust on the late side for the clovers. The, question of a cover crop is one about which there is a great diversity of opinion, but in exposed situations the addition of a bushel, of oats frequently proves of advantage, as it affords a certain amount of shelter to the young plants at a critical time in tneir growth. In laying down pastures, the soil should be well worked and rolled before sowing. A well consolidated seed bed with moisture near the surface is ideal for pasture establishment The loss of seed where the soil is left loose has jn some cases been found to amount to oO per cent, of the seed sown. The seed should lie lightly

covered with chain or brush harrows and the land left unharrowed after sowing. All land intended for permanent pasture should lie limed, and a suitable fertiliser at time of sowing is superphosphate or basis superphosphate at the rate of two ewt. per acre. HARROWING.

The harrowing of pastures is an ,uuprotant matter and should receive the attention of every larmer. V here an., held has been heavily stocked during the summer there will be oonsiderab.e droppings that lequire to be distributed so a s to ensure an even growth of grass later on. The tripod harrow is an oxcelent implement for this purpose, but where these are not available the chain harrow will do, or even tine harrows turned on their backs. TOP-DRESSING OF PASTURES.' The top-dressing of pastures has t ome much into favour of recent years. Much requires to be done yet, and tliei e appears to l>e room tor a great deal ot investigation as to the requireme#ts of different soils in Southland it is evident that in some districts the soq requires potash as well as phosphates. It is to lie hoped that some experiments in this connection will, he put in hand this year. Top-dressing of pastures in March is quite a common practice in some districts and could he extended to almost all parts. A dressing of superphosphate at the present time wih freshen up the gras* and give a bite be foie winter sets in.

UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN CLYDESDALES.

0 The'foil owing report from the Scott ish farmer of November will lie rent with interest by many farmers ‘ *Ou readers will remember that in the winter of 1920 Dean ltut her ford of the Department of Agriculture in the University of Saskatchewan visited Scotland and purchased two of the best yearling Clydesdale colts of their year. These were" Craigie Enchanter (20225), purchased from Mr. James Kilpatrick, of Craigie Mains, KilmarnocK, and Bonnie Fvvie (20224), purchased from Messrs J. and K. Cocker, Hill of Petty, Fyvie. Unfortunately the former died in* January, 1921, not long after reaching Canada, and later the latter developed characteristics which have led to his being unable to obtain license i under the Horse Breeding Act for the Province of Saskatchewan. This latter disaster has been accentuated by the fact that Bonnie Fyvie was breeding] exceptionally good stock, his two daughters, Bonnie Jean and Bonnie Lassie, haying created something of a sensation at the Fall shows, and at the Chicago International last year As though the misfortunes with the stallions were not a sufficient damper, within more recent months these beautiful fillies were found dead in their paddocks' from swamp fever, the existence of which was unsuspected. Learning of these misfortunes Mr. Kilpatrick consulted Messrs Cocker and the result of their conference is that they are jointly donating to the University of Saskatchewan at Saskatoon the yearling colt Craigie Fyvie (foaled 1923), own brother to Craigie Enchanter (20225). In order to obviate any risk of swamp fever Craigie Fyvie will be shipped to the charge of Air. Robert Sinton, Regina, Sask., who was associated with Dean Rutherford in the purchase of the two colts in 1920'. The best thanks of the breeders - of Clydesdales are due to Messrs Kilpatrick and Cocker, for this practical' expression of their sympathy with Dean Rutherford and his colleagues in their misfortunes, and the hope will be universal that Craigie Fyvie may prove more than compensation for the losses sustained. His sire was the celebrated all-round champion horse Craigie Litigant (19071), which won all the champion honours any Clydesdale stallion can,win, and was making a. name for himself as a sire. The dam of Craigie Fyvie is Nell Kerse (44168), a mare not unknown in the Ayrshire show yards, well-bred, and highly ' successful, as a breeding mare. Her sire was Montrave Mariner (17393), and the pedigree of Craigie Fyvie is registered back to his seventh dam, which was Mary of Drumflower (112), the dam of the celebrated Drumflower Farmer (286), sire of many first-class animals, both male and female, including Disraeli (234), Sir Colin (777), and Druid (1120), respectively the first prize three-year-olds of 1876, 1877, and 1878. The first foal out of Nell of Kerse (44168) was a filly by Bonnie Buchlvvie (14032). The sect oiid was Craigie Enchanter, and the third was the veld mare by Craigie Excelsior, which won first prize at the recent Minishant show, where she gave the Cawdor Cup champion, Craigie Ella, a hard run for champion honours. The fourth foal out of Nell of Kerse was the noted Craigie Essential own brother to Craigie Enchanter and Craigie Fyvie and second at the H. and A.S. and third at the Royal this year. Craigie Fyvie was born in, 1923, and this year Nell of Kerse (44168) has a topper of a filly foal by the champion Craigie M’Quaid. Not many mares can show such a uniform record of highclass produce almost without a break. I More than usual interest will attach to i Craigie Fyvie, whose happily chosen I name will commemorate the worthy and j highly commendable circumstances ol' I his export.