FARM AND DAIRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 August 1926, Page 16

FARM AND DAIRY

NOTES BY THE WAY. Fanning oderations provide opportunities aplenty tor the display oi enterprise m tneir accompli&nment. tne best, example oi late was supplied by t-he fanner wire this week was seen in the paddock with, a garden plough hitched on to a two-seater Ford. There is only one feed better than skim-milk to supplement grain tor pig feeding and! that 011 c feed is whole milk. Stock should not be put on lucerne when it is wet. The danger is accentuated in humid and windy weather. At a meeting of the North Canteriburv Dairv Farmers’ Association at Ohoka Mr." G. H. Hassail, the wellknown breeder of Friesian cattle, mad© the statement that the .breed had been known, for .some 2000 years. Originating in - central Asia as white cattle, they had been brought by a>. German tribe and mated with their black cattle, thus forming the well-known black and white strain so common' in Holland. The term Holstein often applied to them was a misnomer, and’ had ■arisen from the fact of shipment being made from a port in Holstein to England in past centuries. If the .stock cannot be placed in the paddocks, with fall stomachs, l-hey should be put on the lucerne for -0 minutes or .so, and then taken off for about an hour, and put on for another 20 minutes, and the process repeated until the stock are no longer hungry. A food rich in protein increases the quantity but not the quality of milk, hut by inducing a cow to give a larger quantity she will thus proportionately yield more butter-fat. Ground that has been run over bv pigs can be worked hard in the way or cropping and will go on yielding. well with' nothing more than an occasional dressing of lime to sweeten it. While the dairying industry in Canada is growing, it is not growing at anything like the< relative rate experienced in Australia, and New Zealand. One reason is that the prairies, or the western half of them, show the biggest proportionate development m the dairying industry, .and it will have always to complete, with wheat-grow-ing there.

A TON OF MEAT.

WORLD’S RECORD BOLLOCK

Stock men and the public generally have been.much interested in the champion bullock sold at the recent Christchurch National market (says the Pres®), and the weight guessing competition held in connection with the unemployment fund. The bullock, a purebred Friesian, was bred in Timaru, and l was fattened by Mr A. J. Keith, Ashburton, by whom it was sold at the “National” and purchased for £9O. English stock annals refer frequently to a 1 famous “Durham ox,” which astonished the people in the early years of last century by liis tremendous size. He was travelled in a specially constructed) van upwards of 3000 miles between 180 T and l 1807 and publicly exhibited. An offer of £2OOO was refused for him on one occasion. At the end l of his career-'he turned the scale (live) weight at 34cwt (33081 b). This famous beast,., has never, been approached) for weight in the British Isles, and it appeared that the record was to remain unbroken. Mu-h speculation, therefore, has been occasioned amongst stock men as to whether . Mr Keith’s Colossus compared with ,the old-time English champion. Twelve months ago last June he weighed 36521 b, but fell away 'several hun-dred-pounds in weight under the stress of travelling. Back in the familiar surroundings of his home he soon regained his lost avoirdupois, Mr Keith being confident that he would at this period have exceeded the record of the Durham champion. However, the animal was 'Slaughtered and weighed last Friday, and l the oldtime English record was broken. The htdlock turned the scale at 2394 Jib dead weight, as against the Durham ox’s 23321 b, the Friesian therefore having the advantage of 72Jib. The heaviest. A ustralain bullock on record several decades ago dressed 19931 b, and, as even- America has not put forward anything approaching the English champion, Mr Keith’s giant may he regarded as the heaviest on record.

AGRICULTURAL “POOL” FOR ONTARIO. Following the example of the Western Provinces, the United' Fanners of Ontario have decided to adopt the “pool” system of wheat marketing. Contracts with individual farmers will be made by a provincial organisation, such as has .been already established by the three Western “pools,” Manitoba, Alberta, and' Saskatchewan. For the past five years Ontario farmers have marketed on the average 18,500,000 bushels of wheat annually. AUSTRALIAN 10001 b COW. TM Kelvinside stud of pedigree Jersey cattle, owned by Mr A. Booker, Alstonville, can claim the honour of having produced the first 1000 lb commercial cow (888.21 b fat) of that- breed on the North Coast of New South Wales. She is Conceit’s Coquette, of Kelvinside, -by Golden Prince of Kelvinside, by Golden Hero, ox Hero’s Conceit, also bv Golden Hero, which was a grandson of the imported sire Golden Lord. In a. 365 days’ test, under the Official Australian Purebred. Dairy Cattle Production Testing Scheme, commenced at the age. of seven, years, Conceit Coquette of Kelvinside yielded 13,45711) milk, with an average test of 6.6, and 10691 b commercial butter. Her record is a tribute to constructive breeding, and also to the c-are and attention the animals in this herd constantly receive from their owner. WOOL IN 13TH CENTURY. Ail interesting reference to the growth and export of wool and to the heavy taxes levied on all exported is riven in Hallam’s ‘Europe During the Middle Ages.’ Inter alia the historian SSl “Wool however the staple export, that age, was too easy and tempting a prev to be relinguislied by a prince engaged in an impoverishing war. Seven years afterwards in 20. E. HI. we find' the Commons praying that the great subsidy of forty shillings upon the sack of wool be taken off; and the old custom paid as heretofore was assented to and granted. . . . And upon . this grant divers merchants have made many advances to our lord the King in aid of his war; for which cause this subsidy cannot be repealed without assent of the King and his lords. SOUTHLAND’S DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORT.

The past season lias been a record one for production of dairy produce in Southland, the clieesa increase' being ■2l 598 crates, equal to 1542 tons, whilst the butter lias decreased by 8985 boxes, or about 225 tons, but this decrease is almost entirely accounted for by the fact that the Gore butter factory lias railed all its butter, about 200 tons, to Dunedin for grading and shipment instead of Bluff, where- it has always formerly been sent. This increase in Southland! is due to the very growthy summer and autumn and the mild "Winter, manv of the cheese factories Tunning fully a month longer than the average. For years tlierei has not been such a good summer. The rainfall was not heavier than usual, but there was not such a long dry spell from the middle of December to the- end of February as usual. It is during this period that the milk returns generally fall oil so badly, in many factories the intakes falling off more than one-third in those two This year the cows maintained an almost even yield during the months of December, January and February, ‘and the goodi return from the herds will compensate dairy farmers somewhat for the drop in the puce of cheese.

THE DETAILED FIGURES.

The following detailed figures were supplied by Mr D’Arcy Palmer, secretary to the. Southland Cool Stores, Ltd., for the following interesting comparisons of cheese and butter received into the Bluff stores during the past two seasons: —

CHEESE.

AFFOR EiSTAiTI ON (IN KENYA

WORK'OF “THE MEN OF THE TREES.”

A special meeting of the association “The Men of the Trees” was held in London recently to meet Mr. Richard St. -Barbe Baker on his return from Nigeria and the World’s Forestry Congress in Rome. Mr St. Barbe Baker, who. as Assistant Conservator of Forests, first started the movement of the Men of the Trees in 1922 among African tribesmen in the Highlands of Kenya, where it- met with very great success, described the work in detail, explaining its vital importance owing to the deforestation of the country in consequence of the wasteful methods employed by the inhabitants. The same need for' afforestation existed on the West Coast of Africa. ' The French, however, who were so great in the art of forestry, were threatened with even more serious disaster than the British owing to the encroachment of the desert on their African possessions. The necessity for the planting and the care of trees was, in fact, a worldwide one, the importance of which was gradually coming to be realised.

VAN DIEM AN’S LAND

ENTERPRISE OF ORIGINAL COMPANY.

Few probably, reading of the wonderful figures to which the wool mdustrv in Australia has grown xo realise that to a company formed m Van Diemen’s Band, similar to tne New Zealand Land Company of the Fortie’s, is due great credit for an enlightened enterprise about which must have had a considerable influence in laying fast the foundations of that industry, rightly termed ‘ I lie Golden Fleece.” , 7 ~ In his sketch of the history oi Van Diemen’s Land, Janies Bischoff writes of the extreme hardships endured by the .pioneers previous to 1819 which lie considers, was the year from which they began steadily to built up their possessions. Before* that, lie aclcls, thev were very hard put to it tor supplies ever due to the difficulties ot communication with the Mothei Country or other countries whence they could obtain supplies until they were able to cultivate their land to produce sufficient food for their wants; the consequence was that early settlers suffered severely from famine. After 1819 sheep began to increase rapidly. At first, however, though tins was tne case, the breed on the average was ot the lowest and, as the main object ot the breeders was to supply the stores with meat, little or no effort was made to effect an improvement until in a small shipment of the improved Merino breed was received in exchange for grants of land. These were distributed to the farmers most likely to give improvemenU to the quality of the fleeces and in addition securities were taken for repayment of the value of these lambs. This, says the writer, may be considered the commencement of attempts to i A prove the fleeces in Van Diemen’s Land and to make the growth of wool important. It is interesting too to notice that early statistics put down, the export of wool to Great Britain as larger from Van Diemen’s Land in 1931 than from New South Wa1e5—1,359.2031b s as against 1,134.131b5. The leading object of the company, he adds, was the growth of fine wool, and they are resolved to produce the cultivation of this lucrative production on a liberal scale. . . It- is tlieir intention to keep separate flocks of the most esteemed breeds, not only to have the facility for supplying the market with the quality of wool that may be most in request, but iu order that by experiments in crossing and an attentive practice of those rules winch experience has taught the most successful breeders of the Continent; a steady and progressive improvement may be insured. They added to this policy that of either making large additions if numbers shall Id he desirable or frequent small shipments of a. superior breed, if quality should appear most advantageous.”

MENDEL’S' LAW

COLOUR PROBLEM IN COWS

The colour problem in cattle is, And ever lias been, a .fascinating .study. The .astute Jacob of old: was one of the earlieet known .students of line subject, and, according to Holy Writ he experimented with a. wonderful amount of success. He at least got .a boutiful share of the colours he wanted in his breeding operations. On what particular line he operated is not recorded, and it was not until the discovery, about the beginning of the .present century, of the wonder ini results of crossing experiments with garden peas, carried out by Mendel, the Abbot of Brunn, that modern scientific thought was directed into a practical groove on the subject. Menders theories have been tested by many distinguisliicd researchers, and found to be remarkably reliable. Without going into any technicalities in regard to what da known as Mendel’s law of inheritance, put briefly it is that, given dcrtam characteristics in the .parents, specific results will follow, in a given ratio in the offspring. A great deal lias been written from time to time oil Mendel’s haw, and the doctrine generally is accepted) As wonderfully correct, although there will be exceptions to. the ru’ie. If the confirmed Mendeliau lays it down thAt certain, results must inevitably follow a certain line of mating, then iho may find himself treading on dangerous ground. A most interesting example of how Mendel’s law may not always- come up to theoretical expecfAtions is to- be found -in a group of Shorthorns which form part of the herd, of Mr Thomas Elder, of Haddington, England. ‘The calves are all either red or roan, and are this season’s progeny of a white stock bull. As the result of using this white sire on a herd of cow® ol ! mixted colours—dark and light roans and reds —for two seasons, Mr Elder has had the remarkable crop of 45 oailves without a, single white in the lot. Another- remarkable feature of the present season’s results is that, pretty much as an experiment, Mr Elder put the white sire to a light-coloured roan cow, which had hitherto bel&n mated to a coloured bull. The result—According bo Mendel’s Law —should have been a white or a roan, but, surprising to relate, the only solidi red, calf of tho lot was dropped! In estimating these results, it. is interesting to examine the breeding both of the white sire and also the light roan cow which dropped the red calf. The bull is the three-yea,r-old Millhills Autocrat, which was first and reserve champion at last year’s East Lothian Show, and second at the “Highland” at Glasgow. His sire was the white Millhills Diamond, which was got by the dark roan Cupbearer of Oollynie, out of the white cow Beaufort Queen 6th. The giAndsires of Mil.lhilLs Diamond on both sides were roans. The dam of Millhills Autocrat was a red, and she was got by the red hull Collynie Bright Star, but her dam wae the

roan Augusta Maid, while both her grandsire and granddain were roans. Then, coming to the light roan cow Conga.lton Rosebud, which, on being mated with the white bull MillhiUs Autocrat, produced this season ft Wood red calf, lier sire was the dark roan Bird sail Brier. Her dam was the white Congalton Rosemary 3rd, got by the dark roan Dung]ass Conqueror, and out of the white, cow Rosemary 118th. There is also an interesting sequence of colours in the produce of a roan cow, Lchrston Secret. In 1921 .she. had a roan calf, in 1922 a dark roan, in 1923 a . reel and white. These were all by the roan .sire Newton Royal Beau, which was sired by a white bull and • out of. a red cow, while tlieir dam was by a red bull and out of a roan cow. Thesie results all. constitute a very interesting study, and emphasise the fact that while Mendel's Law may be on the whole remarkably correct, notable exception to the rule may arise.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES

NOW A STAPLE CROP

POINTS IN THEIR. CULTIVATION

Now that nb last there are signs that the pig is coming into his own, crops suitable for pig feeding are bein <>- in ore widely grown. For it is not difficult by means of .skim milk and suitable crops to put pig feeding on an economic basis. At present prices it is probably more profitable to feed crops to pigs than to any other class of stock. Chief among pig crops is the Jerusalem artichoke. It is comparatively .safe, it is cheap to grow, and provides a large amount of nutritious food. It will grow on almost any class of soil, provided that there is a certain amount of fertility present, and that it is not waterlogged. But for the reason that the cron is difficult to eradicate, it should be given a paddock not likely to be required for any other purpose for some time.

Planting may be carried out any time in August or September; in late districts the latter month is better, because, while they are not so tender as potato shoots, the young artichokes are liable to be set- back by a heavy frost. The best method is to work down the land to a loose, though not necessarily fine, tilth; then plough about 2-Jin. deep, dropping the sets m every second furrow, and about 18m apart It is best not to have the crop too.thick. Cutting the sets is not good practice, though the larger ones may be broken into two pieces. About lOcAvt. will plant an acre. It must not he assumed that because the crop will flourish on poor land no manure is required. A good mixture SsScwt. loose super and Jcwt. 30 per cent, potash ; artichokes, like potatoes,

form large quantities of starch, and potash is required. Nitrogenous manures should be avoided, as they promote top growth at the expense of the tubers. This manure should be .sown in the furrow with the seed, though it may be sown broadcast with quite good results. In fact, some growers broadcast both sets and manure before ploughing, though furrow planting i.s preferable. No after cultivation should be necessary, hut if the weeds are strong it may be • desirable to harrow the paddock well when the young crop is strong enough to stand it—that is, when the plants are four or five inches high. When in full growth, artichokes will effectively smother most weeds. The crop is singularly free from insect pests, but during the past two years a disease lias made its appearance and lias become ti'oable.some in some parts. This disease is due to a fungus, sclerotium sclerotiorum, that attacks the stems at. ground level and causes them to blacken and rot away. The tops quickly wither, and the disease is liable to spread to the tubers. This disease is not only carried by the tubers, but can remain in the ground for several seasons. Hence the only remedy is to replant a fresh area with clean seed. The importance of obtaining. seed sets from a. healthy crop cannot be overestimated. Various meth--ods of disinfection have been tried, but none of them can as yet he recommended with confidence. When the crop is- being fed it is always advisable to divide it into breaks, and it may. even be proltable to run fattening pigs ahead of the store pigs and sows. It must be remembered that artichokes are a very starchy food, and to obtain the best results either skim milk or pease ought to be fed in addition. Replanting is a difficult matter. It is generally assumed that the pigs will leave enough in 'the ground to give a crop the next year, but disappointments often occur. On the whole, the best i)lan i.s to level off the ground wiffi the cultivator and harrows, topdress it, and watch the result. Thin patches can then be replanted and unnecessarily thick patches thinned out with the harrows. •?. A few years of artichokes and pigs will leave the land rich in fertility (more especially if milk lias been fed), and also rather foul. A fresh area should therefore he taken and the old area sown down. Stock will nip off any of the young shoots, and’ the remainder can be cut or pulled. If the paddock is cut for hay the presence of a few artichoke tops will do no harm; in fact, in some countries the tops are used for fodder. Alternatively the land may be used for mangels or potatoes, when the artichoke plants will be pulled out during the process of intercultivation.

Crates Orates 1925-6 1924-5 October 5,846 6,50~> November 16,456 16,770 December 23,601 21,907 January 21’,948 20,558 Februarv 19,209 16,827 Marcli IS, 443 12,7-75 April 15,140 11,281 Mav 11,473 S',465 June 7,262 4,266 J u 1 v 2,552 979 Totals 141.929 120,331