NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 July 1927, Page 16

NOTES.

‘•The cows have to pay the rates, and we should have some consideration for them whenever possible," said a Patea councillors at last meeting when a matter of the care of an accommodation paddock was being discussed.

When pedigree cattle were being sent away last week from Hawera, in order to secure their comfort, 28 chaff sacks of shavings were used for bedding—four sacks to each truck. Tarpaulins were put over the trucks, and nothing left undone that would help in that respect.

The women’s branch of the Farmers’ Union is progressing steadily. There are many avenues of effort, and even in this yonug branch in South Taranaki one hears of good work by members, which is done quietly and without ostentation, but which is proving emphatically its value. The recent “Book Day” was successful, but however many are received there is room for hundreds more. One needs not much thought to realise what literature means to people on way-back farms or on farms which from one cause or another are not too flourishing. An appeal is being made, and it is certain that the answer will he generous.

Speaking on the subject of scrub bulls on Tuesday at Stratford, Mr. D. O’Sullivan said that he hoped before long there would be no scrub bulls in the Dominion, and only those that could justify their existence in the records of their sires and dams would be competent- to take their place at the head of dairy herds.

At the annual meeting of the Stratford Jersey Cattle Club it was decided to promote a class at the forthcoming Stratford A. and P. Show for pedigree calves reared and shown by children, the conditions being left to the committee.

The dairy farmer—and this is the advice of a, man who has been all bis life on a farm and is in a big way—wants knowledge and should neglect no means of getting further information on all subjects that will help him to get better returns. Our informant urges strongly the need for more of the huge amount spent annually on education being devoted to young farmers. “Cut the grass if necessary. for any that goes to seed is lost,” he said. “If it cannot be used put it into the ensilage stack or pit. or dispose of it somehow.” One would imagine, however, there would lie no need to worry on that score.

The same farmer had also something to say the other day on the question of calving and lambing, for which to be most successful demands good strong condition in the dam. The condition of the young is decided long before birth by that of the dams when preparing for breeding. This makes it essential that feeding shall be liberal and common sense for all stock during the period before birth of their young, especially as that time usually embraces much of the worst and "coldest weather.

Mr. Deem, in bis monthly notes for July, stressed the need of abundant fodder, even at the risk of a pinch later on, hut actually the wise farmer leaves ample margin so that lie can “push it into his stock” when needed without fear of shortage.

Last week 84 Border Leicester ranis were despatched to Melbourne from Southland. This week the Karetu was to take 169 ewes of the same strain to Sydney.

All classes of stock arc doing particularly well at present, says a southern paper. Indeed, it' Is doubtful if they have ever been in (such good winter condition. The opinion was expressed by an expert that Southland farmers are the best exemplars ol stock husbandry in New Zealand. There was no doubt, be said, that the province had a great future before it. Certainly the farmers eouid howl their own with those of any other district in New Zealand from a cultivation point of view.

By having a plentiful supply of turnips for winter feeding, the various breeds of stocl\ are improved, as it enables the farmer to keep Jiis stock wed fed during the close months, which would be impossible on grass alone, unless the farm was considerably understocked.

It is generally preferable to sow Interne in autumn, when the growth of weeds is not so great; but even then, in some districts the problem is a difficult one. If the ground be ploughed several months before sowing, and the weeds, which then spring up. be destroyed by frequent cultivation. a large portion of the weed seeds will have germinated, and will be effectively disposed of.

The nitrogen of soils is present primarily in the organic matter of humus, which is gradually broken down by chemical and bacteriological action to provide the ammonium salts and, finally. the nitrates for absorption by plant roots. This organic matter is largely of vegetable origin, being derived from the debris of plants which have grown on the soil Home of it, however, is of animal origin, derived from the droppings of grazing stock, and. of course, in farming practice from flie application of farmyard manure's, fish manures and meat manures.

Grass is a crop which responds woli to cultivation, and more attention must bo paid to cultural operations if our pastures are to lie improved. Just as wo have improved our breeds of stock to a remarkable degree in the last few years by scientific breeding, so we can look for a great increase in production in our grass lands under scientific treatment.

The advice so strongly and insistently given to farmers by Mr. J. IV. Deem, to keep the pastures short, because the vitamins in the grass arc lost when let to go to seed, is strong!v backed by good farmers. A settler or long and wide experience on this coast says that it i.s as good for cattle as tor .-,iicep. “The best time to cultivate your lucerne,” said a farmer the other day, “is late in the autumn, when the annual grass is just coming through the ground. That would do the work and deal with the little grass also.”

Mr. Deem in this month’s notes gives this advice, which is worth repeating: “Old pasture that has lain all winter- has very little feeding value, and in the case of in-calf cows frequently does considerable, harm by bringing about compaction. On the high country where the spring i.s very late this cleaning may be left a month later. It sometimes happens on dairy farms where plenty of roots, hay ami ensilage are provided, and the cows are well fed that difficulty is experienced in getting paddocks well eaten out. In such cases it will pay to either buy a few hitngry store cattle for the purpose or get some other farmer who owns this type of cattle to bring them along and clean up your lields. The free grazing may benefit your neighbour; it is sure to benefit you. One of the great secrets of pasture management is to have all autumn roughage cleaned out in time for the spring growth.”

A Kakaramea dairy farmer from 98 cows has a. total of fat of 30,3761 b, just 3101 b per cow. Per acre, on the other hand, it works out at just over 2001 b. That is qiute good on a fairly large farm and herd. If 80 per cent of the total dairy cows and farms worked out those figures what a fine tiling it would be for the Dominion and what a great increase it would mean in the total production! However, as the productiveness per cow and per acre goes ui>, it is essential that more ancl more attention should be paid to what is now a subsidiary industry-—pig-rearing. There should be a much greater power to absorb further output.

Last years’ increase in production should show us as to wlmt can be done to make up for lower values (said the president of the Dairy Farmers’ Union at Palmerston North recently). But we mast give up depending on climatic conditions for increased production. We have commercialised for too long the many advantages. Nature has given u.s. and it is by better breeding and feeding that we must endeavour to reach that ultimate goal of the 3091 b lmtter-fat cow. With such an average production and a well-estab-lished export trade in pigs. New Zealand would become the most prosperous country in the world.