NOTES BY THE WAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 7 January 1928, Page 14

NOTES BY THE WAY.

Farmers generally report having ample feed oi all kinds and great growth in their pastures, despite the dry spells they have experienced. One farmer in this district says he has never had a better supply—pastures in good heart, plenty of lucerne, and crops coming on well. So much lucerne has he that he has been able to dispose of some requiring cutting which he could not use. All agree that they are getting the certain and undoubted results of top-dressing, which has been much more liberal than ever before. Actually the opportunity has been unique, because of the fertiliser price “war.” Manures were obtainable at prices the farmers had never seen before. Those who did not take advantage have only themselves to blame. It is in the dry spells that the value of top-dressing is most really proved. • Taranaki used to be known to many as the place where manuring was not needed, but intensive farming and heavy stocking have told their tale in the course of years, and now top-dressing is proved essential and generally practised. The dairy farmeis are having a par ticuiarly strenuous time just now, with hay-making and the ordinary work of the milking shed. A lot oi hay-making is done round the district by co-operative effort. It will be of interest to know that a group of farmers not far from Haw era have a regularly drawn agreement amongst themselves to cope with the work on their farms, all done in most businesslike fashion. In the event of one man selling out, the remainder meet and discuss the question of the newcomer. They' arc also covered against accident during the work. When they take the work at any’ farm the different duties are all allotted, and each section has, as it were, a- divisional commander. On telephoning a farmer close to Hawera for some information, a message was received that he was away with a co-operative party at a neighbour’s farm getting- in fourteen acres of hay. They meet immediately after the morning’s milking and work right on, going straight from the job to the milking shed for the evening work. This is a very wise and practically mutual undertaking, which deserves all the success one can wish the farmers. They are certainly doing good work for the country as well as for themselves, and while New Zealand farmers work in that way the Dominion must flourish, and no one will grudge a rich reward for their good work. THe record of production in the dairyindustry in the Auckland province lias, said the “Herald,” been passed, and that despite the abnormally dryweather during early summer. It is recorded that the output is 13 per cent, above last year. And, in addition — an important point —regular shipments have been made, with the result that the amount in store is less than at the corresponding time last year. Government statistics show that for the month of November, 1927, Patea received for grading no less than 53,904 crates of cheese nearly 7000 more than New Plymouth, which stood second on the list of grading ports. Wellington followed with 37,931 crates, 'and then Auckland 34,063. The northern city, however, stands far ahead of any other port for butter received, 150,533 boxes, the next being Wellington with 30,600. Both butter and cheese show large increases on the same month of 1926, and also for the first few months of the dairy season. And the increase has been maintained, though not quite so large, in December

The younger the grass the better tinhay is a maxim little known to Auckland farmers, although; it is fairly

commonly recognised that if the growth is allowed to stand until the seed falls the soluble cellulose, sugar and other elements become indigestible and woody when they have been allowed to cure through the autumn (says an exchange). Till recent years it was a common practice for Auckland farmers to build large stacks, but of late the pressing of hay has become popular, and the well-thatched stack of symmetrical appearance has not been prominent upon the provincial landscape. There are still farmers who believe in the old-time type of stack, and with them pressed hay is not popular. “The movement lias been a wonderful success,” said Mr. A. D. Stanley, secretary of the Church of England Immigration Committee, who stated at Auckland this week that arrangements had been made to bring out 150 more boys next year to place upon New Zealand farms. How much mineral substance goes into milk? In 10,0001 bof milk there are about 701 b of minerals. How much air does a cow require ? To, supply her with good air requires alrout 3550 cubic feet per hour. Cti-ou mollier requires at least six I weeks longer growing period than does rape, and when given this time canmore than hold its own with the other forage crops. The feet of calves and the bull confined to the stable often grow' out quickly, and make walking difficult. Keep the toes cut back. Sheep, also, need their feet trimmed.

Perhaps one of the best features of chou mollier is its capacity to resist diseases to which root crops are subect. No doubt this crop owes a certain amount of its popularity to its wonderful capacitv for resisting clubroot, a disease which annually takes a heavy toll. The surplus grass feed which is usually obtained during the spring and early summer months, and is not required, can be profitably converted into silage for use during a period of scarcity.

Rood blood provides the frame which will carry the flesh evenly and smoothly. but it is up to man to see that sufficient feeds of the right kind are at all times available to cover that frame sufficiently and smoothlv.

The animal system uses salt in the body to make hydrochloric acid, which is used to digest the food, and ns the digestion of food is a continuous process, it is necessary that animals must have a small amount of salt every day. Manv cases of malnutrition in animals due to mineral deficiency of pasture have been recorded.

Internal parasites in lambs and pigs cause unthriftiness, and in some instances death. Young stock running on old pastures are most subject to i n feetion

A motherly sow. which is good tempered and successfully rears her litter.

is a. valuable asset, and she should not be parted with until her best days are over

Top-dressed areas remain green for a longer period than those that are unmanured, thus providing succulent feed for a longer period and diminishing the danger of fire.

To get the best out of a pasture it must t>© kept as nutritious as possible, and also palatable by presenting tne feed in its mo-st attractive iorrn to the grazing animal. A co-operative association is not operated to make a profit on in vested capital above the usual rale of interest, Out to profitably market the products of its members at the lowest possible cost. Nature does all her breeding by the ruthless method of culling. Darwin called it natural selection. Culling alone, purposefully followed as a practice through the years will result in a great herd or flock. The heaviest planting of early potatoes in the history of the industry on the north-west coast of Tasmania is taking place. Fifty per cent, more superphosphate lias been used this season than last.

A unique show record stands to the credit of the three-year-old heil'er Waitemata Queen Sylvia (Hose vale King Sylvia—Baiufield 31), owned by the Waitemata Stud Farm, of Hobsonville, Auckland. This heifer has been shown twelve times, and has secured ten first prizes. Every time that she has appeared before a New Zealand judge she has gained the red ticket, the only two judges to put her down being the Australian judges at the 1925 and 1926 Royal Shows, when at both these shows she was very highly commended Not only is she a heifer of great type, but she is a producer having given over 2001 b butterfat under herd test since August to the middle of December this year. This heil'er is therefore a credit to her paternal grand-dam, the renowned Buckeyje Sylvia Posch. At a special meeting of the Jersey Breeders’ Association of South Africa, Mr. H. Padwick, who had come from England to judge Jerseys at the shows, said : “There is one word I might add: 1 have been asked by several people here about the colour of Jerseys. Colour is a matter we care nothing about in England, nor do breeders in the United States. I understand that you consider that if a oow is broken colour she is not a Jersey. But a good .Terse can be any colour, just as a good house can. In judging I never pay the slightest attention to colour.”

An invention which may have farreaching effects in the mechanical world has been patented by a Te Kuiti resident. The device, which lias been named the gravity motor, is said to lie capable of harnessing the forces of gravity and converting the same into mechanical power without the aid of fuel, such as petrol, oil, steam, or gas At a private demonstration the invention displayed a mixture of novelty and ingenuity, the various parts '<of the mechanism (performing their functions perfectly. The demonstration model was developing 1 h.p., and was coupled to an electric dynamo which is generating power, a very small percentage of which is being utilised in a most remarkable and ingenious manner to keep the whole of the machine in motion. The surplus power generated can be utilised .to drive motors, for lighting, milking machines, etc. Seperal prominent engineers who hace been acquainted with the working of the machine describe it as incorporating a new mechanical movement.

Motor lorries already play an important part in the transport of passengers and godos, and their use in transporting stock is. becoming increasingly popular. At the Wallacetown yards last week (reports the “Southland News”) there were five double deckers unloading fat lambs almost at the same time.

The Government Statistician estimates. the current season’s lambing, based on stock inspectors’ retsrns, for the North island at 6,899,861 to November 30, an increase, during the past four years of 350,000; and for the South Island at 5,968,979, an increase ol 1,019,000.

The announcement made recently that the Government intends subsidising the export of pork is likely to result- in a considerable impetus being given to pig-raising in North Otago (says a corerspondent of the “Otago Daily Times”). There is not at present a sufficient supply of pork in the South Island to meet local requirements. and if North Island pork is exported it is probable that prices in the south will firm considerably. The class of pig that is bred in the South Island is not, in the opinion of experts, suitable for the export trade

A grass that is eminently suited to localities where there are spells of dry weather and the climate is very hot is the African veldt grass. It shoulddo well ill North Auckland; in Australia, where it has been tried out, the results have been remarkably good. A Westralian agricultural official says that “it is without doubt the finest fodder grass in this State, because stock like it and it grows freely.”

l j It is interesting to read of the work to bo done at the Massey College, giving as it does great opportunities for instruction that will “promote the interests of better farming.” Some details are given of the range of work available in a statement by the department. There are, it is stated, “two actual types of courses offered. Those leading to degrees of the University of New Zealand, or short courses aiming to meet the needs of the working farmer’s son who is anxious to improve his knowledge, but cannot spare the time during the season. Courses of training in the' manufacture of dairy produce and in herd-testing are also ' available. The course particularly designed to meet the needs of young farmers will deal mainly with the principals underlying such subjects as topdressing and pasture management, the growing of forage crons, feeding, breeding. farm veterinary practice, etc. In short, the aim of the course is to improve the practical man’s capabilities by giving him an understanding of tbe technical side of bis occupation.”

Cows, and more especially the heavier milkers, are very sensitive animals; any disturbance wiil be reflected in the yield. It is, therefore, essential that the cows be treated gently at all times, and particularly at the time of milking, says the “Dairy.” If the cow is

not disturbed, the milk secretion will start readily and milking will be more expeditious. Good milkers realise this; they are quiet in manner and voice, approach the cow wit'h ai word so that she is not startled at their sudden appearance, coax her into a favourable- position, and then sit down on the stool with the pail in position without undue disturbance or noise. There is no necessity to stroke or pat the cows be-, fort sitting down, and after the hands have been carefully washed. Duringj milking, the good milker concentrates on the work of the moment and does | not shout at .the cows nor engage in loud conversation with other milkers.