GORSE AS FODDER.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11354, 12 October 1899, Page 2

GORSE AS FODDER.

A year or two ago accounts appeared of the successful use of gorse as feed for sheep and cattle on poor land in the north of Auckland. The fact that gorse is nutritive fodder was no new discovery, as for centuries ifc has been used in Scotland. But there it has been cut, crushed by heavy rollers, and chaffed. With the price of labor in New Zealand that would be impracticable. Mr T. C. Williams, of Keri Keri and Pakaraka, was the first in New Zealand to try and grow it for feeding-oil, and his .experiments have been so successful, according to ' tho annual report of the Agricultural Department, that he has purchased a large area of land hitherto considered almost useless, to lay down ■ in gorse. His first experiment in 1886, was on a small scale, two acres of a large paddock of fairly good land being laid in jjorse. On this two acres 12 sheep were pastured for 12 months from March, 1897, and for another 12 months 1 it never carried less than 20 sheep and sometimes 25. The rest .of the paddock, r laid down in grass, was carrying not more than a sheep and a half to the acre. K was found that when sown broadcast the \ gorse grew bo densely that the sheer, were soon unable to get through it, and lost considerable wool, and rolling and chaffing had to be resorted to. But Mi Williams now drills in the seed in rows sft apart, so that the sheep can get in 1 between and keep the growth down. In the end, of course, the ranker growth gets the ascendancy, but all that is necessarj is to burn off the paddock every foui years, when the gorse renews itself. Mi Williams claims that on Keri Keri, where he formerly cerried only one sheep tc three or four acre 3, on gorse he can de pasture at least six to the acre. The Agricultural Department's inspector looks to gorse to\ revolutionise pastoral pursuits on the poor lands of the North that it must replace the usual costly process of bringing the poor lands of Auck land into cultivation; and he describe! this prooess in language which will prob ably be recognised as only too true bj many an Auckland settler. The natural growth— manuka or ti-tree— is first cul down, the land is broken up for turnips and then laid down in grasses, ol which ryegrnss forms a large portion, some cocksfoot and olovers. " Tht well recognised result follows : — At th( . «nd of the first year the ryegrass has gon< completely; the cocksfoot follows aboul the end of the second year; and clovers and weeds give some feed for the next two. Thes. the process is repeated as long as the farmer has any money left." In the case of land companies and banks the money lasts longer than it does with the average farmer, but the result is the same [ in tbe end. Of course no one would think j of sowing gorse in the richer parts of ; Hawke's Bay, where ifc would inevitably t take possession of tbe land, but on our [ poorer lands, especially the light pumice soils to the north of Petane, it might prove i invaluable. At any rate the thing seems ! worth a trial.

Attention is drawn to tho tiine-tablo of tho Napier 'Bus Company for to-morrow. 'Buses will leave Eskdalo, Petane,and Western Spifc at convenient hours, and stavt from Noul and Closo'a corner at 10 a,ui. for Ilßutiuga. Tho report of Mesdaines Hill and Begg, examiners of the Napier district school pupils' sewing exhibits, was presented at last evening's meeting of the school com-" inittee. Tho examiners found the teacher's method well adapted to the form of instruction, and the evident growth of appreciation among both- pupils and parents was sufficient proof of its success. The committee was highly satisfied with tho report, and passed a motion in appreciation of the work of Miss Cross and her pupils. The Napier School Committee met last evening. Present — Messrs Edwards (in the chair), Hall, Houlder, Bear, Lasoelles, Williamson, and Garner. The roll number was reported at 857, average attendance ,805. The school had been reorganised and reelassiSed for 1900, and all the classes were now in full working order. — Mr Knowles was thanked for the supply of colored examination papers for the infants gratia. — Leave of absence was granted to Mr Oaughley to attend the University examination. — The secretary of the School Cricket Club wrote that all the committee had been elected vicepresidents of the club, for conferring which honor the club was thanked. — It was resolved to again apply for necessary maps required by - the headmaster. — Several accounts were passed for payment. — Some recommendations by the visiting committee are to be acted upon. A most despicable act waa committed at the Criterion Hotel yesterday afternoon. Between the hours of 3 and 4 o'clook eomeone, evidently harboring a deep grievance against the hostelry, began to hack the property of the proprietor about. Starting in the commercial room, he out the furniture, sticking a knife into a couple of valuable oil paintings, whioh he nearly ripped in twain; and then devoted his attention to couohes and cushioned chairs, whioh were likewise badly cut. Then the culprit devoted his attention to the room occupied by the Hawke's Bay Jookey " Club, " where cushioned ohairs were also viciously hacked aboufc. Altogether Mr Charlfcon estimates that about .£2O worth of damage has been done. How anyone can find fun in doing this sort of thing it is really difficult to oomprehend, and it is to be hoped that the perpetrator will meet with the punishment he deserves. Mr E. Watts, o ( f, North Kaikora, still maintains that the sheep he missed from his paddocks were stolen. That the gate was left open and ' the sheep wandered away is, he says'/untrue. The facts of the matter are these : " Fifty-three sheep were found on the road and the gate fastened. Suspicion was at once aroused that someone had been among3t the Bhei?p, as they were brought together and counted, when it was discovered that out of a mob of 329 4-tooth wethers, whioh were in the old race course paddock, 96 were misting. The police were at once informed about it, while several of my men were sent in various directions to see if they could be traced, when 15 were found near the Milbourne station, a distance of about four miles. Later on more were seen. I got back 62 sheep ; 34 are still away. They were driven through three gates and through two flocks of sheep, and about three miles of unfenced road. Not one sheep could 'be found on the first man's property through which they travelled after leavingmy place. So, now, can any sensible man say those sheep mustered up there themselves; if they did my sheep must be a superior lot to any in the district, as they must have as much sense as human beings." Mr Hill's report on the Napier, district school was read at last night's meeting of the School Committee. The Inspeotor wrote: — "The infanta' olass, from Mrs Barnett's downwards, have, made considerable progress in a wide syllabus of instruction. A marked advance nas takgn place in the writing, and the work generally is satisfactory. It would be well, however, to pay more attention to clear enunciation in reading during the coming year, and singing should be taught, and the children trained by means of the modulator.. As a whole the infants' department continues to be well managed with considerable success. It is well controlled; The system of training the pupil teachers is good, and the progress made during the year is very satisfactory. It will be seen from these remarks that although the school has suffered in an unusual manner during the past year from irregular attendance, owing to sickness of various kinds, it is in a very satisfactory Btate of working efficiency. The most perceptible progress is in the higher standards, aud I remember no period in the history of the school where such good all-round results have been obtained. The year's progress has been sound and real, and the tone throughout has been satisfactory." The committee passed a , resolution congratulating the headmaster, Mr Morgan, and the teachers upon coming so satisfactorily out of the examination. AWallingford correspondent writes: — On Friday evening the bachelors of Walling ford gave a ball, which was held in Mr J. Bird's new woolshed. The weather was not all that could have been wished, as light showers h;id fallen during the day, and settled to a steady rain for the evening. However, this did not prevent many from coming that had intended to come. There were between 30 and 40 couples, visitors from Waipukurau, Porangahau, and surrounding districts, and it must have been gratifying to the bachelors to see so many. Mr Connor, on behalf of the (bachelors, opened, tho ball with a neat speech, in which he bade all welcome, and hoped they would spend an enjoyable evening. The shed was beautifully decorated by Messrs W, Bird and J. Hudson with bush flowers and greenery, Tmd the floor was in splendid condition. Messrs Houston and Packer made very efficient M C.'s. Of course, as is usual, it wa3 difficult to pick "a " belle among so 1 many, but 1 think it lay between Misses i Walington, Parker, and Sims. The time kept by the musioians, Messrs Cook (2) and Nairn, was first-class. v The supper was tastefully laid out, and the committee saw that all were attended to. Towards morning Mr Cook, sen., for the visitors, proposed a hearty vote of thanks and cheers for the bachelors for the enjoyable evening, which were well responded to, all voting the ball a huge success and the beat ever held in Wallingforcl. The remaining refreshments were handed over to the schoolmistress, with which to regale the school children. What the Bicycling Jfeiup has to say of Punlops in America -.— < From-a careful reading of the American trade papers it would seem that the Dunlop tyre is making considerable headway in America. The property and rights of this tyro now belong to the Rubber Goods Manufacturing Company of the United States, which is controlled by Charles K. Flint. As he is closely cocnedted with the great American cycle combine, now euphoniously known as the ABC, or American Bicycle Co,, it will be seen that there are great possibilities here for the great English tyre. While on this subject, and in view of the rumor of 'corners' in cycles, &c, it may be interesting to note The IVlieel on the situation :— ' With the exception of branch stores, tha cycle trade of 1900 is not likely to be affected in any way by the A. 8.C., and those who know even the first letters of the alphabet or oommon sense will henceforth strictly attend to business.' "

• .---■-? J. Hardy invites tlio public to inspect Luke'd improved cooking ranges lv different patterns. Wool-olasaer seeks employment. ApplJ Herald. . ■ General meeting Bisslngton Racing Clnb. at rutntapu Hotel, Butnrdiiy, 21st met., 7,80. Everything from a lieodlo to an anchor it Joucn und Koko'o, Hualiugs', Ijtiuch at Rn?nr Wltidinv'd Anntiir t.hn nlinw.