RURAL NOTES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 93, 1 April 1911, Page 2

RURAL NOTES.

YOUNG PIGS.

The greatest loss of life in pigkeeping is nom me time when m<j iiitie pigs commence to take other lood tnan tneir mother's milk, and uisu from a little time after weaning. inis is also the time when tliey arc most liable to become stunted. 'there are otlier conditions which, tend to their ill-thriving at this period, such as wet- bacdy-ventilated, and dirty styes; but it is equally certain tnat when the feeding is injudicious, the ill-effects of the causes mentioned are tar more marked. Colds, rheumatism, and skin diseases, which healthy-managed pigs would pass by, seize them, the unhealthy state of the blood rendering them susceptible to such ailments. Little pigs red on too strong food—that is, food containing too much nitrogenous matter—become unhealty, and, as a preventive, a dose of salts is found useful, from the fact that the purging lowers the condition of the blood. PITTING POTATOES. When making a pit for potatoes outdoors a dry situation should be selected, because otherwise there is a danger of water draining into the pit and causing injury to tne tubers. A depth of Bin below the surface is quite sufficient, and the pit may be from 3ft to sft wide at tne bottom. The potatoes should be placed as high as they will lie on the base, forming a triangular section. A layer of good dry straw should be put over the potatoes in sufficient quantity that when compressed by earth it should not be less than bin thick. On the top of the straw should be placed at least 6in of earth, and in the event of very severe weather, another layer of straw or litter should be put on. the top. STORAGE OF POTATOES.

Thjs was made the subject of an investigation at the Central Experimental h arm of the Department of Agriculture, Canada, and the results are included in the report, recently issued, of the chief chemist. The potatoes were kept in baskets placed in a cellar of one of the farm buildings, where fairly good conditions prevailed. It was cool and dry, with sufficient ventilation to prevent heating without unduly drying out th© tubers. It was found that the loss amounted during the first 87 days to 8.1 per cent, of the weight; during subsequent 101 days to 2.8 per cent.; during subsequent 25 days, to 0.6 per cent. The total loss in weight was 11.5 per cent.' The experiment, conducted from October to May, seems to prove that under ordinarily good conditions mature potatoes lose something like 10 per cent, of their weight, which is due to the drying out of the tubers. Very lath (immature) potatoes may lose twice that percentage. The probabilities are that when kept in larg'e quantities in bins or bags under similar conditions to those described the loss would be somewhat less than the percentage recorded in the experiment.

Tn all countries where agriculture is scientifically pursued, it is realised and recognised that the use of lime is of immense benefit to the soil. Use new seed whenever you are in a position to choose. Old seed has lost some of its perminating power, and many of the grains will fail to strike. . There is no text book for the man on the land. Conditions vary in short distances, and it is for each man to use his own good judgment and decide for himself. The farmer need have no fear of over prouctioik in the horse industry, as there is a large actual shortage of horses among all civilised nations.

Fallowin g and working the land well will pay, but only the progressive few have adopted the innovations ; success has well repaid their enterprise. Sheep try to obtain a little shade by placing the head under the body of the next, and so on regularly. These animals utilise the. bodies of others to provide shade. Ought we not to help them by providing or reserving clumps of trees? Pigs are about as good goods as any in the live stock market at the present. time. The horse is a good servant, but a very bad master; be firm with him and kind.

When the bowels of the pig are in /*» order, and he is mostly hungry, it is - safe to speculate he is in good buo-, kle.

The times have changed considerably ; it is not considered bad form to talk about Mother Earth now.