What "Sundowner”. Hears

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 28 September 1927, Page 7

What "Sundowner”. Hears

The question as to whether it is always necessary, or even advisable, to earth up potatoes is one that has vexed mankind ever since the tuber was grown. It is the common practice to do so because of the tendency of the plant to “lift” as the young tubers are formed, but if it could be dispensed with without any great risk of a large proportion of green tubers through exposure to the light much labour would be saved. As to whether potatoes should be earthed up or not, states a British writer, much must always depend- upon the depth at which the seed is planted. The deeper the planting the less necessity there should be for earthing up, but here again we are faced with a difficulty, because deep planting will not stand it so well as others. On light soils earthing up is really more necessary.

For the first six months of his dfe, the young bull may be treated exactly as the heifers are cared for. Skimmed milk or whole milk, when it is available, with good hay, a little silage and all the grain he will eat, will keep him growing.

The length of time a calf should be fed skim-milk will depend somewhat on the amount available, but wherever possible it is wise to feed some skim-milk until the calf is six months old.

A new use is being found for the aeroplane as a means of combating the spread of disease in the farmers’ crops. Aeroplanes have been used in the United States for spraying the cotton crop. In Canada considerable success has been achieved by spraying the wheat fields of Manitoba against rust.

Inheritance of dairy qualities, as shown by milk records, does not appear to be nearly so strong as the inheritance of beef characteristics.

Paint is, of course, well known to contain lead in most cases, and cows seem to have a great relish for it. It is, therefore, advisable to see that no paint in any form is left lying near them, or that no new painting should be undertaken near where the cows ' are to be'. A little care and foresight, will prevent much loss.

it is best to plough the land as soon as one crop has been utilised, giving as along a period as possible before sowing the next. If necessary a second ploughing will then be able to be given.

Buch manures as blood and Done mixture, bone meal, farmyards or other organic manures, are best applied during the winter months if the full benefit is to be obtained’the following season.

“It is no exaggeration to say that dairying depends primarily on two things—recording and proportionate feeding.”—Professor li. G. Linton, M.R.C.V.S., in a paper to the Lancashire Veterinary Medical Association.

It is probable that a cow requires between three an four gallons of water for every gallon of milk provided.

For the last five years before the war Denmark’s share in the world turnover in butter was reckoned as 28 per cent. Since the war, however, exports of Dannish butter have greatly increased and in 1924 Denmark’s share of the world turnover was per cent. ♦ * *

Th*j effect of phosphate on the plant is that of counteracting rankness of growth. Practically all cultivated soils are dificicnt in phosphoric acid so that fertilisers containing this ingredient are always required.