WHAT “SUNDOWNER” HEARS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 64, 2 March 1929, Page 12

WHAT “SUNDOWNER” HEARS

Questions pertaining to the general welfare of the butter and cheese industry will be discussed at a conference of the Auckland provincial district of the New Zealand Factory Managers’ Association to be held at Auckland on March 6.

Galloway cows are becoming popular for crossing purposes. Tho calves from the herd at Ousdale, the property of the Duke of Portland, have for the second year in succession carried off the supreme honours at the annual show and sale at DingwalL

Mr James King, one of Southland’s best-known agricultural personalities, dropped dead at th® home of hie son last Friday. As a breeder of stud stock, Mr King was very well known, his Clydesdale horses. Jersey cattle and Romney Marsh sheep being considered amongst the best bred in the country. He was also a well-known judge, his services in this capacity being sought by many A. and P. associations.

One of the most effective methods of destroying rabbits is recognised by officials of the Stock Department to be the fumigation of burrows. Special machines have been provided for this purpose. Last week representatives of Messrs Wright. Stephenson and Co. gave a demonstration on a farm in the Ngapara district, Nprth Otago, the effects of fumigation with calcium cyanide. The demonstration was witnessed by a -lumber of interested settlers, and proved most successful. Very few rabbits survived the poison fumes of the cyanide.

The Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association last Saturday decided to puniase an area of 84 acres 1 rood adjoining the present property of the association at To Hapara from the Tucker estate at the price of £2225.

• A Wanganui farmer who -recently turned from a motoring trip to Taupo commented upon the tremendous growth of Californian thistle in the Mataroa and Rangiwaea districts fsays tho “Chrpnicle.”) He contrasted tho weed as it was to-day with whnt existed 10 or 12 years ago. “Fanners used to cut it then,” ho said, “and were particular about the work too. Now, it’s a case of looking to the thistle to supply winter feed for cattle.’’

A considerable amount of research work is in progress at the Massey College. This is being devoted to four particular lines, namely, research in dairying, field husbandry, wool and New Zealand flax. Specially trained workers are engaged upon problems affecting these, and good progress has already been made in sJVJraI linos" of inquiry.

Referring to the moth which has been bred to combat ragwort, Mr J. W. Deem told a Hawera “Star” re presentative that the Agricultural Department had been collaborating with the Cawthron Institute, and after consultation ithad been resolved to liberate the insects in three districts in the Dominion, one of them being Central Taranaki, the area selected being a few miles from Stratford, ni 1 this has been done. , The question which had to be considered was where the beet “bng breeding centres” could be obtained. The insects required plenty of the weed as food, and where thev would reproduce their kind quicklv and extensievly. Mr Deem referred to the blue gum scale and the means taken to deni with the pest. Ho said that it was found that when the supplv of .food ceased the parasite died with it. This, it was hoped, would eventually happen with the cinnamon moth.

That sheep have good appetites when in good health is proverbial, but the following curious experiment carried out in 1792 or thereabouts shows what a healthy Hampshire ewe wil] consume. Arthur Young telle us that a certain Mr Halstead farming at Lavont, near Chichester, was very curious to ascertain just how much n Hampshire ewe would increase in weight after consuming food. So, selecting a Hampshire ewe that hod been without food since six o’clock the previous evening, he weighed her and then turning her into a root field, he re-weighed her after she had been feeding four hours; the increase in weight was no less than 141 b.

• e e The question has been frequently asked—Why do so few pig breeders buy their young boars as weanlings instead of at an age when they are almost ready for service P Bought as a weanling of ten to twelve weeks old. the boar will invariably cost less money than at an older age. If tho man who is to keep a boar takes this step and rears the animal. he will come to have a better knowledge of the pig than when he buys an adult boar. The boar so reared will generally b e more docile and easier to handle than one which is a comparative stranger to its new surroundings. A good boar, like a good young sow. should be selected from a moderately numerous and evensized litter. The piglings which are slightly better developed than their companions will be found, as a rule, the best. Vigorous growth and stamina are first essentials in breeding pigs. No pig, no matter how well bred, should be retained as sow or boar if it is defective in any respect.

Commenting on a grass known as Sporobolus indicus (Parramatta grass, tussock grass, or rat’s tail grass), Mr. W. J. Spafford (Deputy Director of Agriculture) states that it is plentiful in parts of New South Woles, where, in places, it grows up to 2)ft in height, but it is not looked upon with favour. Although it i« eaten fairly readily by livestock, *.icn only young growth is present, it soon becomes tough end hard, end is then neither palatable nor nutritious. It is so tough when matured it is noted for loosening the teeth of grazing animals, because of the difficulty they experience in tearing off the growth. In locations which suit, this g.ass it tends to crowd out better herbage, but it is now found that top-dressing such pastures tends to encourage more useful plant*, and the Parramatta grass is kept in check.

A Wanganui motorist .who was ask« cl by the Automobile Association if he would assist in convi viug visiting

bandsmen to places of interest dfiring contest week, replied to the secretary as follows (says tho “Herald

“The bandsmen came from near and far a contest to engage in. They tried to borrow every ear to inspect the bal ly place in.Bnt mine’s too small, you must admit, fat bandsmen to convey; a nice long walk would make ’em fit and much improve their play.”