AGRICULTURE.

Hutt Valley Independent, Volume I, Issue 5, 9 February 1911, Page 3

AGRICULTURE.

~ No. 1 of Volume 2 of the Journal of the Department of f Agriculture, dated 16th Janus ary, 1911, made a belated ap- , pearanctf through the post on ] February 6, Mr, Cockayne, , Biologist, contributes a second f paper on "Plant-breeding," 3 with special reference to work \ at Svalpf, Sweden; Cambridge i University; Hohenheim, Geri many; and in the United States. , Mr, B, C. Aston, Agricultural . Chemist, describes some results f of a "Flying .Soil-Survey." Mr. ; A. H. Heid, officer in charge of the Veterinary Laboratory, has [ an article upon "Gangrenous [ Foot Diseases of Cattle," and j describes the peculiar affection . of heifers an|d milk cows which i develop a lameness in one leg which gradually reaches an acute i stage in from two to three days, : when a purulent discharge takes place above the cornet. A simple treatment of cleansing thoroughly with hot wafer containing a little soda is recommended on the first symptoms of tenderness and swelling being observed. A hot bran poultice with a little disinfectant—such as a non-poisonous sheep dij>—is recommended,, tlie poultice not' beinpr allowed to become cold, and being changed at intervals through the day. Afterwards, the affected parts are to be kept dean, and carbolic acid applied in the proportion of one part of acid to twenty of water, or blurstone or boraeie acid ointment may be used instead. In severe cases, where sloughing has we]] advanced, loose gangrenous pieces of skin or horn should be removed by a knife or hot iron, leaving the unhealthy tissue exposed to the air, 'Antiseptics may then be .applied, or the diseased parts lightly smeared with Stockholm tar.' A purgative of Epsom salts is recommended, and a plentiful supply of grass or laxative food. In all cases affected animals should be .isolated from the herd. Cowy.wls and bails must be kept thoroughly clean. Old yards should be dug up (or, preferably, six inches depth of surface soil-en-tirely removed), and well limert, ■ as the I'lroppings contain the contaminating bacillus, whic'h may easily gain access to a sound cow by means of a slight scratch or other injury to the foot. Articles on "Varieties of Fruit for Planting," by Mr. W. A. Boucher, assistant director of orchards; on "The Export of Annies." bv Mr. T.W.Kirk* on. "Feeding Poultry," by Mr. F, C. Brown; "The Weather and Agriculture," ny-Eev. D. C,' Bates; and a budget of statistical matter completes the sixfytwn nntfPS'Of this most useful and instructive Departmental publication.