FARM AND GARDEN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 307, 29 October 1910, Page 7

FARM AND GARDEN.

BLUESTONE OR FORMALIN

The relative value of formalin and bluestone for the treatment of seed wheat to prevent smut, has given rise to endless discussion during recent years (says the "Australasian"), and it is interesting to compare the results of reliable test 3 that were carried out at Longferenong this season. Bluestone being the pickle that has been in general use among wheatgrowers, the majority of them naturally favour this solution. The presence of 200 or 300 fartvera was, therefore, obtained to witness the preparation or? tne seed. The experiment amply demonstrated the superiority of formalin. Not only was it shown that formalin was quite as effective as bluestone in the prevention of smut, but also that it did not impair the vitality of the seed. The report of Mr H. Rye, dealing with this subject, states: "This season the percentage of germination of wheats treated with bluestone or copper sulphate, compared with that of wheat treated with formalin, was as 66 to 86 per cent. The seed treated with formalin had the advantage to 3 c msiderable degree. With wheat pickled in a strong solution of bluci-s-lDne, not only was the germination '. ■ry bad, but the growth in the early ; i'l-fc of the season was very poor.' - ' Iho increased yield of wneat from ■ ed treated with formalin is shown in i" p. following results obtained from J . .3 plots sown down under the super- • ion of the vegetable pathologist on . (li Jui e lh" ioim iMn ticc*ted 1 \ r klctl l') 1 ii hjs 1 Iu j p i acre, \ ci i'ic ulut-iton Ik Mod *-ccd 1"> i h< is _lios p ' ' jli l i n^th on mend' di< i u l> u th \ Inine, 1 > LrO\ lninent Rithoh>s,i ', is one unci of formalin to •]0 gallons of tor, and this solution is the one ■ ■ nerally made where formalin is ; -d.

GENERALITIES. The heaviest pig shown last year in England was one of the curly-coated, which weighed uewt Iqr 81b. When the bowels of a pig are in order, and hf is mostly hungry, it is safe to speculate ho is in good buckle. It has been amply demonstrated in South Australia that fruit-growing may be profitably combined with farming.

The only way to secure the maxi mum profit is to keep the stock growing all the. time till they stop growing.

There is an old saying that pigs are "either all money or all muscle," Jist now the pigs .;ecm to bo rnosl.iy money.

There is no breed of animals that will go on improving without the constant assistance and directing mind of man. Lucerne keeps itroo.l sow r s i:: good condition. It improves their digestion and promotes their general healthfullness. The special dairy cow is not necessarily delicate of constitution, but is highly sensitive to uncomfortable surroundings. Print this on a shingle and nail it where the boys can see it —"Be the farmer you would like people to think you are."

Do not rely entirely on whttt you read. Do some thinking for yourself, and give your experiences for the benefit of others.

A horse is a bundle of nerves, and nearly every wrong thing he does is file result of fear; vice ij not natural to the horse.

Train one of the dogs to sleep in the stable. If he comes out at night it is likely there is something wrong with the horses.

Do not get cut of temper with a young horse which is nervous when being groomed; the animal may be thin-skinned. There is a wide difference between deep ploughing and deep stirring; the latter may benefit the crop, the former may not. Never let a heavy horse trot down hill; do not let any horse trot too much down hill; there are such things as sprung knees. Unless cows are healthy and vigorous they cannot prove profitable; generally under other conditions they will prove a dead loss. Get a tried sire if possible; take an old tried one if he is your only choice; you will find him more valuable than a young experiment. The day is at hand when a farmer will be ashamed to say that his land is poor, for it will at once be known that he is a poor farmer. It never pays to overstock a pasture. It is not possible to get maximum results where there is not sufficient feed during the whole season.

Egg Day festival at Chicago is a regular institution. More than 5,000,000 eggs were sold at the last festival. Eggs are eggs on that day.

The dehorning of cov.'a, which is recommcncied as.a preventive of injury in the milking yard, is an offence in England, though it is permitted in Scotland.

An American paper says the cow and hen crazes are the only human mind diseases that are directly traceable to the introduction of the coldstorage process. A sow with a good digestion must not only supply the pigs with all they demand at the start, but produce pigs that will take on fat when they arc being prepared for market. Experts report that South Africa is gradually drying up, but for the present there is no cause for uneasiness, as the period for the drying operation is fixed'at 70,000,000 years. Dry poultices are sometimes ordered, especially for badly chapped heels, and other discharging wounds. All poultices of the above description should be renewed every 12 hours at least. It is not a good thing to bring up the subsoil unless the land is to be rested from cropping for a considerable time; it is usually sour, or the organic matter in it is, from incomplete oxidisation. It is not possible to make a paying business of dairying without there ia provision for ample feed during the whole year. The silo will provide this, and almost any green stuff will make into good silage. Whenever medicine is given to animals it should be done as quietly as possible, because when a patient is upset or excited much of the ordinary effect Ol the medicine is lost, and the progress towards recovery materially retarded.