THE MAN ON THE LAND.

Mataura Ensign, 29 November 1911, Page 2

THE MAN ON THE LAND.

FODDER CROPS. At the present time there are probably no crops of so much importance ,to the dairyman as fodder crops, and | none has received so little attention j (writes T W. Lonsdale in the 'Agricultural Journal'). Happily it is now j recognised that these are of vital imi portanco, as they supply the herd with ' succulent food during the protracted j periods of drought, and may fitly be | termed "salvation" crops. I The lack of making provision for the herd by growing supplementary cdops \ has been keenly felt during the past j few years, but probably not to such j | an extent as last season, when, owing to the extremely dry weather, many herds rapidly failed in milk-production. ; When we consider the great loss indi- : vidually and the enormous loss to the i Dominion collectively, a loss which by a little forethought and preparation could be avoided, it may be fairly conceded that it is time to adopt improved' methods. Sorghum and Millet. ; A variety of chops are at our command. That which is receiving most attention is maize. In many parts of the Dominion it is probable that this will continue as the premier fodder plant, yet in districts subject to late arid early frosts, and also light precipitation, the maize crop is precarious. Other crops suitable for such districts are sorghum and millet. These are common plants of China and Turkestan, and it is estimated that ninetenths of the natives of these countries and India .subsist on the grain of the sorghum. In the semi-arid parts of the Western States of America, Sorghum has in recent years become prominent, in i home instances leading maize, which hitherto had been the greater in cultivation, in the extent of its production. So much has been written and i.s already known about the cultivation of , maize that information on the subject is not so necessary.

Preparation of the Land. As for all crops, thorough cultivation prior to seeding is essential; the seed, being small, requires a fine, clean seed- . bed, and should be lightly drilled. 'Hie operation can be performed with an ordinary grain-drill, using all the coulters; or, if it is desired to grow stronger plants, alternate coulters may be usckl, or the seed can be sown in drills 2Cin. apart, to allow for cultivation with a horse-hoe. Cultivation after the seed has germinated is essential, and 1 can be effect - |ed by harrowing at intervals with tine harrows, the process being repeated until the plants have become too high. Harrowing has a twofold effect—-weed-control and the conservation of moisture—both essential to the young plants. When the plants are established and too high to allow of further cultivation the crop may safely be left to take its course, and will grow rapidly .during hot and'dry weather.

i Varieties to Grow

I Probably Sorghum implieo and rior;'ghum saochjiratum are the best vari- • eties. These product' heavy crops oi succulent fodder. Early Amber Cane is also a good cropper. It should be cut before the stalks become woody. Japanese millet, White French millet, :>m\ Egyptian millet aro suitable varieties. White French does not produce s>s much fodder as the other varieties, l.ut grows rapidly and matures earlier. Manures and Seed.

It must be remembered that these crops are gross feeders, hence liberal manuring is requisie. A combination of bonedust, superphosphate, and sulphate of potash makes a suitable raaiiurial mixture, and the quantity applied will be decided by the grower. About 201b of seed per acre is a liberal quantity if broadcasted, but, if drilled, 51b will be sufficient. When to Cut.

Millet may be cut immediately after flowering; if left later bard seed-beads are formed 1 , and the stalks become fibrous and unpalatable. Sorghum should not be used until the plants are in tassel, as previous to this stage the plan!' may prove injurious. Summary.

Other crops may be grown For the purpose of supplying fodder during time- of scarcity. Lucerne and vetches are invaluable; but as the virtues of these crops have already been expounded, it is not intended to deal with them in this article. The object of the writer is to bring to the notice of dairymen throughout the Dominion the great importance of fodder crops in general, WOOL-GROWING IN ENGLAND. Two or three centuries ago, when at all events as a sheep country Australia was absolutely unknown, the district known as the Ootswold country, in Gloucestershire, was noted for its countless sheei> and wealthy woolstaplers. Even if trade histories did not tell us so, we should learn it in a way which is not so much in the fashion now as it was then. All over this beautiful country, nestled among the wooded valleys or crowning the gently-swelling hills, are noble churches, much too large for the present population around them. These were erected largely by the rich woolstapiers, and brasses and 1 other monuments on the church walls and in the churchyards testify that the people who were, so widely employed by the wool industry did not forget their leaders in the business. Even in some cases flocks of sheep form some of the sculpture of the tombstones. The great increase in the population in later times, which had greater proportional effect on food production, led the pastoral industry more in the direction of the supply of beef and mutton and to its decline in favor of graingrowing. This and the advent of colonial wool made havoc with the Cotswold trade, for manufacturers preferred the colonial raw material for many reasons, one of which was that the English product was too greasy and much expense was incurred in cleaning.

Of recent years, however, difficulties have been surmounted, and a sort of resuscitation of this pastoral industry in the district has been attempted, and the making of cloth from English I wool has been much increased. Landowners have given assistance to the movement; among others Earl Bathurst, who lives there (a descendent by the : way of the peer who gave his name to a prominent city in a colony whose t rivalry did so much to render the re- ; vival necessary). Through the influence of another resident, the late Sir John Oortngton (of Lypiatt Park, Stroud), King Edward interested himself in the movement and wore the cloth. As a result manufacturers from all parts of the United Kingdom and some from America attend the annual wool sales lat Gloucester, Cirencester, and other j towns, where the fleeces are offered by auction and realise good prices. It is as well that Australia should take note of this.—'Dalgety's Review.' iHIGH PRICES FOR STUD ANGORAS

It may not be generally known that in South Africa stud Angoras sell up to high figures, which do not compare unfavorably with prices realised .here fo'- our famous merinos. A remarkably successful sale of Angoras imported from Turkey to South Africa was conducted at Graaf lteinct on March 13, 1880. Seventeen Angora rams realised' £3260, making the splendid average of £l9l 15s Jid per head, the two top prices being £450 and £400; only two were disposed of at less than £IOO. Three Angora ewes (same importation) realised £230; average each, £7O 13s 4d. At the present time the leading stud breeders at the Cape have no difficulty in securing very remunerative figures for ther stud Angoras. These might be increased were it not for the narrow view they have taken in Imposing a prohibitive export duty on Angoras. They probably could open a big export trade with the United States of America and Australia in Angoras, thus reciprocating the Commonwealth's policy in regard to sheep export to South Africa.—-'Dalgety's Review.'

FLUSHING THE EWES. Flushing the ewes is a practice followed out. by the best English shepherds, and the practice is also followed by some American farmers. As high a percentage of lambs an possible is desire;!, and flushing tends to make the ewes more sure as breeders, and also results in more twins. The breeding ewes usually run on pasture after their lambs are weaned, and thus do not wsiiitain a high condition. Two or three weeks before breeding time an ;?xtra allowance of feed is given. This feed is such that it will rapidly increase the weight of the ewes. Alfalfa or clover hay, together with corn, silage, and some of the concentrates, .such as oats, barley, dried brewers' grains, and the like, are usually fed. This extra feeding to improve the condition of the ewes before breeding is known as flushing. A DWARF COW. Mr H. J. Hollier, of Edenglassie, on the banks of the Nepean River, Penrith, New »South Wales, has a purebred Jersey cow, three years oid, wliich stands only 34in in height, and has given birth to a calf. Although on the dwarf side, the cow is well proportioned. The calf is also well-built, ■healthy, and frisky, and at three clays old weighed 201b. The cow has a. good supply of milk, and although the calf is with her all the time, Mr Hollier lias to milk the animal once a day in order to relieve her.

A Masterton dairyman who has culled Ills herd systematically finds this year (says the 'Age') that he is supplying as much milk from Go cows as he did last year from a herd l of 90. A horse, well looked after, and not over-worked, will grow till it is live years old.

Cul] out and market all sheeep that fall below the proper standard of excellence.

The fact that feeding influences flavor and quality of meat applies especially to sheep. The idea that improperly kept sheep make either tho lamb or their owner richer is a delusion. Beware of had beginnings. He who does not take the first wrong step will never take the second. The dairy-farmer who breeds pigs will find his cows pay all farm expenses and the pigs are profit. With his wonderful appetite and digestive powers, it is the height of folly to keep the pig on short rations. Butter and cream being very susceptible to absorb odors, tho dairy should bo a cool room away from others. All real improvement of dairy herd's includes .systematic weighing and sampling of the milk from each cow in the herd

Not until the dairyman gives attention to the little factors that influence the cost of his produce and its quality will he secure the largest net profit from his herd.

Kwes fill the place of cows in Iceland, ns many as a thousand I>eing kept by large farmers. They run on the liills during the summer, and are housed dhiring the long winter, writes Sir Walter Oil hey, Bart. There is only one known method of maintaining Foil fertility, and that is by putting hack into the soil the elements which have been taken from it by tho harvested crops, viz., nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric aeid. The pastoral industry itself is moving in tlio direction of seeking assistance fro mtho plough, and dairying which is essentially a. branch of fanning, cannot be expected to reach a condition of continuous progress without a permanent foundation upon the cultivation of the soil.

The Arabs of the Sahara reckon their Hocks most valuable property. They drink the ewes' milk regularly. Like the Syrian sheep, tho Arab sheep are very prolific, generally lambing in spring iuul again in autumn. These tivo breeds are probably closely allied oil" to the other.