ON THE LAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9136, Issue 9136, 8 February 1910, Page 7

ON THE LAND.

STOCK IN GERMANY,

Tho census of live stock in Germany shows that the number of cows (now standing at 10,967,000) has risen by about half a million during the past seven vcars, while the total number of cattle (20,631,000) shows an 'increase of nearly five millions since 1383. Sheep, on the other hand, have diminished from 19,190,000 in 1883 to 7,704,000 in 1907, the decrease in tho past seven years being nearly two millions. In the case of pigs, however, the figures show a great expansion, the number having risen from 9,206,000 in 1883 to 22,147,000 in 1907. Poultry also show a substantial increase, while the number of beehives is returned at 2,594,690, compared with 2,605,350 in 1900. '

AMERICAN STOCK

A report showing tho value of the farm products of the United States furnishes some interesting figures. These cover the present year, as far as it has gone, and give the" value of the products at an aggregate of. £1.750,000.000. These prodigious results of the tilling of the soil are far in excess of anything recorded in the past history of the country, and the effect of the accession to the wealth of the States is being felt everywhere, and indicated in the general prosperity of the Great Republic. There, as in every other part, of tho civilised world, agriculture is the basis of the national wealth, and where it is prosperous the country is prosperous. Every other industry benefits from a bountiful harvest, and, when the results of tho working of the farm are brought within tho scope of actuarial investigation, it is invariably found the earnings of the money of tho man on the land are greater than those of the capital invested in gold mines.

MANUFACTURING NITROGEN

The following brief description of tho process of, the manufacture of calcium cyanamide is furnished to the Times by a Swiss correspondent: —Calcium carbide is in the first instance pulverised, and is then introduced into metallic cylinders-, raised to a temperature of c about 1000 degrees C. through which a continuous current of nitrogen gas is caused to pass. Tho absorption of nitrogen by tho carbide is an exothermic reaction, that is to say, heat is evolved in the process, so*that as soon as absorption begins 'the heat is self-maintained, and after a certain time tho external source of heat can be checked or even cut oft altogether. The operation lasts for a period of twenty to fifty hours, and as soon as it is complete the mass, in the form of a solid block, is permitted to cool. Then the block is broken up and reduced to powder before it is placed in the warehouse. When it is sent out for use, it is withdrawn from the stores bv mechanical means, placed in bags or sicks, and weighed automatically. It goes out in canvas bags weighing 50, 75', and 100 kg. The product is sold with various percentages of nitrogen, chieflv cither 15 or 20 per cent, and it thus coincides in the nitrogen contents with the principal nitrogenous manures, the nitrate and the sulphato of ammonia, at present in uso.

TRING PARK MILKING RECORD,

The milking records of the herds of Jersev and Shorthorn cows owned by Lord "Rothschild at Tring Park, for the year ended September 25 last, have been published. There were only'l3 Jerseys in the herd throughout the year, and their average yield was 5838 9-131bs, the: individual returns ranging from 26431b to 90071b Tho 16 that came into the herd during the year are credited with an estimated average of 6384.351b for the whole year, while tho corresponding average for the 59 that left the herd was 5637.741b. Of Shorthorns, 50 completed the year in the herd, and their average vield was 6502.651b. the highest individual yield being 12,2961b by the prize cow Dorothy, and /the lowest 18171b. The number brought into tho herd was 28, and their estimated average for the full period was 8989.511b, and the estimated average of the 23 weeded out 3422.691b. The difference between tho yields of the cows brought in and those of the cows that had gone out of the herd is significant of the advantage of the milk recording system. BREVITIES. The first harvest reaped in New South Wales was cut at Parramatta, in December, 1798. The breeding of the best types ot heavy horses is still a profitable industry in Great Britain. The more malignant form of smut is making its appearance in some of the wheat crops in the Masterton district. Mr Stein, an English sugar beet enthusiast, estimates the return for the grower from a crop of beets at £5 to £6 per acre. While Great Britain produces less than a quarter of the wheat she consumes, she still furnishes the bulk of her home used barley and oats. Phosphoric acid is found in every part of plants, but accumulates more especially in the seed. It is also the principal constituent in the bone formation of man and animals, and where it is wanting in the soil plants grow feebly, and animals do not thrive. The complete failure of New South Wales gutters at London dairy show has caused much uneasiness amongst dairymen in the State. It is realised that the methods of New South \ Wales are far behind the times.' Twenty thousand farmers in North America (United States and Canada) are breeding Shorthorns for the dairy. Since the foundation of the Shorthorn Herdbook bv Mr Lewis Allen in 1844 the pedigrees of 750,000 animals have been recorded.