FARMING AND COMMERCIAL NOTES BY "PLOUGHSHARE.”

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 17, 19 December 1927, Page 5

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

NOTES BY "PLOUGHSHARE.”

IMPROVING THE HOME. Many farmers still have the idea that it does not pay to bother about improving the farm-house and its surroundings. This is a fallacy, and one notices with pleasure that the wiser farmers are paying more attention to the beautification of their homes. To-day tho farmer is able to have all the modern. conveniences which were at one time only for the town dweller. This should go a long way towards making him and his family more contented on the farm. Lawns, flowers, etc., all tend to make the homo attrrctive. Apart from the pleasure of these, they are of value in another way. Many valuers whom I have met invariably make a point cf noting the appearance and condition of the home and environment, and if those show that time has been spent in improving them, the result is that: the improvements have assisted in procuring a little more ' finance when required. Tho samo may be said in the case of a probable buyer, who will take note of improvements which “are required when taking over. In the town the condition of a property will either mar or make a sale and so it is in the country. GUENON THEORY. A system of judging dairy stock which is rather interesting is the “Guenon” theory, judging by the escutcheon. The escutcheon is formed by the upward growing hair on the thighs and udder. It commences as low down as the hock on tho leg and from the front of the udder, and' extends upwards to the vulva, stretching out on the thighl in the form of an heraldic shield. The escutcheon can be easily distinguished from the descending hairs. The subject is a very big one,, but according to Guenon there are ten different orders of escutcheons. The markings on the thigh should be the same, viz., two broad halfshields, which spread out well on to the thigh. The higher these extend the better will be the cow. The markings on the udder confirm the milking capabilities of the cow, although the markings on the thigh are considered the most important. It is generally understood that the higher up on the thigh that the markings are the longer will the cow continue in milk, and the broader the markings the larger will the milk yield be. These markings are not confined to the cow, but can be traced on bulls also. The markings can bo seen on calves which will aid in making a selection BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE MAMMARY GLAND.

It is as well for the dairyman to 1 have some idea as to the course taken by the blood on its way to and from the mammary gland. The arterial blood is pumped from the left side of the heart into the aorta, passing along which the blood reaches the external iliac artery and this is continued on into the femoral artery, extending more or less parallel to the thigh bone. From the femoral there is given off a branch called the prepubic, and from this again is another branch called the external pudic, and this later gives off two other branches, the anterior and the posterior abdominal or mammary artery. It is from these that the capillaries of the mammary gland derive their blood supply. After the blood has passed through the capillaries of the mammary gland, it is collected into what is commonly termed the milk vein. This is the large vessel which runs along the under surface of the abdomen to near the breast bone; there it turns inward to .join the internal mammary vein. The internal mammary conveys its blood to the vein of the fore-limb, and this joins the anterior vena cava which empties into the right auricle. The blood is thus, through this route, submitted to the action of the mammary gland and returned to the heart. RELATION OF BIRDS TO AGRICULTURE. In making a decision as to whether a particular bird is harmful or beneficial, to agriculture, the nature of its. food must be taken into consideration. This is obvious as if its food consists entirely of such things as grain, it is harmful, while if ■ its food consists entirely or mainly of injurious insects the reverse ' is the case. However, difficulties arise sometimes where the diet is mixed, which is often the case. One must also remember that birds’ habits change' sometimes and are affected by seasons and localities. Again, frequently it is noticed that after they have 'been introduced into certain countries they have altered their habits considerably, and where they have been introduced for the purpose of assisting the farmer they have now become a pest. AGRICULTURE IN PERSIA. In Persia there are approximately 70,000 , acres of land under poppy cultivation. A commission was recently set up ; by the League of Nations to report on the possibility of reducing the cultivation of the poppy and substitute other crops which would be advantageous to the country; The commission has made certain recommendations to the Persian Government who are giving a three years’ trial. Among the substitutes are cereals, sugar beet, fruits and vegetables, wool and hides. Regarding wool, • it is said that the high country offers excellent pastures to sheep in the winter and spring and that the present production of wool could be increased and the quality improved. The export of wool from this country has a rising tendency, most of it going to Russia. Of the cereals wheat and barley are the crops to be most encouraged. MEASURING STACKS. To calculate the contents of an oblong or square stack take the length, breadth, height between the upper part of the stack bed to the eaves; then take the height from the eaves to the ridge and divide by three. The contents of the stack will be as follow: Length by breadth by total average height, bring this to cubic yards. _ The number of cubic yards per ton varies according to the oondition of the hay. Fairly well settled hay will go about ten cubic yards to the ton. By dividing the cubic content by ten you will get the weight of the stack. GENERAL NOTES. At the age of six months ram lambs should be . segregated; this is specially so in the case of pedigree stock as they mature a't a fairly early age. The chief obstacle to successful farming is lack of sufficient capital. Soil moisture oan be conserved considerably by providing shelter-belts at right angles to the prevailing winds. The sunflower is cultivated in Europe for its oil as well as for cattle and poultry. There are about fifteen species of maggotflies in New Zealand. A shed with a poor water supply is usually a hard shed to keep cljean. Drainage from the shed should never he allowed to run off into the creek. The ploughing-in of green crops, such as

mustard, vetches, etc., has a double purpose as it cleans the land as well as manures it. A luxuriant growth will smother weeds and any objectionable plants. An advantage of ploughing in a forrage crop is that the entire mass is returned to the soil, whereas if eaten by stock a certain portion is retained by tho animals. To be desirable a farm must be well situated.

Care should be taken in adjusting harness. When too high, especially in shaft work, the horse frequently has to lift the shafts with. its neck. When too low the shoulder action is impeded. Tuberculous animals when lying down are often heard to grunt. Clover hay is in the main similar to meadow hay, but is richer in albuminoids, and its fibre is much tougher in character. The average weight of the heart of an horse or ox is from seven to nine pounds. BUTTER AND CHEESE. LONDON QUOTATIONS. The butter market is very dull, buyers holding off. ■ Choicest salted, New Zealand, 160 sto 162 s per cwt; Australian, 156 s to 168 s. Unsalteds are at about 15s premium. Danish is -weak at about 180 s. The cheese market is slow. New Zealand coloured 90s to 91s per cwt; white, 91s to 925; Australian, 88s. Dalgety and Coy., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their London House, under date of the 15th instant; —Butter : Market weak and irregular. We quote Danish 180 sto 186 s (196 sto 198 s); N.Z. finest salted 156 sto 162 s (166 sto 170 s); Australian finest unsalted 162 sto 164 s (180 s); salted 152 sto 156 s (166 s to 168 s). Cheese: N.Z. white and coloured 90s to 92s (92s to 945); spot price for Canadian white and coloured 98s to 100 s (98s to 102 s); c.i.f. price for Canadian ■ not quoted. Market dull. Last week’s quotations are shown in parentheses. AUCKLAND’S DAIRY OUTPUT. FORTNIGHT’S RETURNS. AUCKLAND, Dec. 17. Despite several weeks of dry weather, the quantities of dairy produce received at tho Auckland grading stores continue at a remarkably high figure. Butter and cheese received and delivered for the fortnight ended December 15 totalled: —

CREAM GRADING OFFICER. GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENT. The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. O. J. _ Hawkon) recently approved of the appointment of an officer to the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of assisting cream graders to keep on uniform lines of grading. Tho duties of the new officer will include a certain amount of check testing of milk and cream samples for butter-fat, with a view to ensuring that the regulations covering the testing of suppliers’ samples are being carried out. The officer appointed is Mr G. R. B. Boswell, who has been in the service of the dairy division for some years, and has had considerable experience in the handling of cream, cream-grading, and. the testing of milk and cream for butter-fat. His now duties are expected to be of considerable assistance in increasing the service of the dairy division to the dairying industry. SHEEPSKIN SALES. PRICES HIGHER IN LONDON. LONDON, Deo. 15. At the sheepskin sales 3048 bales were offered, of which 2035 were Australian, and 862 New Zealand. There was a good attendance, and keen general competition America, Home and the Continent operating. Prices were dearer compared with those of October 27, Merinos,, threequarter wull-woolled, were par to 5 per cent, higher; half-woolled, fully 5 per cent.; crossbreds, Australian 5 per cent., and New Zealand sto 10 per cent.; pelts and lambskins were very firm. —A. and N.Z. cable. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their London house under date of the 15th instant : Good attendance of buyers, with good competition. 3043 bales offered; 2799 sold; selection good; demand general. American and home trade buyers are the principal operators. As compared with closing rates of last series, Merino combing, par to 5 per cent, higher; Merino clothing and short combing, 5 per cent, higher to 7£ per cent higher; fine crossbred clothing and combing, 5 'per cent, to 7i per cent, higher; medium and coarse clothing, 74 per cent, to 10 per cent, higher; medium and coarse combing, 5 per cent, to 74 per cent higher. Lambs unchanged; pelts slightly higher. The following is the range of prices;—Merino, |/full woolled, 14d to 17d; 4/4 woolled, 9d to 13d; short and shorn 8d to 84d; crossbred 3/ full woolled fine 14d to 184 d; |/full woolled medium and coarse lid to 144 d; 4/4 woolled fine lOd to 144 d; 4/4 woolled • medium and coarse 9d to 12d; short and shorn 74d to 114 d; lambs 12id to 154 d. ARGENTINE HARVESTS. BUENOS AYRES, Dec. 16.A forecast of tho 1927-28 wheat harvest made by the Ministry of Agriculture estimates the‘yield at 654,000 tons. The estimated yields of other orops are as follow: Flax,. 216,000 tons; barley, 370,000 tons; oats, 940,000 tons. —A. and N.Z. cable. BRADFORD TOPS MARKET. LONDON, Dec. 16. At the Bradford tops sales there was a large attendance,' but prices were barely maintained. Quotations: Sixtyfours, 50d per lb; sixties, 48d; fifty-sixes. 39d; fifties, 254 d; forty-sixes, 24d, forties, 224 d and N.Z. cable.

1927. 1926. Crates Boxes of' Crates of Boxes of of Butter. Cheese. Butter. Cheese Received — 142,532 11,094 125,655 11,810 Delivered — 147,179 9,892 128,727 The Season’s Record. 22,650 Received since 1st'July— 929,877 66,206 786,742 67,497 Delivered since 1st July— 986,154 61,651 688,415 68,819