FARMING NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2000, 16 December 1921, Page 2

FARMING NOTES.

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS. The following are the dates of the remaining Agricultural and Pastoral Shows in the Dominion this season: — Southland.—At Invercargill, December 13 and 14. 1922. Horowhenua.—At Levin, January 18 and 19. Woodville.—January 24 and 25. Pahiatua.—January 27th, 1922. Feilding.—February 7 and 8. Dannevirke.—February 8 and 9. Masterton.—February 15 and 16. Marton.—March 1. Mr H. Morrison stated at the meeting of farmers at Masterton this week that in 1914 it cost 25/ to slaughtei 100 sheep, while now the same work cost 39/4. Pigs in all classes showed a sharp decline at the Levin stock sale on Tuesday. A gentleman interested in the grai' business informed a Levin "Chronicle" representative yesterday that ho believed that there would be a fall in wheat prices when the new season's crops came in. He said he would not be surprised to see the old stocks down to 5/ per bushel. , A Pahjatua company has received advice that the shipment of cheese landed in London, per Kuapehu, realised 104/. 'A striking feature at the Royal show in England, which was held in very hot, tropical weather, was the way the British Large Black pigs stood the heat, compared with other breeds of pigs. Perennial ryegrass is an excellent pasture grass, especially for two year? or so after it is first sown. Then it gradually deteriorates until the sixth year, when, if the land is kept well manured, it again asserts itself and forms one of the most desirable grasses of a> good pasture. .^ A good embrocation for sprains, rheumatism, etc., is made as follows: —Beat up one raw egg, an add to it 2oz. of turpentine, soz. of spirits; of wine and the same quantity of spirits of camphor, then add carefully half a pint of vinegar. When these ingredients are well mixed, place them in a bottle, shake for 10 minutes. This is ready for use at once, but improves by keeping. Manure is never worth more than when it is fresh. It never gains plant food by storage, but loses it more or less slowly. The plant food may become more available by composting or fermenting, but-more or less of it is lost by heating or drainage. Burned or "fire fanged" manure is not as rich as fresh manure, as some of its ammonia is lost through the heat. Fodder crops include all those crops which are grown for their leaves and stems for fodder purposes, that is, to provide green or dried food for stock. The plants of the Brassica genus—cabbage, rape and kale—might be considered as fodder crops, but they are, so closely allied to the turnip crops botanically, and their cultivation is so similar to the root crops and followed by so precisely similar results, that although cultivated for their leaves, it is more convenient to class them with the root or fallow crops, as they are also grown to clean and enrich the land for the crops to follow. The value of a good sire cannot be* too highly estimated in breeding dairy cattle. "Hoard's Dairyman" says the daughters of King Segis Alcarta Prilly, the supreme Friesian sire owned by the Bridgeford Friesian Company of Patterson, are showing excellent results In the production of line. Bessie Veeman Alcartra. Prilly, a senior two-year-old, has given over 16.000 lb. of milk in seven months, and is still giving over 801 b. a day; Louise Alcartra Prilly, a junior two-year-old, has 18,0001 b. to her credit at the end of eight months. Both these heifers will, says this journal, without doubt reach the 24,0001 b. mark or even more. Their sire is evidently not only a show bull but a most, excellent breeder.

The Guernsey has always been regarded as a rich butter cow. One animal in the herd of Lord Weardale, in England, at her last milkings before calving yielded 9 per cent, butter fat in the afternoon and 7.2 per cent, in the morning, an average of 8.1 per cent, for the day. Previously she had had averages of 7.2 and 7.7 per cent, butter fat. Several have figures as good. Mrs Cunninghame's Francis Honoria having given milk in the evening with a butter-fat content of 9.3 per cent, and 7.1 per cent, in the morning, an average for the twenty-four hours of 8.2 per cent. Still another fawn and white, Plaw Hatch Blossom of Les Grantes, gave 10 per cent, at an evening milking

The introduction of 100 head of Friesians from South Africa to England has aroused much discussion. The British breeder is terribly conservative, he seems to think that no other country has any right to the stud stock business except himself. He growled when New Zealand and Australian Corriedales were consigned to South America, and he is up in arms because Canada is shipping live cattle for slaughter to England, and he now wants to prevent South African Friesians from landing in Great Britain. Surely John Bull should see that is a selfish policy. For generations stud stock of various breeds have been brought from British herds and flocks, and it only seems fair and right that the Old Country should admit healthy animals when occasions arise such as those quoted above.

At the Westfleld (Auckland), fat stock sale on Wednesday, values generally were firmer by 15/ to £1 a head. They penned beof to the number of 341 head, comprising 279 steers, 59 cows and heifers and three bulls. Extra choice ox sold to £1 5/ per 100 lb; choice and primo, £1 2/ to £1 4/; ordinary and plain. 19/ to £1 1/; prime young- cow and heifer beef, 18/ to £1 5/; ordinary and plain, 13/ to 17/; rough beef, 7/6 to 18/. Heavy prime steers ranged in price from £lO to £ll 17/6; lighter prime. £7 10/ to £9 10/; light ami unfinished. £4 10/ to £7; heavy prtr-»o young cows and heifers. £5 15/ to £7 2/6; lighter prime. £4 5/ to £5 10/; others, £2 to £4.

In conversation with a Napier "Telegraph" reporter, Mr T. H. I.owry, who recently returned to New Zealand after a visit to the Old Country, referred In glowing terms to ;!>o anirit el the dsoblc of the country. Mr