ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14158, 6 September 1909, Page 8

ON THE LAND.

TUBERCULAR MAMMITIS. Cases of tuberculosis of the udder arc not, often seen unless the animal is also affected in other organs as well, but sometimes the first noticeable- symptom of tuberculosis occurs in the udder or in the mammary lymphatic gUiids (kernels) found just above tho udder mi front and behind. If those become hard and round the- case becomes very suspicious, while tuberculosis of tho udder may either show a firm, painless swelling or a number of irregular hard knobs. The milk secretion is not first changed, but later Incomes thin, and bluish, in the last blazes becoming clotted. Any case in which there is a hard, gradually increasing lump in the udder must bo looked on as suspicion?, and other r.ymptoms of tuberculosis such a; a cough or swelling of tho throat glands looked for. That a cow suffering in this way is a great source of danger, not only to calves and pigs, but, to human beingsand especially to children who rr.ay drink tho. milk—must be obvious to everyone, as her milk contains largo numbers of tubercle bacilli which may infect animals and men drinking it. There is only one proper course for a fanner having such a cow in his herd to pursue, and that is to have her examined by a qualified veterinary surgeon or, failing that, to bring her under the notice of the stock inspector or dairy inspector at the first opportunity, when tho inspector, if necessary, may test tho cow or forward a sample of milk to the Department, for examination. It, is a distinctly short-sighted policy on the part of the farmer, quite apart from tho danger to which ho .subjects human beings, who may use the milk from such a cow, to subject his calves and pigs to infection with tuberculosis by keeping these cows, whilst the practice of using cows with defective udders, which may be, tubercular, for raising calves cannot be too strongly condemned. GREASE IN HORSES. Grease is an exaggerated condition of cracked heels extending beyond the hollow of tho pastern and perhaps invading the skin as high as the knees and hocks, or even aboveSome horses appear to be constitutionally predisposed to grease, and it mostly occurs in hairy-loggea horses of the heavier breeds, and in them the affection is much aggravated if, from lack of ton© or want of exercise, the legs are allowed to become stocked. Given such a predisposition, the causes which have been described as likely to induce cracked heels in other horses, particularly prolonged exposure to wet and cold, will set up an attack of grease. A largo part is played in the extension of the disease by the irritant moisture which exudes from the already affected surface, as also by tho accumulation of scurf and filth, and by the splashing of urine in stables with insanitary floors. Indeed, greaso may bo aptly described as a typical local filth disease. The clipping of the hair at the back of the fetlock and pastern predisposes to grease, as when tills is done the natural protection for the skin is i\moved, and exposure to cold, damp, and dirt is brought about. In some cases the skin becomes enormously thickened and warts form in abundance all over tho affected surface (grapy grease). The affected parts may suppurate and the discharge is usually very foul and sickening. Treatment: In mild cases tho treatment recommended for cracked heels may be effective, when there is much hair the dressing of the part thoroughly with an ointment is a tedious matter, and astringent lotions or liniments are more likely to bo effective. if the discharge is foul tho parts should bo washed with hard soap lather and some disinfectant such as Condy's fluid applied before the healing dressing is put on. Treatment often necessarily extends over a long period, and it is found advantageous for the dressing to bo changed every few days. That his may be done tho following list, of dressings is given: — Tincture of creosote (1 part creosote to 6 methylated spirit). Strong tincture of crcolin (1 part creolin to 6 methylated spirit). Tincture of sulphuric acid (1 part acid to 15 methylated spirit). Solution chromic acid (1 part acid to 9 methylated spirit). Powdered wattle bark. Oxide of zinc and powdered starch, equal parts. Oxide of zinc and powdered charcoal, equal parts.

LIGHTS YOLK IN SHEEP. The super, combing flceco lightest in yolk gives a far better return per head than tho sumo quality heavy in yolk, the sheep carrying the lighter fleece is far better able to fossick for grass in a bad season, and in a good or bad season does not require as much food as the stud ram which produces the heavy, yolky fleece and carries it. about. Merino stud rams should have sufficient constitution to reasonably reproduce their good qualities under ordinary circumstances, the same, as stud sires of all the other domestic breeds. If a breeder is using stud rams, clipping an average of 201b, the whole flock should show at least an all-round elir> of 141b, not 101b, otherwise they are wanting in power of reproduction. On the other hand, the owner of studs averaging only 141b per head, and their increase giving an average clip of 101b, which they do on many large and small holdings, is using the fur stouter and constitutionally sounder blood, because, the power of reproduction is so strongly developed in the sires. The heavy-clipping sires give their progeny only 50 per cent, of their good quality in weight of fleece, the lighter clipping, smooth-bodied stud rams show in their progeny over 70 per cent, of their wool-bearing quality. As a stud sire the lighter-clipping, smooth-bodied animal must be preferable: he and his progeny arc easier kept in good or bad seasons, the average clip is equal to the best of the land, and in his power of reproducing his good qualities freely in the progeny lie shows stouter blood and a perfectly sound constitution.

BREVITIES. A horse at 15 years old is as old as a man at 55 years. Let the believer in forestry improvement have no fear for the future. Wool is bought in nine cases out of ten on a ''clean yield" basis; that is, what weight, it will bring when clean, scoured. To-day the skilled plant feeder knows his soil and what it, will do as a driver knows his horse, and tresis the case intelligently. It is the same with wool as with any other commodity—no matter what the price may be, there is always a more ready sale. for that of the best quality. After a mare foals she can scarcely lie treated too well; care should be taken about her food, as a very trifling thing may make her milk go wrong, and so upset the- foal. The wheat area of the British Empire extends to about 36,000,000 acres. In Europe 47 per cent, of the total is found in Russia, while in the British Empire, India accounts for 62 per cent. Soundness of staple is always met with if a sheep has enjoyed good health during the growth of the fleece, and there is no better indication of sickness than that given by the fleece.