ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14933, 5 March 1912, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

A WONDERFUL COW. Tests of the American Jersey Cattle Club taken up to January 31, 1911, include somo remarkable figures concerning a 12-year-old con', owned by Mr. H. S. Gail, of Now York State. The record states: — When it is understood that a cow in her prime can enter the "Register of Merit" by making approximately 4251b of buttor in a year, it will be realised what it means for a cow finishing in her 12th year to make 7461b. Mistress of Bleak House is not only a cow of rare beauty and great butter ability, but-, best of nil, she breeds on. Her daughter, Mistress of Bleak Sous© 11-, holds the highest two-year-old three weeks' Jersey butter record, and another daughter, Mistress of Bieck House IV., holds next to the world's yearling record (506lb~"butter in a year). Sho has been most carefully bred for many generations. In her pedigree there are no fewer than 20 dams with sevenday records for butter that average 291b 3oz. A number of her ancestors won first prize over the Island of Jersey, and others first prize at international shows, in America. Mistress of Bleak House was officially scored for the register of merit, and received the very high mark of 95J. For fore and rear udder, head, eyes, and horns she scored perfect. Year's record, 13,0801b milk, from which 7461b butter was made. MAIZE AS A FODDER. Maize comes next to lucerne in the production of nutrients for the cow. An aero yielding 10 tons of green maize will produce about 3400fb of digestible nutrients. No crops complement each other better for i feeding the dairy cow than maize and lucerne. Tho maize put into the silo furnishes the succulence for the cow and a largo amount, of heat-producing elements. _ Lucerne provides the dry roughage, and is rich in the element protein which is so necessary to the growing animal and the cow producing milk. In short, lucerne and maize have a productive feeding value that cannot be excelled by any other combination of roughage grown on the farm. When lucerne is used properly in the rotation it is beneficial to tho toil. The foregoing baa been thoroughly discussed by men who are well informed as to tho value of lucerno and ' maize as feeds, for dairy cows, the preparation of the soil for growing lucerne, and the- relative amounts of digestible nutrients j produced by lucerne and maizo compared j with hay, wheat, oats, and" many other | crops. ,-'.;■• COD LIVER Oni FOE, CALVES. Cod liver oil forms a useful adjunct to the diet of calves reared -upon skim-milk, it in sorno degreo taking the place of the abstracted cream. Thus it ranks as one of the recognised cream substitutes for calfrearing purposes. It is simply mixed with tho warm milk just prior to tho latter being given to the calves. Tlio milk most be -well stirred after adding the oil; or, better still, it should be poured repeatedly from one bucket to another, which ensures tire mc*fc thorough mixing- The full daily dose'of cod liver oil for calves is 2oz, not mor«. They should bo brought on to it gradually. 'At first only about loz should 'be given pat diem, tho close being increased by degrees. Experiments have proved that thr>y cannot usually stomach moro than the quantity indicated. It is important that the oil should be of-the best quality, quite pure, and fresh. Inferior cod liver oil is unwholesome, and sure to upset the calves' digestion. ■ A RULE FOR FEEDING COWS. Some hints on feeding cows are given in a bulletin issued by tho Wisconsin Experiment Station. Put briefly, it is to the effect that each cow should receive as much roughage as she' will eat up clean, and.a portion of this should, preferably bo of a succulent nature, like grass, silage, soiling crops, or roots. As regards concentrated foods, it has been found a good working rule to feed as I many pounds of grain feeds per day to each cow as ah© produces pounds of butter a week, or one-fourth to one-third as much grain as she gives pounds' of milk daily, the amount depending on the percentage of butter-fat in tho milk. In the case of cows producing milk with a low percentage of . fat, one-fourth would bo required. ■ Car© should always bo taken to avoid an increase in body weight above the normal for each cow, since tho milk secretion, as a general . rule, is likely to suffer when cows commence to utilise their feed for the formation of body fat. ' SEPTIC METRITIS. Our Taranaki correspondent writes — "Septic metritis, or inflammation of the womb, has been responsible for the deaths of several dairy cows in North Taranaki this spring. As the disease is highly contagious the necessity for checking it at the outset is imperative. Chatting with the Government Veterinary Surgeon at Now Plymouth tho other day I was informed that many farmers mistake this disease for milk fever and treat it accordingly, owing , to the symptoms at a certain stage being very similar. An unqualified ' " cow" doctor " treated four or five cows for redwater, and the farmer lost the cows, for they were suffering from septic metritis, and the farmer had not been shown the necessity for absolute isloationof the cows and cleanliness. The Government official, who could have been secured by the. mere sending of a postcard, immediately diagnosed the succeeding cases as of septic metritis, ordered an immediate and complete disinfection o? the cowbadls and yards with Jeyes's fluid liberally used, the orection of a small yard and bail on clean ground for the accommodation of tho cows as they came in, and for the affected cows to be kept warm and dry. Six, cows had " gone down before the disease, worth about £50. With a concrete floor, costing £20 or £30, and the use of disinfectants and ordinary caro at calving time, tho disease might never have been contracted, or, had it occurred, might reasonably have stopped at ono cow. Slabbed sheds and muddy yards aro too often responsible for illness in cows. Perhaps a word or two on the symptoms of this disease and the methods of combating it will bo useful at this season. Mr. Broom, recently appointed Government Veterinary Surgeon at New Ply- ' mouth, says that, in simple laguage, septic metritis is inflammation of the womb, 5 brought on by tho entrance of septic or poisonous disease germs. Tho disease - generally makes its appearance two or throe days after calving. Feverish symp- ' toms aro noticeable, . namely, listlessness and loss of appetite. Later, the vulva appears slightlv swollen, a discharge of a brownish fluid is noticed, which creates a filthy deposit on the tail and buttocks. There is constipation, diminution, and sometimes total cessation of the supply of milk The cow moves stiffly, later losing power in her limbs. Should she become semi-conscious and give evidence of great suffering death is almost certain to ensue. It is this semi-consciousness and Joss of milk that farmers often confuse with milk- ' fever But the unmistakable symptom of the disease under notice is the discharge from the womb. Serious outbreaks of tho disease aro nearly always associated with dirty sheds and yards, where no precautions are token as to the cleansing and disinfection of yards and bails. V. hen a cow - is taken ill, or the presence of the disease is suspected, the cow must immediately ' bo isolated, and it, is imperative to wash down any part of the shed or surroundings that the cow may havo fouled with her discharges. Persons attending to the suffering cow must thoroughly disinfect themselves before handling another newlycalved cow, or they will be sure to transmit tho disease to her. No -calved cow should be brought into this ehed and yards for about 21 days after calving, during which time they should be milked in the temporary yard" previously mentioned, and erected on clean ground. All decaying animal or vegetablo matter should be deposited where cows do not come into contact with it. Treatment is simple enough. : The first, essential is absolute cleanlinee-a. An aperient is in all cases necessary. For '' this rise a dose of Epsom salts, eight, 10 '. or 12 ounces, according to tho constitu- . tion of the cow, and repeat next day if necessary. Th© womb must be freely mill- gated by means of funnel 'and tubing as in contagious abortion, using water., at blood-heat, to which hae been added, say* 1 a tablespoonful of Jeyes's fluid to.a.bucr • J kefc of water." '~ <>

PREPARE THE SOIL. A good preparation of the soil is one of. tho most important elements of success in the introduction of crops. The finer the condition of the soil, tho better is tho crop able to extract its nourishment to make use of any fertilisers that have been applied. Gardens aro made to produce relatively much moro than fields, chiefly because of the work dono on them with spade and rake, and tho condition of the field should, as far as possible, resemble that of a garden. .: A SUMMER WASHTho self-boiled lime and sulphur wash, or summer mixture is made as follows:—Lime, 101b: sifted sulphur, 101b; and 50 gallons of water. The lime is placed in a barrel, and sufficient water poured on it to commenco slaking, from four to six quarts. Tho sulphur is then added, and enough water subsequently poured in to form a paste. The mixture should bo kept well stirred until the violent bubbling caused by tho slaking of the lime is over. Tins will occupy but a short time, 10 minutes being sufficient if the lime is freshly burned- The remainder of the water is then poured in and completely mixed with the paste, when tho mixture will bo ready for applying to the trees. In America ft&e self-boiled and tin winter preparation are used more freely than any other spraying compound in dealing with fungus diseases. Orchardists who use largo quantities of tho lime-sulphur turn the residue to good account. After spraying has been completed a little water is added to the sediment to form a preparation for whitewashing the trunks and lower parts of the branches. The course is a wise one to adopt. The cracks and crevices formed by the loose pieces of bark make an excellent harbour for disease. MANURING- FRUIT TREES. It. 13 usual to apply manure underneath fruit troes as far as their branches extend; overhead, but this if not a correct system (writes an authority on the Continent). At an experimental station .'on the Rhine a. cherry tree 25 years old was dug up, and the roots were found to extend more than, 11yds. Tho roots cf a plum tree three year* old were quite two yards long. How extensive, then, must the roots of fully-grown trees bo! From this fact it is clear that the proper plan is to spread the manure, -whether farmyard manure or artificial* in a wider circle, and in orchards where th© trees are close together to distribute it over the ' wholo surface. Only in this way is it certain that all the trees will get tho benefit of the nourishment supplied to them. I DISBUDDING YOUNG TREES.

Very often, when disbudding young trees in tho nursery that have been top-grafted, a bud upon the terminal end of the cut upon the stock pushes, forth, and, being over* looked, forma a branch. The result is that, when removed and planted permanentlyouo in the orchard, it is allowed to remain, the growers being under the impression that ifi , belongs. Co the variety planted. Tho'propa-i gator should closely guard against this, aa there is a big risk, of mixing varieties and causing confusion, particularly if they re-, semblo one another in wood, growth, etc, ; With ground grafts the buds upon -the scion should bo allowed to > make some inches of * growth before removing the superfluous ones. 1 If the growth from the'terminal bud upon .''■■: the scion is not strong and vigorous anotb.ee may bo used to form the tree. If it is' • necessary to stake the growing shoot to en- -. sure a vortical growth, be careful not to --*; knock or displace the scion, During cultivation operations Amongst grafts - the utmost care should be taken that the scions ; aro not interfered with, ■or tho - growing shoots that form the tree injured. BREVITIES. Potash is obtained from natural deposits, j and is supplied in the form of sulphate and,' chloride (muriate). Both forms are readily,; soluble- ■ > ■ , j * A spade with one edge . sharpened and turned up at a right angle has been invented by a Wisconsin man for trimming valkaand gutters. • • ' ' '•'_ ' ;;■ t ;■' With respect to sugar-beet culture in Cornwall, of tho 2500 acres required to start a factory at Hayle, 1900 acres have been secured. Some fine samples of apricots grown near Salisbury wore Deceived recently at.; the Glen Ewin jam factory. Some weighed-: 4oz each, and many turned the scale at Sic*. Thomas' phosphate is ■ the by-product ob-;] tained in the manufacture of steel; through the use of phosphatio iron ore. The phosphorio acid content is more readily soluble than in bones or rock phosphates. Bone fertilisers are ■ distinct from bone- j dusts, in that some are composed of bone* dust, animal refuse, ground phosphate rock,, |; and generally superphosphate, while •others are bonedusts < diluted with gypsum. A mixture of ke/ouono 'and t soft ■ soap, rubbed Well into the skin, will quickly kill the long-nosed louse ,, CHalmatopinuß vituli).- ;(i Where cows cannot bo. handled, graying,on r dipping in kerosiene ;'emulsion' is reooatmondoa. "Nitrogen as ammonia is obtained , chiefly from the destructive distillation of I coal i» gas manufacture. It combines With an awd radicle forming sulphate of. ammonia* f and § in this form it is-more jreadljr-Bolublettthan organic nitrogen* v"' : ::!' ' ''^^if^f::ii: ,^:: i'! ) t'? : According to ;a ' French; journal,,- two 3 Frenchmen in Oiohin China have managed to get. wine out of bananas, and we are* told that the perfume is very pungent. Thawine is the product of the fenaentattott ©c ;• banana juice with yeast direction* the fruit. Nitrogen as nitrate is found in►naiutalj deposits in » South America. It .«_» I **V nitrates of soda and potash. - lake ,am-« monium sulphate, it is completely,«o««« ?.* water, and diffuses readily through (It is available as food -to the- pianwitnoufc •further change. _____ ' ' Pasteurising milk increases its" keepings properties, but the milk thus treated a»jftotf so valuable a food as, pure raw ttxlfc A* nearly all milk-receiving. stations the mule is pasteurised .before bemg despatched, M the customers. In the process of PMtemtta* Won the bacteria in the milk-are-destroyeaV but not their spores.

Fat is sometimes lost in okeesemakhitf byj| vatting and pressing the curd at too high* a temperature. Curd should not be vattedH or pressed when at a temperature above* 70deir. F. On the other hand, do not let the curd got cold before being put under press, or it will not go together nicely-nmd-becomo properly consolidated. Bonodusts contain phosphoric acid , and nitrogen, the phosphoric acid content being insoluble in water; but, in a finely-drvided state, the particles have more surface exposure, and, consequently, decay quicker and become available to the plant. Ite fineness of a bonedust has, .- therefore, .an* important bearing, on its availability. To some extent the speed at which cream is churned affects the resulting butter. Churning too quickly brings the butter m a very short time, but it is soft, and difficult to work and make up. . Inferior butter is sometimes caused by churning too slowly* The butter then takes a long time to oome, anil the cream generally goes sleepy in the churn. . _ Phosphoric acid is derived from phosphates, the chief source of # which is phosphate of lime. It occur* in fertilisers in three forms, which are distinguishable by their solubility (water-soluble, citratesoluble, and insoluble), , and these terms express the forms in which phosphoric acid is readily available, moderately so, or difficultly so, respectively. Ground phosphates and <nianos differ from the organic) phosphates such as bonedusta and animal fertilisers. They contain practically no organic matter, are denser in .jtruoture, and, except in extreme cases, they are not used to any extent without treatment with aoid. ,They are used as Taw material for the manufacture of superphosphates. Milk from newly-calved cows •< should not ! bo sent to market or Used for the manufacture of dairy products until it has passed the colostrum stage. The simplest toot to flttci when it is safe to mix colostrum rest of the milk is that of heatliiK ™**»' trum to 180 de* F. Wb&s&&*s£' coagulate on being heated- it is quite ««• to mix it with the market milk.. Where butter is made, it is advisable to wiieri buttor w ~.., preference fco hnad-j separate the 'W* HL&f «*„ be obtain*! jknnm.ng it Mom WJt»r mJ]k from a definite SSXt Sweet cream ftiftd cream •s««"..* obtained, and it i« to skim-milk W.J^,*Sir3kJtt k »iflk in«UinadTan<Abec a)lv * her* this Cfltomedity iM ld' «1U for dm*** «,.<*. jcourse, easily bo. soured.