ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18273, 14 December 1922, Page 14

ON THE LAND.

BACK TO SADDLE HORSES.

Already marked scarcity of riding horses exists in the U.f.A. Orders have accumulated at every centre in the country, the weekly supply at terminal points being close'v scanned for hv order buyers for animals adapted to saddle purposes. Pidin? is now a furore, especially in urban communities, where paths have been constructed as a feature of park systems. Chicago, for instance, is developing a forest reserve or outer park system, embracing many thousand suburban acres, in which recognition of riding as a recreation has been" made, providing scope for those who •-.re. thus enabled to follow this pastime without using .highways, now practically . closed to them by reason of motor traffic. Many of the urban communities already boast of more or less e'aborate riding schools, scores of saddle horse liveries have been established within the past year, and dealers assert, that they do not know whence the horses necessary to meet a demand, created almost overnight is cominc. That riding is merely a passing fad is "doubtful ; in fact, it would seem to be the logical reaction to the automobile. THE SOn, OP A FARM. The soil of a farm is not simply an inert mass of material containing certain mineral substances which plants utilise; it is full of living organisms. Besides the numerous insects, worms, etc., it contains mvriads of low organisms, not visible to the naked eye, but capable of examination by the aid of a microscope. They are known as bacteria or microorganisms and are so minute that a grain of soil may contain many thousands, increasing and propagating under favourable conditions with incredible rapidity. Thev exist in soils chiefly in the upper layer a pinch of soil, so scientists tell us", may contain from several thousands to several millions. Loamy soils, and soils containing much organic matter, contain most: sandy soils contain least. The number decreases gradually from the surface soil downwards till about 3 feet where few or none are present. Each different kind of bacterium performs its own useful purpose in nature, but in the interests of economical cultivation it would appear that the growth, of some of them has to be encouraged and the development of others to be cheeked. The subject, however, is not at present clearly understood, and has to be further investigated by scientific men; for us the practical knowledge is that organic matter. increasing the supply of humus, to the soil, has been proved to favour the rapid growth of the kind of bacteria which, convert organic ammonia into nitrates suitable for assimilation by the crops. We have, therefore, to see that wo keep up in the soil, by the application of farmyard manure," the ploughing under of green crops, and other suitable means, a sufficient supply of humus. "BROWN HEART" IN APPLES. It is significant the disorder that was frequently referred to during the season in the cables received here, and known a-s " Brown Heart," should have occurred so often. During previous seasons this trouble was unknown. The investigations made by Mr. Ashbolt, Agent-General for Tasmania, indicate clearly that the trouble . is brought about by faulty chamber conditions. Excessive accumulations of carbonic acid gas in the chambers evidently resulted in the suffocation of the fruit. The fact that it is suggested shipping companies'should instruct their engineers to change the air in the refrigerating holds four days after closing any chamber, and again 12 days after closing, and finally three weeks after closing, indicate the gases given off by the fruit have not been drawn off frequently enough. The gases given off are, however the outcome of the maintenance of too high temperatures. R-espiration does not cease when apples are placed in cool storage, but it simply becomes less active, according to the degree to which the temperature of the chambr is lowered. Discussing this matter of respiration, Professor McAlpine says:—"Since the breathing out of carbonic acid is an indication of the rate of chemical change within the fruit, it follows that changes of composition must take place from four to six times as fast a;- summer temperature as in cold storage, and from three to six time 3 as fast in cool cellars as in cold storage." He also goes on to say that it has been repeatedly proved at Doncaster that when sound apples are placed in cool storage immediately and Kept there at a constant temperature of 30deg. to 33deg. Fahr., their vital activities are suspended. Evidently in these boats in which 40, 50, -and 100 fer cent, of the fruit was damaged, the igh rang a of chamber temperature waa tho inai.i contributing factor to the development of the " Brown Heart" disorder. FIGHTING CODLIN MOTH. It is significant that quite a number of American entomologists have repeatedly stated that a single thorough spray applied after the blossoms fall ought to be sufficient to protect the fruit for the remainder of the season. Were, any of our fruit _ experts to make such a statement, practical growers would regard them as '' fit subjects for commiseration. Yet in ! America the commercial apple trees are much larger than those grown under our methods of pruning, and are consequently more difficult to spray. Other American ! authorities have stated that if all growers J were to spray their trees thoroughly while at the calyx stage for a period of 1 < several year 3, the codlin-moth pest would : i become almost non-existent. The two j j statements, fairly interpreted, indicate : that considerable work and expense is * caused to careful growers through the 'i neglect of others to faithfully perform :s their portion of the annual task of com- jl bating the codlin moth. It is not an un- |j common practice for some orchardists to 11 spray their apple trees five times during \ the season, and, without attempting to Je detract from the statements of American j t authorities, it is safe to say that these g sprayings might safely be reduced to three ; c within the course of a few years, if grow- '' ers as a body paid due regard to their n obligations. The four sprayings advocated f are the calyx spray, another spraying ap- " plied at an interval of from a fortnight to three weeks afterwards, an early Decem.ber sprayinp, and a final application about I the end of January or early February, ac- i t cording to the condition of the weather i and the prevalence of the late brood. In | ' the case of culinary and quick developing j. varieties, when the fruit may rapidly out- t grow the protection afforded hv the previous spraying, the third and fourth Bpray- j 1 ings should be applied in accordance with \ the growth of the crop. * Since there is a period of about 10 days between the time of the falling of the C petals and the closing of the calyx lobes, * the first spraying should bo timed to catch ' about 80 per cent, of the clusters, when in \ the condition shown in the first illustration. In cases where the trees, owing to C seasonal conditions, open their blossoms i irregularly, growers should use their dis- j cretion with regard to applying a second ] dressing. Nozzle 3 are required that throw a coarse penetrating spray, and there must be a pressure of approximately 2001b. or ' more in the delivery of the spray. An ' elbow coupling should be fitted to the rods, !, that will enable the spray to be directed ; »t an angle of about 45 degrees. As most of the clustera of blossom stand in an up- ] jrigh.t position, this will enable the spray J to ba directed fully upon the higher parts { of the tree. The direction of the spray j should, be a* £"> centre of each cluster, \ and wftia t«he {nozzles set off at an angle ■ from tie rods, ft will be a much easier matter to deal with blossom clusters in the • different parts of the tree. High pressure . spraying minunises iha chance of missing , gome of tho blossoms, and in economical in . reducing the cost of labour connected with 8 the application- At the same time there t should be no attempt at economy in apply- . sng the liquid poison, for every portion of „ the fruit clusters should be well drenohed. i Where growers have been unsuccessful in £ controlling the codlin moth in the past, oven with a number of sprayings, it is well to remember that better results need not be expected if they continue to spray j in. the same way as betara. Care, ia Eto. , nuked to flee that every..calp , tided wiih .poison. Jftttjn home garoanaw , *i ttAWorltia vertoivteZ a*, the tmna \

FEEDING A CHAMPION COW. Mr. C. H. Westrop, ex-president of the British Friesian Society, during a recent visit to the United States, had an opportunity of visiting the famous Carnation Stock Farms at Seattle, and some particulars which he obtained there concerning the- management, of Segis Pietertje Prospect, the world's champion 0700-gal-lon cow (says Dalgety's Review), are " that even those who have known Segis Pietertje Prospect for some time cannot but marvel at her remarkable development during her test years. At freshening time she was just in good condition. She had a slight attack of milk fever the day after freshening, but rallied quickly, and was started on a semi-oracial test the morning of December 20 That is mid-winter in the Stato of Washington. She was fed verv conservatively, receiving 171b. of grain daily. She oamo on nicely and on her ninth clay on test milked 118.61b. Her feed was then gradually increased until the month of 'March. * During that month she produced 37161b. of milk in 31 days, but as it was noticed that this pace was a little too heavy, her feed was decreased. She received "approximately lib. of grain to eae.'n 4.61b. of milk produced. Grain Mixture.—Six parts ground oats, 4 parts bran, 3 parts corn meal, 3 parts ho.niny, 1 part cotton seed, 2 parts soya bean, 3 parts oil meal, 1 pait ground iiax seed, 1 part gluten, lib. charcoal to 1001b. grain. Salt was before her at all times. The molasses was fed with pulp. An interesting feature was the immense amount of roughage the cow consumed at all times. At the commenVprnent of the test in December she consumed 161b. of the concentrate or grain mixture as described, 31b. beet pulp, 201b. hay. 361b. mangels. In March sho received 251b. of the concentrate, or grain ration, 61b. bee! pull-, 301b. hay, and 561b. mangels. The daiiy ration for the greater part of the test period was 221b. concentrate, 51b. beet pulp, 22!b. hay, and 501b. mangels. With this there was a daily addition of 31b. of molasses. During four months Italian rye grass to the average of 201b., and for "another three months about the same quantity of. green oats and peas came into the feeding.

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS. A good and cheap manure spreader for use on pasture land can be made by nailing wooden battens across a moderate length of stout wire netting. The foremost, batten can be fitted with hooks or rings to which traces or chains may be attached. Hardy annuals from seed sown in the open border should be carefully examined from time to time, and the necessary thinning out done gradually, so that the plants will have ample room to grow vigorously and produce flowers of good substance. Weak, spindly plants are never satisfactory. Hens do not perspire as do most animals—sweating through the pores of the skin. they open their mouths and pant, and in extreme cases droop their wings. There Is great suffering when the latter stage is reached. Overfat fowls and broody hens that persist in sticking to close, ill-ventilated nests frequently meet with sudden death. Most salading plants are quick growing, and therefore need a rich, deep soil and plenty of moisture. If the summer is a very dry and hot one, grow them in as shady a place as posible. Never sow in dry soil. If neccessary water the bed a day or two before sowing or planting oui. The main desideratum with most salad subjects to have them fresh and crisp is to sow frequently and grow quickly, and this especially applies to lettuces and radishes.

One of the greatest assets to the stockkeeper is sound, healthy stock, so that his losses by disease are negligible. This position can only be obtained by breeding from the most sound and healthy stock, and it is as important to the owner of a commercial herd as a pedigreed one that his stock should have a reputation for health and robustness of j constitution.

Generally speaking, it is better not to mate the gilt until she is eight months old. She will then have her first litter when about twelve months old. No sow should have more than two litters in one year. Old pig keepers have observed that the produce of sows that fa7TOW large litters of even-sized pigs fatten most quickly and require least food for a given increase in weight; and that the produce of the more lusty and muscular sows, which are usually in good condition, grow and thrive better than the delicate sows. Matured, good-sized sows will generally produce larger and more pigs than will young or smaller sows.

The folly of agricultural societies offering prizes for mixed classes of longwools led to a little episode at Driffield show this year which caused some heartburning, says the Live Stock Journal. In a class for best shearing ram were thirteen entries. Among these was a solitary Lincoln; the rest were Leicesters. The Lincoln sheep, which had been first at York show and third at the Royal was awarded the premier place in the following circumstances :—The judges were a Lincoln and a Leicester flock master respectively. Neither would give way, the one favouring the Lincoln ram: his brother judge held fast to his opinion that the Royal winning Leicester should be at the top of the class. The umpire called in was one of the judges of heavy horses! He went for the Lincoln ram.

I Unless the potato plants are thoroughly ■ cultivated from the moment they appear j through the soil it is useless to expect a good crop. The first cultivation is probably the most important. The surface ■ should be thoroughly loosened and every ; weed and spear of grass removed. The soil should be worked until it is fine and mellow. | If this is done the plants grow rapidly and ; produce bulky stalks, the surest indication that there will be big tubers later. Cultivation thereafter should occur at least every week, and should continue until the tubers are as large as walnuts. Many growers lose a good crop because they discontinue cultivating too soon. Frequently "just one more cultivation" is all that was needed to develop the tubers to their fullest size. Be sure your crop gets this "just one more cultivation."

One of the largest and most valuable shipments of Clydesdale horses which has been brought to the Dominion reached Wellington on Tuesday on the s.s. Durham, (says the "Dominion.") The shipment was personally selected in Scotland by Mr. James Patrick, who dispersed his Lee Creek Stud, in Otago, early in this year, and then took a trip to Scotland, travelling via Canada. Mr. Patrick attended both the English Royal Show at Cambridge and the Highland and .Agricultural Society's Show in Scotland. He visited all the principal Clydesdale studs in Scotland, including tho famous Surradale Stud, established by the late George Ferguson, and which was to be dispersed on October 10. In all, Mr. Patrick selected 11 Clydesdales for export to the Dominion, and these are now on the Durham, and will • be unshipped at Lyttleton this week.

An interesting comparison between rural attractions and those of the city is made hv Mr. W. C. Coffey, Dean of the Department of Agriculture, University of .Minnesota. He says:—"The cities can have carrots in the bunch but not in the [row, and there is more beauty and more ; comfort and delight in a row of carrots than in a bunch of them. Tho city can have apples in the box but not apples on the trees, and what can surpass trees laden with highly coloured, juicy, luscious fruit in beauty and in the implication of 'thrift and wealth? The city can have flowers in the vase or in the park, mayhap, but a trip through your own garden "of flowers where you have the privilege of stirring the earth around the roo'ts of this plant and pulling the weeds from the roots of though it may be planted to the most wonanother and plucking a blossom here and a leaf there, transcends in pleasure any trip you may make through a park even derful flowers in the world.