AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18494, 3 September 1923, Page 10

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

Romney Marsh sheep aro reported in English journals to be doing very well in tho cold •"districts of South PatagttiiiUL , : The Argentine Government has established a - meteorological station?" at San Esteban, province of Cordoba, at an - altitude of 4000 ft. '. There is variety of occupation in farming. Carpentering, blacksmithing, veterinary operations, harness-mending, all come into, play as well as tilling the soil. It is hardly wise to let any horse get into a very low condition, as the expense and trouble of getting him "fit" is greater than if some strength is maintained ty feeding reasonably -well. ; ;'• Milk contains large quantities of bacteria, some of which sio injurious and others beneficial- to th© successful production \of dairy products. .It- is upon bacteria • that we depend very -largely for tho desirable flavours .in butter and cheese. Keep the cans and. other utensils in good repair. It will pay- to do" so. The practice of placing cloths round -the milkcan lids (in order to make- them fit) is one to be strongly condemned. Badly-fit-ting lids can be got into their proper shape by any tinsmith for a few pence. Of course, many of the troubles with butter and cheese, such as taints, and products having bad keeping properties, are the result of the action of bacteria. Where milk is obtained and handled throughout in a cleanly manner, the beneficial species of bacteria will predominate' in tho milk.

It is inspiring to read of a vhca of farmers who have actually been known to refuse State aid. Such is true of the Dutch in Holland. Their agricultural societies are opposed to financial assistance from the Government. Their motto is self-help in every branch of rural activity. No wonder they are prosperous! , • >

In order to cool milk efficiently, it is most essential to have a good supply of cold water. A good cooler should be capable of cooling the milk down to- about 2 degrees above the temperature of the water employed for the purpose of cooling. It takes on the average four gallons of water to cool one gallon of milk.

Dr. It. T. Galloway, of the United States Agricultural Department, in his official reports, states that reclamation projects in arid and semi-arid regions of the United States must ultimately fail owing to' saturation wearing out. Irrigation had been . unsuccessful in any semiarid " district anywhere in the world.

Among the new French power waggons built for special uses is a roomy van for transporting' racehorses, with the driver's seat in front, and carrying a 30 horsepower motor. Built according -to the Latil system the front truck is .motordriven, and forms - a unit with the motor and mechanism, leaving the rear axle free, v • V'U-y.' '-" .- -...■■■ ;; :- ;.'-" : ■'■'

Milk from Ayrshire cows is considered the best kind of milk for cheese-making. This is due to the fact that there is present in this milk a fairly high percentage of fat, which exists in the form of minute globules of uniform size. The larger the fat globules in the milk the more difficult it is to retain practically all the fat in the cheese. ■ --■:■:;';■.';•

The average of 36 records of 21 grade cows at the Michigan stationsome of the cows have records for one, some for two; and some, for three years—was 62281b. of "mlk arid 286.61b. of butter. The average profit ? per cow over cost of. feed ' was 33.09 dollars per year." The .". best cow was kept at a profit of 49.57 ""dollars, and the poorest' at a profit of only 3*21 dollars.

, It is impossible :to take any thing, in -the way of \ systematic ; live ; stock improvement further, back than to the* time of Bake well, and there is no; doubt that-he, tried to attain perfection in animal form and utility or .-: as near, to it as ,; could be reached, whether it > was iin horses, cattle, or sheep. More breeds have been originated in England than in any other country. : \ ..: ; ■-,■•

i.-'ft Pqragrele, or hail-preventers, in : certain [•rural-districtsof France have proved ; a great success, no damage from ha having ,be'en the result in districts so protected.. The cost works out at about 4d' per acre. The apparatus consists of- a. terminal.. which is at least 33ft. high, a: conductor to pass the electricity tothe;earth, End a diffuser,, winch is placed, in,a wcllj,,9rc,el«i or underground watercourse, ( '