AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19158, 26 October 1925, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

A grazing area in British Columbia, capable of maintaining 200,000 head of cattle, has been discovered by the Provincial Grazing Commissioner. The Wisconsin Experimental Station reports that three bushels of tubers fed with one bushel of corn are equal to two bushels of corn for fattening pigs. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that sixty pigs made a gain of lib. per day for a period of six weeks on one acre of artichokes. The average butter production per cow in Denmark in 1922 was about 2501b. against the nine year average for Australia of 1341b. (or 86 per cent, difierence). The detrimental effect of the high ocean rates on cheese was explained to the special committee of the House of Commons that is investigating ocean freight rates. The fact that the butter championship for the whole of the world has been gained by a New Zealand dairy company, is something that this country should be proud of. Because a man will usually do best with a breed that he likes, it is well to give this personal preference the right of way when there is no other breed already established. Successful farming demands experience in weather and seasonal variations, disease, plant and animal nutrition, soil management, complicated machinery, and business affairs. After several seasons of short wheat harvests in Canterbury, there is again a prospect of the same thing happening during the coming summer, unless the weather improves very quickly. Somewhat unfavourable weather conditions during portion of the growing period of last season have been reflected in smaller yields of wheat, barley and other grain in Argentina. In Wales the police supervise the dipping of sheep, to see that they are not too roughly handled, and are not compelled to stay too long in water which is at a low temperature. If the sow becomes constipated she should be dosed with 2oz. of castor oil in milk once daily until normal. The use 'of small amounts of linseed or linseed cake will help to keep the bowels working. The discomforts suffered by sheep folded on heavy or sticky soils in a wet season are plain to all who see them. They can be reduced by growing marrow-stem and thousand-headed kale in preference to turnips. Negotiations are reported to be in progress between shipowners and the Dairy Export Control Board. It is suggested that reduced freights should be accopted by the shipping lines in return for the conclusion of definite agreements. Whatever the position, New Zealand cheese factories are assured of a very satisfactory return for at least three-fifths of their outputs, and, as the second half of the season experiences, as a rule, even better values than the first half, there is every prospect of a successful year. The most practical advantage in early breeding is that the heifer gives an earlier return for her keep. It is very important that the heifer make good growth before she is bred from, because after that time she will make little body growth until after she has completed her first lactation period. Well-developed milk organs, including the udder and mammary veins, are a highly essential characteristic of good dairy cows. Good size and quality are most important considerations in judging tlnj udder. Such udders with uniformly well-developed quarters, and with teats of convenient size, are most ideal. Wait until the lucerne is well in bloom before cutting. The yield over a period of years will be higher and a better stand of plants maintained by this practice. Some lucerne growers fear that waiting for bloorn will damage the basal shoots. The mower gets some of them, but the stronger growth more than offsets this damage. From July 12, 1925, the margarine makers in Denmark will be free to colour their produce (hitherto prohibited), when an increased export, trade in the article may be expected. Chloride of lime at the rate of one pound to three gallons of water is very effective for disinfecting earth floors and runs, and its use is particularly advised where there has been any disease. An English correspondent says that during the past twelve months there has been a great demand from all parts of the world for Southdown sheep. In spite of the unfavourable conditions, no fewer than 223 head were sent abroad, including the King's sheep, most of which were sent to New Zealand and Canada, while a few were purchased by the United States. Sheep were also sold by British breeders to Peru and Kenya Colony.