AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19195, 8 December 1925, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

The pig is a clean animal, so far as circumstances permit. Some 6.250.000 acres of land are now devoted to dairy production in New Zealand. Plants grow faster between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. than at any other time during the day. Young pigs that are being weaned should bo fed little and often rather than be overfed at long intervals. Keep the pigs free from tick, which will suck the life blood out of them. Oil is usefni for the purpose. Young pigs should be castrated when about s x weeks of age. The task should be skilfully don© to avert rupture. Before planting a tree its foots should bo examined and all bruised parts carefully cat away with a sharp instrument. To prune successfully the operator must be able to discern the difference between the fruiting, and wood-producing buds. A bull must have exercise to be in prime breeding condition. The benefit from this will be handed down to the offspring. Tlie consumption of cotton in America decreased by 1,000,000 bales in 1924, while silk manufacturers fncreased their output by 30 per cent. Whether a stallion bo young or old, it is of the first importance that he be submitted to a thorough preparation for the season before him. The use of well-bred rams and the practice of corrective mating and consistent culling soon effect great improvement in a flock. Without doubt the average weight of wool per sheep is possible of improvement, without detriment to the value per lb. of the wool cut. A North Otago farmer states that from six cows his return a recent month amounted to £36 18s 6d. He says that he would not have done so well if he had had a dozen cows to look after, fie considered that if the dairy farmers reduced their herds they would get far better results. Young, pigs should be given allowance of lime-water in their milk or other food two or three times a week, they should always have an access to a water supply, and should be provided with charcoal, bone meal, find wood ashes, as well as with a lump of rock salt to lick at their leisure It is good management and system that will restore worn-out, arable lands that have been depleted of their fertility by the ignorance of former, occupiers; that will make what arc now practically barren and waste lands productive and profitbearing, and increase the earning power of land everywhere. One of the' fallacies still believed is that the butter-fat production of a cow can be increased by feeding. Of course, in one way it is in a manner correct. That is to say, by feeding the milk yield can be increased, and the more milk the more butter-fat. The percentage of but-ter-fat, however, is a matter of breeding. Fallow crops, catch crops, and winter crops all assist in promoting tilth and soil fertility. The bacteria in the soil require to bo constantly fed, and must not be starved. If they are starved, the land will lose tilth. The successive rotation of crops feeds the bacterial life of the soil, improves the tilth, and maintains its fertility. The increased purchasing power of the German people, brought about by generally improved economic conditions* in that country in 1924, affected the butter trade of practically every large butter exporting country, ps is evidenced by the largo imports of butter into Germany, the bulk of which came from the Netherlands and Denmark. When close-lino I.reeding or in-breeding is strictly adhered to the strain becomes remarkably uniform, but in some cases uniformity has been obtained at a cost of constitution and prolificacy. If two strains which differ in their Llood lines are crossed the result is generally larger litters, and youngsters that possess a stronger and morn vigorous constitution.