Farm and Garden.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 118, 19 July 1873, Page 7

Farm and Garden.

*■ The Wellington Horticultural Society e have published their report for this year, 4 which shows that the income of the society n for the past year, by subscriptions, was *’ £73 Is, being an increase of £l2 12s. On L e the other hand, the money taken at the doors during the past year shows a falling r off of £2 7s Bd, notwithstanding that an e additional show was given. This, howr ever, it is well known, was solely owing q to the bad weather, the society having been curiously unfortunate in their choice e of days. The total income amounted to n £lB4 3s sd, against £146 3s 8d the pre--1 vious year ; the total expenditure to £IBO n 6s 7cl, against £127 3s the previous yearv Last year the society paid away £B7 5s 9d a in prizes, the previous year only £6117s 6d. ® The society numbers ninety-five members; ;! fifty-six are subscribers, of £1 Is each annually. Prizes have been taken by fc twenty-five gardeners and forty-four J amateurs ; eight, of the latter being ladies. k The highest aggregate taken in prizes dur- . ing the season by a gardener was £8 3s s 6d ; by an amateur, £8 11s 6d. The most 3 successful lady exhibitor carried away £1 » 19s 6d during the season. The committee f recommend that the society should have , a medal struck, to be awarded annually ■ to the gardener and amateur who take the » greatest number of prizes during the season; and also, that the members and the public 3 generally be solicited to offer special y prizes at the shows. A great feature of ' the pamphlet is a long list of ‘ 1 special I | prizes” presented by a number of spirited f citizens who are desirous of encouraging a ’ horticultural taste in the community, i A sheep-dog match took place at Rose- - bank Farm, Woodford, on the Bth inst. * The “Warrnambool Examiner” reports f that the contest was between Mr John Davidson’s dog, against Mr John Taylor’s r slut, for £lO a side. The first lot of 1 twenty sheep were let out of a yard, and 1 taken down to a clear paddock a distance of about six hundred yards. Mr Davidson then sent his dog for the sheep, which were brought up ..and put through the gateway in good style by the dog. Twenty others were prepared for Mr Taylor’s dog in a similar manner, and were put through the gate after some delay. Two lots of five sheep each were then taken to the paddock, and in passing through Mr Davidson’s dog decidedly had the advantage. The next lots were three and two sheep respectively for each dog, when Mr Taylor’s had the best of it for the smaller number. As Mr Davidson’s dog became tired, he was unable to bring up the sheep, consequently the judges awarded the stakes to Mr Taylor. Many present stated that they would prefer Mr Davidson’s animal as being more generally useful in bringing up a large number of sheep. It is hardly necessary to direct attention to the need of attending at this season to the water channels of the farm. The late rains have done that. We may say generally, however, that it is impossible to farm land which lies in a sodden state all, or the principal part of, the winter months. Either by means of the surface or subsoil drains the water must be carried off, and the land laid dry, otherwise failure will be the reward of all efforts put forth. There are very few positions where subsoil drains are not needed ; but land so situated at any rate requires the surface drains and surrounding ditches to be cleared. Advantage of the cool weather should be taken to fatten pigs for pork and bacon. Maize can be put to no better purpose than to fatten pigs—especially in situations distant from market. Three pounds of maize will make one pound of pork, and cured bacon is a far more portable product than maize. Select pigs which make the least offal. In this respect there is a great difference. Some pigs, of from 500 to 600 lbs, give only 46 lbs as the difference between the weight after bleeding and when dressed, some 34 lbs, and some 60 lbs. The Essex and Berkshire are the best sorts. Some time ago the “ Florist and Pomologist” published a list of fruits best adapted for small gardens, elected on the principle of vote by ballot, as being the best in their several classes, by sixteen of the best gardeners in England. The votes, it was said, were not given in favor of any one quality, flavor for instance, size, and so forth, but rather in consequence cf a i combination of really good and desirable i qualities in the varieties placed at the head of the poll. The following are the ] varieties for which the highest number of 1 votes were recorded, and the way in which 1 they were elected should serve to show ' their adaptability to widely different soils < aud situations:—Apples Dumelow’s I Seedling, Blenheim Pippin, Cox’s Orange I * Pippin, Lord Suffield, Ring of the Pip- ’ pins, Cox’s Pomona, Alfriston, Hawthorn- I den, and Ribston Pippin. Pears —Louise f Bonne of Jersey, Marie Louise, Williams’ « Bon Chretien, Beurre Diel, Winter Nelis, 1 Beurre d’Atnanlis, Jargonelle, and Jose- 1 phine de Malines. Peaches - Royal i George, Barrington, BetJegarde, Groase i Mignonne, Noblesse, and Rivers' Early, t Apricots —The Morpark, Kiaisha, and t

Orange. Plums—Victoria, Green Gage, Coe’s Golden Drop, Early Rivers, Jefferson, Kirke’s, Denniston’s Superb, Prince Englebert, and Diamond. Cherries—Old May Duke, Elton, Black Tartarian, Heine Hortense, Biggareau, Morello, and Biggareau de Hollande. Gooseberries —Red Warrington, Whitesmith, Red Champagne, Yellow Champagne, Green Gage, and Ironmonger. Gooseberries (For size only) The London, Antagonist, Thumper, Catherina, Crown Bob, and Roaring Lion. Red Currants —Raby, Haughton Castle, and Red Dutch. Black currants —Black Naples. Raspberries—Fastolf, and Red Antwerp. Training Colts. —V. P. Richmond, writing to the “ Prairie Farther,” says:— For the last six years I have been haltering my colts when about one week old, and when the mother is worked the colt is tied by her side. I find many advantages in beginning so soon with them, among which are : —The colt is learned to lead in a very few minutes—seldom more than fifteen. Being thus early handled, they have no fear of being hurt when any one comes around them. They learn to travel on the road without fear of the vehicle behind them or meeting others. There is no danger of losing them or having them stop on the road to cause you to go back after them. Two or three times going back for a colt will break one to lead by the side of the mother. When so trained, they are ready to work as soon as they are old enough. I have two now that were no trouble to break. All that they had to learn was to pull. They knew what was behind, and had no fear of being hurt. One I harnessed without assistance, and drove seven miles and back the first afternoon. Neither of these colts has naturally the best of tempers, but they are now a very pleasant team to drive in any place or in any kind of carriage. Kindness in all cases is necessary in training (I do not say breaking) colts ; and firmness is quite as necessary. In early training a young colt will very soon learn that man is his master, and that he will not be hurt if he is quiet. The colt learns little at a time, too, and learns that little well, and he never forgets it. In beginning with colts old enough to work, they are expected to learn too much at once. A colt should not be expected to learn all he is to know at one time, any more than a boy should learn all that is necessary for him to know at one term of school. Try the plan of leading the colt when the mother is at work next spring. Civilised man takes possession of a new country, and the shadowy forests are laid low. The hardy settler builds his “ smiling homestead,” and by the steady application of untiring industry, gradually surrounds it with all the requirements of civilised life. Luscious fruits are planted, and the cleared ground is mantled with waving crops of golden grain. From a poetic standpoint the wilderness is made “ to blossom like the rose, and the waste places of the earth to rejoice.” Practically, however, he has disturbed the nicely-balanced relations of organic life, disregarded the laws of nature, and must pay the penalty. Every tree has been grubbed up, and every bush removed, so that the plough might pursue its uninterrupted course. The homes of insectivorous birds have been destroyed, and many of those friends of man fallen a prey to wanton cruelty, miscalled “ sport.” Insect life revels unchecked, and anon the farmer’s hopes are blighted. Myriads of aphis, or other insect pests, invade the fruit trees in his garden, or he sees the waving grain laid waste by devouring hordes of caterpillars. In the bitterness of his spirit he remembers the poor insect destroying birds which have been driven from their haunts or wantonly slain, and supplicates his idol, the Government, to protect those “ winged wardens of the farm” from further outrage at the hands of unthinking men and thoughtless boys. Such is the origin of the movement initiated by the Ballarat Agricultural Society, and now being taken up by by other kindred societies throughout the colony, in favor of according legal protection to insectivorous birds—a movement which must commend itself to the sympathies and should receive the support of all thinking men. It is one step towards restoring the balance of nature, which, as we have pointed out, was disturbed by injudicious clearing andreckless slaughter. But something more than merely including insectivorous birds in the Game Act, and protecting them by law, is necessary. Farmers, individually, must succor and protect their feathered friends. With this object in view, as we have on many former occasions pointed out, live fences should be planted, and, where the whole of the timber has been cleared off, plantations made. Hedges, under all circumstances, are desirable, and in many places where clearing has been carried to excess plantations of trees are absolutely necessary to break the force of strong sweeping cold winds. These plantations and hedges, besides furnishing shade and shelter to live stock and increasing the productiveness of the land, would also supply roosting and breeding places for insectivorous birds. Without such provision made for them, although protected by law* birds

cannot be expected to increase in the treeless agricultural areas where their presence is most needed to check the undue development of insect life. The law may offer protection, but it will rest with farmers themselves to provide shelter and enforce the law. In Great Britain and in France insectivorous birds enjoy legal protection. The sooner we, in this colony, follow the good example thus set and endeavor to maintain the balance of nature the better.—Melbourne “Leader.”