Farm and Garden.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 241, 1 July 1876, Page 21

Farm and Garden.

The farmers in Victoria and here boast of wheat at 681bs. per bushel, but what will they say to the following from the Tenterfield Star ? “ A splendid sample of white pedigree wheat, the produce of imported seed, is now on view at our office. Good judges of the cereals have pronounced it to be the best sample exhibited in the district for some years. A bushel (measured) weighed 7Ubs. Mr. Sommerlad, the grocer, will be happy to afford every instruction as to its culture.” In referring to numerous protests made through its columns and those of other journals, the Sydney Mail states that the action taken by the New South Wales Government in extending the time of prohibition of the importation of stock from the United Kingdom and other countries is not in accordance with the wishes of a large number of cattle and sheep breeders in the colony,” and further writes: —“If any person doubts the influence imported cattle has exercised, let them peruse the entries for the present Sydney exhibition and the prize lists of past shows. The present season, when nearly all the principal breeders and graziers of the colony are in Sydney at the exhibition, should be selected as a fitting time to test the question. We feel no hesitation in advocating discussion on the question, for the time has arrived when something must be done in the way of correction. We

must have a better system of prohibition, with a stronger treaty or contract with our neighbors, or we must return to our old custom, with certain restrictions. We feel strongly inclined to support the latter, for certain matters which have of late been made public have to a very great extent weakened our faith in prohibition.”

Referring to disputed statements as to the heaviest loads of wool brought to the Wodonga terminus, the M. and 11. Times gives the premier place to a load delivered at the goods shed recently. It consisted of fifty-two bales greasy wool from Mr. McKenzie’s Woollengough station, and was brought in by Ben Smith on a waggon sufficiently strong to be used as a carriage for one of the monster guns that are now in coarse of construction in the old country. The weight of the load was 9 tons 4cwt., and with tarpaulin, &c., the total weight, irrespective of the waggon, was close on 10 tons. Sixteen bullocks were used for the haulage of this enormous load. Experiments made by Mr. J. P. Barnes, of London, according to the Rural New Yorker, seem to have established the fact that a few drops of chloroform will preserve milk entirely pure and sweet for several days, by preventing the lactic fermentation. Eight fluid ounces of milk placed in each of two vessels ; to one ten minims, and to the other twenty minims, of chloroform were added. They were kept in a warm place and several times agitated. At the expiration of five days that containing ten minims had developed lactic acid in quantity sufficient to separate the caseine, while that containing twenty remained perfectly fresh. Some of our readers may find it convenient to preserve milk in this manner. Before using, the milk should be boiled to evaporate the chloroform. The following statistics with respect to the position of agriculture in Germany will no doubt prove interesting to our readers, especially as the subject of agricultural education 13 exciting attention here at present:—“ The whole of the German Empire to-day contains 184 agricultural colleges, of whicli number eight are connected with the great Universities of Leipsic, Halle, Gottingen, Berlin, Konigsberg, Heidelberg, Giessen, and Jena ; three colleges for horticulture ; 75 practical middle schools for agriculture ; 28 middle schools for garden culture; 16 colleges for special branches; besides an immense number of larger and smaller associations, evening schools for the further education of farmers’ youths, lecture courses by travelling professors, &c. Such an extensive system of State instruction does, however, by no means exercise a detrimental influence upon private initiative. On the contrary, it rather appears to stimulate it. There are altogether 1974 agricultural associations, while France has only 953 so-called ‘comites.’ These associations have considerable means at their command, and receive a great deal more private support than is the case in France. The State, however, acts on the assumption that they advance the general welfare, and assist, them to the best of its powers and they strike root successfully in the hearts of the farming population. In the territories Germany has taken from France during the last war it exercises the utmost pains to promote agricultural knowledge. In this connection it is proper to mention the splendid institutions for horse-raising and the excellent veterinary schools, of which Germany has quite a number. Horse-raising is one of the most important branches of agricultural science, and we cannot help acknowledging that the German States exert themselves carefully and spend large sums for the improvement of the breed. The German Empire keeps over 3000 blood stallions for this purpose, and Prussia alone has three breeding establishments, with 2100 mares. The Austrian Empire also owns seven such establishments, of which one alone, that of Rudauz, contains 5000. Another one at Mezohyges, in Hungary, has about 3000 horses. The distinguishing trait of the agricultural conditions of Germany is to be found in the exertions of German science to overcome the unfavorable conditions which nature has given, and the support which in all countries of German tongue, but more especially so on the German Empire proper, the State gives to the propagation and the advancement of agricultural education. Germany spends for this purpose about seven times as much as France does.”

Isaac Lynde, of Ohio, writes to the Poultry World that “on September 1 he took ten pullets each of five breeds, each within a week of being six months old, and placed them in yards 40ft. square, and comfortable houses. For the next six months he kept an account of their food and egg production, with the following results : —The dark Brahmas ate 369£ quarts of corn, oats, and wheat screenings, laid 605 eggs, and weighed 711b5.; the buff Cochins ate 406 quarts, laid 590 eggs, and weighed 731b5.; the grey Dorkings ate 309 J quarts, laid 524 eggs, and weighed 59£ffi s -; the Houdans ate 214 J quarts, laid 783 eggs, and weighed 45Jlbs.; the Leghorns ate 231 quarts, laid SO7 eggs, and weighed seen by the above comparison that the Leghorns laid the greatest number of eggs with the smallest Yveight.” The Tasmanian says that the farmers in that colony, owing to nearly all the best samples of wheat this season being more or less mixed with tares, have experienced great difficulty in getting dead seen, as the cleansing machines and screens in general use fail to separate them. A simple, cheap, and we believe effectual separator will be found in the use of the hand sieve after the grain has been pickled and lain from 12 to 24 hours to swell. It will be found that the tares do not enlarge in the same proportion as the wheat after the absorption of the liquid pickle, consequently the increased difference in size admits of a larger meshed sieve being used without letting the wheat through, while the increased size of mesh separates the tares. To get the proper riddle it will be found necessary to try two or three before the exact size is found, and then the work must be allotted to some one who will have care and patience to do it properly. Barley can also be freed from tares with the

hand-riddle when the rotatory screen fails. A farmer in the Evandal 3 district hy this means has separated 36 bushels of tares fi'om 600 bushels of English barley, leaving both barley and tares almost pure of their kind, and the trouble was amply repaid in the increased value of the produce. HOW TO CATCH A SHEEP. There is a right way to do everything, Clumsy catching and handling is always injurious to the sheep and hard on the party doing the work. The injury resulting from improper handling is greater on ewes heavy with lamb, ' which are about the only class that need to be caught until tagging and shearing times. It hurts a sheep to be caught or lifted by the wool, .and such a thing should never be done where it can be avoided. A portion of the flock to be caught should be driven into a pen until it is pretty well filled, though not crowded. The party doing the catching should proceed quietly, frightening the sheep as little as possible, and when near enough to the animal he desires to catch, should grasp its hind leg above the hock, when, if a pretty firm grip is held, very little kicking can ensue. Then he should pass the other hand in front of the breast, which gives him every advantage over the animal. If it is desired to carry the sheep any considerable distance, he should let go the hind leg, and pass the right arm over the back, just behind the shoulders, with the hand under the brisket, when, stooping a little, the sheep is raised on the hip. If these movements are made with precision and celerity, the sheep is off its feet before it is allowed a chance to struggle. An easy way to carry a sheep for a shorter distance is, after lifting it, as above, to take a hind leg with the free hand, which brings the sheep immediately in front, with its back pressed closely against the man. This position will be found quite necessary when the animal is lifted over a fence, or into a waggon. If it is desired only to move the animal from one pen to another, it need not be lifted at all, but with the first grip over the hamstring it may be gently drawn backward to the entrance, and turned with the left hand, before being released.—Live Stock Journal. AYRSHIRE BREED OE CATTLE. This breed has been generally acknowledged as, all in all, to be the best for all purely dairy purposes, and all dairy farmers who have had any experience in the matter' agree that an Ayrshire cow gives a larger return of milk for the food consumed than a cow of any other breed. Her compact bod and capacious stomach, as she widens out from chest to rump, give ample room for a speedy and complete assimilation of food, and a large return of milk, and although’the absolute quantity may not be so great, it is obtained at less cost, and on this depends the question of profit. Shorthorn cows are seldom good milkers, and under most circumstances have a tendency to lay on fat rather than produce milk ; but all dairymen have found them to be much less profitable than the Ayrshires. The shorthorn cows may give as much milk as the Ayrshires, but to do so they consume considerably more food. During the last forty or fifty years a very superior breed of Ayrshire dairy cattle has spread over the old country, more particularly in the west of Scotland, owing to the great demand for milk and all other dairy produce among the vast manufacturing population which has sprung up in that time, so that this breed have assumed a prominence they had not before. The origin of the present breed it is difficult to trace. Some have supposed it was produced by crossing the native small breed with the larger cattle of the south ; but it is unquestionable that the chief excellencies of the breed are indigenous, and have naturally arisen from the peculiar circumstances of climate, soil, and situation. Three hundred years ago there were two distinct breeds of cattle in Ayrshire, “one of great size, whose flesh is tender and sweet, and another kind which never becomes fat, but which yield rich milk.” The last are the progenitors of our dairy cattle. The color of the Ayrshire breed is generally of red and white in spots, sometimes white and black, sometimes altogether red or brown, but almost never mottled like the shorthoi’n. The horns should be fine, twisting upwards ; the face long, with a lively yet docile expression ; the figure of the body enlarging from the fore to the hind quarters, broad across the loins ; the back straight, the tail fine, long, and bushy at the extremities ; the udder white and capacious, coming well forward on the belly ; the teats of middle size, set equally and wide apart from each other ; and the milk veins prominent and fully developed. The whole appearance of the animal ought to be sleek and thriving. In young queys which have not had a calf the udder should be loose and wrinkled, showing capacity for expansion, and the teats set well apart and perfect. A very valuable ci’oss between the Ayrshire cow and shorthorn bull comes very rapidly to maturity for beef, and may be fed off at two years old. The Ayrshire ox itself may be fed off at three years, but it does not attain the size and weight of the cross-bred. The pure-bred Ayrshire ox varies from 400 lbs. to 600 lbs. ; the cross is considerably larger. The dairy cow bears her first calf at three years old, and for that season is supposed to yield about a third less milk than in future years. She is at her best at about her third calf, and after being in stock for six years is generally sold or fattened off. If a young good cow fails to have a calf she is often retained in stock, though for that year her produce cannot be reckoned at two-thirds of an ordinary animal in full milking. The Ayrshire cattle acclimatise very readily, especially if moved from a worse to a better climate and pasture, and they seem well adapted to the natural conditions of Queensland, and in the north produce both butter end cheese of excellent quality, and in fair quantity. Here as at Home, however, a little careful management and attention make all the difference, and what ought to be set down as a complete

failure under mismanagement, would turn out a complete success under another system. The writer has seen as good cheese and butter produced on the Eitzroy as he ever saw in Ayrshire, simply owing to the selection of the proper animals and the care bestowed on their management, and on the skill shown in the manufacture of the produce. Following up what has been said, it is needless to say that artificial feeding of dairy cattle is nearly, if not entirely, unused in Queensland. Notwithstanding all the herbage and esculents which are almost spontaneously produced, an which, if properly applied and used, wo make Queensland a most important dairy country, green cereals, lucerne, mangolds, sweet potatoes, &c., can be grown to any amount, and nothing will produce a greater quantity or better quality of milk than these, while the favorable climate supplies every other requisite for the profitable developement of such an industry. Without further enquiry as to why this system is not attempted, we may set it down as a fact that it is nearly entirely overlooked throughout Australia. The feeding of cows is, however, a very important point of dairy management everywhere. Regularity is indispensable, and it is well known that by attending to it a greater quantity of milk is obtained than with higher feeding not accompanied by the same precaution. One has only to look at the miserable condition of so-called dairy stock in this country during the droughts and difficulties of the winter and spring months, to see what a change could be easily effected by a little hand feeding. When the grass again springs, the cattle instead of making up their bodies to enable them to produce milk, would be enabled to do so from the first and best of the new grass without loss of time or further hindrance. The management of dairy stock and dairy doings in general would lead into a much more discursive article than was promised ; and with some remarks as to the quantities of milk and butter given by the Ayrshire cows as compared with the Jerseys, we will draw to a close. The Ayrshire cow is in general a little more productive of milk than the Jersey, while, for richness of cream and other products, the Jersey would carry off the palm. It has, therefore, been the practice of many dairies at home to keep a certain number of Jersey cows in the herd, for the purpose of keeping up the general qiiality without loss in quantity. The average quantity of butter produced during the season may be from 8 lbs. to 10 lbs. per week, and where cheese is the object of manufacture, frequently so much as 5 cwt. is given, but more generally it ranges about 3-t cwt. for the season. The number of gallons of milk has been vai’iously estimated at from 600 to 700 per cow. The common average throughout Scotch dairies is 1 gal. of cream to 9 gals, of milk, and 3 lbs. of butter to 1 gal. of cream, or 1 lb. of butter to 3 gals, of milk as it comes from the cow. As these averages extend oyer dairies of from 30 to 40 cows during the whole season, they are much smaller than with picked stock. Ayrshire cows have been known, at their best, to produce from 16 lbs. to 22 lbs. of butter per week during the height of the dairying season. THE CULTIVATION OF SUGARBEET. Bulky papers, relating to the cultivation of sugar-beet in New Zealand and the manufacture of sugar therefrom, were on Thursday presented to both Houses of Assembly. They consist of a long and exhaustive letter on the subject, with numerous appendices, from Sir Julius Vogel to the Colonial Secretary. The letter is largely the result of attention directed by the Premier to the subject, and it is a mark of his untiring industry in whatever direction he may think conducive to the welfare of the colony that he seems to have left no source of information untried. Our space would not permit us to give the letter in full, and it is of such a nature that an attempt at condensing the information contained in it would be an injustice. That information is devoted to the whole history of the origin, progress, and present condition of the industry of manufacturing sugar from beet on the Continent of Europe, and into the probabilities which exist that such an industry could be started in New Zealand, with a large resulting gain to the colony. Erom all the ascertained facts at his disposal, which he gives very full in the paper before us, Sir Julius Vogel arrives at the conclusion that, supposing the industry started, it would be some time before beet sugar could be produced in New Zealand at less than £7 or £8 a ton in excess of what it costs in France, Belgium, or Germany. He believes, then, that in order to make the production of sugar profitable in New Zealand, a large difference must, for some time to come, be made between the import duty on cane sugar and the excise duty on that from beet. He considers that it would be well worth our while to give such an encouragement for a stated number of years, with a view to the introduction and establishment of an industry which will be of immense importance to the colony ; tending, as he contends it must, not only to keep in the country a. large sum yearly which otherwise must be sent elsewhere in payment for imported sugar, but also to give employment in various ways which would be otherwise not possible. He wishes to avoid controversial questions, but he points out that there is a wide difference between offering, in a crowded country, a bonus for the production of an article which would but take the place, as regards the employment

of labor and the use of land, of some other more or less profitable article, and stimulating, in a new country, the production of a commodity which would involve the employment of lands that, but for the bonus, would remain unproductive. He is convinced that, in New Zealand, the question is not between producing £300,000 worth of sugar yearly or an equal value of some other necessary of life, but whether £300,000 worth of sugar shall be added to the other products with which the people of the colony directly supply themselves. In all probability, he argues, if the beet industry were introduced here, it would add to the quantity of land brought under cultivation, and give employment and profit to a great number of persons who would, but for it, not come to New Zealand. The Premier feels sure that this question is one to which we may fairly give consideration ; and also that thei-e is no reason to doubt we might make New Zealand profitably produce sugar, with an ultimate large increase to the revenue. The conclusion at which he has arrived is that, for seven years an advantage equal to one penny per pound, in the way of a difference between the import and excise duties on beet sugar, should be given ; that, for the next four years, fd. should be allowed ; and for a second four years, •|d. While he admits that this would to some extent affect the revenue, unless the excise duty were fixed at the present rate of import duty, he is of opinion that as years pass, and the production of beet sugar becomes a settled industry, the revenue would be well able to afford to dispense with a larger return from sugar, in consideration of the immense advantage of the industry, especially when it is regarded from the European point of view of its value. He is also of opinion that the consumers of sugar would, within a not very long time, certainly gain by being enabled to purchase the article cheaper than they can at present. Though it is true that for some years beet sugar would probably cost here £7 to £8 per ton more than it does in Europe, he contends that this must not by any means be regarded as all an additional cost to consumers. Belgium or French sugar cannot be put down in New Zealand at the prices ruling in Belgium or France. As nearly as he could ascertain, duty, shipping charges, and expenses to New Zealand amount to about £l2 10s. per ton. Speaking generally, the sugar sent here is, in Victoria, valued at something like £3O per ton f.0.b.; and the cost to the consumer, with duty added—the merchant and the retailer respectively making but little profit— is about £45 per ton, or, in small quantities, sd. per lb. Taking the Customs entries as a guide, the average value of sugar landed here is £37 17s. ; but, as the duty is not ad valorem, care may not be taken to give accurate statements of value. Exclusive of duty, good sugar goes into consumption in this colony at about £36 per ton. For some years, beet sugar of equal quality may not be produced at that price. Therefore he considers that as an inducement to persons to invest capital, subject to the risks attendant on a new industry, such a difference between excise and import duty as he has suggested will be necessary. But he has no doubt that this concession would pave the way to an enormous industry, which would eventually not only hold its own without any assistance, but yield a large revenue, and in other ways tend directly to promote the prosperity of the colony. Should it seem that the inducements he suggests are large, he asks that it be remembered that the Joint Committee on Colonial Industries, in the report presented during the session of 1871, recommended that, in order to aid the formation of a company, 3000 acres of land should be selected and sold “ at reasonable ratesthat settlers, with practical knowledge of the cultivation of the root, &c., should be offered free or assisted passages from Germany ; that seed should be bought ; that a bonus of £2OOO should be offered for the first 250 tons of sugar produced from such seed ; and that “for a period of four years from the date of the settlement of the people on the land the sugar produced by them should be exempt from excise duty.” The consumption of sugar in New Zealand is largely in excess of that in any European country. Indeed, while in 1873 (the latest year available for comparison) the consumption here was 64-flb. per head, including the Maoris, and 74Mb. excluding them, in Great Britain it was only 381 b.; in the United States, 271 b.; and in France, 131 b. As to the rate of duty which such a difference as the Premier proposes would involve, he points out that there are very few countries which have not a higher rate to contend against. In England it has been very much higher, and it is only of late that the duty has been abolished. Indeed, there is at present charged in England a duty of 11s. 6d. per cwt. on sugar used by brewers. The present duties in France are from £27 to £3O per ton, and in Belgium about £lB 15s. per ton. Sir Julius argues that by adopting the system he proposes opportunity would be

afforded to all who might be so disposed to enter upon the business. To give a bonus, he contends, would be to confine the occupation to very few. His argument is that if beet sugar production is to become a valuable industry in New Zealand, several factories should be established in different parts, each capable of producing a moderate quantity annually. All should be placed on an equal footing ; and that, according to hia idea, can only be done by a uniform system of encouragement, or rather of abstaining from discouragement, extending over a stated number of years. Of course provision could be made in the Bill relating to the duties, that, if a certain quantity was not produced in the colony within a fixed period, the Act would be repealed ; but he considers that there can scarcely be a question—looking at the great anxiety shown in many different parts of the world to embark in the industry—that, if adequate encouragement were offered, beetroot cultivation, and the manufacture of sugar from it, would soon be thoroughly established inNew Zealand. Fie does not suggest that there should be legislation without giving full opportunity for consideration. As a first step, he thinks it would be best to refer the question generally to a select committee. Anything in the nature of State encouragement to industry is rightly to be looked upon with jealousy by the great body of consumers ; and the experience of a neighboring colony has shown how very unwise it is for a State to offer inducements to the establishment of a great variety of industries. But he contends there is a wide difference between meddling with many industries and offering substantial encouragement to one which there is reason for hoping may be made of vast importance and self-sup-porting. Fie denies that he is proposing that which is new in its nature to New Zealend, or indeed to any of these colonies. The legislation may be new, but that which it would provide exists without it. We have no system of excise here, • nor have any of the adjacent colonies. Wine and tobacco are articles bearing high duties, but they are produced in the colonies without being charged with excise duties. In this country brewing is a large industry, and there is a considerable import duty on ale, but no excise duty on its home production. In all reasonable probability, if any one had the courage to establish a beet sugar factory, he would go on for years without an excise duty: perhaps he would do better than the Premier’s suggested legislation proposes. But he would run a risk such as the introducers of so new an industry would not care to run. The producers of wine in Australia enjoy a remission of duty which, compared with the value of the article produced, is enormous. Yet no one regards it as protection, and in no respect does the freedom from excise duty upon wine differ from a freedom from excise duty upon sugar. New South Wales is considered the .model of a free-trade-loving country, but no one hints that it gives protection because it does not levy excise duties on wine, tobacco, and ale. But the producers of these have not required legislation, whilst he proposes it for sugar. The reason, he says, is obvious. In these industries the capital employed by each person is comparatively small, and a large number of people follow the pursuit. Even where in some cases the capital employed is large, it has grown to be so from small beginnings, as success has increased the sense of security. Supposing an excise duty were imposed, it would never, Sir Julius asserts, be sufficiently heavy to impoverish the industry to which it related; and so, in these colonies, industries have grown up under the fostering influence of large import duties and no excise duty, without legal guarantee that such a condition will continue. He is of opinion that it can hardly be expected that a few individuals, probably strangers to the colony, will commence to embark the large capital beet-sugar-producing would require, without more substantial assurance. It is not, to his mind, in the nature of things they should, although they might be quite safe in doing so. They would have, he thinks, too much at stake to care to run the risk that each session of Parliament would have in store for them. IFis plan, he maintains, would only secure to them in part that which in all probability they would otherwise more largely enjoy. He sees no likelihood of the duty on sugar being reduced, or of an excise duty of equal amount being imposed. Without legislation, the factories established here would, perhaps, enjoy an advantage of a penny a pound duty much longer than he proposes. In this light, the Act would be only declaratory in its nature ; and he asks are we, for fear of theoretical objections, to shut out from the colony an industry of • enormous value, which would probably be more beneficial to New Zealand than wine-producing to the neighboring colonies, whilst we should be really doing no more to encourage it than they have done to encourage wine-producing, or than we have already done to encourage brewing ?

Indeed, in proportion to its value, beer, he considers, notwithstanding the dutypaying articles employed in its manufacture, enjoys in remission from excise duty a much larger advantage than that he proposes for beet sugar.