THE FARM.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 879, 4 January 1889, Page 19

THE FARM.

MANGOLD ATTACK. It seems that another agricultural pest has found development in the Mother Country, and is both a vegetable and flesh feeder, but until this year was known only as the latter. As it may make its appearance iu New Zealand our farmers cannot be warned too early, and hence we g ve the following reprint, taken from the Agricultural Gazette. Beet Carrion Beetle. —(By Miss E. A. Ormeroo. ) I am very sorry to say that the blackish, somewhat woodlouse-shaped grubs forwarded by your correspondent ‘L. M. H.’ are those of what ia called the ‘Beet Carrion Beetle.’ The name is given from the beetle, as well as its grub, living on beet or mangolds as well as on carrion. The specimens which you send me exactly correspond with the description of the grub of this beetle (the Silphn opaca scientifically) given by Curtis in his ‘Farm Insects'at p. 391, with a figure.

The grubs at present are about half an inch long, black, sometimes lighter below; in shape they ore very like a woodlouse, but narrower ; they widen gradually from the head to about the fourth ring, and then narrow to a blunt point at the tail. The head is furnished with jaws, and has a little pair of horns with three long joints ; the three rings next to the head (each of which has a pair of legs appended) are rounded at the Bomewhat thin edges ; the other rings are prolonged at the hinder edge, so as to give the grub a somewhat sawlifce appearance at the sides, and the end segment has a spire on each side, and a somewhat tube-like process at the tip, apparently serving for a kind of sucker foot. To the above description it may be added that the grub smells disgustingly. I have given a pretty full description because, so far as I am aware, though the ( Beet Carrion Beetle ’ is well-known in England, it has not been recorded as attacking mangoldß or other crops here until this year. It has been slightly known in Ireland, and I had specimens of the beetle from a mangold crop in Co. Kildare, in IBS4, but I have never before, until about a fortnight ago, met with its attacks to crops either as beetle or grub, In England, the specimens then sent me, which I have now by me, were also from a locality in the west of England, and wore destroying mangolds. The grubs appear usually to feed until about the middle of July, when they go down into the ground and turn to chrysalids, from whioh the fiattish brown blaak beetles come up in about three weeks. The only remedy that appears to have been suggested is to drop dead animals or bits of carrion about the field to attract these double.feeding grubs from the plants, but I should doubt it succeeding. I have been trying the experiment with the specimens lately sent me, and can only make out for certain that the grubs in no way avoid the piece of bone and skin placed amongst the young beet plants. It may save trouble in experiments to mention that lime, and also salt, bave failed to check this attack ; but also, as far as experience goes, the attack Is limited to mangolds and beet. : It has been noted that turnips, carrots, potatoes, and parsnips, likewise peas, beans, and cabbage have succeeded admirably on land where mangolds had been destroyed. Also, in a most trustworthy report received only this morning from the sufferer under similar attack, hie mentioned that fiis carrots were in no way injured. From this it would appear to be worth consideration whether, if the mangolds are likely to be destroyed or to aause expense in experimental dressing,-it might not bo worth while to sow turnips at once, or at least substitute some other orop for the mangolds. But there is a further consideration of greater importance, where is this pest which has not (as far as we know) damaged mangolds in England before, coming from ? It wouldjDe eminently desirable to know something about what manure was used, for there may (very possibly have been something in it which attracted these doublei feeding beetles ; and it would also be very

desirable to know whether this attack has been noticed elsewhere. HORSEMANSHIP. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.— A SYSTEM OF RIDING AND TRAINING FOR ORDINARY PURPOSES. (By E. L. Anderson, Author of * Modern Horsemanship.’) Part ll.—-In the Double-Reined Bridle, (Continued). Difficult Horses.

Most of the resistances that are found in the saddle horse result from the horse getting behind the hand. These vices cannot therefore be cured until the horse has been confirmed in the habit of facing the bit at the pressure of the rider’s legs, apd until this discipline has been established the rider must obtain control over the animal’s movements by stratagem, for neither spur nor rein has much power with a horse that is behind the hand. The system that I have described in the previous chapters should bring the horse to a perfect state of obedience, and I can recommend the following methods of proceeding with difficult horses which have not yet been made amenable to discipline. When the horse turns the croup to the right or to the left and refuses to g© forward, but sidles off in a series of little springs or jumps, the rider will bend the fore-haud to the same side ; he can thus bring the animal straight, and he can then demand the forward movement and regain the desired direction. If the horse moves off in a series of stiffened jumps, changing the legs of the hind-quarters at every few Btrides, and bearing npon the rider’s hand so that it can get some support from the reins while it carries its hind-legs under its body for these jumps, the rider should release the tension upon the reins (but should not let the horse get its head down), and he should push the animal forward in any pace o« action it will take until the horse faces the bridle, when a more moderate and better controlled manner of moving oan be established. If the horse stands in place, arches its back, depresses its head, and refuses to move, the rider should avoid urging it forward, or the animal, if it does move, will plunge violently forward. He should, by gentle taps of the whip upon the fore-legs, induce the horse to extend, itself so that the back will sink to its normal state, and the head can be elevated, and the horse be made to move forward ; or he should overcome the rigidity', and so obtain control over the animal, by inducing the hind-legs to move to one side or to tho other.

If the horse elevates the head, pokes out tho nose, stiffens tho whole body, and refuses to move, the rider must avoid punishment, or*the horse will bolt off madly. If the rider bends the head to the right or to the left the rigidity will disappear, and the animal may be induced to go forward. A horse may rear if the rider pulls too severely upon the bit, and nothing can be done iu such a case beyond releasing the tension upon the reins, and gently urging the horse forward when the fore feet come baok to the ground. But when a horse suddenly retires from tho hand, and then thrusts out its nose, and, stiffening itself, rears straight up, it is confirmed in tho vice, and nothing, so far as I know, will correot it but a thorough course of suppling. If a horse plunges, the driver must lean back, and drive the animal forward in any pace or action that it will take until the horse faces the bridle, when a better control may be established. I am opposed to the custom of bringing a disorderly horse to a halt as a correction, because it teaches the animal to stop whenever there is any misunderstanding, and, the impulse being lost, the rider has no control over the animal’s moveihent; whereas, if the horse goes forward, the rider can direct it, and obtain control over its motions. A shy horse may be made to pass an object that frightens it by having the head turned away from that which causes its fear, and by being pressed along upon two paths by the heel on side away from the object in a movement like shoulder-in. A shy horsa may be persuaded to approach something that frightens it, but it should never be forced to face that which causes its terror. A nervous horse is far more fearful of musio, moving troops, banners, &0., when at some distance than when in the immediate vioinity ; and in teaching the horse to be quiet with such sights and Bounds, it shoold be quietly but firmly brought close to them in such a manner that whatever causes its alarm is upon one side or the other, rather than directly in its face or directly behind it. The rider should avoid pulling too strongly against the mouth of a nervous, excitable horse, as the animal may bolt, or run away to esoape from the paiu. If such a horse shows a disposition to go more rapidly than the rider wishes, he must lower his hand, sit perfectly quiet in the saddle, and by gentle tensions upon the reins restrain the animal, using tho snaffle in preference to the curb bit.

Finally, one word upon correction. The whip, the spur, and the reins must be used in controlling the horse by giving certain indications, which should be responded to instinctively. They should never then be employed in punishment—that is, if a reasonable application of an aid is not obeyed, such application should uot be repeated to the. pain of the horse ; for a determined horse will be unmindful of blows, and the true effect of the aid will be lost. . If a horse requires correction, a few words Bpoken in a harsh tone of the voice will have more effect, than the severest use of whip and spur, and the horse will not know how to resent such correction. I do not say that one sharp stroke of the whip may not, if given in good time, send the horse forward at a critical moment ; but what I mean is, that if this stroke fail, it will be useless and cruel to repeat it. But a whip stroke or a touch of the Bpur may be a legitimate use of the aids, when repeated applications would only enrage the horse without producing any good effects. A ready, determined rider should never find it necessary to punish his horse ; a timid, unready rider will only court defeat if he uses whip and spur severely. Breaking to Saddle. The earlier the education of the horse is begun the better. As a weanling it should be taught to be obedient to she halter rein,

and from the time it is two years old until it ia mounted it should be 4 longed ’ upon the cavesßon with sufficient frequency to maintain its confidence in thp kindness and its belief in the power of its master. But whatever may have been the early treatment of young horses, when they are finally * taken up ’ to be broken to the saddle the following course can be recommended : A well-fitting saddle, without stirrups, should be securely fastened by a broad surcingle to the back of the animal, care being taken that no pain or discomfort is caused. A light head-stall, with a very easy bit, should then be placed upon the horse’s head, and the side-lines and bearing rein should be fastened to the surcingle at Buch lengths as will neither confine the horse too much nor permit it to get its head too low. It should then be taken in a cavesson to some retired place, where there will be neither sights nor sounds to distraot its attention, and be led ta either hand in a circle of about 30 feet in diameter. Gradually the trainer will lengthen the longing rein, until ho finds himself in the centre of the circle, while the horse walks quietly about the circumference. At first, in changing hand or passing about in tho other direction, the trainer will bring the horße to a halt by giving the longe-line a slight vertical vibration and by speaking to the horse in a mild tone of voice, and he will then go to the head of the hor3e and turn it in the new direction, leading it off for the first few Bteps. By gradual Btepa this change will be made with a lengthened rein, until the change can be effected from the centre of the ring. Nothing should be done that would frighten or annoy the horse. The longe-line is to be used with care, and without violence. Any disobedience on the part of the horse should be ascribed to its ignorance, and there should be nothing resembling punishment. To incite the horse to move forward, the whip should be brought to the ground in the rear of the animal ; but should it ever be necessary to give an actual stroke of tho whip, the lash should be applied just in front of the girth behind the shoulder. From time to time the horse should bo brought to a halt upon the circumference of the circle, and the trainer should reward the animal by caresses and kind words. If the horse shows more rigidity upon the one side than upon the other, the circling should be given more frequently to that side, and the aim of the trainer should be to make both sides equally supple and obedient. After the horse will go, to either hand, quietly in the walk, the trainer should occasionally put the horse into a slow measured trot, but the speed upon the longe-liue Bhould never be great. By degress the side-lines and the bearing rein should be shortened sufficiently to prevent the horse going too much upon its shoulders, and as a further preventive of this fault, and to improve the carriage of the animal, the trainer should pay great attention to inciting the action of the hind-legs, so that they 9hall be carried well under the mass; this will lighten the fore-hand and J insure good action in both extremities. These exercises should be given twice each day In lessons of fifteen or twenty minutes eaoh. As the horse becomes inspired with confidence in its trainer the stirrup-irons may be let down, until they dangle against the sides of tho animal as it passes around the cirole ; but if at any time the horse becomes excited or annoyed by the stirrup irons they should be taken up, until such time as the animal will bear them with complacency. It will greatly advance the education of the horse if it be led occasionally upon roads where it may pass and be passed by carts and other vehicles, for it is better to accußtom the animal to such sights and sounds at this period than when it is nervously excited by its first lessons under a rider. When the horse no longer shows distrust of its trainer, and goes quietly and steadily to either hand, in tho walk and in the trot, upon the longe-line it may be mounted. The animal should be brought to the usual place of exeroise, a light bridle with an easy snaffle being placed upon its head, under a head collar that will hold a nose-band in its proper position. The saddle should have been placed upon the animal’s back for at least an hour before it is to be mounted, and the girths should be tight enough to hold the saddle in position, but not so as to pinch or hurt the horse. Plunging or buckjumping are nearly always the results of cold ill-fitting saddles and tight girths. An attendant should be present to hold the horse while the rider mounts, and to lead the animal for a few paces after the rider has taken his seat. When all has been made ready, the trainer should quietly approach the horse, gather tho reins in his right hand, and mount calmly and deliberately, cautioning the horse to romaiu quiet by using the words to which the animal is accustomed. When his seat is secured, he should take a rein in each band, with the very lightest tension upon the mouth, and sit very quietly while the attendant leads the horse for a few paces. If the horse moves forward freely in the walk, the attendant should withdraw, and the rider should give the horse all the liberty of the head that is possible, taking care, of course, that the horse does not lower the head too much. The lower parts of the rider’s legs should not be brought, against the animal’s sides, and, if it be necessary to urge it forward, it should be inoited by the voice or by a tap of the whip delivered just behind the girth. Most horses that have been carefully handled will give no trouble upon being mounted, and if the animal does not plunge for the first two or three times, it will probably never bo guilty of such a vice, unless its rider makes some mistake ; but, if the horse should plunge, the rider must lean back, keep up its head, and push it forward until it takes a regular pace. It should then bo rewarded and caressed for its good behaviour, and, after it has gone quietly for a few minutes, the rider should dismount and send it to the stable. By gradual lessons the horse should be induced to go into the bridle, and this can be best taught in a alow trot, which may be undertaken as soon a 3 the horse will bear its rider quietly, which ahould be at the third or fourth lesson, although some horses may require greater precautions. After a few lessons the rider should begin to teach the horse to move forward at the pressure of his legs against its sides, but no spurs should be used until the animal ha 9 besn made fairly

S” 11 " La .r=rr~?rrT\' obedient to the reins. When the horse will face the bit, and understands the meaning of the pressure of the rider’s legs aga nst its eideß, it is ready for the course of schooling that has been previously described. PITHILY PUT. Kind treatment is an equivalent to foodThe greatest enemy of agriculture is ignorance. The mule isjhardy and handy, if not.handsome. If you would have your boys profit by your mistakes, don’t repeat them. Some fanning is like an old jacket—frayed at the edges and very thin elsewhere. Growing a boy on the farm is a mighty good foundation preparation of him for any honourable business. There is this difference between the poor and the good farmer : One complains of the bad seasons, the other rejoices in the good seasons. Two horses of one kind will do as much work as four horses of another kind, and it ought not to be hard to determine which is the more profitable. When a man comes half a mile to borrow a hoe or a fork, you may depend on his coming some day to borrow money, but never coming to pay back. The farmer candidate may not give you as much taffy as the city man before election, but he is more apt to consider your interests after he is elected. Perhaps it can’t be remedied, but it is, nevertheless, a pity that the creature flattered by the nod of a politician casts a vote that counts as much as the ballot cast by a true man.

A writer in Melbourne Town Talk says : “From carefully-compiled documents in the possession of the banks, I gather that nine million pounds of bills, given in connection with land transactions, fall due during the first quarter of next year. It may also be of interest to state that on October 22, when the associated Banks of Melbourne raised the rate of interest, there were eightythree millions sterling of bills afloat in connection with land, whilst the cash deposits on these gigantic transactions only amounted to three millions. Even a tyro in financial matters can understand that the banks have aoted rightly in stopping upstarts from recklessly gambling with other people’s money.”