GLEANINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1318, 3 June 1897, Page 6

GLEANINGS.

The soil and manure heap produces the plant, the plant the animal, the animal the manure heap, the manure and soil the plants.

No prophet is needed to arise to show us that our grain crop can he largely increased if practical efforts are made in the right direction.

In connection with roots it was shown by the late Dr Yoelcker that turnips grewn from lOin to 12in apart were much richer in sugar than those grown 20in apart.

When used with other quick-acting fertilisers, manure keeps land in good heart, moist, mellow and friable, and in a condition admirably suited to the be3t development of plain roots.

Bacteriologists are now endeavouring to produce cultures containing not only bacteria for the production of good acid for ripening cream, but also bacteria for the production of good flavour in butter.

Whereas the fresh white turnips contain 3£ to 4£ per cent, of sugar, the fresh swede contains from 6 to 7 per cent, and yet many fail to discriminate in feeding between the one and the other.

In steeping wheat or oats in hot water before sowing to destroy the gorms of smut, American experiments show that the addition of from 1 to 2 per cent, of potassium sulphide has proved very effective.

When we have once learned what each cow is doing for us we are in a position to do intelligent work in the line of breeding, and we are not in a position to do the best work until we know each individual cow.

Lack of skill in milking, unkind treatment, improper or irregular feeding, and a badly drained milking yard will soon spoil the best dairy herd in existence. None of these “ methods" should be practised in the dairy.

A German writer saya the nutrition of plant* is diminished in a constantly moist atmosphere, because in such case the plants cease to transpire. It is by the stream of transpiration that the food materials from the soil are brought to the plant, remaining behind in the plant when the plant gives off the water in vapour, and thereby makes room for a like quantity of new food material from the soil. Experiments show that in a very moist atmosphere less of mineral matter is brought into the plant from the soil, but the formation of starch grains from carbon dioxide and water is not hindered. Chicago has just built for itself a new piggery, which is the largest in the world. In the language of the West it is a “ 600,000 dollar hoghouse," and is a new addition to the stockyards of the city. It has taken two years to build, and is capable of holding 220,000 pigs, for which all the most recent improvements and a perfect water supply has been provided. It contains no fewer than thirty-six blocks of 100 pens each, on two floors one above the other; it is in two parallel sections each 3000 ft long, and connected with each other by twenty-two floor passage ways. It covers forty-nine acres, and in its construction 18,000,000 ft of pine, besides cak girders throughout, have been used. Many dairymen are feeding as much as 401 b or more daily of good ensilage without injuring the quality of the milk. At the New York Experiment Station certain cows have eaten, this winter, as much as 501 b of ensilage daily, and one of the editors of the Country Gentleman testifies that the milk is of excellent taste and quality. Thirty pounds is a moderate to feed. It is questionable if an offensive taste in the milk is due to the mere fact that cows eat ensilage. Those who have trouble of this kind should investigate -Does your ensilage lie on the feeding-floor near the animals, so that the atmosphere is charged with its odour ? Is the stable well ventilated ? Are the cows kepi clean ? Does no dirt fall into the milk pail from the cow’s sides or udder? Does the milker have on clean clothes when h< milks and handles the milk, or are hi garments charged with the odour of dun' or sour ensilage, or are they so stiff witl dirt that “ they could be made to stanc alone ?" Are the utensils sweet and clean ‘ Keep everything around or in contact witl the animals and milk as sweet and a possible, and try feeding the ensilage afte the cows are milked night and morning

It is stated that the Featherston Cooperative Dairy Factory will have over i-1000 tc divide amongst its suppliers at the close of the season.

During the past few year no less a sum than .£IOO,OOO has been spent by the Christchurch Meat Company for the purchase of stock in the Ellesmere district alone.

Pigs that during the summer have had the run of a good pasture, and in addition have been fed on good fattening food, ultimately become in such condition that a few weeks’ feeding, with a good fa'.toniug ration, will be all that is needed to fit them for market.

The question of the ability of cows to produce the most from the food consumed is an important one, and should be followed as soon as we can reach it. But let us first weed out the cows that are getting into debt to us, and the number of such cows in the country is alarming.

According to Professor Lowrie, of South Australia, when soil exhaustion resulted, even after thorough cultivation, then let manuring be practised, but do not let the land get outright exhausted before trying artificial manures. To keep the land as near to its virgin wealth as possible was the aim of the true farmer.

Two engineers—Mr John G. Aack and Mr Frederick Joy nson—have applied electricity as a motor power for driving wool clipping machines. The ordinary motor power (says the Australasian Ironmonger), gas, steam, or horse, has to be used to produce the electric current, but the great improvement is that this can be couveyed without mechanical means from the producer to the clipper, where a small dynamo in the handle works the moving parts. Vibration is almost entirely destroyed, a clipper laid on the floor remaining stationary. To prevent heating, a ourrent of air is kept constantly blowing on the dynamo, and from that to the wrist of the shearer, whose hand is thus kept cool. Minor improvements have been introduced in the clipper to prevent some defeots that have been found to exist.

Some time ago I mentioned a heifer that failed to appreciate the kindness I was bestowing upon her (says a writer in Homestead ). She almost kicked me cut of the barn, but I didn’t get mad. I was afraid to get mad, for I knew that if I did I would likely spoil a good cow. I am glad to report now that she has become quite ashamed of herself, and is now one of the best cows in the dairy. She knows her stanchion, and knows enough to stand sfill when being milked. I never had a heifer kick so hard, and if I had kicked, too, in all probability she would have outkicked me, and would have been kicking yet. To laugh and whistle or hum a tune when one ought to be real mad requires an effort, but it pays sometimes.

Modern improvements in hive making have rendered the removal of surplus honey a comparatively simple matter. After the sections are filled and well capped over, remove the hive cover and the top cloth, if one be used, with as little noise and jarring of the hive as possible, blow the smoke down between the sections briskly until as many of the bees as possible are driven below, lift off the super, replace the cloth upon the brood frames, put back the cover and remove the super to a convenient building as soon as possible. The sections may then be taken out at leisure, one at a time, carried outside long enough to brush off any bees still clinging to them, and set as fast as brushed, into an empty super not accessible to bees.

During her recent visit to the southern islands, the Hinemoa ran out of mutton, but an excellent supply was obtained at the Campbell islands from Mr Gordon, one of the lessees. The sheep placed there, (some 400) about two years ago, have done exceptionally well. Of three killed an board, one, a 2-tooth, turned the scales at 1051 b, another at 911 b, and a lamp at 651 b. These weights indicate that the pastures must be highly nutritious. Mr J. Shand, of Centre Bush, who has had much experience, was so astonished that (says the Invercargill News) he purchased two and brought them to the Bluff for transport to his estate, where, no doubt, they will be a curiosity with their long tails and fine coats of wool- The fleeces of all the sheep seen by the visitors were very heavy and of fine staple. Messis Gordon and Mcßae and an assistant remained at the island to shear, and from appearances their clip should be a record one. Though it is very late in the year for this operation, it is though that the mildness of the climate vrill ensure no ill-effects resulting.

“ How can colonial frozen rabbits compete with the British and Continental ? ” was a query answered by Mr John M’Queen at a recent meeting of the Gore Farmers’ Club. He said : “ We freeze rabbits with their skins onIt takes twice as long to freeze a rabbit as a sheep, on account of the covering of fur. The fur is a non-conductor of heat, and the carcase when thawed out, thaws very slowly and from the inside, thus leaving the moisture which invariably attends the process of thawing inside, instead of as in the case of mutton or lamb, outside the carcase, thus spoiling the “ bloom." The colonial rabbit being skinned cold just as his English brother is, is in precisely the

same condition as the home-produced bunny, and both Are placed on the market on equal terms."

If the heifer is to develop into a profitable cow, her first milking period must be extended as much as possible,

During any sort of weather you may mention, milk will remain sweet so long as it contains no life. It is, however, a fact of everyday experience that commercial milk does not remain sweet, and it follows, therefore, that such milk must invariably contain bacteria.

Dissecting a hen lately to ascertain, if possible, why no eggs were forthcoming (says a writer in the Maine Farmer), we took from around the glizsard more than a pound and a quarter of fat. In addition there were great bunches attached to the sides of the body, while the intestines were completely covered. Think of the egg machine working under such difficulties. That hen could no more make eggs than griddle cakes. In the first place, there was no room for work to be done in that little shop, the oviduct, and more than this, all the currents of her body had been turned away from egg-building towards fat-forming until the entire drift, was in that direction. The man was complaining about the breed, and proposing to change to something else as soon as he could find it, and it was suggested that he get some cast-iron hens, for then he could be sure they would not take on fat. At the head of the oviduct in this hen there were hundreds of minute yolks, proving conclusively that all the poor creature was calling for was an opportunity to do her legitimate work without hindrance. Fat comes from the food as well as eggs. If one pays his money he can take his choice and should not blame the animals for carrying out his instructions.

Dr Cobb has submitted to the N.S.W. Minister for Agriculture (Mr S. Smith) a report upon the fruit-maggot fly, which he says, bids fair to become one of the most destructive pests that the* fruitgrowers of New South Wales will have to deal with. During the present season it has appeared in all parts of the country, increasing with such rapidity that in many of the northern districts all the late fruit has been destroyed. The report states that the only way to check the spread of the pest is for all the fruitgrowers to be on the watch and destroy all truit found to contain the maggots, whilst all fallen fruit should be gathered up and destroyed. The fly attacks principally peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines, apples, and pears, though other sorts are not exempt. The injured fruit retains its form. There appears under the skin at one or more places a discolouration as if the flesh had turned watery and become somewhat decayed. On opening the fruit it is found to be honeycombed and rotten at the centre, and the dirty brown, often semi-liquid, flesh, contains one or more flyblows or maggots, which are nevsr quite so large as those of the common blowfly, but otherwise to the ordinary observer much the same, The fly does not attack green fruit.

In the Produce World (London) of April 12th there is an article on the treatment of ramie grass by the G-omess process, and it must strike all those ‘who read the article that if the Chinese product can be successfully treated so ought also the New Zealand hemp. The ramie grass, as it is exported from China, is described as a clean yellow strip, composed of agglomerated fibres, held together by the cementious matter that has dried and hardened after the hand-scraping to which it is subjected subsequent to the stripping from the stem. To soften and wash away this gum or resinous varnish (precisely as it occurs in the New Zealand flax), so as to leave the fibres free and ready to be combed, it is boiled either in the open air or under pressure in alkali. Then it is bleached in a chlorine, sulphurous or peroxide of hydrogen bath. Next it is combed and the long fibres are separated from the short, and then the spinning becomes quite as simple and easy as that of cotton or flax; the long fibre is spun into yarns of all numbers, and the short ones are used for mixing with wool for the cloth trade.

At present this ramie product is used for curtains and lace goods, and holds its own against high-priced calendered flax and spun-silk yarns, while in the plush and velvet trade it makes a showy cloth. The only thing at present standing in the way of its general use is the difficulty of producing it at a reasonable price. No such difficulty would present itself in the case of our own hemp, and if by the Gomess process our own product can be put to the same uses as ramie—and there seems no reason to doubt it —there is the same, if not a better, future before it than there can possibly be with the Chinese article. It would spring at once into popularity in the Bradford and Nottingham trades, also in utilisation for the manufacture of strong cordage, twine, fishing-net yarns, cables, sailcloth, hose pipes, &c.

What is necessary to set all doubts at rest is investigation in England by an expert of the process partly described in the foregoing notes. The visit of Mr John Holmes will accomplish the purpose, and from all the information at present available it seems reasonably certain that he will be able to revolutionise our flax trade. His advent has already been heralded by the Produce World and other trade journals and it is to be hoped that the Government will not be parsimonious in the matter. Thousands of pounds have been spent on much less important missions, and Ministers should see to it that the

" Ship is not spoiled for the sake of a pennorth of tar.” The representative of the colony ought to go Home armed at all points, and so far as funds are concerned it is certain that there would be no cavilling by the people of the colony as to the cost of the mission in face of its possibilities.

The Hon W. P. Reeves, iu dealing in the London Times with Mr Digby’s utterances in the House of Commons conserning frozen meat, said, inter alia i —"lf colonial meat were to any extent diseased, then the British nation must, during the last ten years, have been ravaged by plague and pestilence. Scores of millions of pounds of our meat are eaten here yearly, and Mr Digby may be challenged to prove, a single case of disease traceable to its consumption. Not only are New Zealand flocks quite free from taint, but the individual sheep sent here are selected and inspected with especial care. If Mr Digby can secure any section of influential supporters I trust he will induce the Government to appoint a Royal Commissioner to enquire into the qualities of imported meats, carefully distinguishing the countries of origin. I venture to say that the result would be tha finest advertisement for New Zealand mutton that it has ever received/'

Recently the A.U.S.N. Company’s largo stock and cargo steamer Maritta left Melbourne for Western Australia with the largest deck cargo of live stock which has ever left the Yarra. She had on deck alone 1600 fat sheep, besides 80 bullocks.

Vigorous measures are being taken to stamp out phylloxera from the vineyards in which it has appeared in the Auckland district. Captain Brown, Government entomologist, has inspected a large number of vineries, and the vines in those found to be infected are to be destroyed root and branch. In two vineries at the North Shore the vines have been entirely destroyed and the soil disinfected.

On board the German mail steamer Darmstadt, which left Sydney for Bremen on the 22nd inst., was a shipment of New South Wales timber specially cut for pavement blocking in Antwerp. Speaking with an officer of the Darmstadt as to the prospeots of trade in this connection, it was learnt that already some lots had been carried by the German mail steamers home, and had impressed the people most favourably. The class of timber was much superior for the purpose to anything they had at Home, and must command a trade in places where this method of street blooking is adopted. The steamer Narrung, which left Sydney the other day for Capetown and London, had as part cargo 4383 pieces of timber.

Some people have strange ideas respecting the privileges of representation. At Mangaramarama Village Settlement, near Fahiatua, resides a family named Mullen on a section of land which they never properly acquired. It appears that the section was drawn by one Mile/, but, beyond attending the ballot box, Miley exercises no rights of ownership. Mullen virtually stepped into Miley’s shoeleather, and wished to sign Miley’s name to his lease, but the postmaster objected. The Land Board is now awaiting a report from the ranger before deciding what steps to take, in order to vest the section in a lawful occupier.

It is satisfactory to learn that in his investigations amongst the cattle of Palmerston district Mr Park, the Government Veterinary Surgeon, discovered no signs of tuberculosis, says the Standard. At the same time the department urgently requires power under the Stock Act to create a fund, out of which compensation could be paid for the compulsory destruction of diseased beasts. At present an animal has to be pretty far gone before the authorities will take the responsibility of killing it, aB it may mean a serious loss to its owner, and yet at the same time there is imminent danger to the public by the disease spreading. Parliament will probably be asked next session to grant the power to pay, probably three-fourths of th? value of all stock destroyed; and it is to be hoped in the public interest the request will be granted.

One of the difficulties of freezing companies in the North Island is the small quantity of sheep available in the winter, owing to the few turnips that are grown for fattening purposes. During the summer the season is an exceptionally busy one, but, unfortunately, it does not last long- enough, and the companies require to have plant and buildings capable of coping with the greatest quantities to be dealt with. During last summer the Gear Company found themselves short of storage, and on one or two occasions they had to cease freezing on that account. In consequence of this, and in order to keep pane with the probable expansion. of the trade, the directors have decided to increase the freezing buildings to such an extent as to enable them to sell the hulk Jubilee which has been used for a store-ship—and still have a considerably greater capacity than hitherto. At the same time, in addition to other works of minor importance, they are enlarging the fellmongery and bringing the plant up to date.

Mr W. S. Allen, of Annandale, Piako, has written to Mr Bradey in reference to his recent remarks about .Romney Marsh sheep. Inter alia he says : —“ You are quite right in saying that the true Romneys have almost ceased to exist. This is not only the case in New Zealand, but it is so also in England. I was at the Canterbury show in 1894, and at ‘ The Royal * last year, and at the latter show especially it was very curious to see how rapidly the characteristics of the old Romney Marsh breed are disappearing. The sheep which are now shown as Romneys, both here and in England, have, of course, some of the old breed in them ; but in 99 cases out of 100 they are anything but purebred sheep, being in point of fact ‘ improved Romneys.’ I noticed Mr Matthews’ remarks, but it is a great mistake to suppose that because a sheep is imported from the Romney Marsh district he is therefore a purebred Romney. In point of fact I very much doubt if a purebred old-fashioned Romney Marsh sheep ever finds his way into New. Zealand now. I have at present a ram who is as near to tfie old Romney type as it is possible to get one, but at a show a judge would not look at him, and would certainly pass him over in favour of an ‘ improved Romney.* In fact, few judges know what a real Romney is.”

A petition is being circulated in and around Rirersdale asking the Government to acquire the Bound Hill, Sandstone, and Pyramid blocks-in all, about 12,000 or 14,000 acres—for settlement purposes.

About 200 acres of forfeited land of firstclass quality in the Mackenzie Special Settlement, which it was proposed by the -Land Board to cut up into 15-acre sections, are, on the recommendation of the Commissioner— Mr Marchant—to be offered presently m sections of 30 acres each.

The Advances to Settlers Office appears to be doing a brisk business with the new Bettlers. The Land Board at its last meeting functioned twenty mortgages, all of which, with one exception, were to the Government office.

It was resolved by the Land Board last •week to ask the Minister of Lands to appoint another Crown Lands ranger for special duty to avoid the great delay in getting reports which at present exists, owing to the large amount of work entailed on the present ranger. j • • •

Owing to the large supply of milk that is beinor delivered at the Dalefield Hairy Factory, it has been decided at a meeting ox the directors to make somo large additions to the factory by enlarging the making-room -ott by 30ft, and also enlarging tho engine and boiler-room 20ft by 20ft.

It is now considered very unlikely that an agricultural conference will be held this year. Mr Murphy, of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, has written to the secretary of the Wellington Association, Mr Seales, stating that there seems to be a pretty general feeling in favnur ot holding conferences alternately m Christchurch and Wellington.

A huge Scandinavian settler applied last week to the .Land Hoard to be allow ed to transfer his section to a young lady in Invercargill. The Commissioner was at once on the alert for the feminine dummy. We had better make some enquiry,” he suggested “No need for it,” exclaimed Mr Hogg. 1 have made enquiry. The young lady has the material on the ground for a mansion, and as soon as it is erected she means to put a husband in charge.” The Board laughed, and the application was granted.

Bather a singular application came before the Land Board last week. The Commissioner stated that he had been waited upon by a settler at Mikimiki, near Masterton, under curious circumstances. Tho.settlei found, that the area conveyed in his Crown grant represented 30 acres more than he had pa<id for, and ho wished to pay the balance. Mr Stevens: 11 An honest settler that. Mr Hogg : “ Who was tho party ? ’ The Commissioner :“MrT. E. Chamberlain. Mr Hogg :“ A. good settler, too !” The payment was approved of.”

‘A navel and interesting exhibit is on view fin the .'window of the New Zealand Clothing •FactoryjL&xfibton quay. Mr Bradey, of Pahauitanui, b&s;%d a glass case made, and is lino.w .sjiovyihg Jffierein samples of Bomney •Marsh wooFtof different lengths furnishing Xu object lesson in the gradual improvement of bis flock for .the last 30 years. Mr Bradey started with .purebred . Bomneys in ' the old days, but has gradually his flock. The length of staple of to-day s flock is about three times greater than it was three decades ago.

A few years ago one of the roughest pieces of country in the Wellington bush district was applied • for by a number of would-be Bettlers calling themselves the Dannevirke Centennial Farm Homestead Association. The block was duly surveyed into 200acre sections, but it v/as predicted at the time that, the areas being far too small and the land unadapted for close settlement, it would never be occupied. The prediction has proved correct; the survey has proved •useless, and the roads are unmade. Yesterday a settler applied for a section in tho block, but as the Beard foresaw that some miles of road would have to be made to give access to it, tho application was refused and it was decided that the Homestead Block be withdrawn, with a, view to being submitted in large lots.

Mr J D. Ritchie, Under-Secretary for the Department of Agriculture, who returned to Wellington on Wednesday night, after an inspection of the Northern districts, says that great success has attended the grassgrowing experiments at Okorire, in the Waikato district. Nearly every class of seed has been tried, the result being that Chewing's or Rich’s fescue has proved the most suitable for pumice soils, though its feeding qualities have yet to be determined. The wattle plantations at Wairanei are doing well. The department is making experiments to decido as to the suitability of the soil in the poorer districts of the North for wattle culture, with a view to eventually securing Ihe bark for tanning purposes. Mho Waikato country is looking well, and grass is plentiful, but the turnip crops are none too good. Settlement in that part of the col ony is proceeding but slowly.

Jn reference to certain statements which have recently appeared that the conversion operations and expenses in connection with the purchase of the Pomahaka estato had brought £he cost up to .£3970 in excess of the original -purchase money 9 wo are informed, on reliable Authority that Pomahaka was purchased and paid for in Ootober, 1893, and the purchase money (£18,656) and expenses were provided -for by the issue of 20,000 41 percent debentures to the Post Office dated 26th October 1893, and due 31st October, 1899. The .-debentures are still held by the Post . Office in the colony, and interest has been ■paid ever since the issue of the debentures. It is not true that the debentures Uiave ever been converted ; and as there has been no conversion it follows that there have been no conversion expenses cnargeable to the Pomahaka purchase.