THE FARMER’S LIBRARY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 4

THE FARMER’S LIBRARY.

The “ Live Stock journal Almanac for 1896” is as usual a vbry bulky volume, containing, in addition to its invaluable collection of breeders’ tables, lists of societies, statistics, fairs, &c., about fifty special articles that will prove interesting and instructive to admirers of the principal varieties of domesticated animals. A large portion of the annual is demoted to clironiclhs of the progress of the breeds of pedigree horses, cattle, and sheep during the year. Most of these articles are written by those who are acknowledged to be authorities on the subjects with which they deal. Apart from those annual reviews, there are numerous papers of more general interest. As a frontispiece is given an engraving of Abraham Cooper’s painting,. “ Shoot ing Pony and Pointer, ■ and accompany ing this is a very readable article by Mr G. S. Lowe on “ The Shooting Pony,’* Sir Walter Gilbey, Bart, writes a most important paper on “ Breeding Carriage Horses.” Mr P. A. Muntz, M P., follows with a brief paper on the “ Future of Shire Horse Breeding.” Mr Wilfrid Scawen Blunt has a congenial theme, ‘ The Breeding of Arabs in England,” Mr C. Stein gives a great deal of information in his paper on “ Chargers,” his article.being prefaced by a portrait of Lo/d Roberts on his Arab charger. The two veterinary articles are both calculated to be useful to horse owners—one by Dr George Fleming, C.B, F RC.Y.S., dealing with Laminitis ; and the other by Mr Harold Leeney,, on Castration. Mr W. C. A. Blew gives the intending buyer or seller of horses some useful hints in his article on “ Warrantees,” Mr Yero Shaw treats of the “ Evolution of Horse Shows,” Mr R. E. Turnbull points out very clearly the advantugo of keeping “ Well-bred Stock.” The title of several of the other articles will indicate their scope The Hon H. J. Scott writes on “ Types of Short horns ” ; Mr. Robert Bruce on “ Hints as to New Breeds of Cattle ”; Professor Sheldon on “ Sweets and Bitters in Grazing ” ; Mr J. D. McJannet on “ The Butchers’ Boycott; i s Eff ct on the Live Stock Trade ” ; Professor John Scott on “ Ages of Sheep for Profit ”; Mr Sanders Spencer on “ Swine Fever and the Recent Pig Census”; Mr James Hudson on “ The Bmon Supply to Great Britain ”; Mr Frederick Greshaw on “ The Dachshund Mr W. B. Tegptmi r on “ C mtagi >ns Diseases Common to Fowls and Game Birds ’’ ; Mr E l *ard Brown on “Egg Production and Consumption ” ; and Mr A. H. Osman on “ The Homing Pige on.” There are numerous illustrations, and the almanac which circulates very widely in England, and many of whose features are well worth attention by colonial readers.