Notes and Notions for Country Settlers.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 5

Notes and Notions for Country Settlers.

RASPBERRY CULTURE. It is only in comparatively few gardens that the raspberry is found in really good condition—healthy, well-grown, and bearing plenty of fine, large berries. Where the soil is naturaly light and dry, or shallow, it is a really difficult matter to grow good raspberries, as they abhor drought and starvation, which cripple the growth, and induce hosts of destructive insects. In such cases the only hope of getting them to do any real good is to trench the ground deeply and manure it heavily, as well as mulching the canes freely with manure before the hot weather set 3 in, and watering them copiously in dry periods. A comparatively low, camp, and partially but not too heavily shaded position is also usually the best, at any rate where the soil is light. Raspberries will grow and bear freely in spots that are almost constantly shaded by trees, etc., especially in dry seasons, but under such conditions the berries are always sour, more or less, the influence of the sun being necessary to develop the saccharine principle in the fruit.

But it is principally on rich,'deep, loamy soils and mild clays that the raspberry luxuriates, and here the fruit can be grown to perfection, especially if the ground be treated a 3 above, and the manure not stinted. In such places the canes will grow 7ft or Bft high, or more, and as thick as a man’s thumb, and if properly thinned out and ripened such will afford very , heavy crops of large and most delicious fruit. Five or six canes to a root are sufficient, and better than more, and the stronger the growth the better, in my opinion.

The best method of growing the canes in my experience, especially in private gardens, is in rows running north and south (or nearly so), placing the plants 2fft or 3ft apart, with a distance of 4ft to 6ft (the more the better, up to this last figure) between the rows. .Stout posts, at least six feet high out of the ground, are placed at the ends of each row, and 3trong galvanised iron wires straiued between, to which the canes are tied out flat. In this way the plants have a very neat appearance, and grow and bear well, but the anual mulch of manure must not be omitted, this being ot quite as great importance as in strawberry culture. What remains of it should be forked in in tlie autumn, but do not dig among or disturb the roots at any other time. A moderate amount of time is necessary, of course, find if deficient in the soil must be supplied by some means. The newer varieties, such as Lord Beabonsfield, Superlative, Lord Baumforth’s Seedling, etc., are much superior to the old or common kinds, and if properly planted and well cared for will afford large quantities of very handsome and most delicious fruit.—" Practical,” in "Farm and Field.” CARE OF THE FEET OF HORSES. In replying some months ago to a querist who requested information as to the treatment and prevention of thrush, I remarked that most horsemen evinced a reluctance to give the horses fair play in the matter of permiting the frog to' come to the ground. For the welfare of the horse, and the pocket of the owner likewise, the horse should be so shod that the f'rcg will reach the ground at every step. Concussion of the frog on the ground is what keeps the intricate machinery inside of the hoof at work elaborating the material necessary to keep* all its parts lubricated and in healthy action. By cutting down the frog, and sometimes by wearing thick shoes or high calks, the frog is prevented from touching the ground, and this prevents the elaboration of lubricating material, tlie hoof becomes dry, brittleness follows, the hoof shrinks, and then there is a case of " hoof-bound,” with its attending lameness and physical misery. Look at the operations of nature, in the foot of a colt- or horse that was never shod. Is his frog ever so worn or cut down that it cannot touch the ground P Shoeing, as at present generally conducted, is a very serious evil, and its ill effects, especially when the shoeing it outrageously bad, can hardly be exaggerated. If we must protect the foot with an iron 3hoe, let us have it constructed and applied ao as to permit each part of the foot to fulfil its functions, as nearly as possible, in the way that nature intended it to. The frog of the horse that has never worn shoes or had it unmercifully pared- by the blacksmith is full and plump, and the veriest tyro can see that it is admirably adapted to the purpos for which it was created—to lessen the concussion, keep the foot machinery in motion, and to break the jar to the leg joints on hard ground. With ordinary shoeing the frog is lifted clear off the ground, and, as nature is very conservative and assumes that an organ or structure not used is not required, it 3oon becomes shrunken, shrivelled, hard, and subject to disease, as thrush and contraction; as also, quite likely, navicular arthritis follows. If the frog is guarded from pressure upon it by shoeing or paring, or both, it soon gets in such a state as to be unequal to performing its proper functions; then a crippled, unserviceable horse is the usual result.

From the birth of the colt to the death of the horse the hoof requires attention to maintain it in a healthy condition. The hoofs should be examined frequently and be cleared of any accumulation of dirt or other matter to prevent any hard substance being buried in the fissures of the feet. If the feet are not growing level and symmetrical they should be rendered so by rasping away the horn where, it is not naturally worn down. If that is neglected the animal may soon have the fetlock joint bending over towards the outside, on no pretence whatever should the outside of the hoof wall be interfered with, for the glazed coating of its surface protects the horn beneath, and therefore it should not be molested. It is a fallacy to suppose, as many do, that wet, soft ground, and even manure yards, are best places to keep young Horses. This idea originated from the false theory that hoofs grow best by being generally damp. The

well-being of the hoof is best conserved by keeping the colt on hard ground. Let the frog habitually come in contact with that, and there will be all the moisture within tlie hoof wall that nature requires. The best tooted horses are those reared upon dry soils. ioung horses should not be shod until they get their full growth. Under this time shoeing may cramp the hoof wall and cause ban feet. As a rule, colts are shod too young. When shoes are put on a colt he is usually considered " a horse, ana he is very apt to get rJcbre driving tiian is good for him at a tender age, especially it tiiere be a boy and a buggy abo-ut, or the owner is a pushing business man and cannot complacently see anybody or anything about him idle that can possibly labour. Let us adjourn now, and go to the stable and see if the feet of our norses are as they should be.—Dr Galen Wilson, in the “ Practical Farmer.” TO CURE AND DYE SKINS. These are cured singly. Tack each skin, using galvanised tacks, to a board, wall, or fence, spreading it out fully, flesh side out. Dissolve alum—about 2oz in a pint of warm water, and with a sponge or flannel rag dipped in tins solution moisten the surface all over; repeat this every now and then for three or four days. When the skin is quite dry take out the tacks, and rolling it up loosely the long way, flesh side out, draw it quickly backwards and forwards through a large smooth ring, or anything of a similar kind, until it is quite soft; then roll it the contrary way of the skin, and repeat the operation. A very good and simple process in use in the interior is to sprinkle the flesh side, after scraping it well, with equal parts of pulverised salt and alum; then fold the flesh sides together, and roll the skin compactly, in which state it should remain ten or twelve days. Then it is opened, and sprinkled with bran or sawdust to absorb the moishtre, and rolled up again for 24 hours; the process to be completed by thorough rubbing and manipulation, as above, on which the pliability depends. Skins, when taken off, should be freed from grease or flesh by thorough scraping, when they may be dried and left to wait the leisure of the owner. Previous to - tanning they must be soaked well and wrung dry. The following is from one of the best practical works extant—" The Artisan Tack the skin upon a board with the flesh side out, and then scrape with a blunt knife; next rub it over bard with pulverised chalk, until it will absorb no more. Then take the skin from the board, and rub it with pulverised alum; double half-way over with flesh side in contact ; then roll tight together, and keep dry for three days, after which unfold it and stretch it again on a hoard or door, and dry it in the air,, and it will be ready for use. Dyeing skins : Dyes that colour woollens will, as a rule, colour sheepskins or furs. Do not apply too hot, or the texture of the skin may be injured. To colour skins buff: Five parts whiting to two parts yellow ochre; mix them with water to a paste, make into cal.es and dry. When a dressed skin is ouite drv, rub one of the balls on the surface. rub the powder in; take a piece of sandpaper, and raise a nan on the leather by going over with it. ' To colour black, use clear logwood; after it is drv use copperas water to blacken it. Bp careful not to use too much copperas. To colour dark brown: 51b oak or wattle bark, 41b fustic, 1407. logwood. Lise alum water to make it strike in. To colour orange: For a 5U> skin, muriate of tin 3oz. ox gall 4oz; boil and dip one hour: then add frusfic. 24 1 b: boil ten minutes and dip one half-hour, and add again, mader one teacup. and dip again ov>e half-hour. Cochineal, in place of madder, makes a brighter colour: add in small Quantities about 2oz. —TI.L.B. in "Farm, Field and Fireside.” ‘■WELSH MUTTON.” A report appears in tlie “Meat Trades’ Journal and Cattle Salesmen’s Gazette” (London) of the 4tli May, of an important prosecution by the London Chamber of Commerce, known as the “Welsh” mutton case. It appears from the report that on the 26th April, at the Guildhall, before Alderman Sir David Evans, the English Farmers’ Association, Limited, formerly of 6, Holborn Circus, but now of 114, Holborn, answered two summonses charging it with having, on the 31th and 12th April, sold certain goods to which a false trade description was applied. Mr Ricketts, in opening the case for tho prosecution, said the defendant association was alleged to have been “established to supply the public direct with meat of the finest quality, so as to save Ihe consumer -the large profits made by butchers.” The association professed to deal exclusively in English meat. It might be imagined that tlie association was one of farmers, but it was nothing of the kind. There was not a single farmer amongst the gentlemen who signed its articles of association. The facts it was proposed to prove in evidence were that a Mr Collins was sent to the premises of the association, where ho asked for a, leg of Welsh mutton. He was served, and be paid the bill, which ran thus:—“Direct Supply Stores —W leg M, 4Alb; 35.” It was taken that W stood for Welsh, as M stood for mutton. Collins took the mutton to a Mr Downs, in whose service be was, and Mr Downs took it to a Mr Cooper’s shop, where it was found to be either New Zealand or Australian mutton. On the 12th April Mr Downs went to the association’s place, asked for a Vv c Ish. leg of mutton, and was served with one that was from either New Zealand or Australia. Sir David Evans, after hearing evidence on both sides, said the case had been proved, and that be should impose the maximum penally of £2O on each summons, with £4 is costs, in all £44 4s. Other summonses against the association were not proceeded uith. Tho “Journal,” in its editorial comments, speaks in commendation of the

“public-spirited action” of the Meat and Cattle Trades Section of tlie London Chamber of Commerce in instituting the prosecution. FRAUDULENT SALES OF MEAT. As is well known, it is quite a common thing for New Zealand mutton to be sold in many shops in the Old Country as English, and for River Plate and Australian mutton to be substituted for the New Zealand article. “Of course,” continues Mr 11. C. Cameron, Inspector of New Zealand Produce in London, in a recent report, “from a New Zealand point of view, the sale of ‘New Zealand’ as ‘English’ is perhaps not altogether objectionable. Personally, however, I strongly object to it. I consider that if the meat is of such fine quality as to admit of tin's being done, that perfection should be guarded and emphasised before the consumer, as an advertisement for New Zealand mutton, amongst tho very class of people who have it supplied to them as ‘English.’” Dealing with tlie “Welsh mutton case,” reported in the “Times” yesterday, Mr Cameron says :—“The evidence brought out clearly that they (the English Farmers’ Association) sold largely frozen meat, but the expert evidence could only say that it was ‘New Zealand’ or ‘Australian.’ They could not say definitely which it was. It might have been ‘River Plate.’ only, as there is no very great quantity of River Plate meat sold in London, they possibly did not think of it. Now, I desire to point this out as one of tlie chief difficulties there is in the way of making a successful prosecution against those selling inferior meat from other countries as ‘New Zealand.’ It is not difficult to tell English from frozen meat, but it is almost impossible to tell ‘River Plate,’ ‘Australian’ and ‘New Zealand’ from one another when thawed and cut into joints in a butcher's shop. I do not believe there is anyone who would take oath that he could tell which is which.” LAND SETTLEMENT. Mr F. Bradev. of Pahaufcnnui. writes ; Sir, —As a settler of forty-five years’ experience of bush-land farming, I think I am entitled to consider myself somewhat of an authority on land settlement. My impression is that the very best land should be selected for small farm settlements, and the holdings should not be less than 100 acres, and not more than 200. of first-class land. Tlie freehold title would bp the greatest inducement to the people to settle on the land. It should be sold to the settler on deferred payment, under a 5 per cent, table, v. hich would pay off interest and principal at a given time. The advantage of a freehold is that it gives more encouragement to make improvements, and you can either buy or sell a farm, and get tho full benefit of your improvements. without so much Government interference. To exclude the land speculator, no one individual should be allowed to hold more than a specified area. As to the way the land should be treated before it is sold to tlie settler : Say wo have a block of 10,000 acres of bush-land; the roads should be laid off through the best parts of the land, and the best grades considered. Tho sections should then be laid off to tho boundary of tlie roads. Each settler would then have a frontage, without severance. This would facilitate the homesteads being made on the best part of their sections. Along tho line of roads the bush should be felled six chains wide, including such road, and when burnt off, tlie settler could go in with less risk of being burnt out. This plan would save vailing nine months for the bush to dry, and they could make the land round the homesteads reproductive in a very short time. This plan of opening, up the Crown lands would give employment to intending settlers, and would be of great assistance to the unemployed. Such work would be reproductive, as it could be added to the price of tlie land. The Government should not buy up large estates unless tho land is suitable for close settlement, or small runs, of 500 to 1000 acres each. Every large estate purchased by the Government means a loss to the jevenue, as it is generally cut up into holdings under the exemption of £SOO. If the land is third-class it is useless for the purpose of small farms, and the country would lose thousands of pounds in taxes. I do not agree with tho perpetual lease system, because you go on paying interest for ever, which means a rent, besides a let of restrictions, which is not encouraging to the settler. Now let us see what would have to be paid » in the shape of interest for 200 acres, say at £2 per acre, at 5 per cent., for 099 years; it would amount to no less a sum than £19,980. And still the land would belong to the State, which, from my point of view, is a state of things which has nothing to recommend it. DUNEDIN, Thursday. The annual meeting of tho Otago A. and P. Society was held to-night, and was very enthusiastic. _ A number of members of kindred societies were present. Mr A. O. Stronack was elected president. The Winter Show was largely attended to-day, the takings being over £203. The day was devoted to a conference of dairy experts, and tho reading of papers on tlie dairy industry.