FARM TOPICS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1626, 29 April 1903, Page 61

FARM TOPICS

A large meeting; was held at Cconamblo recently (writes the “Sydney Mail”) with the object, of inducing the Government' to set apart a consoliuatod area, of about 100,000 acres of fallen-in leases in the district for settlement purposes; the Government to put down a boro on each 5,000 acres, and start irrigation farms. Each lease to- be of 2,500 acres. Tiio Government will also be asked to establish a model irrigation farm at C'ccnamble. r* 1v Both sows and boars (says the '‘Farmers’ Review”) should be/ al.owcd to attain a suitable ago before being used for breeding purposes. Just what the best ago is, is a problem that has perhaps not been exactly solved. Many swino raisers permit their animals to breed before they have attained a proper maturity. It is hardly to- bo expected that immature parents can produce vigorous, large and healthy animals. ft is assorted that the pigs, from mature parents produce a. larger amount of pork than do those from immature ones. It is reasonable to suppose that if the sow when herself growing has to use much of her food for her offspring, her own growth will bo stunted. She will also not be able to impart to her offspring that vigour of constitution desired in the porker. Weakness arising from parental conditions will render the young animals more open io disease. Some of our most careful breeders do net allow their sows to bear pigs till they are 13 or 14 mouths old. We have hoard hog raisers assert that this continued early breeding is one of the things that makes hogs an easy prey to hog cholera. This is not proven, but it is well to be on the safe side and use only properly matured animals in the breeding operation. •* it * Mr C. A. Benbow (writes the “Sydney Mail”) continues to interest himself in the matter of introducing elands into this state, especially in the far western portion of it. He has shown us a letter from the Governor-General’s private secretary, stating that “Sir Arthur Lawiey was of opinion that elands would do well in Australia, and it was at His Excellency’s request that the Duke of Bedford sent out the eland now at Adelaide.” This animal, Mr Benbow explains, is the solo representative of his tribe in Australia. However, action is now being taken with the object of making further importations.

A correspondent of the “Queenslander” writes: —“I have read several articles on the value of the Angora goat; also I have seen a number of farms in America on which Angora-raising lias been carried on with great success, the hair and meat giving fine returns. I have often wondered why the Angora has not been largely raised in Queensland, where the climate is so suitable for them and the cost of looking after them nil. But few people know what delicious meat this Angora mutton is, and how quickly they can develop an Angora flock. All that is required is a good Angora, buck and some common does, white if possible'. I saw one of the best Angora bucks —and I have seen many—being landed from the steamer A ram a c at Rockhampton last week, owned by Mr H. Tooker, of Cawarral. He has a fine flock of these valuable animals.”

Tire “Cincinnati Price Current” of March 5 reported on the condition of the American .crops as follows: —“The first spring-like weather of the season prevailed over the winter wheat area during the past week. There has been some freezing and thawing, but not enough to do much harm to the wheat plant. Most reports reflect an excedent condition; exceptions are mostly in Southern Kansas, where the grain is rather thin on the ground, and not vigorous looking, making it susceptible

to damage, though little positive injury lias been done. The ground! aii over is very wet. Taking the crop as a whole, the prospects ihave been maintained during the week, and aro very good. Not much progress lias been made in spring farm work, and there is frequent complaint that farm hands aro harder to get than usual.” ■jv -X* -K* Tho Government -Statist for New South Wales has completed the- crop and stock returns. T.ho results, unfortunately, bear out the forecast made at the beginning of December. The total area under crop last year was 2,227,607 acres —about 50,000 acres less than in tho preceding year. The principal crop results for the two- years were —Wheat, 1902-1903. 1,501.205 buff ids; 19011902, 1,480,870 bushels. Maize (estimated), 4,047,149 and 3.844,993 bushels respectively. Other grain, 40j,995 and 839,431. bushels respectively. Hav, wlieaten, 7012 tons, -against 230,793 tons. Oats and barley, 100,203 and 121,002 toms; lucerne. 07,384 tons and 04,227 tons. The average return per aero sown was If bushel of wheat, and slightly less than a quarter of a ton of "hay per acre. The total area under wheat was 1,579,834 acres, and about 700,000 acres absolutely failed to yield any crop. & w <• The stock returns for New South Wales just published are: —Sheep, 27,114,577, a decrease of 14,742,512; cattle, 1,735,257, a decrease of 31',197 ; horses, 448.850, a decrease of 37,800; pigs, 192,002, a decrease of 73,008. These figures show slightly better than the returns of the Stc-ck department, but they include stock on all holdings, whether liable to assessment or not, and also t hose travelling, llio of ewes expected to lamb was 10,027,7 li, and the lambing totalled 2,870,288. The dairy cows in 1901-1902 .numbered 417,385, and are now reduced to 351,02/. The development of a. well proportioned’ bony framework is necessarily one of tho first essentials to the breeding of a high-class horse, more especially when such an animal is to bo employed for bard, fast work. One of the reasons for this is that good development of bone is usually accompanied by a corresponding development cf the ligaments, tendons and muscles which constitute what may be described as the animal’s propelling power. Bones in themselves leave little to do with the propulsion of the animal, except in so far as they-act as a support for the boffy, but their proper development is a.matter of the very greatest importance, as influencing the growth of the tendons and muscles which play upon them, and through which the motive power is really developed. * * Regarding the capacity of the Ayrshire, Mr u. 11. Yea-ton, president of the Ayrshire Breeders!’ Association, says:—"The average Ayrshire on a fair amount of food will give OuOOib milk, or 250 to 301)ib butter, per year. Twen-ty-five cows have given 10,U0jib milk, 10 have given ll.OOUib, three have given 12,0‘Uuib, and three have given _ over that amount in a single year. Nearly 18,000 females and 8000 males have been registered in tne books cf the ‘American Ayrshire Breeders’ Association.” V * Fishing stories seem to be “in” again. “Yes,” said the old timer, “that was a peculiar fishing incident. We used to tay several lines over niglic, ana our practice was to stake a tough stick in the bank of the river, and in c-ase anything got on before we turned in at tho camp, wo used to tie a bell on tho stick; then, when tne fish tugged at the line, the bell rang. One night we laid five lines, and the bells were a choice assortment of various sizes, ranging from largo bullock bells down. Wed, they didn’t bite during the evening, but in the middle of the. night we heard what sounded like music and a tune like the “Blue Bells of Scotland being played. Five fish had got on the five bolls, and it chanced that they just agreed with the notes in the old Scotch*scale, and as the fish tugged they rang out the tune.” At the annual meeting of the Rongotea branch of the Farmers’ Union tlie following gentlemen wer’e elected as officers and committee for the ensuing year: — Chairman, Mr R. J 3. McKenzie (re-elected); vice-chairman, Mr H. H. Hunt: committee, Messrs G. Fanner, W. Taylor, W. Tucker, sen., A. C. Verry, J. Beckman, C. Clavey. W. Thompson, W. Davis, jun.. A. P. Lasenby, C. B O'waiter, T. Gifford. J. Costall, sen., F. Richmond, J. W. Whittaker; secretary and treasurer. Mr V. C. Ransom; auditor, Mr C. Anderson; delegate to Provincial Council. Mr R. B. McKenzie. Tho balance sheet showed the receipts to have been £5 16s 5d and the expenditure £4 2s 9cl. It was adopted. The annual subscription was fixed at 4s per year. Mr Leigh HuffC Ch&anising Secretary of the Farmers’ 'Co-operative Distributing Company, gave a very lucid address on the aims and objects of the proposed company, and pleaded for tne support of all farmers to the first venture of the Farmers’ Union. A lieai ty vote of thanks was proposed and passer, by acclamation to Mr Hunt ror his interesting address*

Messrs Nathan Bros., of Kairanga, have just sold a yearling draught colt, tho price obtained being 00 guineas. 4 * » * * * Mr D. L. Smith, one of the most enterprising farmers in the Manawatu, has just purchased a fine lot of Romney rams from tho “Cioverlea” flock of Mr David Buick. * * » Tho yield of grain in the Kairanga and tho Stoney Creek districts thia season has not come up to expectations owing to the moistness of tho season. Threshing operations ai-e still going on in tho Kairanga (Palmerston) district, where they have been greatly delayed by the long continued showery weather, which has also had the effect of inducing an undue growth of straw., * -7C A I* * The following officers have been: elected by the Mart on Branch of tn® Farmers’ Union—Chairman. Mr W. J. Birch : vice president, Mr R. K. Simpson ; secretary, Mr F. R. H. Brice; auditor, Mr Fllis; delegates to Provincial Council, Messrs Birch, J. Howard, and Simpson. -*• -■ * Jr * e One cannot travel through the Manawatu district without being struck with tho plentiful supply of grass that is to be seen everywhere. The paddocks are in an excellent condition, indeed farmers do not remember ever having a better season in this respect. *t- ■» y? m Mr H. Fowler lias been elected chairman of the Kimbolton. branch of the Farmers’ Union, Mr A. H. Tompkins its delegate. Mr L. E. Jackson vicepresident and Mr W. Morton secretary, *r * *•»■*■* Tho Kimbolton branch of the Farmers’ Union want tho Government to declare one day in the year as “Union! Day.” Failing this they suggest that the Colonial Executive should fix a day, to bo observed by all the branches. -if- fc *• It is estimated that the quantity of bay saved in the Manawatu during the past summer is greater than that of last year, and this, together with the splendid growth of grass should give tiio dairy fanners a particularly easy time during the winter, to say nothing of the larger yield which should be obtained next season as the result of tho good fare provided for the cowa during the winter months. * * The sale of draught horses still goes on steadily in the North Island. Only a few days ago a large mob passed through Palmerston en route t.O' Na>pier, whero they were to be disposed cf. It is estimated that there are 35 members of the House of Representatives who will support the Farmers? Union platform. It was stated at a recent meeting of tho Kimbolton! branch that there were now between 19,000 and 30,000 members on the roll of the Union. „ The Assistant Chief Government Veterinarian, Mr J. A. Reakes, recently devoted a day to visiting a farmer in the Palmerston district whose sheep were apparently suffering from a. disastrous disease, which had carried off a good number of the flock, while at the time of the officer’s inspection a large portion of the remainder were evidently preparing to follow their flock mates - to the boiling down establishment. An investigation disclosed the fact that no disease was responsible for the trouble, but that it was a clear case of incompatibility of environment —wrong sheep were on wrong land, and nature rebelled, ©ven to death. The sheep, Scmthdowns, were on very heavy ground producing a rank growth, land more suitable for dairy farming than, anything else. The instance opens up a very important question to the farming community—the necessity of studying the nature of land and only conducting thereon the class of farming for which it is adapted instead of attempting a particular branch of farming on land which might be utterly unsuited for the purpose to which it is put. Tho ignoring of this principle is no doubt responsible for the failures of many agriculturists to makiL farming the profitable industry it should be under ordinary circumstances. Much of the land of the West Coast of this island is quite unsuitable for breeding sheep; on the other hand it serves splendidly for fattening purposes a-ndl dairying.