A CHAT WITH A PRACTICAL FARMER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3259, 16 October 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

A CHAT WITH A PRACTICAL FARMER.

HIS ADVICE ON SEVERAL SUBJECTS. Special to the New Zealand Times. Palmebston Nobth, October 11. In conversation to-day with a practical farmer of wide experience, I happened to refer to the mortality among apparently healthy ewes, which was mentioned in a recent letter from this district, published in The Times. The probable cause of death, or the nature of the fatal complaint, had puzzled a good many persons experienced in stock diseases.

On my mentioning this, the reply was, “My idea is that many of the ailments to which sheep are liable might be traced to unclean pastures. It is too much the practice, I think, to keep sheep too long on the same pasture, until it becomes foul and causes diseases of various kinds. If it is desired to have the sheep healthy, the land must not be overstocked. In fact, to put it plainly, the ‘rough-and-ready’ system of farming, both agricultural and pastoral, which answered some years ago, will not do now, if farmers are to hold their own. Years ago a farmer could make ends meet (and very often make money too) by the crudest and most unskilful kind of farming possible. He cannot do so now. He has to compete with farmers who know their business, and who keep themselves in touch with the most modern methods, and who take advantage of all the information they possess. It we are to have healthy sheep we must have wholesome pastures; and if onr pastures are sour or unwholesome, we cannot expect that our flocks will look well and fetch good prices in the sale-yards. I could tell you of many a pasture in different districts, on which sheep do not thrive, and on which the mortality has been exceptionally heavy. The farmer complains of his bad luck and wonders if it will ever change. I could tell him that what he thinks is bad luck is simply neither more nor less than a foul pasture. It may have been too heavily stocked for several years in succession. Well, what else could happen but that the feed will grow rank and unwholesome P ’

“ I suppose some pastures are naturally too rich.’’

“Yes, for young stock particularly. Many a tyro in sheep-farming has found this out to his cost. He thinks it will be a grand idea to enclose a pasture till there is a heavy sward on it, and then put in his hoggets. I know a case where more than halt of them died, and the owner wondered what was the matter.”

“ What is meant by land being ‘ sheepsick "

“ Well, just that it is sick of sheep, and wants a change. Land does not get ‘ sheep-sick ’ as a rule where a few cattle are also kept. And it is very important that the hoggets should be frequently shifted. Even if the feed is bare, they will benefit by the shift.” “ Is there an especial risk in early shearing?” “Of course there is. You remember the second day of the last Manawatu A. and P. Show what fearful weather there was. Well, a blizzard like that may happen any year in the early part of October, and you can imagine how newly-shorn sheep will suffer. A neighbour of mine lost a large number through that cause a year or two ago, some dying from exposure and others huddling together under thp lee of a furze fence for warmth and getting smothered. The weather never seems settled during the early part of October." “ I suppose you require to be very careful from what pastures you buy lambs ? ” “ Yes, indeed. As a rule it is risky to buy lambs reared on rich swamp pastures. I never buy lambs. Pasture on which a fully grown sheep will fatten and do well would prove fatal to a large percentage of lambs and hoggets. You see in the former case there is only fat and wool to be put on, while in the latter there is the bone and tissue to make."

“ Are there other causes for pastures becoming unwholesome ? ” “Carcases of sheep may have been left where the animals died, and 1 have seen many carcases of cattle remain unburied. Now, anyone will see at a glance what a prolific source of disease this kind of neglect must prove. X know a farm in Taranaki which is proverbial for the ‘bad luck ’ of this kind which attends anyone who takes it. In one year the tenant lost over 80 head of cattle, old and young—in some instances, his very best cows, and in good condition too, died—apparently without cause. I should . imagine it was something similar to an outbreak of typhoid, through impure water, defective diainage, or some similar cause. “ What is to be done ? you ask. In the first place, if the carcases cannot be consumed by fire, which is an easy matter where there is plenty of dead timber, they should be buried at a good depth, say three or four feet at the very least. Destroying the carcases by fire is, no doubt, the safest course to pursue, but it is not always easy to do it. They must then be properly buried, for, if left on the surface, it is inevitable that poisonous matter will impregnate the pasture You cannot keep stock healthy on unwholesome pastures any more than you can expect to find strong, healthy-looking children in squalid, ill-ventilated houses, where the air is never pure, and where the surroundings are always filthy. “ I suppose if sheep are in an unhealthy condition their wool will be affected ?”

“Undoubtedly; and few people are aware to what an extent. Sheep of unhealthy constitution cannot produce first quality wool. A competent wool-olasser, or even a shearer of experience, could tell yon, when handling wool, if the sheep from which it was taken had been in a healthy state previous to shearing. Look hew illness, or a feeble constitution, alters the nature of the hair in the human subject. Therefore it follows that the sheep-farmer who is careless and indifferent about the health of his flock suffers not only in the impoverished condition of the animal itself, but also in the quality of the wool, which, of course, will not fetch nearly so high a price as the same class of wool grown on ahealthy sheep." "I wonder if that point is considered by sheep-fanners?" “It is,by, some. I know a very shrewd and practical sheep-farmer in Manawatu, whose wool invariably realises a higher price than his neighbours’, who never allows an ill-conditioned or bad-oonstitu-tioned sheep, if he finds any in the pens, to be shorn. All such are drafted out, as .he maintains (and I believe he, is right) that the wool of a few.sheep of that class might depreciate the value of - a whole

clip. The farmer to whom I allude invariably begins shearing what is generally considered rather early, that is. in the 'end of September or in the beginning of October. Most people would think there would be no yolk in the wool then, but my friend does not consider that very material/’ " Perhaps he shears only one class of sheep ? ”

“No, on the contrary. This is a mixed flock, Romneys, Lincolns, all sorts.” "And does he classify the wool ? ” "Not at all. It all goes together, Hia sheep are generally well bought, he is rarely overstocked, and never for long. He always shears early, but he takes particular care that no ill-conditioned or bad constitutioned sheep is ?horn. That is a strong point with him. That his system and conclusions are right is proved by the fact that his wool invariably tops the market over the clips from a very wide area of country. Some shear their wethers early and their ewes later on/’ " The Longburn Freezing Works are shortly going to resume operations, are they not ? ” " X believe about the first week in November, and the farmers should be very glad that such is the case, for their buyer, Mr Robert Stevens, invariably give.* the very highest market value.” " I saw something about a combination among the freezing companies to give only so much (I think it was between 7s and 8s) for wethers off the shears.” " Yes, I believe that is so, but Mr Stevens has not joined that combination, nor do I think he Is likely to do so. He ‘paddles his own canoe/ and the settlers have confidence in him that he will give them full value for their stock.”

" Do you see any prospect of stock going up ? ”

"Really, Ido not. Prime Canterbury mutton is a little higher at Home, but that does not help us in the North Island. I only wish I could see some tangible prospect of higher prices for sheep, and also for cattle/’

" Have you heard if anything further has been done in the way of the establishment of meat-preserving works in this district ?”

"I have not learnt anything fresh on the subject during the last few weeks. I was given to understand that all the preliminaries had been arranged, but I rather fear the project has fallen through, possibly for lack of the necessary capital. It would have been a grand thing for the farmers had the scheme become an accomplished fact, as it would have improved the value of a class of stock that is now, comparatively speaking, not worth much, and often is found to be unsaleable.”

" Do you believe in ensilage ? ” "I have never made any. I saw a stack of it in the Taranaki district a couple of years ago, and stock did remarkably well on it. It had a dark colour, and an aromatic odour. I brought homo a little in a sack, but my own cattle would not touch it. I think it must be an acquired taste. I was told it cost less to make than hay, and went further. Milking cows did well on it, and the farmer intended to make double the quantity the following year.” " What about straw-stacks ? ”

"A very good stand-by, I assure you. The time was when it used to be burnt. We know better now. In a long wet winter, a good straw stack is sometimes worth a * Jew’s eye/

"Do sheep generally do well on grass grown on virgin soil ? ”

" Some of my hoggets have done splendidly on the first grass after the burn. I suppose the potash or whatever it is suits them.”

“ And what is the best all-round advice you have to give to farmers ? ” “ I would say to them as a body : Let the first consideration be quality, not quantity. The better the quality, the higher the price and the surer the market. Tears ago, almost any kind of stock would sell. Now what is wanted is quality. For root crops and new'pasturesgetthe best seed that money nan buy. It will pay. Remember it costs as much to feed an ill-conditioned, and bad-constitutioned animal as one that will yield a profit on its keep. If .a good price for wool is looked for, do not shear any sheep that are not in fair health and condition. Over-stocking is a grave blunder from every standpoint. Keep the pastures sweet and wholesome if you expect your stock to be healthy and profitable. Attend more to your farm, and less to stock sales. The former will pay you best.

There is money, and good money too, in pigs, poultry and boos, also in fruit, but gain some practical experience before you launch out extravagantly into any of them. Learn what is going on in other countries in reference to advanced scientific farming, stock-rearing and dairying, but avoid experimenting unless some reliable knowledge or experience is available. You will never lose by attending shews and seeing what your, neighbours can produce. Keep yourself posted in the details of agricultural and pastoral progress throughout the colonies at Home and in America. There should be a farmers’ club in every district for the dissemination of useful practical knowledge and the interchange of experiences. Finally, send your beat men to represent you in Parliament and on local bodies. Give a liberal support to your A. and P. Associations, for the benefit they achieve is simply incalculable. By working together you can exercise a powerful influence in numberless ways, and can make that influence promote your individual advantage. Be content with your lot, and remember that you are living in what is, perhaps, the finest country on the face of the earth. To dairy farmers I would say: Look well after the comfort and health of your cows. Do not keep those which are not earning something more than their keep. Don’t let your cows get down in condition in winter, and don’t keep more than you have feed for. If you are to supply the factory during winter, liberal feeding and shelter are indispensable. Treat your cattle kindly and allow no cruelty. Deal honestly with the factory and you will find it will pay you to do so. This country should be able to produce the best in the world.”