THE FARM.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1003, 8 July 1879, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE FARM.

YALUi: OF CLOVKIi. (flh* At'xmy CitHi>»(nr ) Clover, in enriching and improving the bnu, is next to barnyard manure in value ;uul importance. Indeed, in many places where winter wheat is largoly grown, tdover may easily '<■e made of more benefit than tins usual timonnt- of manure made unit applied. For there wilt oniy be barnyanl manure *-n«»ttgh to use on part .if the wheat and Corn land, while the '.•■• hot" df both crops may be made to £i itl« >\v clt->v\ r. And I must believe that clover is not yet suftieiently appreciated, for if if. wad, but very little wheat or com, on alt goeat wheat land, would tie allowed :o follow any ot■ i"r crop but ciovvr. Xow, there is not ta>! b-w»t »l:tt'wdry in arranging hi.l manuring crops »>» that, this may be tin- o;ise. ANvftvx sow clover with wheat, and plough for corn before tf;« c!->ver_ is run out : and tit- us '»-d t<» clover with barley or s»;ii" o '.cr spring crop after cm. This c' .v ■ r the n~xe jv:»r ? or t hive,>r r. \.id be da o-.\.;.;eii up for v!,.. ; r. "!'!"• m I'ti er.-p "wili itt neit r n r lus r.lo'i .1 oiid.-i*. '"!>• one r.t't.'f .vi. ivt viil he II ..i f I. i.y ai.d .'lovrr sec!, or p .sfiiiv, !M mint e.er. n h . The crop •( ih-d ii- a" after t-.n v.-;[I, if •ro-.d. be .. ta~~ i i>a. 1., lire, tuor- »r !«■■•*. M m~.y_be eouv,ii'e u , e.i-:i thou bo ploughed under fof wo- a I-.. When cl-ver i.; i ."en ,e.t Ci> improve the .toil. i :i,,-ve;; ie. ; p: ;• policy. Ir should • tee 0 nor l ef.e.-- p' e; :; iun'.: for .1 e;v. at'r. r t::- I'.r ". or.>p t; mo-.v< il for hay. No" ;-'io':M ti..iv !•».> any pasturing .1! i; w ■ ;::e; iu the fill. unt-.'-S the _;ro\v..ii ie ve■ y bo;.-. .Volt not elos-Fy r'e.i. ri. : lei d" a.'. a uei-.-r.d re",., it is p .or . ; ;e.y i a uv i feeding off i -. 1 . jut!'' '! t'>l' M '■ "It I ' 1 V>/'*i o-e sed, v. iii' V. r't b the tops and c d r;-.j -r d gc »,-«•» inn. 1 ; ' e muoH U ;f r.e".' •: v.'.-r.? U.-i----f.nrtu:' 1, '■'. t' ■" .e.'l iu.pvov. nejnt v.ill !;.? hi !.'■ ■: 1 'U t-'.u ;i»iU : >Utlfe *>k A .\T!v:. faiii irroKin-.' clor,:r i«, tim i iir.r.iv- ni' :tt chn : .• -c'lrvl a!>soI'.- tiliu:'. i Is*-? u\' a I-v. 'I f;:- n: M&x. g ttt-*! i;,ie of o.: ;,i ; Ve. iilg thf Cfop. .U»d a . b.'e'.l i'" r-i tio e.\■o'.i.r, if tie.' Ci'o ) I.f . !oV r 3 'l'tlr'l widt a -;>;■!!■ o- jt'ionM i'',' : 'e. it mar i>e bvafc u> p'o i'v is ad under for wh-at. iluh \riri. l;' 1 . 1 1 1,1''..:';: /. clover seeded -~o sou utter eon: v.-ill tity do weEl. Au'l tu'M r v."ir[t i.ir'ij.'d «'fc' e^>vcr ? tht v clovt r stubble iu as above directed—all tin; spria-,' growth turned under for corn, »rd :\-ll ti.e uaw growth, after the clover is mowed, for wheat—l say tmicv/wd in this way, tti» etoVer, with t.he larue amount of roots tit the ground, and 8-.«bbti! and uevv growth orj the surface, will ait'ord all the green mannring needed, with good tand attd good farming, to go ./t crop,'!, arid secure a fair me.i.»nr« of tiupre.vi'tuent of thosoil. Etere, ten. is n point :r\ u'reeti manuring! not well eonsi'lered and appreciated. Many writers and farmers object to plovi'.,:!vi(ig under clover bweatise it can be out for hay. fed, and nearly all the fertilising properties saved in the manure. But sudi persons seldom appear to consider the great amount and value of the clover roots in the ground, or that by thus seeding often, and piottghing up while the clover is stdl in full vigor, a very good icreen tnannrititf may be secured and the clover hay saved for feeding and making manure besides. Now here is a double advantage and profit, that is mostly lost tn only seeding once in from five to six or cdgt'it years, and then not breaking np again until the clover is all run out, and its fertilising properties exhausted by the June and other grasses that have come in. The great value of clover hay for making manure is a strong point with many ■that oppose the use of clover for green manuring, and this point is not made without reason. With a iarge supply of good clover hay. and a suitable proportion of gre.iu to feed in fvsti.nir>g cattle and sio'vp, a very lira and v.-v»•!.!<!«« prie "f m-Moire neiy be rii'de. Tiie addition ot n ■ portion of oil -ak • (•> th: feed, wiii, «.f course, iuipr ve i.he nianiir■•. f'«" as

of thj prinei|:;v ri\i.- in.i for ft edingoilcake is the tiucriot"U.-« ma'tsra tints at cured in the uufiur •„ ctuvcr iiay wiil be a good substitute in supplying nitrogen also. Indeed there is ru> other way in which American fartaers can obtain nitrogen and nitrogenous manures, in anything like as cheap an.i full auppiy a& W gmwinu clover. Tiits great may also be- secured both way.-:. fk' iitU a the vaiua'"t.i b.iruvv.nL t.-a:nr:- -•» «»iulr a.-, shewn here, t',e rnofr. and i>rU.-r|,.>:-;i..nt of clover ptong ed under will a!*» e. ruv.i:i a large amount of nitrou'-'JU a p.'<rtt.m of which, eifi'uer as atunuimaor tiif ttilte?«-ht nitrates, will ttiita bu *iCttrc».i to sneroding crops o; i^raLu.

Clover a's<> ad-L-i t-> the amount ■ >:' tWivHalilo niintr.it t»"il »f It ••irir.iiii.:, St I.ir-V: j»ercorit.ig.} of putjisfi and [>tu;v and c«risid>'r»M-< |>f!"»r»h"rc acid, aalpbnric acid, and cfolorine, all of which are valuable for cultivated plants. These

substaiices are not merely gathered from the surface soil where they are available for other crop 3, for the loDg tap-roots penetrate deeply into the subsoil, and eecure a large portion of these mineral manures from sonrces ont of the reach of grain crops. The growth of the large, long roots acts as a wedge in dividing and loosening up the ground so that the air, warmth, and rains can more freely enter the soil and subsoil, and thus help > to convert a portion of the inert material matter into available food for plants, j Thus the growth of clover not only I secures a large amount of mineral manure , in the plant, but opens the way for, and ; actually leads to, an increased available supply in the soil. In this article I have only tried to give a succinct statement and explanation of some of the principal advantages of growing clover. To give the scientific proofs and reasons for these facts would make the article very long, and it may be without making it any more clear and conclusive to most readers; but there are plenty of scientific facts and proofs to substantiate the positions here taken, should any ono doubt them. THE USE OF CLAY TN IMPROVING LIGHT SOILS. Alumina—or, a3 it is commonly called, "clay—l 3 simply disintegrated or decomposed rock, and, as a matter of course, must vary in character and composition according to the source or sources from which it is derived. It is present, more or less, in all soils that are not absolutely barren. In very poor land there is either a deficiency or a superabundance, and in either case the effect is pretty much the same. If it were possible to mix the varions clays with the light hungry sands, or with those soils that are rich enough, !>:■ t lack substance or weight, very much would be added to the fertility of the country. To a certain extent this work has been going on for year 3. The light lands in Norfolk and elsewhere have been much improved by carting clay or marl, and spreading over the surface of the light blowing sands. In some respects nature seems to have anticipated that want; for among the light brashy soils it is no nncommon occurrence to come upon a bed of almost pure clay or marl of considerable extent, of alluvial or aqueou3 formation, that only requires to be scattered over the adjoining land to add immensely to its producing power, by making it more holding and binding, and s:> enabling it to hold the manurial matters that may from time to time be given to it. Putting manure on light brashy land is something like putting water in a sieve—it disappears directly, leaving little or no permanent trace behind; but give the land first a good dressing of clay, and it instantly becomes more capable of retaining an/ manurial matters that may afterwards be given to it. And not only so, but clay is a powerful absorbent of ammonia a3 well as of moisture ; and the former is present, chemists tell us, to a. certain extent in the atmosphere, and is often attracted by freshly turned surfaces sufficiently holding in character. If a dressing of clay is to produce the maximum result, it must be given at such a time and in sttcii a manner as to become thoroughly mixed, in the smallest possible particles, with the surface of the land on which it is placed. If it is simply placed 011 the top, and dug or ploughed in directly, it never will be mixed, but will d.sceiid by the force of its own gravity, till it is lost to both cultural and atmospheric influences. Tho best time to clay land is when it can lie on the surface a long time, fully exposed to atmospheric changes. In most instanc s the autumn will be most suitable. It should be spread over the surface, left exposed all winter, and then forked or digged in when dry, early in spring. As to what will be a suitable dressing must depend upon the nature and character of both the c'.ay and the land to which it is applied, and tiiis could only be decided on tiie spot. But, speaking roughly, the application may vary from H) to i'OO" tons per acre ; less than the former quantity would be of no use in anv case, and but fe-v soils, however poor or* light, could profitably assimilate and dispose of a greater bulk than 100 tons per acre at one time. From -O to 30 tons per acre may be taken as a fair average dressing for ordinary purposes of cultivation. Coming down to smaller matters, wherever the main staple or soil of a diarric'. is light and sandy, a heap of clay U und a' ways be kept in the compost yards, to be "available lor special purposes w hen required. In growing plants in pots, if tiie ordinary soil is light, it is wonderful what a beneficial effect is produced by a sprinkling of finely powdered clay, well mixed with the soil before potting. It imparts strength and substance to allsoftwoodtd plants, such as pelargoniums, balsams, &c., and is especially valuable for strawberries and all fruit trees grown in pots. It should always be used in a dry stite, pounded up tine, and then thoroughly mixed with the soil. In the majority of cases a small quantity only will be required ; but experience will soon enable anyone to select the right quantities in proportion to the amount of sand and vegetable matter contained in the soil. In addition to the lirmnes3 and substance a small quantity of clay give 3 to a light soil, many clays are well-known to be rich in phosphates, and therefore supply that element, in which light soils are so frequent 1 y deficient.

KAINIT AS A FARM MANURE. (From the Agricultural Gazette.) Wo have received from Mr. Clement Cattle, of Gloucester, thu following letter, which appears to be of considerable importance, describing a3 it does what the writer calls an important discovery as to the U3e of this manure :—" Ail important discovery as to the use of this manure has been largely under njy consideration and observation from my connection with Messrs. John Cadte and Co., who have imported about 1500 ton 3 since 1871. It has been a source of much surprise to me that it 3 effects were so peculiar, and sometimes so disappointing. "We know the value of potash in its form as a carbonate (wood-ashes), and I held the general opinion that the kainit, which contains the potash as a sulphate, ought to be a good and certain manure. While the result of the seven years' experience has been varied and oftentimes unsatisfactory in the early crops, we have found the clover crop, even two or three years later, remarkably atfected after this length of time, showing that the cause is due to the sulphate of potash in the kainit not being available for plant-food. After endeavoring f.,r a long time to find ont some explanation for this, my attention was arouse t to th-j subject in reading the account given in Professor Tanner's small work on the First Principles of Agriculture. Tiiis opened uiy eyes to the singular changes which take place in the soil in the formation of the double silicates ; but when I 3.iw tho account he gave of the formation of nitre, then the difficulty disappeared, and I resolved upon the following mode of using the kainit. I consulted with Mr. Embry, one of the science masters in the Government Science ixViols at Gloucester, ano as tiie proposal appeared t<> be chemically correct, tho experiment was cirried out with the more ciilid-.-nce. A quantity of fresh horsedung was taken to the Science Schools and placed in a large stone cistern, and between different beds of manure of a few inches thick we scattered the kainit. The smell of the dung was strong and offensive, aiul the pupils complained of it on the day ou which it had been mixed, but in a few hours the smell entirely disappeared. On the following day and subsequently no smell was observed, and when Mr, Embry

tested the manure chemically, three months after, he found a mutual exchange had been effected, and instead of sulphate of potash and carbonate of ammonia evolved from decomposed manure, we had carbonate of potash and sulphate of ammonia. It is unnecessary for me to say that the value of both of these bodies is considerably greater than that of kainit, and that both of these have a certain and prompt action. "We think it right to make known these facts to our brother farmers, and as soon as I have completed some further expariments bearing upon similar modes of using the kainit I shall gladly make them public. One of the fir3t lessons we draw from this work is, that kainit used upon and mixed in a dungheap will not only prevent a loss of ammonia as carbonate of aminonia, and which loss is continually going on, but cause the formation of two of the most valuable manurial substances we have, and that in a few years a manure heap turned up to ferment without an admixture of kainit will not be of half the value sis when that substance is used. I shall be glad to hear of any one else's experience in this direction, and would especially recommend my agricultural friends to read the account of the "formation of nitre beds in Professor Tanner's little book on the First Principles of Agriculture, and they will see the importance of more attention to their manure heaps." AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. A course of lectures upon the " Principles of Agriculture," given at Gloucester last October by Mr. Embrey, was introduced by an address from Professor Tanner, examiner upon this subject under the Government Department of Science. In the following extract from the address will be discerned a few wholesome truths and a good deal of sound advice : It has been a source of pleasure to me to accept the invitation given me to address you on this the first day of your session. The study upon which you are about to enter is one which will well repay you for any time or labor you may devote to it. It has been said that " anyone can be a farmer," and 1 have seen instances in foreign lands which appear to justify the statement; but it was under circumstances where the rake superseded the plough, and Nature was most bountiful in her gifts. The practice of agriculture, as we know it in this kingdom, is an occupation which demands great skill, and it is only those ignorant of its nature and character who think it an occupation which anyone can enter upon who is scarcely fitted for tho general busiuess of life. I know of no busiuess or occupation in life which offers opportunities for the employment of the mind as extensive or as deep as the practice' of agriculture. In whichever direction you examine into this truth there you will find it confirmed. I have heard of persons who would admit that botany and the physiology of vegetable life are good for the gardener, but they considered them unnecessary for the farmer. As a matter of fact, the more skilfully farming is carried out the more nearly does it approach gardening on a large scale. The opinions of snch individuals are obviously erroneous, for the more extensive requirements of farming simply give increased opportunities for deriving advantage from a knowledge of the functions of vegetable life. Others again are to be found who acknowledge that our veterinary surgeons ought to have a thorough scientific training in order that they may successfully contend with the diseases to which our cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs are subject ; and yet they fail to see that the farmer's profits would be increased if he had that knowledge, which would prevent disease. Who do you think requires the fuller knowledge of the functions of animal life —the man who has to regulate the constitutional character of his stock, and thereby make them less subject to disease —who has also to feed his stock \inder a high-pressure system, limited only by the preservation of health—who has to select the food for his stock in accordance with its composition and the progress they have made in their growth ; or the man wdio has to do his best to correct the evils of bad management as manifested by disease 1 Gentlemen, we encourage our fire brigades, and make them as effective as possible ; but can we take credit to ourselves if we neglect any known means for the prevention of fire ? I have no hesitation in saying that whilst it i 3 our duty to encourage an acquaintance with the various forms of disease, and the best mean 3 for rendering them harmless, it ia still more to our interest to know how we may carry out the production of meat most rapidly and most economically, and at the same time preserve the health of our stock, and render the meat produced in the highest degree nutritious in its character.

But whilst I would impress upon you the groat value of science—and by that I mean a knowledge of the substances you have to deal with, and the laws which regulate their action—l must caution you to U3O that knowledge in a right ancl proper manner. So far as you are individually concerned the first use of science is to enable you to learn fanning more perfectly than you could otherwise learu it. Do not for a moment imagine that by gaining a full knowledge of the principles of agriculture you have thereby acquired a knowledge of farming. You may know, for instance, all the constituents of food which are desirable for the production of meat, you may know how to economise their use, and you may know the conditions which influence an animal's health, but do not imagine that von have mastered your subject. What you have learnt will bu valuable to you provided you make a good use of it. The right and proper use of such knowledge is to enable you with patient industry to learn the various details of practice more perfectly, and to aid you to find out why the work is so done. When you have learnt all the practical details, you may be able to suggest improvements and economies in the management, but be not over confident in your opinions until you have learnt your lesson perfectly. The more I learn of agricultural science the more t see the value of the knowledge which ha 3 been gained by men engaged from day to day in farming, and who 'are careful and prudent observers of facts. I cannot too forcibly impress upon your minds that whilst you should highly value the opportunities you have for acquiring instruction in science, it is only as it makes yon more humble and diligent students of the practice of farming that its duties will be fully and satisfactorily discharged. Do remember that the conditions and influences which control the results of cultivation are so many, and so variable in force, that we can only learn from the evidence of practice what are the true principles of agriculture. If we acknowledge this truth we shall gradually gain a more perfect knowledge of the subject; but if we imprudently advance theories based upon oar present limited knowledge of the causes which control any special agricultural result, we shall soon be reminded of the fact that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. " If I can but lead you all to accept the evidence of practice at its true value, I am sure you will be better students of the principles of agriculture, and when you hereafter enter upon the practical duties of the farm you will find the lamp of science guide you to many truths which now lie hidden in the dark and unexplored caverns of agricultural experience. " TIM BUNKER" ON BUYING A FARM. Mk. Editor, —1 am consulted by everybody on every subject. If a neighbor wants to buy a horse, I am expected to tell Mm if- he.is sound, just as if I could read his in'arda like a book, If another j

wants to sow wheat, he seems to think it won't grow until I have told him what field to sow it in. I deelare I believe some of them think water won't run in a tile unless i have squinted along the bore, and told them just liow much fall they must have to the 100 feet. You see the farming business is not done yet, notwithstanding the bad times. The oldest of all employments is yet a thriving business, though the profits are not quite equal to what they have been. We buy and sell farms, and expect to do so for some time to.come. I rather think farming will be the best business going for some years to come. As a people we have been living altogether too fast for the last 20 years. The change in the style of living would make the bones of our fathers rattle in their graves. We have got to come back to a more simple mode of -life, and spend less on our stomachs, and a good deal less on our backs, especially our women. A good many, like Deacon Smith's son David, are beginning to see a comfortable, honest, happy life on a farm, who would otherwise have been tempted to try their fortunes in the city, and gone to ruin like the thousands before them. I thought a good many would be looking towards the farm this season, and the substance of my talk with the Deacon might be useful. I lay it down as a principle, that a man ou"ght to own at least half the capital he means to invest ill farming. If a man has nothing but labor to dispose of, he should sell his labor to the best advantage, until he accumulates sufficient capital to set up in business. Not one man in a hundred will suoesed who runs in debt for his farm and stock. There must be a large amount of interest money to pay every .year, and this will be a heavy load to carry, with all the other expenses. But if he have money enough to buy 100 acres of land, he may safely run in debt | for the tools and stock. We must have some floating capital always on hand, to take advantage of the times, and buy cheap when we can. If a man wants more stock, it is better to buy it when stock is low than when it is very high. Sometimes a little extra manure will help out a crop wonderfully, and £2O spent in guano or bone-dust will bring back £IOO in les3 than six months.

Then a man ought to consider his own habits and tastes in the situation of his farm. This is especially important to men who have lived in the city, and enjoyed its advantages. Society is much more a necessity to tlieni than to a man who has always lived in the country. He will feel uneasy without the daily mail, and a little of the stir to which he has been accustomed. He should by all means settle near a village, or on the line of some railroad. The farm, good as it is, will not be a substitute for everything he has been accustomed to. And if a man have been bred to this business, he should consider what particular department of husbandry he likes best. A man bred to the routine of a grain farm would probably do better with this than with a stock farm. It is less important that a grain farm should be near a village or city, than a farm where a mixed husbandry prevails, and where a near market is essential. A man with a genius for trade should farm near a good market, and raise everything that sells well, both animals and vegetable products.

If one has a fancy for stock, cheap land and a wide range of pasturage are essential to success. A valuable horse or yoke of cattle may as well be marketed 100 miles off as sold upon the farm.

It is always well to remember, in making a purchase of so much importance, that farms as well as men, have a good or bad reputation, that is generally deserved. Some farms are so fertile, so well proportioned, or so convenient to market, that they have always kept their owners in thriving circumstances. Trace their history far back, and you will find every owner what tlie world calls a lucky fellow. Other farms have the name of always keeping their owners poor. Sometimes they are in an unhealthy district, and much sickness has made large doctor's bills. ITow, unless you know just what the secret of an unlucky farm is, and can remedy it. avoid such a spot as you would the poor-house. You cannot afford to trymany experiments in a matter of so much importance. Is it a marsh that needs draining? You may safely venture, for there is wealth as well as health in knocking the bottom out of it. But, as a rule, it is better to buy a farm that has a good reputation. If it has made others prosperous, with better husbandry it may make you rich.—The Farmer.