FARMING NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13908, 8 November 1919, Page 7

FARMING NOTES.

POWER OF TRACTORS.

Horse-power is measured at the engine fiv-v.'heel. but the power output of the tractor that interests the farmer most is not that which is available at the flywheel except when the capabilities of the. tractor for driving _stationary machinery are being considered but that which is available at the drawbar. Owing to losses" in the transmission. and to the power required to propel the tractor itself, this generally works out at about half that available at the engine fly-wheel, and this is why the power of most tractors is given as, say. belt 20 h.p., draw-bar 10 h.p. From the point of view of the tractor's haulage capacity, what does this figure of 10 h.p. convey? At-the draw-bar the tractor exerts an effort that will pull ten times 33.000 pounds through one foot in one minute. Now, suppose the speed of the tractor is 2{ m.p.h.— i.e.. 220 feet per minute. If the tractor moved at a speed of one foot- per minute, it could pull 33.000 pounds, but as its speed is 220 feet- per minute, it can pull only 1/220- of this load —1500 pounds. This figure is the draw-bar pull of the tractor at -a speed of 2i m.li.p. Lt must- not be thought that the draw-bar pull of the tractor is the weight of the load it can pull. The figure represents the resistance offered , by the maximum load with vyhich the tractor can deal. And the resistance of the load depends not only on its weight, but on the nature of the surface oyer which it is being hauled. Oil rails, about olb pull is required for. every toil the load weighs; on macadam the figure is in the- neighborhood of 301b; while on gravel it may be anything between 1001b and 2001b. and on. loose sand it is about 4001b. Thus a tractor with a draw-bar pull of 150H> at 2' nt.p.h. could pull at this speed, a load of 300 tons on rails, of 50 tons on macadam, and of 33 tons on sand. In each case the surface is, of course, assumed to be level. Gradients naturally affect the question very- considerably, but it must be remembered that a reduction in tractor speed means an increase in its draw-bar pull, and it is for this reason that a change speed {teajr. is fitted to the majority of tractors. The above figures will show that- a- tractor having a draw-bar pull of 15 h.p. will puil practically' any load the farmer may wish to- imoose, at a speed considerably above farming requirements.

ORPHAN FOALS. The following practical advice from the Farmers' Advocate may be useful Lo horse-breeders who have orphan foals oil their hauds: —When, through the death of the dam or absence of milk t the young colt is cast upon the tender mercies of a man. get the old china teapot aiid tie the thumb of a kid glove over the spout. Fierce this two or three time with a darning needle, but leave the holes small enough so that the contents of the pot cannot be taken too quickly. This method obliges the foal to work for what- it gets and prevents the ingress of large quantities of air. Another satisfactory feeding utensil is a good-sized nursing battle, to which a. large nipple is attached. There should always be one kept on the farm for use in cases of this kind. Whatever is used should be thoroughly cleansed before and after feeding and kept scrupulously clean. As feed for the foal choose the milk from a fresh cow, if possible, and, better, from one which gives milk low in fat. To a tablespoonful of sugar add warm water to dissolve, then three to live tablespoonfuls of limewater. which tends to correct- digestive troubles, and enough fresh milk to make a pint. Feed about one-quarter of a pint every hour for the first few days, always warming to blood heat. As the foal grows the supply of milk may be gradually increased. Whole milk may be substituted later, and the periods between feedings lengthened. After a few days six feedings a day will suffice, and later four will be ample. At three to lour weeks of age sugar may be dropped from the mixture, but it will be well even- then to continue the use of the lime-water. In five or -six weeks sweet skim-milk may be gradually substituted for -whole milk, and after three months the colt may be given all it will drink three times a day. The bowels should move freely, but if scours occur at any time give two to four tablespoonfuls of. a mixture of sweet oil and pure castor oil, shaken up in milk, and stop the feeding of milk for two or three meals, allowing instead onlysweetened warm water with a little lime-water added. As soon as possible get the foa.i to eat such solid feeds as oatmeal, crushed oats," bran, a little oil meal and clover hay. Of course, it should be where it can nibble at grass as soon as it is so inclined.

OVERFEEDING CALVES.

Overfeeding is one of the common causes of scours in hand-raised calves 'says Professor C. H. Eckles, of the TTniversity of. Minnesota, U.S.A.). It is a mistake to think that, because the cream has been removed the calf needs more of the skim milk, or that because the calf is not doing well it it not getting enough milk. The calf gulps its milk, down so quickly that its appetite is only half satisfied even 'when getting as much as it can digest. A good rule is always to keep the calf a little hungry. If it does not show a strong appetite for more than itgets. something is wrong with either i i;e calf or the amount of milk given. The amount to be given varies with the age and size of the. animal. . At the age of two or three w.eeks when first- started on skim milk, from three to four quarts of milk at a feeding is enough. At no time is it necessary to feed over a gallon at a. feeding. If the milk supply is abundant, up to five quarts can be fed to calves only three months old. The only safe way is to regulate tile amount of milk each animal receives by feeding' in separate pails. Allowing two to drink together from a bucket, or several from a- trough is a- bad practice and will lead to sickness sooner or later. By the time the calf is a month old it will' regiu to eat seme grain and should be given as much as it will eat up clean. On the first indication of indigestion—generally shown by a strong odor from the manure the amount of milk' should be cut down to one-third fprtwo or three feedings. It generally nelps matters to give three ounces ofcastor oil in a pail of milk" to the animal showing the first signs of indigestion. It is far easier to prevent than to cure scours, and careful attention to the amount of tnilk fed will help greatly in preventing these troubles. ON SHOEING HORSES. The foot of the horse is a.perfect organ thoroughly adapted for its pur-, pose, and man cannot improve it. It only needs protection from undue wear, and this protection is easily and readily afforded by arming the hoof , with metal sufficient to last for a. certain period. The wall of the hoof (says an English authority) is that portion which stirrounds the foot, find is alone seen when this is placed on the ground. It is . fibrous in structure, the fibres passing from above to below, as they grow from where the skin terminates. Externally the fibres are dense and resisting. but those nearer the interior gradually become soft and spongy. The growth of tile wall is indefinite, it being the part-, which has to sustain wear through contact with the ground. 'When the foot is. lifted, the sole and frog are seen on its lower or groundsurface. The sole is Usually more or less concave in a healthy foot. It is fibrous like the wall, its fibres passing in the same direction; but they are much softer, and their growth is definite. they breaking off in the form of flakes when they have reached a -certain length. The frog is a triangular mass of somewhat soft and elastic fibrous horn, situated at the posterior part of the soTe. Like that part-, its 1 j fibres are also of definite growth, and | flake off in large pat-c.bes from time to : time. The wall sustains weight and wear on all kinds of ground: the sole- ' is adapted for sustaining weight on soft around more particularly ; while the' frog has a most important use in acting as a cushion to support the powerful , tendon which flexes the limb, in diminishing jar. and in preventing slipping. The unpared sole and frog of the. 5 healthy foot need no protection of any kind of soil. The flakes of loose born !on the former serve a very useful purnose in retnininp; moisture, and so keeping the solid horn beneath soft and elastic, while they act as so many

springs when tlie foot is placed 011 pro--1 jecting stones. The more the frog is i exposed to wear the larger and sounder it grows, and the better it is for llw entire foot and limb. The forefoot is of 1 more importance, in the matter of shoeing. than the hind one. inasmuch as it has 10 support more weight, and is consequently more exposed to disease and injury. The forefoot, when well formed. is nearly, if not quite, circular: the hind foot is somewhat oval, the Irog smaller, and the sole more concave. When the hoof is shod, the wall is not exposed to wear, and therefore wo.ll Id grow to ail indefinite, and consequently most inconvenient length, if the shoe should chance to be retained too long and the excess in growth of horn not removed. The sole and frog. 011 the. contrary, never cause, inconvcience, as their growth is limited. What is required iu shoeing, then, is merely protection from undue wear, with the least possible interference with or disturbance to the functions of the foot and limb.