THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20088, 3 May 1927, Page 4

THE RURAL WORLD

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

® By Eusticus

The Roubaix-Tourcoing correspondent of the Wool Record writes:—“Production in the coming establishments is about 65 to 70 per cent, of the possible maximum output. Business continues to be done in tops, especially in good fine and medium crossbreds. Stocks in these descriptions are nearly exhausted and orders are being executed with difficulty. There is a good demand for noils and prices are hardening. There is also rather more business in scoured and carbonised wools. Recent orders have p|aced the hosiery industry in a better position, and spinners are finding more regular employment. In the manufacturing section the outlook has improved as a result of small orders being received, but thcse > are of a hand-to-mouth character, and will only give temporary relief. Before regular work can be resumed in the weaving department orders will have to come on a larger scale. Generally speaking, the difficulties which were so much in evidence a few weeks ago, due to the financial position, have been overcome, and the immediate outlook is regarded with quiet confidence."

Three important sales of Ayrshire cattle are to be held in Taranaki during the last week of this month. Altogether 130 head are to be sold without reserve. Mr Andrew Weir is selling 42 head, Mr R. W. D. Robertson 65 head representing his whole herd and including many C.O.R. cows and their progeny and Mr E. Robinson 23 head (his whole herd). These sales offer a good opportunity to Ayrshire breeders to secure foundation and replenishing stock.

The sugar beet industry continues to attract a considerable amount of public attention, and it is satisfactory to find that the present position of this new industry is very encouraging. Apart from what may be termed the “raw material," there is very considerable scope for the by-products obtained from sugar beet. There are the tops, the pulp or slices, and the lime. The tops are purely a farm product, they do not leave the land. The other two are byproducts of the factories and are valuable, the one for feeding live stock, the other as a dressing for land. It is probable that the uses of these by-products are as yet not fully appreciated.

With the rapid growth of electricity in so many branches of life to-day, it is not surprising to find that its utility as applied to agriculture and farm work is the subject of close study. It is appreciated that, by means of portable motors and suitable trailing cables, such operations as chaffcutting, churning, and sheep shearing can be handled with a great saving ot time and labour. It is anticipated, however, that in the near future the uses of electricity will be widely extended. Already electric current has been employed for the purpose of drying a hay crop, and research is at the present time directed towards a number of developments in the scientific side of agriculture.

It used to be a set rule among dairy farmers, and, for the matter of that, is still a general practice in many dairies, that it was imperative to give their cows some food while the process of milking was being carried out. In recent years, however, the conclusion which has been come to after many experiments is that there is absolutely no benefit to be derived from the practice; in fact, feeding during milking is most uneconomical. In the first place, it is a drawback to the cow to have her attention taken up by eating food while she is being milked, as she is likely to be restless and will make herself uncomfortable for the milker. And, secondly, both in eating and milking a good deal of nervous energy is expended, and it is too much to expect an animal to attend to the two matters at the same time. It is best, therefore, that she should have no food before her, and that she should be resting and chewing her cud, When the milker comes she is then ready to let the milk down and enjoy the operation of milking while she continues to chew her cud.

* * * • Wool production in Canada during the past season has increased not only in quantity, but in quality, according to the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers. The season’s clip has been 11,000,0001 b, as compared with 10,000,0001 b in the previous season, and these figures include only the wool removed from the nature breeding sheep. The improvement in Canadian wool is attributed to the introduction of a system of Government grading, and a method of systematic marketing.

The great demand for condensed and dried milk products in poultry rations has resulted in advancing the prices of these feeds to such an extent that the developing of additional sources of supply has become a real economic necessity. It is gratifying, therefore, to learn that the Bureau of Dairying, U.S. Department of Agriculture, has recently perfected a new process for the concentration of skim milk that makes it possible to utilise large quantities of this valuable feed that formerly were wasted. One company using the new process made over 1,000,0001 b of concentrated skim milk last year, selling it at an average price of four cents per lb.

It has recently been announced in the Home press that an Imperial Agricultural Kescarch Conference' will be held in London early in October next. The proposal to hold this conference was endorsed by the last Imperial Conference, and it is understood that delegates will bo present from all over the Empire. Questions such as the improvement of cereals and grasses, problems of soil and animal fertility, and the development of - the best methods of marketing will be discussed, and groat benefit cannot fail to bo derived from the pooling of knowledge and experience of the various experts gathered togther.

MAY IN OTAGO. WORK FOR THE MONTH. WINTER STOCK FEEDING. WIIEAT-SOWIXG SEASOX. Main crop potatoes should bo lifted and stored without anv further delay. The tubers should he left to dry for some hours before being bagged. The tubers should bo well picked over and seed selected for next season’s crop. Procure seed of good sire and type, and free from diseases of all kinds.

\Vprk, like trimming hedges and fcnco repair?, should be put in hand. Land intended for spring crops should bo ploughed ns soon as possible. Top-dressing of pastures with lime and mek phosphate should be undertaken now. A manure like superphosphate can he applied now or later, but in all rases where ground raw phosphate per acre in July, is a suitable drosswithout delay. One ton of carbonate ot lime In May, followed by 2cwt superphosphate per acre in July, is a suitable dressing. Pastures should bo well harrowed after top-dressing, and it is advisable to keep stork off for a week or two while there is a good fall of rain. Dairy cattle should now receive some hay or oat straw and turnips, as they must bo kept in good condition, if they nr’ to give good returns in spring. Where roots are being eaten off. it is good practice not to make the breaks too large. .An area to last the sheep for a week or 10 days is quite big enough. Some part s of Otago urgently require shelter belts at suitable distances apart right across the plains. Each landowner should endeavour to provide shelter for his slock both from cold of winder and heat of summer. May is a good month to put this work in hand. All harvesting of cereal crops should now bp completed, and the stacks well thatched to protect the crops from bad weather. Those farmers who follow the excellent practice of storing farmyard manure will he busy during the month spreading it over the grass land and land (a be ploughed. The ploughing of stubble land should he carried out. as soon as possible, as the value of a winter fallow cannot ho overemphasised. The paddocks by now will

fltemi ot interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to “ Rusticus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.]

FARMERS’ EXCURSION.

. The train is not to be purely an excursion affair. Instructors and lecturers will be on tho train, and every endeavour will be made to supply the excursionists with all the information required ou any of the problems or difficulties encountered on the land. The train will bo specially decorated to advertise the fact that Otago farmers arc at least interested in the work being done on tho land in other districts. A surprisingly large number of farmers have applied for inclusion in the party, and any who have not yet done so, and who arc desirous of taking part in the trip, will be well advised to make early application to the Farmers’ Union secretary (Mr S. P. Cameron). Special excursion rates will he available for farmers and their wives and children, the concession to take effect from the station of the town in which tarmers live. The accommodation on the train will bo second class throughout (the type of carriages that used to ho first class), and the cars will be steam-heated throughout. Concerning accommodation for tho two days’ stay in Christchurch, a bureau will be set up on the train, and a. list of hotels will ho available. Passengers will he able to select their hostelry. and the reservations will be made by wire from Timaru en route. The detailed programme is a full one. MAY 10. Train leaves Clinton at 6 a.m., and runs right through to Christchurch, picking up farmers cn route as far north as Waimatc. . The South Canterbury Union is also taking part. MAY 11. The Addington Saleyards will be visited during the weekly stock sale, and the excursionists will during the day he lh guests of tho Chamber of Commerce, the Canterbury Farmers’ Union, and tho Canterbury A. aud P. Association, ami other farmers’ organisations. Show farms and other places of interest will bo taken into the dav’a programme. MAY 12. The whole day will be spent at Lincoln College, lunch being provided there. Every opportunity will bo afforded tho visitors to investigate the manifold aspects of the research and experimental work being carried out at the institution. MAY 13. The return journey will be commenced, when farmers will again have at their disposal one fully equipped instructional j service of great general interest. INSTRUCTION CAR. A special car will be provided in the centre of the train, attended by officers of tho Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture in Dunedin. This will be tilled with instructional exhibits, with whch it is hoped to impart many useful : lessons. Diseases of plants, crops, and | animals will ho represented by specimens. | and with each example will be provided i suggestions as to the checking or remedy- I ing of the disease. The uses, mixture, | and value of manures, grasses, clovers, and lucerne will be clearly demonstrated diagrammatically, argument for and ; against the use or otherwise of each being \ explained clearly. Competitions of various sorts calculated j to tax the general farming knowledge of the competitors also figure on the pro- j gramme. i

Every endeavour is being made to make the trip a pleasant and instructive one. but, ns is always the case, the success of all the arrangements depends largely upon the trippers themselves. Unless they avail themselves of the opportunities provided they might just ns veil spend the four days back home on the farm. The departmental officers have put a lot of time and trouble into the scheme, but they can, after all. only do a certain amount towards ensuring the success of the trip. They have placed the results of past experiment and research in a form that all should understand, and it remains now for the farmers to do their best to see that the efforts of those officers aro not in vain.

bo getting bare, and those farmers who make provision for winter. forage crops can extend the milking period by feeding the cow s on cabbages, kale, or Chou Moollier.

The roughage of the lucerne paddocks should bo cleaned off with cattle, and the ground thoroughly cultivated with a good strong spring-toothed harrow. This will prevent the extension of weeds which grow throughout the winter months while the lucerne is dormant. Do not graze lucerne ton close, however, during the winter, as there is more harm done to them by this practice than from all other means put together. May secs the beginning of tho wheatsowing season in tho South Island. All cereal seeds should bo pickled before sowing preferably with the formalin method. It is particularly desirable that Velvet and Pearl wheats should bo got in as soon as possible in North Otago. Thought it is advantageous to gpt thn Tuscans and Hunters in early, they can be delayed if other work is pressing. Algerian and Dun oats can be sown in May, and, perhaps, afford the best green feed of any varieties under North Otago conditions. Cartons may also bo fed off in the winter in certain localities, but they do not stool so well, and where the soil is of a light, friable nature stock are likely to pull the plants out. , , , Having regard to the prevalence ot Californian thistle, it is good practice generally to get oats sown in the autumn, as the crop will then ripen before there is any danger of the thistle seeds maturing. On the other hand, spring-sown oats which do not ripen for a month or six weeks later, are frequently infested with mature thistle seed, and this is one of the principal means by which the pest is spread. May is also a good month to sow catch crops, such as .barley for early sheep feeding. Black skinless barley or Cape barley are suitable varieties of barley. The mangold crop provided valuable feed, particularly for dairy stock, pigs, and poultry. In a good crop the root yield is high, and mangolds are not so subject to insect and fungoid pests as are turnips and swedes. They do not taint the cows’ milk either. Those who intend growing mangolds for next season should select a suitable area without delay and make early preparations. About one acre for every 20 cows should bo sufficient. Select the cleanest field on the farm, with, if possible, a soil consisting of a deep friable loam. If pasture land is to be uptilised for the purpose, it should bo skin-ploughed without delay, so as to fallow it during the winter. Though normally the mangold gets through dry spells very well, it is safe and better practice to prepare for the crop early. Where small paddocks are provided for calves they should be broken up and regrassed, if possible. Failing this, they may be eaten bare by big cattle, then top-dressed with lOcwt burnt lime per acre, to be followed in July or August with 2cwt of superphosphate per acre.

TRIP TO CANTERBURY. AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY. LEARNING ABOUT THE OTHER FELLOW. Last year a special farmers’ train was run from Waikato to Taranaki with extremely encouraging results. It is not surprising therefore that an endeavour should be made to carry out a similar programme in the South Island. The idea is not a new one. and it has occupied the minds of fanners’ representatives and the Department of Agriculture for some months. It has now been decided to run a farmers’ train to Christchurch-on May 10, returning to the south on May 13. The Railway Department, the Department of Agriculture, and the Farmers’ Union are to bo congratulated upon their efforts to interest the Otago farmer in the activities, jiroblems, and conditions of farmers in other districts.