THE ECHO FARM DAIRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1421, 15 February 1879, Page 5

THE ECHO FARM DAIRY.

A. herd of pure-bred Jerseys is kept by the owner, F. R. Starr, of Liohfleld, Conn., for the purpose of a " gilt edge " butter dairy, as well as for breeding purposes. Mr Starr's arrangements for his dairy are everything that can be implied in the term " gilt edge." Although the dairy building is a temporary affair, not very well adapted as to room and interior arrangement for the purpose to which it is applied, nevertheless, in everything but space and roominess, it is all that can be desired. There is the perfection of neatness, order, and cleanliness, and evidence on every hand of Bkilful management. The milk is set in deep pans of the ordinary size, 20 inches deep, and 8 inches in diameter, in a pool of cold spring water. The cream, before being churned, is forced through a strainer, by which it is freed from all lumps, or such undesirable accidental accessories, as are too common in many tolerably well managed dairies. As it is a matter which relates to cleanliness, it might here be mentioned that a very convenient washroom, with every facility for securing perfect cleanliness of person and olothing,iß provided in the stable for the milkers, and the use of the room is enjoined upon^ every person employed about the cows. Quiet demeanour and the kindest treatment of the animals is also the rule here, and it is hardly necessary to say that this is enforced, for no men we have seen anywhere could surpass those employed by Mr Starr in the kindness they display for the beautiful animals under their charge. "It goes without saying," that this feeling is evidently reciprocated by the animals. The strainer, which is made by Parker and Worthington, of Westchester, Pa., is so constructed that, by the oscillation of the arm at the top, the cream is forced by plungers through fine gauze, by which it is brought into perfect con-

difcion for churning. The churn used is the well, known Blanehard, of the largest size, with a capacity of 160 pounds of butter, and is operated by a horse-tread power. The batter is worked by the rotary butter- worker, made by Speakman, Miles, and Co.. Westchester, Pa., shown in the engraving. This butter- worker is on the same principlen ciple as thatyrhioh received the first premium at the recent dairy exhibition at Hamburg, and is packed for shipment to the purchasers, in boxes of home manufacture, but of very excellent design and construction. For the purpose of maintaining a low temperature during transit the ice-chamber is placed in the centre of the box, and is large, while the box itself is small. — American Agriculturist. A NEW POST-HOLE DICKER. The digging of post-holes with pickß, spades, or shovels, is a manner of doing a work with the worst possible tools; nevertheless we had no very good substitute for these inconvenient implements until the inventor of the Eureka posthole digger hit upon the very valuable idea, which he brought into practical use. With this digger, a hole may be made of the smallest size needed, without taking out more earth than may be necessary ; the hole, in fact, may be made so small that the post maybe driven into it, and so set very firmly. It consists of a double handle, made to open or shut upon a pivot, with a scoop or round pointed halfround shovel upon Pig. 1. — augtse in use. each hnlf. When closed, it appears as at Fig. 2, in which condition it is forced into the ground by repeated thrusts, in the same manner that a pointed bar may be driven. When sufficient earth has been lcosened to make its removal necessary, the blades are pressed into the loose earth, and then brought together by opening the handles, as at figure 1, when the earth held between them may be lifted out and deposited on the bank. This is repeated until the hole is deep enough. Holes can be dug in any kind of soil, amongst stones, in coarse gravel, or in earth that is saturated with water, or even under water. The_ tool may be used for sinking or cleaning wells, for making holes for setting plants or trees in gardens, as wells as making postholes, andmany made with long handles are in use for setting telegraph poles, for which holes seven feet deep arc required. — American Agriculturist. CHICORY. This is a most useful plant, and should be grown largely in this colony. Ifc is relished by all kinds of stock ; its roots arc very tenacious of life, consequently it will be found useful in dry situations and during long droughts. It will last many years in the ground, Fig. 2. „ if cut regularly before arriving at its full flower. On suitable soils could be grown profitably as a root crop, as it is largely imported every year, as a mixturo for^ coffee. The quantity of seed required per acre is from four to five pounds, if sown in drills, and from ten to twelve pounds if sown broadcast. This root should n wer be given to milch cows, on account of the disagreeable flavour it imparts to butter. Law, Somner, and Oo's Catalogue.