FARM NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 8

FARM NOTES.

A Pound of I3llttor. —The question of how much milk ih takes for a pound of butter is usually answered by the statement that it takes a couple of jjp lions. At a recent meeting of the New York Dairymen's Association, a call was made for information on this particular point. A creamery manager from Bradford, Pa., responded to this call with the following figures: — A mixed licrd ol' 21 cows in the eight months from April 1 > November inclusive, 1882, averaged lib of butter to 231b of milk (a gallon of milk weighs 101!)), and averaged 2021b of butter per cow. Fourteen grade shorthorns in the same time averaged lib of butter to 20Mb of milk, and averagud 2241b of butter per cow. Fourteen Holsteins in the same time averaged lib of butter to 24}lb of milk, and averaged 2351b of butter per cow; and 11 grade Jerseys in the same time averaged lib of butter from 161b of milk, and in ten months averaged 2891b per_ cow. The record for the eight months having been lost, he could not give it in comparison with the other herds for the same length of time. The gentleman said he had been in charge of the creamery since 1882, and had endeavoured to impress upon his patrons the importance of improving their stock, with what results the following statements will show : — In 18S2, with an average of 750 cows, it inquired 231b of milk for lib of butter; in 1883, with 1100 cows, 211b of milk made lib of butter ; and in the season of ISS4, 20h\b milk made lib of butter, and he expected to still further lessen the quantity required.

Pig-Breeding I.—The1 .— The introduction of the Berkshire and Poland-China breeds of pigs which mature quickly and attain heavy weights iv a short time, lias given an immense impetus to pig-breeding in fcj'iuth Australia, and farmers are complaining tliab the butchers are taking such uufair advantage of it as to give only ljd per pound for ths dressed carca.ss. The agricultural Press is urging the farmers to start cooperative curing establishments, asserting that it is not possible for farmers to properly cure bacon without the necessary appliances, and especially without the knowledge of how to cure it properly. '* For home use it is all very well to salt and smoke the meat in a homely way ; but for sale to people who are particular in their tastes the farm-cured bacon and hams — smoke-begrimed, greasy, dusty, and often rancid — stand no chance beside the clean bright samples turned out from tb,e factories." — Quoenslander.

Judging' a Horse.-— The weak points of a horse (remarks an American paper) can be better discovered while standing than while moving. If he is sound he will stand firmly and squarely on his limbs without moving them, feet flatly upon the ground, with legs naturally poised ; if the foot is lifted from the ground and the weight taken from it, disease may be suspected, or at least tenderness, which is a precursor of disease. If the horse stands with his feet spread apart, or straddles with his hind legs, there is a weakness in the loins, and the kidneys are disordered. Heavy pulling bends the knees. Bluish milky east eyes in horses indicate moon blindness or something else. A bad-tempered one keeps his ears thrown back ; a kicking one is apt to have scarred legs ; a stumbling horse has blemished knees. When the skin is rough and harsh and does not move easily to the touch, the horse is a heavy eater, and digestion is bad. Never buy a horse whose breathing organs are at all impaired. Place your ear at the heart, and if a wheezing sound is heard it is an indication of trouble.

Cheshire Cheese.— On "Dairy Prospects," the Times says : — A great blow has fallen on the agricultural industry in the destruction of the profit hitherto realisable from the manufacture of high quality cheese. American competition has at last ruined the prospects of the skilled and indefatigable dairy farmers of Cheshire — prices having fallen 15s to 20s per cwt., bringing down the market to figures at which it will not be remunerative to continue the business. What the effect may be upon the husbandry of the great cheese-making centres in England cannot be calculated ; but a great reduction in the value of dairy farms is expected. It cannot be said that superior quality in the product is the remedy for unprofitable cheese-making ; for the overwhelming fall ha>< occurred in the price of the very best Cheshire. The farmers are dismayed at the outlook for the very branch of husbandry which has been regarded as tho mainstay of British agriculture. If dairying goes, every resources of our agricultural classes must collapse.

Horse-breeding. — Lords A. and L. Cecil of Orchardmains, Peeblesshire, Scotland, have within the past few years achieved wonderful success as breeders of Clydesdale horses. Their stud numbers about 100, and they have during the present year won honours in nearly every showyard in the kingdom. These noblemen, according to the Agricultural Gazette, have determined to try their skill at developing, by judicious crossing and improved keep, the admirable race of Highland ponies, which for many years past have been deteriorating. For this purpose they purchased, two years ago, seven mares of the pure Iceland breed. These ponies stand 12 hands high, are exceedingly hardy, have strong legs and backs, and are noted for their endurance and sure-footerlness: They have somewhat large heavy heads, and though very fast are deficient in style and action. They stand about two hands higher than the Shetland pony. For the purpose of crossing these mares Lords Cecil have two pure-bred Arab stallions ; one of them. Pasha, is a Turkish Arab, standing 14 hands high. Lord Arthur Cecil, who rides 15st, states that he has ridden him at the canter for 16 miles at a stretch and often galloped him for hours together, but never saw him tired. Hadeed, the second Arab — one of the pure Arabs bred in England — stands 15.1 i hands and is very compact. The last-named" Arab is to be used for the second eross — to be put to mares of the cross between the Iceland and Arab. By judicious mating it is hoped to breed a race of ponies with greatly improved style, action, and speed ; combining tlie hardiness of the Icelander with the spirit and style of the Arabian. Such a description of pony would appear to be admirably adapted to the work of stockriding in the mountainous districts of Australia ; whilst their courage, temper, firmness of bone and muscle, and their great endurance, would mark them out as excellent little animals for purposes of overlanding. Stuart the explorer has left it on record that in one of his expeditions he had two ponies which re-

turned plump and fresh, whilst the other horses were bags of bones. — Australian Paper.

Rat Riddance. — "Allow me," writes a correspondent, "to suggest a simple means of getting rid of these pests. In the year 1 ?~,~j L was in command of a vessel lying alongside the wharf at Melbourne, embarking Chinese passengers for Hong Kong. The wharfs were so infested with rats that it was impossible to prevent their getting on board, and my vessel was well stocked with them. After being at sea a few days, I mustered the passengers — with their effects — on deck, to give them an airing, and for , the purpose of giving the passenger deck a good cleansing, and sprinkling some chloride of lime mixed with water. I also had a couple of buckets of the same mixture poured clown the pumps. This I continued weekly ; when, to my surprise, the rats made a raid on the cabin (poop) on deck, and became so troublesome that neither myself nor my officers cared about turning in at night. A happy thought struck me — that the chloride of lime had driven them from below deck ; so I had everything cleared out of the cabin and storerooms, and freely used the mixture. This had the desired effect, the rats taking shelter in every available place outside. This gave us some good sport, especially- 'on a moonlight night, when all hands engaged in hunting rats and driving them overboard, so that by the time we arrived at Hong Kong not one was left on board. On my return to England I took a house and furnished it. After being in it a short time, I found that it was infested with rats. They, would get through every part on the ground floor. On examination I discovered that a drain ran under the house emptying into the harbour. I here again used the chloride of lime freely ; and in less than a week every rat had taken its departure. I have recommended this remedy to many shipmasters and friends on shore, and in all cases it has proved a success. I have occupied my present residence for five years, and we have neither rat nor mouse on the premises. I attribute this to the free use of the above mixture, which is also effective as a deodoriser and disinfectant."