FARM NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 7

FARM NOTES.

Dehobnisg. — A most convincing proof of fche efficacy of dehorning is furnished in tbe following statement by an American dairy-farmer :— • "In 1888 I had a herd of horned coirs I did not want to cut off Jheir horns,' bufc determined' to get rid of them in some manner. I bred them to a polled bull whoso mother was a borned cow. To my surprise but one in ten of the calves bad horns. In 1891 1 h*d a fine herd of polled heifers, having sold all my horned cattle. These polled heifers, thui produced from horned mothers by a bull from a horned mother, never had a horned calf, although all my bulls have been from horned mothers. This shows how easy it is to breed off horns.- True, ifc takes time, yet 1 think ib the best way. In my experienos I find horned cattle requite as much again stable room ss polls, for I herd all my young cattle in a large pen, like sheep, until they are ready to drop their first calves. All the older cattle are kept in another shed in the came way unless I mi!k them ; then for convenience I pat them in stalls. They gather at the feed troughs as thick as they can ci-owd, none disturbing the others. It is not one-fourth the labour to stable them, sires! uee no chains, stanchions, or halters. None are vicious or wild, though some of their horned mothers were." The Scavknseb op the Fakm.— -The Farmer who expects' to keep his farm free from foul growth without a flock of sheep "reckons without his host." If the Bheep were tluly credited with »11 the weed* converted into mutton, and all tbe foul growth of the farm destroyed by these incomparable scavengers, many a farmer would find himself heavily indebted to his flock. Does " Like Pkoduce Like " ? — One of the old, oft-repeated, and leasfe understood maxims in scock- breeding is that "like produces like." Bufc it is frequently not true, writes " Thistledown" in the Australasian, in the sense iv which it is commonly used, for if so, no improvement • would be possible, and ifc is only true when like circumstances and conditions are in attendance. Such a state of things exists only among wild animals where the mind of mau takes no part iv directing and controlling the forces of Nature. In breeding animals under domestication it is almost impossible to have at different periods like circumstances and conditions, however •vigilant the owner may ba. Nearly every breeder has had an experience of this kind. He will one season couple two animals together and have excellent results, and the next season the same pair will perhaps produce something that is most disappointing; and yet, co far as the breeder is able to judge from circumstances and appearance*, the conditions were identical, except that another year had been added to the age of the parents. Th« rtf em such cases is that the progeny of different •b'rths are different in form, size, and disposition. This is true not only of the domestic animals of tbe farm, but is equally applicable to mankind. Take almost any family where there -are two or •more children, and notice the difference in form, feature, and disposition between the children from a common parentage. Like is not producing like»in one case oub of a hundred where the parentage remains the same when different births are compared together. There ta»y be— and often is— a close family

reeemblence, bufc that is .all. Ib is impossible amongst farm live stock to fiod all the progeny of one sire or dam alike in form, disposition, or quality. Improved animals have all been produped from an inferior stack by selecting the best and cemelie&t, and giving them extra care and attention. Such improvements are usually the work of years, and yet, if literally "like produced like," there wonld be no progress, for the offspring would be exactly like the parents. Romney Marsh Sheep — In the preface to the "'New K*nt Sbe?p Flock Bxjk" ths following description of the points of a Kenfc or Romney Marsh sheep appaars :—": — " Head wide t level between ears, with good, thickfore top ; no horns or dark hair on the po!l, which should be well covered with wool. JDyes should b3 large, b.ighfc, and prominent. Face, in ewes, full, aud in- rama bioad and masculine in appearance. Nose in all cases must be coal black; neck should be well ssfc in afc the shoulders, and strong and thick, and not; too long. Shoulders wide, well put in, and level with the back; chest wide and deep. Back straight, with wide aud fl tfc loin. Rump wide, Jong, and well turned. Tail sat in almost leval to the clieve. Th'jflls well leb down and developed. Tho fleeco should be. of even texture, aud of a gond decided staple from for«top on the head to end of tail. Every effort should be made to reduce the quantity of bieech wool. The skin should bo of a clean, pink colour. The f aoe and legs white, with few black spots."