NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2241, 11 February 1897, Page 4

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

I have heard farmers say, in speaking of raru fairs, that they could not afford Usefulness to buy high-priced purebred of rams, and that it suits them Hum Fairs, better to buy some large farmers' cull rams. I know very well that a man must be guided by his pocket, but I know 'also that plenty of farmers make a practice of using old and nearly worn-out rams simply because of their short-sightedness in not being able to realise that it would' be much better for them to give a little more for their rams and get something pretty gooo. We do not, as a rule, expect to get a goou crop of grain or grass after sowing what we know to be inferior seed, and by the same rule it is absurd to expect a crop of go.d lambs unless we take proper steps to ensure that desideratum. It is a mistake in more ways than one to ignore the ram sales when we require rams In the first place there is usually to be found there a collection of rams of all sorts and conditions that will suit all porktt3. I have seen rams, and very fair sp cimeas too, going begging v buyer at; 10s a bead, and surely a mau who ptetends to keep sheep can see his way to invest that amount in an animal fit to get him about 60 lambs. If the ram is only fit for boiling down after being used one season, the co-t per i lamb is but 2d each for the ram. In getting a , low-priced ram it is advisable to get one from a ' well-known flock, as tbat is a guarantee that he is good of his kind, but considered to be past his prime by a flock-owner of high repute. Whether requiring rams or not, sheep-farmers should make * point of attending ram fairs in their neighbourhood merely for the sake of the useful information that can be gleaned there. It is a good education for a young farmer, or an old one not well versed in sheep, to attend these fairs and sales, to see all the different sheep exposed to view, to listen to the wiseacres, hear their opinions and compare notes, and generally to gain useful knowledge regarding the different points and leading characteristics of the m.osfc popular breeds. To sum up, then, I would say, whatever breed you fancy get your rams from & flock of high reputation in that breed ; don't grudge investing % guinea, or even two or three, on such an important object as a good .< am. It is said that the bull is half the herd, and it must be true that the ram has a large say in the quality of the lambs. If quantity alone is required, I admit that the greatest old scrubber can be depended upon to beget lambs in any number. Sheep and wool prices are not very encouraging just now, | but we must not be guided by the present only, but should endeavour to look ba^oud the low

prices and the droughty season. The farmer who succeeds i» usually the one who perseveres through good and evil seasons, and so long as we do cot go to the wall we must keep going aud do our best to command success as well as deserve it.

How to Pare a Sheep's Foot.

One of the tasks most difficult for the average shepherd to learn is how to properly pare a sheep's foot when the animal has its feet affected with footrot. If the shepherd cuts away the diseased parts for the most part he thinks his task is sufficiently accomplished ; but unless tbe hoof is pared with due respect to the comfort of the animal more harm than good vrill bft done. The want of care in paring is one of the chief predisposing causes to lameneas when a sheep has footrov, as the malformation does not allow tbe animal to tread t'airiy ou the ground. The undue pressure on the side or other part of the foot causes pain and lameness Consequently, when paring a foot care should be takon to preserve the natural slope of the foot as far as possible. Before paring tha sheep should be kept standing in a «3<*mp place for a time, a? the hoofs are much easier pared when sof tentd by moisture. While pariog care should be taken to avoid bleeding as far as possible. The object of paring is to remove diseased hoof and allow the dressing solution to touch every diseased crevice in the hoof. There is a right way aud a wrong way of doing everything, but unfortunately the wrong way is often the most expedient.

Harvesting Past and Present.

Every farmer knows tftat there has been a very gceas reduction in the cost of harvesting during the last 10 or 15 years. This has been due to a. greab extent to the introduction of the reapers and binders, but the cost haa diminished in various ways in addition to the abolition of the expensive handbinding. The binders were high in price 15 years ago, xnd duplicate parts and the binding twine, oil, &c, were also proportionately dear. The cosb of these and also of the machines have come down nearly 50 per cent , and, moreover, continued improvements have reduced the loss of time by hitches aud breakages to a minimum. A 30-bushel crop of wheat or a 4-0-bushel crop of oats can now be harvested for about 8s per acre, whereas the same crops in the days of tilters and hand-binding would cost 178 6d or 20b per acre. The work dose nowadays, too, is immeasurably superior to that of bygone jears, when about; every fifth sheaf would slip its baud and try the patience of the stacker to the snapping poiut. Iv looking back to the harvests or the seventies and these of still earlier years, what a contrast we see &nd what a blissful change in favour of present times ! Then harvest hands were scarce because so maur were required, and oftentimes a crowd to follow the tilter could not be procured till the grain was io:teu ripe and the poor farmer's mind was torn with anxiety lest a "buster" should come aud shake the crop. A good crop required five or six men to tie and two on the fcilter, whereas now the farmer can if he chooses soup his fingers at rude Boreas, and by cutting, his crop » little on the green side secure ifc from wind ere it is ripe enough to sustain much damage. One who ucderstauds his machine need fear little lo's of time from mishaps, and can with two teams of active horses leave 20 acres of clean-cut stubble behind him per day without turning ft hair, as the saying is. 3? or my part, I think il oue of the most enjoyable operations of the year to drive a binder on a fiuu day in a nice crop on fairly level land. It is a pleasure to watch all the various patts working smoothly and in unison ; the humanlike way in which the needle and the knotter do their duty so precisely and so perfectly is alone sufficient to inspire one with a deep respect for the marvellous ingenuity and perseverance of mechanical men. The stooking is not a heavy item, and the stacking of wellshape*! and tightly-bound sheaves is but a picnic- Hkjfcbe-crop is not too heavy, or the land too hilly, the sheaf-carriers can be used, and the stooking much expedited thereby. It is the fashion to argue that, despite the great saving in the cost of harvesting, grain-growing pays no better now than when the cosb was double, as the prices have receded in the sime proportion. It is true that the average price was higher in those pre-binder days, but we had an oceaMoaal bad year, and shill the co-.t of saving the crop wa3 high. Now we get an occasional good-price year, and onr gain is so much the more because of our improved facilities in both owing and leaping. At all events, counting decreased risk and waste of grain, I would rather take

the ninties than the seventies as a grain-grower, and I havo b-.eu that same iv this island for 35 years. I don't know any branch of farming that pays better than a 40-buahel crop of wheat at 4s per bushel.

Cost of Harvesting.

In the foregoing note I mentioned 8s per acre ati being about the present cost of harvesting a fairly good crop 01-' grain, but that amount is vi hat a contractor would require, taking use of horaes, feed, &c, into consideration. A farmer using his own horses and plant should be able to do it for less than Bs, seeing that the use of his horses, feed, &c, does not mean cash outlay, as the horse 3 must be doing something at any rate. The ca»h outlay I consider to be as follows for. say, a 30-bushel crop : — Twine, oil, and sundry repa'rs, Is per acre ; stooking, 1b ; leading in, 4s ; — total, 6s per acre. Four shillings for carting is perhaps above the mark, unless the stacker is very ilow or the ground very rough and awkward. Five good men should clear nearly two acres an hour, and the prevailing rate is 9d per hour aud found, or Is per hour and find themselves I reckon it costs about 3d per hour to tucker the men it there is any broken weather. Over and above the actual cush outlay there is of course wear aud tear of harness, drays, binders, &0., which all tells up in the course of time. I consider the life of a binder is equal to about six years' cutting, say, 200 acres per year Plenty of binders do more tnan that, bub then ib means that each part has been renewed at difffM'Qnt times, so that the machine i«, narring frame, practically a new one at the end of seven year". Attention to the proper oiling and housing whrn not ab work will prolorg the life of a binder very considerably. Exposure to the weather during II months will do more harm than constant work during the twelfth month. To bo exacb in our estimate of cost we must allow 9J an acre for depreciation of the mechine, besides cost of duplicated and repairs as we go along. I arrive at the 9d per acre on the basis that the first cost of the machine is £4-5, and that it cuts 1200 acres. A good machine, well cared for, will, perhaps, not require more than 6d pec acre for depreciation, but much depends upon the nature of the land, as I consider the wear aud tear on hilly ground are fully a third more than on level land.

Uingworni in Cattle.

lii sending some notes on ringworm in cattle for publication in the Irish Farmers' Gizette, Dr H. 8. Purdon writes that be is constrained to do so owing to the number of patients coming from country districts every springtime to the Belfast; Hoapifcnl for Diseases ot the Skin affected with the disease on hands, arms, and face, in the lastmentioned situtiion assuming » pustular form and becoming most troublesome. In all cases tLe answer to the question, 11 Hew did you get it ? " has bseu " Ob, I was tryiog to cure ringworm in a cow and I must have been ttmit." As far as the doctor's experience goes, fttaltt'ed animals are those most (frequently attacked, and he thinks that the close coufiuerueirt and heatiug food in the case of milk cows fed with grains, and wknt of attention to cleanliness are the chief causes. He says that the disease is well known to be contagious bath in man and b»«st, is characterised by the development of circular patches, and if on a pat covered with hairs, these fall out. "The dii-ease in due to ih» presence of a parasitic fungus called Trichopbyton tonsurans. The favourite, if nob the exclusive, seat of the parasitic growth is in the hair and hair follicles. The patch of ringworm extends in a centrifugal manner with greater or legs rapidity. Hum&n beings are affected as well as the lower animals, such as the mouse, cat, dog, calf, and horse "• Various methods of treatment have been adopted. In the districts sun-ouuding Belfast a mixture of gunpowder aud butter lecras to be a popular remedy. The great point is to destroy the fungus in situ, which may be done tuccesffuily, as recommended by Ladreifc de Lacharriere, by an application of croton oil. The application of this remedy, however, requires caution, as it produces inflammation and the hairs fallout, while it is not suitable for a large extent of surface. Dr Purdcn has for several years used with great advantage an ointment consisting of creosote, sulphur, and white precipitate. This remedy rarely fails. Creosote is familiar tD most people, whilst in parasiticides sulphur and white precipitate are well known. The use of a good antiseptic soap, such as carbolic soap, is also recommended. Hardly any disease kuown to affect the hair and skiu of horses and cattle is more to be dreaded than ringworm. The neck, shoulders, sides, and back most frequently exhibit the characteristic patches denuded or hair, and the general health of the animal suffers according to the development and virulence of the disorder with its prevailing and continuous itching and irritation. If it is once introduced into a herd the farmer may be assured that, unless the animal affected is at once isolated, the whole of the herd will become affected. Years Bgo in the colony of Victoria we had opportunities of observing the rapid spread of ringworm among farmers' herds of cattle. A farmer had bought at a distant market a couple of beasts, one of which cert»iuly bore marks of ringworm. These beasts were brought home and turned ouc among the other cattle on the farm. Winter and summer all were depastured, only three or four milk cons being brought to a shed twice daily. In a very months all l>he cattle on the farm were smitten, and, to make matters worse, the disorder had been contracted by the herds on adjoining farms. As was commonly the casa in those days, fences were in disrepair, neighbours' cattle mixed freely, and not until the disorder became widespread in » considerable

district was its nature and causation racogn'sed — too late, however, to prevent the contamination of ca'fcle attendants and membors'of farmers' families. Owing, probably, to the iaefficiency ot the curative treatment adopted the disease continued to prevail among the cattle in that district during eight or ten year*, iuß««ting serious loss ou the owners through the untbrift of their stock.

Apple-growing and Cider-making.

On the occasion of a recent exhibition of British - grown fruit at the Crystal Palace, one of the speakers pointed out the advantages to the British farmers that might be derived from growing apples for cider and pears for perry. Formerly it was a very profitable industry. The speaker pointed out that the industry had of late fallen into the background, but at the same time there was a good opening for the industry, provided the right article were placed on the market. /The cider and perry industry had suffered through adulteration, but if the pure article ware placed . on the market the demand would soon increase. Cider is a rncst; 'Aholeaome beverage, and as a nuanrier drink, if made from pure apple juice, a very refreshing one. Many of the artificial beverages sold as temperance drinks are hurtful if imbibed frequently, but good prime cider is rather beneficial than otherwise. If the temperance advocates would encourage the people tr> manufacture pure and wholesome beverages in their own homes they would be doing more good than by universal denunciation of alcoholic liquors. Medicinally cider has been proved to be beneficial to those who use it as almos 1 ; their sole beverage. Good oder always finds a ready sale, bub the chemicallymade substitute is an abomination. Our climate is peculiarly adapted tor growing apples, and after culling all the choicett fruit for export or for the neateit market there would be a good ui=e for the small and inferior fruib in the manufacture of cider. In our day the tiller of the soil ha* to learn how best to turn every product to advantage. The ordinary farmer is content to grow oats, ' wheat, and turnips, turnips, wheat, and oat?, ; ear in and year out, till the soil is exhausted. - After that starvatiou stares him in the face. If, however, he varies the products of the land as far as circumstarr permit he will find success easier of afctainnr A good orchard attached to every farm 1 valuable adjuccb, and it is a pity there »-- more of them.

Utilising Waste Products.

If there is one tbiog more than another modern larmer requires to It-u it is how best to utilise wan products, cf which there ai always plenty on a farm. Th modern reaping machines leav little for the gleaner, but still there are pickings left which will give the milking cows a bite after the stooks are removed from the field. It is better, therefore, so give the stock the benefit of the gleaning* than to leave them lie to rot in the field. I have seen the chaff from the threshing mill after threshing wheat grown on n. rich alluvial soil, freely mixed with clover seed, so that it constituted a valuable mixture to give to the horses aloDg with their oats ' instead of the customary cut ch<iff. • Yet most farmers would allow this valuable waste product to rot where it lay after. lha mill was removed. When the turnip-lifting season come? round the shaws are cut off with a knife and cist asido to rot in the field ; while if they were gathered up and fed to stock not a blade need be wasted. . A few pigs are good*ids to the farmer to utilise waste products, aa they are omnivorous feeders and nothing comes amiss to them. The turnip tops and cut-off root;, if washed and boiled together, will- be eaten greedily by pigs. All this, of course, involves time and the employment of labour, bub it is lime and labour weil spent. Perhaps there is a good stream running through a .farm and- going to waste in the sense that its power is not utilised . A little labour and iugeDuity will erecb a dam and harness a water-wheel to the stream. No better form of motive power can be utilised on a farm than water-power, and there are a hundred uses to which a v-ater-wheel can be applied. And so on along the whole line there are numerous waste product? that can be put to good nee, and where that is done the farmer is more likely to be successful.

The Harvest.

The agricultural returns in the shape of tl« estimates of jields for the present harvest hava been issued this year with great and creditable promptness. It will be remembered that up till a few yeara ago these returns were not published until they were no longer of value. Spurred by remonstrances from those concerned, including the Otago A. and P. Society, the Agricultural department; now bestirs itself, with the result mentioned. The returns, which we published on Saturday, are dated November 10, 1896, and at that period any estimate of the probable yield must necessarily have been more or less untrustworthy. In point of fact, the dry weather" experienced since has induced the department to reconsider and reduce the estimates, and even then we think the figures must be taken with caution, and will most likely be found to be above rather than below the reality. The department estimates that the quantity of wheat on hand this year is greater by 110,000 bushels than at the same period last year. Tho return does not, however, explain very clearly how this estimate is arrived at. If we estimate last year's surplus at 1,000,000 bushels, and add the estimated new crop, there will be a total of 7,457,675 bushels. Allowing 4,750,000 bushels for food and 600,000 bushels for seed would leave a balance: of a little more than 2,000,000 bushels available for export. But it has to bo borne ia mind that even tie reduced estimates of. tiig.

department are exceedingly sanguine. An average yield of wheat of 25 bu«hels per acre all over the colony, 30 of oats, and 25 of barley seemK still too much. If the actnal yield at all approximates to this, Australian farmers may bs excused for rubbing their eves and wondering what the yield in New Zealand would be in a really good year if these were the results expected in a seaeon of drought Agkicola.