FARM NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2317, 28 July 1898, Page 7

FARM NOTES.

Nitrate or Soda. — The astonishing novvcr of nitrate of soda in forcing up a vigorousgrowth is supposed by many farmers in the, Homo country to have a prejudicial influence upon the soil, in that it leaves it impoverished anil hungry, and therefoie less fit to produce succeeding crops. For tlu« reason sulphate of ammonia is by some pieforred, although they do not procure quite such liberal returns from its use. Although thoio may be some foundation for this do rogatory imputation, competent judges declare that this foundation rests solely en the injudicious employment of nitrate of soda. Used with ordinary discretion, they hold liiat nitrate of soda is practicily unattended wiiti risk or injury to crop or soil, and their long practical experience enables them to spuak with authority on the point. Writing in ihe Scottish Farmer, Mr 13. Wilson, iun., of Carbeth, expresses the belief thatMhe widespread opinion referred to ban arisen from applying heavy dressings of nitrate of coda to ordinary soil without a corresponding application of phosphoric acid and potash. lie explains that if used alone nitrate of soda will force away a big crop, but as by itscll it only supplies one ingredient, ihe other constituents of increase— tho phosphoric acid and potash— -must, be got from the soil, which will be left to that extent the poorer than if no nitrate had been used. But this, lie further observes, is abusing nitrate of soda, and is no legitimate argument against its use as a nitrogenous mamue. Writing of nitrogenous manures, Mr Wilson remarks : " Nitrate of soda is tho most rapidly acting of all nitrogenous manures in general use, and next to it comes sulphate of ammonia ; and for grain crops, 1 think our selection should lie between those two. The nitrogen taken up by cereals is nearly always taken up in the form of nitrates, and mtralo of soda is almost the" only ready-formed mtrato used as manure. Sulphate of ammonia and other nitrogenous compounds have to be changed into nitrates in the soil before ILo plants can make use of them. This change, effected by a minute bacterium, is largely dependent, among other conditions, on tho temperature and porousness of the soil. Nitrate of soda is therefore more certain, because its action is independent ot chniafic conditions, while that of sulphate of ammo ilia is not, and while sulphate of ammonia may in some seasons give as good results, my experience, upon the whole, is that nitiaU of soda is decidedly the more profitable manure for spring-sown cereals."

Fokagk Chops in the Uxitep — Six or eight years have shown a maikod foiwarcl movement in the raising of forage ou dairy farms (says the Rural New Yovkei). Eye. clovei , oats and peas, and corn (niai7c) seem to have established themselves-, as v do sirablc rotation in the north. A companion of the composition and habits ol these crop* with those of the fodders thoy have sup.planted shows a lan'o increase in pucvulenfo. protein, and independent weather conditions We have approached nearer the idea! in rueculeiict: and independence of weather ion ditions than we have in the maltei o! pio tein. We must increase our clovei. and oate, and jiean.

Emkding DAritY Citti-k. — Wriiing cm ihis subject, Professor "W. W. Cooks), of the Colorado Experimental Station, says : " Tlio influence ot" tho dam, and particularly the sivo, on tho quality of the milk has Ijc n ]](tJo studied, and oilers a ttuilhil field of investigation. Unmistakably the dj,m Its. to a certain extent, the power of tiansinittiug to Jiei progeny tho ijuality of pi educing milk of liiueh the samu composition. Two particuLu instance? have come undci my notice J.itoly. The first i* a cow got by a shorthorn bull and out of a Jeisey. Hero we have about 5 per cent, of butter lar. The second is the daughter of .1 cow which milk of a peculiar composition: the faUy globules were so small that low ol Ihom lose to tho surface, although tho liuUpi fat. was much nbovo liie a\euige. Ilcie, dg.im, the niilk in both o.;ses, mother and daughfoi ha? the same peculiarity. . . . When we come to study the sire > and his offspring, viewed from a dairyman's point of view, wo hove, as a ride, nothing to work upon, To obtain v shorthorn bull with a pedigree as> long a? your arm is not a very difficult matter; but when the milking properties of his dam. and particularly the quality of liei produce, is inquired into, the intending purchaser i? placed in a dilemma, which ultimately etjds- in a random shot at a baiguin. . . .. Last July, before purchasing a bull. ] had the opportunity of testing his dam's milk on two separate occasions, and the average per cent, of fat in these two camples was 4.5. Within thft last two days I again received a sample of her milk, containing part of two milkings, morning and evening. Again a duplicate test stood at 4.6 per cent. Now we have got what wo were hunting for, four years will have to elapse before we

can commence to wi upon tho quality of ti

l.nosa tho sire's effect ho milk pioduced."

FIOOD AND Watek Gatks.— -When farms are crossed by streams, water gates and fences aro necessary. The approaches may be of any kind, preferably such as may be removed easily from the low grounds in times of flood. In the current the gates must lie self-acting, so as to give the least resistance to the water, and arranged to free them selves readily from trash and debris ljvoui;hl. cloTi'n by the floods. Two forms of fi-iod

galo aro shown in the ciils. The fiist is apt. io catch and hold all trash, though sw!i'fcui;> freely ; iho other will allow obf!i uci'.oiK-t (o he freely disengaged and pass s«;\\ay 'Ihe first is simple, effective as a barrier to slock, cisily lemoved when necessary, even io driving tho sharpened crotched posts, but incorrect in principle, simply because tha shits are put ou tho wrong way. They nr« constantly catching trash, and iconsoquonlly often choked. Tho becond plan vs correct,, since ii fieely clears ittcll. A is the supporting polo, 1$ B,

tho flexible hinge, wives, or chr irw supporting- the frame, O, the cvot!? v»'.>:o uj.on which (l.c slals are firmly l>»!!al or muJoil with cliiH'h nails. In this foun, v;hen aquatit) birds are to be prevented from passing, the slats may dip into the current; if not, they should be just above the ordinary fcta^e of water. — Australasian.