NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 6

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

The opinion appears to bo gaining ground that ' the dairy industry is net as Dairyiiig well organised in this colony in as it ought to be; and if the iVeir Zealaml. half that is laid to the cliargo of the department be true it is time Uic dairying public took the matter lip. Such representations should be made to the Government, through tlio country members 6\ Parliament, as will induce them to set their house in order. It seems a remarkaMo thing that the Government cannot retain the services of dairy experts, wlio seem, one after another, to become tired of tho *q<vice, which they leave. lor one thing tlio rorniuieracion which tlio head of the Department of Agriculture thinks sufficient for the position of chief dairy expert is less than any man fit to occupy tlio position can earn as a dealer in dairy produce so we find the Dairy department is to-day without a head, other than the' Secretary for Agriculture, who is placed in the unfortunate position of having to control and direct a business conceding which he lias no expert, knowledge .ft reminds ono of tlio proverbial =ailur on horseback, and that Mr Ritchie should bo placed in such a position is neither fair to him nor to the ■very important indu-try who-.o interests are at slake. As pointed out in tho articles dealing with this question in the "Witness, while our ri\als aro putting their best foot forward to be up-to date in the ll.eory and practice- of dairying, we are practically drifting into a state of contusion. J am quite prepared to give the Government every credit for what they have done in vho past, and they have done a good deal for t'ne young industry ; but tliat is no reason why thov"" bhould rest content upon their oars while the crazy bark is drifting amongst the rocks and shoals which will most, assuredly provo ii 1 - ruin, unless a skilful captain is promptly sent t" the helm. Rcmoteiie^s from niark"t make- it imperative that the bc->t, piacticp 3 Kiif-v. n should bo imported into tho manipulations of the dairy factory in (his colony. Experts recognise- that the use of some preservative would be an advantago i! llio iiritish Hoard of Tiv.de would determine t standard, fixing the minimum quantity of buiuuc aci'i oi other preservative than common s.ilt that would be allowed to pass tho in?pocli>r. JJut teeing the bt.rong prejudice ag.iihst adulteration at Home at. the present time I think as a dairying community we ought to discard all preservatives, and guarantee a product absolutely free from adulteration. The Farmers' Advocate, a Canadian anritultnral paper, speaks out, very clearly on tliij p.nnt, and advises Canadian farmers lo steer clear of boraeio acid adulteration. But before a pnvorvatire of some kind can iie wholly dispensed with, pa^t curing milk and cream v. ill have to bo resorted 'to. By getting rid of baneful bacteria, and introducing beneficial one«, the purity of the product would be assured without, the use of preservative?. The keeping quality of the butter would be so enhanced that it would carry in a coo) chamber without dcteriuMlion.

What we need mo*l in connection with Stale control of the clary indiiotry On 1 Needs. N t the present tune is one cr two experimental dairy sta{loll3, fni independent research in matters re- j Lit ing to (he manufacture of dairy produce. In o lli or countries these experimental stations \la\o doi.e :i \a4 amount of good, air' on numerous occasions they have shown the c'aiiy j farmer the source of his trouble whoa tti&e.

local circumstance hindered the production of a thoroughly sound article. At times a cheese maker hag been bewildered at hu noiv success, in spite of liis conforming to all the best practiced known. The scientist in charge of Iho experimental station has, therefore, been appealed to, and after adequate experiment, has Lee;i able to prove that Iho water supply was at fault. Resort to a differe it source of water supply made the after pathway of that dairyman pleasant. And so on, in many different directions the aid of science has been of incalculable service to the man possessing only prnctical knowledge. The experimental stations should be the centre of knowledge in dairy matters, nnd branching thernfroin thero ought to be dairy schools at the chief dairying centres. What a school of mines is to mining, a dairy school ought to bo to dairying. Hitherto factory managers have had to acquiro their knowledge of the business by acting as assistants in :x dairy factory, too often managed by a man who had to pick up any knowledge ho might possess in exactly the same way. The result is that at the present time many of our dairy factories arc managed by men not in the strictest sense of tho word experts, although tlioy may havo a considerable amouiit of practical experience. Had -yo dairy schools, however, young men contemplating becoming dairy factory managers could enter a^ students, as in the case of tho School of Mines. There they would bo made thoroughly conversant with scientific dairying and the theory of correct dairy practice. The practical part of tho work ha would have to learn in the dairy factory but going there with a good knowledge of the theory of dairying tho work of mastering tho practice would bo much easier. The importance of the dairy industry roi:d<-rs it imperative that a commencement should be made in the direction of organising it on up-to date lines.

The Hon. John M'Kenzie, baulked in his attempt, to suppress the rab T''P bits in orthodox Government KeiiScsitfi fashion, lias diverted his alScare. tenlion t'i red scale on citrus

fruits. Kis fear of infecting the orange groves of — Southland, shall J say ?— almost, amounts io a scare. When tho Minis tor for Lands puts liis foot down, tho.,e who feel the weight of the Ministerial boot always experience an unpleamril sensation, lie has put his foot down tbis lime and no mistake, and the people of the South Island mubt pay double for their or.vi-go.-i and leni'ms for tear that the terrible icd fa. ale should be borne on the wings of the wind to far ay, ay Hokianga, or somo other remote northern region whero certain persons happen to have an ovango tree in their back garden. But I almost forgot that, the present Government are strong believers in prohibitii-n, and tho prohibition of red scale is but an extension of their prohibition of undeaivaMo immigrants. Therefore without rl-yino or ivisoij if a single speck of red scalo can be di*.c>vovej on :i single orange in a ca-o the vsliolo ta,e must be sent back to where it enmo from. It will be interesting to note whether the same stringency is exercised regarding South Sea M.md fruit, or whether tlio red tcale scare is but a reversal of tho reciprocity- liio (iovenmient havo so often advccnt'Ml helvcm New r/,r /,p t \- laud and tlio Austral j.td colonies. At a time when tlie>e colonies arp oil'iring a .splendid market for our produce generally seems inopportune to couit auiagoni&in in the shape of lioslile tariffs. ]( seems unwise, therefore, to push this red scale scare as far as it X being pushed by the Government at the present time", at any rate in the South Island, wLeie cituis fruits can never be grown.

A good turnip crop is one of Iho bY things . a stock farmer can possess, Turnip aiu ] more especially this Breaks. year, when good ciops aie the exception rather than Hie rule, and as tho judicious and economical management of the root crop constitutes one of the most important duties of the farm, o few more leiiicnks upon the subjsct wi ! l not be out of place. It is not so uiaiiy years since it used to bo ihe custom to linn a mob of sheep and catile together into a whole field of liiriiips without any subdivisions whatever; but those wero the times of virgin sod, and good roots could bo groun broadcast, and without manure. Nowadays any farmer worthy of the name roco-mise.-; the benefit oi lading off in small" and fiecucly-fenced breaks: I say securely-fenced, because if the sheep are not confined to their alioted portion they might as well be turned into the whole lot, as a bad fence allows them to g.) forward and broach tho roots, and probably start, decay. If thove are turnips enough for all the flock, the hoggets and old ewes should have the shaws. to be followed by (lie dieep with sounder teeth. In ihe diy districts it is said the hoggets aro losing their milk teeth much earlier than ii.-d.il Hi s year. This is probably owing to riieir having had such short grass through i!ie sim.miT and autumn, necessitating close 1 if;ing into the soil. Where there is tho oare, they should be watched, or they may be found to be starving in ihe mici.4 of abundance of roots from inability to bite into (he bulbs. I have found it advantageous (o v.so a heavy roller or disc harrow to 'jiish or tj slice the roots. This can only be done when the land is fairly dry and hard.

I have previously remarked ihat cheapness and easo of erection are tho Temporary cliicf considerations of fernFences. porary fences, combined, of

course, with efficiency. It is ob\ ions ihat when small breaks aie u;-ed a, great deal of labour in fence-shifting is required, and therefore that kind of fence in the best which answers the purpose with the IqaW, amount of labour. I have tried all kiiui-1 of styles and material, but found nothing bettor or so good as sheep-netting tied wiMi twine or iwo plain No. 8 wires, one ah lop and one at bottom, wooden stakes or iron standards about 32ft apart. This is a mo"o effective fence than six wires, and it is much less (rouble to tie the netting than to put up and strain the other four wires. RJoi cover, six wires require much more subBtantia' strainers and &tays than two wives, and (.he labour is very much more without netting. In tho old country both Iho turnip fields and the flocks are smaller, and nothing but cheap and light hurdles are considered necessary for folding shoep, but (.hen it is considered wasteful lo put sheep on the roots at all. The roots must bo pulled and brought to the &heep, and pulped and sliced f oi bye.

It i-3 rec'ionod in the mother country thai, farmyard mauui o co&ls noCarting thing to produce, being a, FHi'nijnnl by-product resulting from Manure. the manufacture of beef,

bacon, and dairy produce. This may be true in the generality of cares, and when nothing but ordinary fodder and rools are consumed, but if a. farmer buys ppecia! and high-class artificial foods, lie ex])ectp to get part of the return from his outlay in the iucroased .value of the manure

from animals so fed. This is not the usual ca-io in the colony, and the dung is looked upon by a good many as rather an encumbrance to be got out of the way as cheaply and expechtiously as possible. I am not going to open up tho big question of the i<te» and application of farmyard manure, Iw6 meiely propose to jot down a few hints anent tho filling and carting of the tame. In order that heavy land shall not, be unduly cut up' and the work made more laborious for the horses, a frosty lime is usually chosen lor such work, as then the loads run easily over the frozen surface, and, moreover, cart • ing can be done when no other fixed work is possible. We do nor, however, have the long spells of hard frost that they often get; in Kurope, and our frosts seldom bind {he land after mid-day along tho seaboard; bub for all that the manure carting should be done as much as possible during mid-winter, because' our early ppring months are usually weltc- than tho winter months, and it is mv. h more fitting work for winter thon for spring. As a rule we do not make much moo manuie than 15 lequired foi gaiden, orchard, and a small field of mangel 1 ?, etc., ne'ir the homestead, bo that there is not mveh caiting to a long distance. When that, is thj cape it is necessary lo conduct the work upoM a system of economy in labour and time. Thus a British farmer ha? reduced the matter almost to a snencc in working out the cost of carting out his manure, tin ue,es ono-hoise carts, and reckons a good .stamp of farm hoi Re should walk at the rato of three miles per hour (averaging the pnes out, with load aud back empty), lie allow« four good men should fill a dray in tivo mil utes, and, with one man lo uuload in the ik;ld, phould keep i-\\ dr.iyt. going without a hitch, editing a distance ot four furlongs (half mile.) from the yards. Those fix drays, with a boy to lead each horse and five men, will, he says, carl 96 loads per day at a cor.t of 32s 3d. This rate of cosfc allow ■i the labourers a wage of 2s 3d )ier d.w and the boys Gd. Ho says, however, th.il the real advantage lies not. s-o much in reducing the cost per load to a minimum, but in the rapidity and uniformity with which the work is got through when there is a large quantity to be dealt, with, and tne advantage of making the most, use of a suitable day 01 two for the work. That is .ona of tho chief things v farmer has to consider, he can't, make ihe weather suit hi« woik; therefore he must endeavour to make* his work suit, ihe weather that comes, and take advantage of 0 favourable spell o£ weathei as an unexpected godbend.

Butlor is usually very pale and deficient in colour at this season oi A Fen the 'year, and is not so i.-ik-Ditir) Hints, ing to the eye as the gdt-

edged butter of mid-summer. If a little harmless colouring matter is used I to givo it a inoio appetising look and a i bettor value in the m".rkfel, there is nothing to bo s-aid against it, but it requires to b« doi'e very caiefully, and not too lavishly, as over colouring looks worse than no colour at all, and is apt to make consumers suspicious. The best way in which io import * nice shade of colour lo winter butter is to put. a few drops of una.Ho in .solution in cctli.-r.-FCi'd oil, and add ihe so! til ion to ihn I cieam before churning. Carrot juice ami Piulmc dyes are used for this purpose, bill: ; aie not lo be recommended either on accounb !of appearance or flavour. Years ago crushed carrof used to be kneaded into tho butler, but 1 do not suppose such a primitive and ! objectionable piactice is adopted by anybody nowadays. At tho present time there is lni.Hi discussion iii the United Kingdom about a bill which has been before the Houfb ! of Coii'P.ions for tlio prevention of colouri ing matter in margarine. Tho&c opposing i tho bill argue Hint if real butter i^ allowed i to be olouied, why should not the imitation ! avlicie have the same privilege? It is [ thought by some British daiiymen that ueij llicr butter nor margarine- should be p6rmilted to contain nny mfineial colouring matter, and that then there would be no clitliculiv in distinguishing one from the otbe/r. I am not so sure about (hat, for though I hav*i no knowledge of t tie taste or colour of margarine, I have seen plenty of winter butfc with no moie colour than lard, ami with scaicely enough of the Pinell or flavour of butter to enable il to be identified as such. The washy and insipid winter grass and hay, oi ft raw, impart neither colour nor flavour to butter. This is the lime when mangels aie appreciated by those who are fottunate enough lo possess a good supply. Id England, tlio mangel clamps, or pits, aia geuomlly opened out about the beginning of March (August, here), as by that time ihn cheii.ical changes which take place in tho roots have been completed, a?id havo mndored the mangels fit for consumption. Theie are t.till six or eight weoks to gel over before there is much growth in the grass, aart il is a poor look-out, for dairy cattle that linva nothing better than straw and turnips (o carry them on till grass springs. Mangol* are valuable for the carbo-hydrates, such aa sugai , which they contain. They coniuin le&s percentage of water than swedes or lixrnips. about 1 per cent, of albuminous mtiite 1 ". s»nd a trace of fat; so that although (hoy are pretty watery, they furuitb a fair j.voperlion of tho three, constituent b necessary for the sustenance of animal life. I see in Noith Canterbury straw and molasses ma bein» largely used for dairy cows, and the results arc teported lo hft satisfactory. Th* molasses (called in Britain agricultural ticacle) is dis.-olved in water and sprinkled over the straw, so that this foddei is really straw dipped in sugar wafer, aud abottl. us nourishing lo beasts as. bread dipped in Riigar and water would be to the human frame. Bui tor gets very hard and chippy in cold, frowsy wenthfM, and is very difficult, lo tnako up if washed in icy-cold water, and it is advisable to lake the chill off before using. About. 45deg Fahr. is cold enough for f.lia purpose, and will not set. tho butler ro hard as thai" which is just a degre.o or Iwo abova freezing. Spring water is generally til a teini-erature of 40deg Fahr. as il. lasues fioro the earth (nnd lucky is the- dairymaid who can get such water in midsummer), but of com so the temperature is affected by Ihafc of the atmosphere soon aftci it leaves Ilia spring. Agiucola.-