AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Br Forbes Btjbn, F.H.A.S. Far more attention has been paid to the sheep industry in New Zealand than Half-bred to cattle-raising. Although Cattle. the former has been the more

remunerative there is no reason why the latter should be comparatively neglected. Our breeds of cattle are limited, and the districts suitable for cattle-grazing vary greatly both in quality of feed and climate. To find a breed or class of cattle suitable and profitable for any one holding should be the first outlook of those interested. It may be that many of our purebreds have be.en tried with results not exactly satisfactory. -Halfbre'd sheep — i.e., the' progeny of two distinct breeds — have been found -to answer the requirements of certain districts "better" than either 'of their progenitors, and consequently "these halfbreds have been developed into a distinct breed. The same thing can be done I with cattle, . and ja done, although the ex1. periment is to country. In '.' many of the cattle ranches in South America the "progeny of two distinct breeds has now been fixed as a distinct type. Perhaps* the most noted of these is the type that originally sprang from the union of the Aberdeea Angus with the Hereford. This cross was found to be a profitable one, and hence the idea of retaining; what had already been secured. "In Scotland I saY tho cross between the "shorthoitr.aud Galloway developed into a fixed type, after the fourth or fifth generation, and a'tnost profitable class of cattle they were. I have no doubt there may be some old-time prejudice attached to such proceedings, but the results fully justify the departure from the beaten track.

The prices realised at the sale of" red polled Norfolks, the property of the

Bed Polled late Mr J. J. Coleman, prove Norfolk" beyond doubt the high valuaAnd Galloways, tion put upon this breed Dy ," cattle-owners. "Their introduction into Australia a few years ago, and more recently into New Zealand, is the small end of the wedge, and there is no doubt that as these cattle become more widely known their good qualities will be better appreciated. Much controversy has been excited as to the origin of the Norfolks and Suffolks, and I for one believe both these breeds, as well as the Aberdeen Angus, sprang originally from the Galloway. Be that as it may, the Galloway is one of' our first breeds of British .cattle, and their introduction to this colony would be profitable to those who have high and exposed countries. Two-year-old steers of this breed have won at Smithfield, and the cros^ by the shorthorn, or " blue greys," as they are called, have more thari held their own against all comers during the last decade. %

Interesting and valuable work is being carried on by scientists in regard to • Crossiug the artificial crossing of Grasses. grasses, and it is to be hoped that some lasting benefits to the agricultural world will be the result. A great deal of care needs be exercised in carrying out the work. At the same time- I am convinced that hybrids are produced occasionally by accident. I myself have come across spikes of grasses that could not be recognised as belonging to any of our known varieties, and which -evidently had, been the result of accidental crossing.

I notice that the council of the Royal Agri.-

cultural Society of Victoria Romneys have scored the Romneys out) In Victoria, of their prize list. Romneys have , never been favourites with sheepbreeders in that colony, although an importation direct -from England some years ago landed good specimens of the breed upon these shores. Victoria, in the Western district, possesses too many flocks of up-to-date Lincolns, and in other parts select flocks of Leicesters and Shropshires; that can he drawn upon for croßaing purposes without requiring to use the Romneys,' which have been found to he most unprofitable. „

How can farmyard manure be best 'utilised? and to what crop ought it . Farmyard to be applied? These are If mm re. very important questions, but till recent years the data available on which a reliable answer to them could be based were very few. In general practice the reply to the latter question has been given in favour of the root crop, but in some countries farmyard manure is also applied to the' hay and oat drops. On all crops it acts beneficially, and produces large increases, but the amount of increase obtained for every ton of the manure applied varies according to the quantity and mode of application. In the majority of cases in which the manure is applied in large quantities, say 20- tons to the acre and in small quantities of half that amount, it is found that while the larger dressing usually produces tho heavier crops, the smaller dressing gives the better return per ton of manure applied. The superior economy of applying farmyard manure in small rather than iv large dressings has been repeatedly and abundantly proved.

A friend of mine who farms in the North Island lias been experimentBonedust ing with ' manureg both on and - root and grain crops. lam Superphosphates, not in a position to give figures bearing on these experiments, but can only give to your readers what has been related to me. Bonedust was in each case applied to the plots in tho autumn, while the superphosphate was applied at time of sowing. The same amount of manure in monetary value was applied, and in each instance my informant states all were in favour of bonedust applied in the autumn.

A good deal lias been written as to the necessity on well-farmed holdings

Winter of sowing a certain area, for Green Feed, green feed for winter and early spring use. Cape barley and rye have been strongly advocated, but I should advise the sowing of winter vetches or tares. This variety differs from the summer, owing to the fact that it (has been acclimatised; therefore, a hardiness suited to. winter

growth is ensured. Not only is a rich feeding stuff acquired for winter use, but the growth of weeds is kept under better than it otherwise would be by crops of barley or rye. Another fact worth knowing is that land left bare during "the winter months suffers from a loss of nitrates, while land that is cropped with a vetch crop escapes this loss, and is enriched by the nitrogen collected through the agency of the bacteria in the nodules on the vetch roots.