FARM NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 6

FARM NOTES.

THE SHEEP TICK. The following article on sheep ticks, from the Rural World, will be read with interest by sheepbreeder? : — These do very serious injury to the sheep, as being hoth the chree+ and indirect cau.se of not only inconvenience, but disturbance of the health and prosperity of both the shfvp and the lambs. They interfere with tho giovvth of the lamb 1 - by crowding on to them as soon as, tie ewes are shorn, and then begins a most unsuspected drainage of tho life-blood of the hope of the flock, as thf ancient writer wIII called the lambs. The lambs, suffering seiiously from these blood-suckerc, 100 of which on a lamb will easily drain it dry of blood in a fevv^ days, cannot prosper, and soon become emaciated and weak, and never aftei lecover the lo^s of vitality thus inflicted on them. This m=ect is a degraded fij" in eveiy sense. of the word, having no wings, but t'x leg=. The species differ 1 ; from the true ticks, which belong to the spider family, while the sheep tick is a member of the cliptera or twowinged msect«, which have only six legs, the spider families having eight legs. Like many other flies, as tho deer-fly, the horsefly, and the mosquito, the sheep tick is a, blood-sucker, and an exceedingly hungry one. Sixty drops are the usual measure ot one* liquid ounce, and an inch tick will easily draw seveial chops of blood from a lamb in 24- hour-, always having it 3 pump in operation, day and night, and, as it is by no means rare that 100 of these pests may feed' on one lamb, it i^ easy to figure out the pioblem. How long will to many ticks drain a lamb dry of blood When the ewes are shorn, the ticks migrate immediately into the lambs, burying themselves meo the thick, short wool, ans immediately begin active business. This; penous view of the ca=e of the ticks agam-=fc the sheep i<= not sufficiently considered ; anci it should be made a piactiee when the sheep are shorn to proceed at once to dip tha

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lambs, and so relieve them of these persecutors for good and all, and of course save the sheep in the future. As to this, the tick ehould be classed next to the scab-mite, and treated accordingly. This fly has a unique interest to the scientific student, inasmuch as it brings foith its young, not in the form of eggs or living larvae, but in an advanced stage as pupa;. These are the almost round, red bodies seen attached to the wool on tioky animals. They are to be got rid of most industriously. The writer has had experience in clearing the lambs and sheep both, in a unique way probably. This is by keeping a flock of fowls iv the sheep yard at the lambing season, and indeed at all times — feeding them when the sheep are fed — for the mere purpose of observing how they will most industriously piefe- the ticka out of the wool of both ewes and lambs. This the fowls do most effectively in the warm days, when the ticks come to the surface of the fleece to cool themselves and get the fresh air. These insects cannot live apart from the sheep over - a few days, and thus their voracity is well accounted for. It is not only the loss of blood that weakens the sheep and much more the lambs, but the intolerable pain caused by their bite«. They inject into the wounds they make some poison which liquidates the blood, and this produce? a -\ cry annoying irritation. The poison causes swelling of the skin, which lasts — as Dr Curtis states in his work on the "Aninial Ppjrasites of the Sheep" — for over a week, and i 3 accompaniech~by itching. Treatment consists mostly of dipping, in the same way and at the same time as for the scab' Indeed, 'it is the best way to dip the flock expressly for this purpose at the shearing time, which is also advisable — indeed, it may be said, indispensable; — as a means of avoiding infection by the scab, or of curing incipient infection already accomplished by exposure to the disease. Thus we accomplish two valuable ends at one operation. The ticks that remain in the wool wrapped in the folded fleeces "will starve in a few days. If this operation is neglected, the seed will be sown for the coming years the next summer. THE GOLDEN CROWN GRASS. Attention has recently been called in Australia and New Zealand to Golden Crown grass (Paspalum dilutatum), which is strongly recommended as a forage crop. It is one of the numerous varieties of millot, some of which are grown in India and elsewhere for the small grains they produce, and other 3 in various parts of the world for forage. In a report on some experiments carried out by the Agricultural department of New South Wales, in the Richmond River district, it was described as "probably the best fodder or pasture grass yet introduced to this district, resisting both heat and cold, and yielding enormous quantities of fodder, much liked by stock, and shown by analysis to be of excellent quality." Plants in drills, 18in by 6in apart, it r was added, quickly reached sft in height, and a te^t cutting showed that the yield of grass in a green state was 13 tons 7cwt per acre. Elsewhere, it was stated, a cutting weighed over 19 tons per acre, and subsequent cuttings in the Fame season over 14- tons. An analysis of the grass showed 10.31 per cent, af albuminoids, 1.33 being soluble, while the percentage of digestible fibre was 29.96 r and that of nitrogen was 2 66. These proportions compare favourably with those of average mradow grass. In a trial carried out in New Zealand the grass was sft high six months after sowing, and the weight of the crop given in the report is almost incredible — 191b per square yard, which is equivalent to 41 tons per acre. The grass is particularly recommtnded as a drought-resister, and its grower confidently recommends it as suitable to the climate of New Zealand. Whether it would withstand an English winter cai.not be stated, unless it has been tried in this country, although its New Zealand grower declares that froFt does not hurt the crop. It is said to make a good turf, as it throws up a great quantity of shoots from ita crown ; but the statement should be received with caution, as giant grasses rarely justify this eulogium. — Home paper. f DRAINAGE WORK. Winter is on the whole the best season of the year for carrying on drainage work. There are circumstances under which summer drainage may be carried on to more advantage, but everything considered, including the difficulty of obtaining labour in summer, and the risk of interfering with other farm work, the experience of farmers is that tha most suitable time for carrying on drainage operations is between May and September. It is in the springtime more than at any other season of the year that the advantage of the thorough drainage of land makes itself most strikingly manifest. Land which has been properly drained will not only admit of being worked at a much earlier stage of the season than that which has been allowed to lie water-logged all through the winter, but the seed put into such land will germinate with more rapidity and more vigour than that sown on land from which the surface moisture has no method of escape other than through aerial evaporation. As a rule, it may be laid down that grain crops sown upon well-drained lands "will, be ready for harvesting from a fortnight to three weeks earlier than those grown upon land, the drainage of which has been neglected. KILLING STOMACH WORMS IN SHEEP. This treatment, as followed successfully at thr Ohio Experimental Station, consisted in ojvino- "<»a=oline in flaxseed tea in the form of a "drench. About one gallon of flaxseed was placed m a cheesecloth sack and securely tied then put into a kettle containing at least two gallons of soft water, placed over the fire and allowed to steep for a couple of hours The sack was then removed and allowed to drain out into the kettle, while the tea was cooling. When the temperature was reduced to about that of freshly-drawn milk, four ounces of the tea were measured out into a nurse bottle. To this was added for each sheep weighing from 601b to 801b one ordinary tablespoon of common gasoline. Placing the thumb over the mouth of the bottle, it was shaken vigorously for at least half a minute, after which it was poured quickly into a small-sized drench bottle and at once given to the sheep. In "iving this drench care must be exercised not to strangle the animal. It should he set on its rump and held between the knees using care not to throw the top of the head farther back than the line of the back of the sheep. It is not necessary to make the tea fresh for each treatment It may be made in quantity, but should be warmed before adding the gasoline, as it will emulsify more readily, and will possibly be a little more palatable, as the warming makes it less adhesive. Before giving the treatment, house the sheep in the evening and allow tUe» to remain without anything

to eat until 10 o'clock of the day following. Then give this dose and allow the lambs to remain without food or water three hour? longer; then let them eat until evening. Repeat the same housing, fasting, dosing, and feeding for two more days — or three days in all. After a week has elapsed, repeat the thre-e days' treatment, and again 10 days later repeat it the third time. IN CALF OR NOT? To determine whether your cow is in calf or not, the following remarks by a writer in an American dairy journal will be of interest: — The cow to be tested is, of coiirse, milked separately, rjnd as soon as possible after the milk is drawn we dip a straw or Timothy stem in the bucket of milk. Ha,ve a glass of pure water at hand, and allow one drop of the milk to fall in the water — only one ; if the milk quickly dissipates and renders the water murky «he is not in calf ; but if the milkdrop sinks to the bottom of the gla&s before mixing with the water she is pregnant. If you are not sufficiently expert, take the milk of another cow that has newly cahed, and pursue the same treatment with both at the same time, and you will not fail to note the difference in the way the drop of milk will mix with the water. I have practised this method of determining pregnancy in my herd for year 3, and I never knew it to fail. Of course, I only speak from my own experience, but the theory is that the milk of a pregnant cow is viscous, or has a sticky, adhesive quality that causes the particles to cohere more closely, consequently the tendency to drop in a mass instead of mingling immediately with the water. I usually take the morning's milk for the teat, and use cistern or rain water if you have it, or, better still, filtered or boiled water. THE VALUE OF NITRATE OF SODA. It is a matter of common observation that manures, unless well rotted, act slowly early in the season, while nitrate of soda acts quickly. One explanation of this is that the soil has not been warmed sufficiently to cause a rapid growth of the bacteria of nitrification (those which transpose the organic nitrogen to ammonia and nitrates). This statement may help to explain why nitrate of soda has such a beneficial effec on crops like grass, wheat, and oats, which make most of their growth early in the season, while the manures are relatively more beneficial on crops like corn, which makes its growth almost wholly during the summer months. The organic forms of nitrogen are often more economical for the later and slowergrowing crops, because the nitrates are readily soluble, and are easily loet in the drainage unless used early in the season. As a rule, the nitrates are safest to use on growing crops, and those which make their growth within a short time. On the other hand, the organic forms of nitrogen are gradually made available, and are taken up by the crop little by little throughout the growing season. Stable manure 3 generally l^ive better results on corn than commercial fertilisers. This is probably due, in part, to the fact that much of the soluble nitrogen of commercial fertiliser?, when these are heavily used, is oft&n lost in the drainage before the corn plant can utilise it, while with the manure there is a gradual transformation of the organic nitrogen into nitrates. This transformation seems to take place just about as fast a= the corn plant can use the nitrates. Whether this is the full explanation or not, wp have observed that land planted to corn year after year, with the use of soluble commercial fertilisers alone, fails to yield as large" crops as land to which stable manure has been applied with small amounts of fertiliser. VETERINARY FORMULAE. The following are three good veterinary formulas, which stockmen should keep by them: — The first is known as Sherwood's l'ubbing liniment, and consist's of gum camphor, 3oz ; tmuture of cantharide3, 3oz ; tincture of capsicum, 3oz ; alcohol, one pint; and tincture of arnica, one and one-half pints. For gasoline liniment, take alcohol, one-half pint ; gasoline, one-half pint ; tincture of arnica, one-half pint ; and tincture of iodine, 4oz. For leg lot'on, take corrosive sublimate, loz ; muriate of ammonia, 2oz ; acetate of lead, 3oz ; sulphate of copper. 2oz ; ether, 2oz ; alcohol, half-pint ; and water, one and one-half gallons. These three formulas are in constant use in one of the Eastern hunt clubs for hunters and polo ponies. The first two are stimulating rubbing liniments for lameness and soreness, the second formula being the stronger of the two. The third, the leg lotion, is an astringent, antiseptic wash, applied to hunters, polo ponies, and racehorses after a hard run or race. It is used for the purpose of hardening the legs, and preventing "stocking up " or swelling of the legs after a hard go, and also to quickly heal up all rcratches, cuts, and abrasions that may have been incurred during the run. — American Druggist. MEASURING HAY IN THE STACK. Here are a few simple rules for determining the amount of hay in a stack or mow, when it is not convenient to weigh it (says the American Cultivator). Selling by measurements is not always the mo«t satisfactory method, but it is sometimes the most convenient. Sellers are disposed to insi-it that a cube of 7ft is a ton. This is entirely too small, and will not weigh out. How many cubic feet wiU make a ton depends on so many conditions that no certain rule enn be given. It depends on the kind of hay ; on the character of the hay, whether fine or coarse ; on the condition in which it was put in the stack, the length of time it has been there, and particularly on the size, especially the depth of the stack or mow. In very large mow, well settled, 100 cubic feet of lucerne or grass hay may average a ton., but on top of the mow or in a small stack it requires 500 to 512 cubio feet, sometimes even more. It is not safe for the buyer to figure on less than 500 cubic feet, but in a well-filled stack, in selling, it would be safer to weigh than to sell at that measurement. To find the number of tons in a barn, mow, or hayshed multiply the length, depth, and breadth together, and divide by the number of cubic feet, which, considering the quality of hay and the condition in which it was put up, will make a ton. For long stacks or ricks multiply the length in yards by the width in yards and divide the product by 15, and this should give the tonnage. To measure a coneshaped stack find the area of the base by multiplying the square of the circumference in feet by the decimal .07958, and multiply the product thus obtained by one-third of the height in feet, and then divide as before, cutting off five right-hand figures. The correctness of this will depend somewhat on the approximation of the stack to a regular cone, and if the stack bulges out it makes the product too small. The best way is to weigh. Tb.e experience of weigh-

ing a few stacks will enable anyone to judge quite correctly. Another approximate rule for measuring a round stack is this: — Select a place which js as nrar as possible to what the average f\ze would be if the stack wore of uniform diameter from the ground to the top of the point. Measure around this to get to the circumference at the light, and divide the whole by 3.1559 to get the diameter. Now multiply half the diameter by half the circumference, and the feet of the chcumfcrenco ar^a is obtained. Multiply by the number of feet the stack is high, and ths t-ohd or cubic feet m the whole i.= ascertained. Then divide by the number of cubic feet in a ton, whic'i ranges all the way from 370 to 512, according to the fineness airl compactness of the hay. This will gi\e the number of tons in the stack. CURING PIGS FOR BACON. Where farmers kill their pigs in older to cure their own bacon, they are often at a loss to know how exactly to determine lh» correct temperature of the v, .\tor to be used in .scalding the animal. In the absence of a thermometer to register the proper temperature the degree of heat may be roughly determined by taking a little piece of the clotted blood and throwing it into the water about to be ussd for scalding the anima 1 . If the blood immediately assumes a whitish green tint the water may be taken as too hot, but if the blood retains its crimson colour for a few seconds before as=uming the greenish tint the water may be regaided as at the proper temperature. The length of the period of immemon in the scalding of the pig will depend upon the quantity and quality of the hair carried by the animal. If the water is of the correct heat five or six minutes will suffice, but if the water i^ a shade cold or the pig particularly hard skinned, an immersion of 10 or 12 minutes may be nece3?ary before the hair comes away with the necessary freedom. BEST RESULTS IN FEEDING HORSES. A German agriculturist advocates 'the steeping and fermenting of oats for hordes as a means of giving the greatest nutritive power to them. His method is to haie three troughs, each holding enough for a day's rations. The oats being put in the first one, hot water 13 poured oi cr them, and the whole is well stirred. After standing about six hours the water is drawn off and the oats left to swell and ferment. Another troughful is fixed in the Eame way the next day, and another on the third day, when tho fir=t troughful, having stood for 43 hours, is ready to be fed out and the trough refilled. He claims that this gives the maximum of nutritive value. MOTTLED BUTTER. A number of experiments have been carried out at the Maryland Agricultural station in order to ascertain the cause of mottled butter by Mr C. F. Doane, dairy bacteriologist, who gives his conclusions as follows: — _ . 1. The uneven distribution of Fait is the cause of unevenly-coloured butter spoken of as mottled butter. 2. Washing the butter with water below 4-Odcg does not catise mottles. It does, however, make a little more working necessary to thoroughly distribute the salt. 3. The light-coloured streaks or portions of mottled butter are not caused by an excess of casein, but mottles are evidently caused by some physical action of salt on the butter fat, which causes it to admit more light. 4. Mottles can be prevented by working the butter sufficiently to thoroughly distribute the salt. 5. Butter washed with water at 40deg and under, and worked immediately, shows a better grain when sufficiently worked to insure its being evenly coloured than with any other treatment. 6. Washing butter with water at 40deg and under docs not injure its firmnes3 when subjected to higher temperature. THE ANGORA GOAT IN CAPE COLONY. A flock of Angora goats is one of the prettiest sights in a South African landscape, gambolling and bleating and grazing over the hill sides, or returning to the fold in the evening. As the name implies, the original home of this goat is the Turkish province of Angora in Asia Minor. The authorities there have always placed prohibitive difficulties in the way of its export. But in spite of this many superior animals have from time to time been brought to the Cape Colony^ter energetic and enterprising men, such as Messrs Evans, Rhodes, Mosenthal, and others, and at present a fai better cla« of mohair is produced at the Cape than in Angora itself. The firsL importation* were crossed with selected Boer goats of a white colour, the latter being a large hardy animal furnishing rather rank mutton, but -valued for its skin. From the progeny of this cro=s, new blood having been introduced, the flocks of to day are descended. The fleece of a goat beingvery much lc«s hi weight than that of a sheep, the breeder of the former neecb to get a great deal higher price for his produce than the sheep-farmer doe«. This he generally does, and consequently goats arc confcideied more profitable than sheep. But for them to do really well suitable veldt h required — i.e., bushes for their glazing and a good warm climate. They are certa.nly kept on the colder mountains, and thiive in summer there, but in addition to the lisk of severe losses in inclement weather, the goat being a delicate creature, the cold induces the falling off of the winter growth of hair, unless forestalled by shearing. The erection of shed<- does in some measure guard against losses, but the fact remains that a cold climate is not suitable for Angoras, which are much more susceptible to cold and wet than sheep are. The kidding time is in August and September, and because of the frequent refusal of the ewes to suckle the young is a trying season. The Angora is not so prolific as the Boer goat, which often has twin kids and is very hardy. Rates of mohair fluctuate very considerably, being sometimes as low as tenpence, and at other times half a crown per lb. The skin, with its pure white hair, is one of the prettiest mats seen in a diawing room. The flesh makes very fair mutton, that of the "kapater," or Wether, being quite as palatable as the meat of the merino. Goats possess far more intelligence than sheep, and consequently in each large flock of merinos there will be a couple of goats called "voorbokken," or leaders, which conduct the flock into the kraal throtigh gates and rheis. On the other hand, they are very inquisitive and destructive, and the stone wall or wire fence, must be very elaborate to keep them out of an enclosure. On many farms both sheep and goats are kept, but veldt too arid and dry for the former suits the latter perfectly. The scab, which is the bane of the sheep, exists in another form with the goat, anA is rather more difficult to cure. Most I of the South African, mohair is sent out of

' the country through Port Elizabeth, as, in- | deed, is the case with wool and ostrich fea1 thers. The town possesses a very fine proI duco market hall, and is the principal emporium for the products of the colony and interior. — Field.