FARM AND STATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 16

FARM AND STATION.

(Continued (rom page 9.)

SOUTHLAOT) AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Tmon Ovk Ottw ConMTsronmwr.)

A very heavy rainfall occurred on tho Ist inst , no less than 1.34 in The Weather falling in a period of a««l probably not much more Die Farm. than 24- hours' duration. The

floods which resulted attained in some places nearly the volume of the 1878 floods. Altogether, the weather has been fine since the rainfall mentioned, only .33in having fallen since. White "frost has been frequent in the mornings, and the days have been bright, but the temperature has been low. Gales of wind from points of the compass between north-west and south-west have been experienced during the last few days, and the soil is now fit for harrowing. The frosts have slightly checked the leaf growth of the turnips, which commenced a month before the usual time, but some faimers have given the &heop acces« to the whole crop, so that the i growth would be effectually slopped, and j the nutritive value preserved. There has been no waste of turnips this winter, owing to the absence of -sovero frost, and the s-hortage that was feared has not been experienced. Still, some farmers have had to sell sheep during, winter to save the crop from being consumed too soon, and no- doubt large areas will be sown in future, for short- . ness of feed and inadequate capital are I the principal drawbacks to profitable farm- ! ing. It was a fortunate circumstance that i the winter \va3 so open, on account of farm ] woik having got into ai rears through the lateness of tlie harvest. The ploughing was probably never farther advanced in this month, and the area ploughed is very large. . The soil is being prepared for seed just now, but there are not many sowing, and the work will probably not be general for a fortnight. Wheat should be sown not later than the first week of next month, as on account of the time it takes to ripen on most soils in our climate, it Is liable to be injured by autumn frosts. It is unlikely that much will be sown oven in, the best situations. The drill is gradually being more generally used for sowing the cereal seeds, but on the majority of farms the broadcast seeders are used. One advantage in sowing with the drill is that the seed can be sown at the proper depth, where it will be out of reach of the birds. The box on the spring tooth cultivators is to be preferred to that of the broadcast seod-sowers, as the spring teeth give the seed a fair covering. Cereal seeds require to be covered with about 2in of earth as the ascending plumule forms a knot at liv below the surfaco from which rootlets are sent out in addition to those at the seed itself, and thus the plant ha? securer anchorage. Anyone looking at stubble can see the advantage of this. When the seed is almost on the surface, the knot is above the soil, and the rootlets proceeding therefrom are of little advantage, the crop being liable to lodge in consequence. From 2^ bushels to 3 bushels of oats aro required when the seed is sown broadcast, the quantity varying according to the fertility and tilth of the soil and the purity of the seed. As a rule, it is advisable to sow 3 bushels per acre.

It is reported that there \a considerable mortality among hoggets feeding

on turnips in some places

here. It is not general, however, and it is strange that there should be many deaths in such a good season. I have Been a few cases of braxy— inflammation of the bowels — caused by eating turnips on f ropty mornings, but I don't think that that is the cause or many of the cases. Some Bay that hoggets should not bo allowed to eat tho last of the turnip "break," and that if they are sent on ahead of the adult sheep no losses worth speaking of will occur. I have every winter allowed both 6orts to run together, and have not regretted doing so. According to Mr Gilruth's leaflet, mortality is caused in some places by bacteria gaining entrance to the system. I don't know whether it ia the same disease that has appeared here or not; but I have seen, a number of years ago, a considerable number of hoggets dying from whipworm in the stomach and intestines, or lungworm in the bronchial tube?, so that an examination should be ina-de to ascertain if the deaths result from ordinary causes.

Many fanners* libraries are deficient in veterinary books, and when i!lYeterlHary ne«s or accidont occurs among Notes. the stock of the farm, they

are liable to be improperly > treated. Of course, fanners acquire more or leas veterinary knowledge from experience and observation ; but although experience is an unbounded 6ource of wisdom, no man's unaided researches suffice in most branches of knowledge. With the aid of books a farmer hag excellent opportunities for acquiring much knowledges of animal ailments, for the a"*™" 1 * axa evexx dsuc under hia eye# A i

and ho has frequent opportunities of observing the appearance of the internal organs in health and disease. The non-professional writers, notably Hogg. Randall, and Mascal, have shown remaikabie powers of observation and intimate knowledge of the habits and derangements of s-heep, and it is only the want of inteicst and the neglect of patient study that are the- cause of tho majority of owners of animals being possessed of very little veterinary knowledge. In ordinary, to pi.>fit much from reading \eteri- ! nary literature, it is of row at* necessary to have some knowledge of pnatomy, physiology, and general pathology ; hut as such knowledge is easily acquired, a fanner has no excuse for not having considerable knowledge of veterinary medicine and surgery. There are many cas.'s of illness among horses leading to a fatal termination which could b-> avoided if the symptoms were noticed in time, so that the animal could get a few days' rest. As regards the mest suitable works, it is better to commence with small books, because the information desired is more readily found, and most of them treat of all the ordinary ailments. They are, however, in some respects not unlike an ordiary dictionary, as they do not contain all that we desire information upon. I know one exoellent boob which does not mention "weed" (lymphangitis), this omission detracting from the value of the book. The email works, costing only a few shillings each, written by Armalage, Mayhcw, and Heatley, are among the best. In addition to these writers' larger works, mention may be made of the standard works by Principal Williams on "Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Surgery" (30s each) and Fleming's "Veterinary Obstetrics" (30s). I must not omit to mention Youatt's comprehensive works on the horse and sheep. This "veterinarian wrote about the beginning of the last century, but as ho had prescience almost amounting to genius, his works will always be referred to by veterinarians, notwithstanding that a great deal lias been discovered subsequent to the time of that distinguished man. As a few farmers who may think themselves somewhat antiquated possess Youatt's works, but hesitate to quote from them, I may remark that the great naturalist, Darwin, has stated in his "Origin of Species " that Youatt was probably better acquainted with tho works of agriculturists than almost any other individual, and was a very good judge of animals. The books written by Principal Williams are especially useful, as they treat of horses, cattle, and sheep.