NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS

Otago Witness, Issue 2556, 11 March 1903, Page 7

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS

I think that the recent amalgamation of

, , and' of

Amalgraation • of Implement .Makers.

importers farm -implements .and machinery is a step in- the right andtobe

direction, likely ( of, benefit to farmers* In years past the different agents were continually holding binder-trials all over the country, and I pointed out that farmers had to bear the cost of these, as it would be added to the price of the machines. The same principle applies to the expenses incurred by the numerous firms in sending touts and agents about the country, and if, by combining, the makers and importers can reduce these and other working expenses the farmers should benefit by reduced cost of the articles. The combination is really a form of co-operation, and the makers will be able to get their material cheaper by ordering on a larger scale. It would be a bad thing for farmers, probably, if all the firms in the colony formed) one ring or "combine," but it would be advantageous to us if all the makers were to amalgamate, and, by getting their material at a cheaper rate and lumping all their working expenses, be in a position to supply us with implements and machines at a- lesser cost. I see, ' however, that the 'combined makers are beginning to talk of endeavouring to get a duty put on imported implements and machinery. That move may meet with the favour of the employees and the shareholders, but I do not think it will, be viewed with favour by farmers in general, as savouring too much of 'protection' to the few to the disadvrntage of the many. The local makers can'turn'out good and serviceable implements t and are constantly on ' the lookout for opportunities of improving their work and increasing their usefulness, and farmers should assist in this aa much as possible by making useful suggestions to the makers, but I do not see any necessity for bolstering up ihe industry with protective duties. Foreign makers are handicapped with the' cost of freight and other charges incidental to the shipping of goods here, and the colonial makers should find that a sufficient measure of protection.

The last number of the New Zealand Dairyman contains a list of regis-

Dalrjr Factories.

tered dairy factories in all provincial districts, except Auckland, Otago, and South-

land.- Wellington has 44 factories, 30 for butter and 14 for cheese; Hawke's Bay has 12 factories, of whioh two are for cheesemaking ; Nelson, six butter factories and one cheese factory; Mirlborough, two for cheese and one for butter; Westland, three butter factories: Canterbury has 17 factories, of which nine are for butter and eight for cheese. The largest output from all the foregoing v that of the Central factory, near Christchurch. amounting to 648 tons of butter during the year ended with March last. The output from others Tanges from 361 tons of cheese from the Dalefield factory, in Wellington province, to six tons from a small cheese factory in the same district.

Most dairy-farmers know that 1001b of but-ter-fat will make about

The Effect of Salt on Butter.

1121b, or more, of marketable butter, according to the percentage of moisture and

salt. New Zealand butter has the name of being dry — that is, having a low percentage of moisture, and on that account those English firms who supply, to. ibeir customers what is called

I "milk-blended" butter prefer to ,~use ■ bur butter for the purpose. The manner in L 1 which salt is used regulates, to some ex-" tent, the amount of moisture in the finished butter. Advocates of the 1 brine-salting sysI tenv claim ;that. t .the bfijter jrequjres. Jea» working after'being brine-salted, than when dry-salted on the table; also that it prevents streakiness in the butter. The brine is^nse-' ful for salting butter for immediate use, and for making show butter; but if is not suitable for factories -on account -of .the delaycaused by its adoption-, the butter, while still in granular form, having to stand in the brine for some 10 or 15 minutes. Brinesalting has another advantage—namely, it enables" the butter to be firmer when -made where there is no provision for, cooling.. The addition of salt to water lowers the temperature of the .butter considerably and hardens ihe butter-grains. Horses work with much more ease and comfort without ih'eir long coats

Clipping Farm Hones,

in the autumn .and winter, and with good stables and

careful grooms it is safe to have them fully-clipped, especially for' fast work, such as riding and. driving. It. is rare, however, to see farm horses fully clipped except on fancy farms, with every convenience for warm stabling and rugging) and in ordinary circumstances the plan is j not to be recommended. I believe, however, in partial-clipping of draught horses, and they can dp their work with much more freedom without the long hair on their legs, bellies, and flanks up to the level of \he shaft-line. Some horses carry longer Hair than others; but in all oases the hair on their legs and lower part of their bodie3 causes and harbours a lot of sweat, and the mud, too, clings to those parts in the late ; autumn,' winter, and early, spring., '.'This partial clipping admits of the dirt and sweat 1 being Easily wiped off and the' heel's being dried when the horses come in from their work. There is > little danger of-a-horae catchingcold' from this manner of clipping, and yet"; it affords "them almost" all the "ease and • freedom of being fully clipped. There is also a fashion with some of not clipping the legs, but only the thighs and belly up to the shaft line; but I do not see any advantage in this, but rather the reverse, as the hah on the lower par*- of' the legs and the heels collects the sweat from the b<?dy and also allows the mud to, cling in dirty work. Then, as to appearance, I think the effect is ugly and gives the horse a-olumsy " look. There is less risk, also, of cracked and greasy heels when the legs are dipped, and , seeing that any handy man can do the clipping it is a wonder that the custom is j not more generally followed. ; The South Canterbury Provincial Executive j of the New Zealand Far- /

Brief Notes.

mers' XJnion are considering . the advisability of 'following Southland's lead in

appoint- [ ing an organising secretary and veterinarian, and the question is to be submitted to the ' various branches. It is to be hoped that ' the proposal will be adopted there and throughout the colony, as it will ensure the ! permanency and success of the union. I " A British farm paper has just 'learned at what low iates per lb New, Zealand .wool ' is carried to the London market, and^tells ' its readers that these charges are ,very little" more than what it costs-many'farmers there ' to get their wool to-market, and "mentions it" a. another instanc of the-killing, effects upon Home farmers of- foreign competition. The month has opened wi£h;fine weather,,! and reaping is general in all districts, ,cx-> j cept the very latest. In -fact," stacking is[; in full swing in many parts, but,-seeing the ' amount of undergrowth in many o£ the crops and the unusual amount of sap in the straw, it is advisable to be very careful about giv- ' ing the stooks plenty of time in the open. 1 It is wiser to run the risk of getting more rain on th stooks than to have heated , stacks. The warm days nnd dewy nights are bringing on the turnips and other roots in grand style. rhe heat of the day. checks the rise of the sap into the leaves, and enables the bulbs to swell, and the moisture at uipht freshens the leaves and keeps the plant healthy and thriving. The less rain the turnips get the better after tht leaves cover the ground. AGRICOLA.