NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 7

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

*The progress ma/Je dur.ng 1906 in the practical application of agriculScience and tural science is traced in a Agricnlturt. pamphlet issued for private circulation by Sir James JJlyth, of Blythwood, Standsted, Essex. If there has been no sensational discovery made known to an expectant world in the course of the year, the author is able to recount a record o£ satisfactory achievement an advancing and perfecting the scientific principles that had previously been established. There is no doubt that although antiquated methods, as Sir James notes, -are still witnessed in many districts, the •general farming practices of the country are steadily improving as the result of the enlightening influences of increasing and fuller scientific knowledge, both in the laboratory and on the farm. Practical tfarmers are gradually outliving the ige of prejudice and are yearly recognising more abundantly the truth that science is perfectly compatible with practice when the two are pmdeytly combined. Scientific theories are admittedly dangerous when attempted in the absence of sound practical knowledge, but with the latter attainment ito act as a corrective, science may prove. -and has proved, a highly advantageous an<l economical attribute in the management of «ither land or live stock. Sir James at the outset refers to what is being done by the Agricultural Department of the Cambridge University to place at the disposal of farmers varieties of wheat combining the heavy-yielding properties of EngLish and the high milling quality of Canadian wheat?. Science has already been beneficially applied in this direction, and increasing experience and knowledge only serve to magnify the possibility of further achievements. Sir James is justified in everything he sa\s concerning what science has been the means of effecting in the more successful and economical manuring of land, the feeding of live 6tock, and the combating of plant 'disease?. The enormous increase in the (provable use of artificial fertilisers and concentrated feeding stuffs, as well as the effectual application of dressings for the prevention and remedy of potato and hop blight, the destruction "of charlock, etc., are all the direct fruits of fuller scientific knowledge and modern progress in reconciling its teaching with everyday practice. There (will be general agreement with Sir James's views as to the benefit which would result from further advancement along the same 'linee. Prudently applied science must inevitably prove a valuable aid to practice,

and it is the duty of the State to take, or, at all events to assist and encourage, such educational methods as will tend to bring about the improvement that now seems so well within the bounds of reasonable attainment. The author also puts in a seasonable word for better organisation. not only in regard to the production and ' realisation of farm crops, but also in respect to the breeding of improved classes of live stock, and altogether the pamphlet, is highly calculated to stimulate additional efforts for the general betterment of the farming sj stems and results.

The continued advance in prices of the standard nitrogenous ma- , Calcium nures has caused much inCjanainide. t-ereot to be taken in the efforts that are being made to introduce alternathe materials. For some few years past scientists have been devoting prominent attention to elucidating the properties and possibilities of calcium cyanamide as a substitute for nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia, both of which have been stcadilv rising in price, and the latter at all events is said to be approaching the verge of prohibition. At Rothamstead Mr A. D. Hall has made several interesting experiments with cyanamide, and the results have unmistakably indicated that the material may prove of appreciable advantage as a fertiliser. Elaborate trials have al-o been carried out in Scotland, and these likewise have been pioductive of encouraging results. Mr James Hendrich has contributed to the Scottish Farmer a series of articles describing both his own and other experiments with this material, and from the farming point of view it is satisfactory . to note that the —conclusion at which he arrives is that as a nitrogenous manure cyanamide when u«ed upon suitable soils is equal, or nearly equal, in value ,to either nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia. No mention is made of the price at which this material can be procured, but, judging from the foregoing remarks, it is less expensive than the materials which it is intended to supersede. As an outcome of his experiments. Mr Hendrich draws up a summary of rules that should be observed in ueing cyanamide, as follows: — (1) It may be applied to crops like cereals, potatoes, mangels, and turnips, in dreesings of from lewt to 2cwt per acre. (2) It should, to obtain the be^t results, be applied 10 days or a fortnight before the seed. Some of the Scotch experiments have not show-n that this ie so necessary as the German experiments appear to indicate; still, caution should be observed in applying it with the seed. (3) When applied it sliould be at once covered over with soil or mixed into the surface soil. (4) As it is very dusty and unpleasant to handle it should be mixed with some moist manure like kainit, or with moist earth or sawdust, when sown by hand. (5) It should not be mixed with superphosphate or any other sour '• dissolved" manure, but may be mixed with potash manures, with basic slag, orjwith bone meal or bone flour. (6) It should never be used upon sour or peaty or moorish .soils. (7) It should not be applied to grasd land as a top dreseing. (8) , It should not be allowed to lie about in a damp plate or be exposed to the wet. Reference is also made to another nitrogenous manure, which 6eems likely to come into prominence and to have a useful influence in reducing the prices of the older forms — ! namely, nitrogenous lime. According to j Mr Hendrich this material will be in our markets as a manure this season, and he expresses the hope that our farmers will lose no time in ascertaining its merits, j Even if the new sources of nitrogen do not prove superior to the old, they will at all events have the much-needed effect of checking the steady advance in the purchasing prices of the old. and, if they should have no other result, they will in doing this have abundantly justified their introduction, j

When early maturity was first aimed at. not a few level-headed . Early authorities condemned it as Maturity. wasteful. On Theoretical principles it does sceni doubtful policy to expend time and money | in breeding an animal with a frame to carry a full quota of flesh and to slaughter it prematurely, when, pay, only two-thirds of it* capable wo : ght has been attained. But m such matters sentiment has to be subordinated to cold considerations of profit. The farmer and grazier mu*t follow the , system which brings him the largest pecu- • niary return, and in these days especial! v. . when the public taste has so pronouncedly gone in the direction of small joints of , both beef and mutton, it is found that ear'" I maturity, if -skilfull-y followed, pays best, j A Home paper referring to this " subject ! says: — "Who would have thought a quarter cf a century apro that thousand- upon thousands of Blacfcfaccd lambs would be put in ' a fat condition on the market before they are nine months old? It was by offering liberal prizes at the Highland " Society"! show at Glasgow in 1888 for shearling' wed- ' ders of that breed that Mr Howatson, of Glenbuck. initiated and encouraged early maturity in that new sphere, and the reason why it has a=6umed such enormous dimensions since is the excellent profit which feeders have reaped from it. We need not add that all this emphasises the supremo importance of producing well-bred animals, for. unless they are of this stamp, I they will not respond to good keep." This j question of early maturity has not received the samo general atteution in Otago that

has bocn given to it in Canterbury, and vet it. is an all-important point in connection with the meat export trade