SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 19

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Fp.OM OUE OWE COEEESPONDENT.) The weather experienced during the past two weeks has given us a foretaste of winter. Whilst there were at least two days of ’ast week which could, be termed really warm, there were occasions when it vras quite as cold and boisterous as many inclement days experienced during the average win ter The result is that grass has received a cheek, from which it will be difficult to recover. The warm v gather which pre vailed at intervals after the ram which revived the grass forced pasture on at a rapm rate, but the shoots were too tender tj withstand anything in the nature of cold weather. Stock cannot be said to be ing much progress at present, as what grass there is. docs not appear to have much substance in it; at all events, its nutrxUv qualities are not very great. Cattle, espec - ally, are just holding their own and some classes of sheep,, particularly the yopn a varieties, are gaining a little. It is uiw aspect of the stock business which makes ‘tock-owners apprehensive as to the grazing during the forthcoming winter. Owing to"the scarcity of feed, most classes of stock have become low in condition, and this, combined with the admitted scarcity of turnips, is sufficient to cause anxiety, and prompts farmers to wish for an open backend” and a mild winter. The ram fair season prompts me tc make a few remarks on choosing a breeding ram. The ra.ni may bG said to be lialf thfi flock—-and, indeed, in some respects is more. In the average flock the ewes may be said to he mixed, and the breeder must look to hie ram to stamp t e lamb crop with his type and bring-greater uniformity into the younger generation, in no class" of stock does uniformity count for more than in the _ ease of sheep, and prepotency in the sire xs of all the greater importance. Prominent among evidences ef form are those which relate to robustness, and those which indicate inherent energy present in such a degree that it almost amounts to restlessness. i.xic most important indication of robustness taken singly is ample chest development, which carries along with it heart, girth, ano width. The prepotent ram usually has such chest development to the extent ot being positively massive in a degree. Tne evidences of inherent energy include an easy carriage, and a movement so active as to be almost sprightly, notwithstanding the massiveness of form referred to. the animal thus furnished will carry his head proudly. The head is elevated when he walks. The ears are fairly active, and the eve is full, bright, and observant. The animal appears to enjoy locomotion for its own sake, as. though furnished with a supply of - energy that was seeking an outlet. A third indication of this class is the .head itself. The head shomd be strong almost to the borderline of coarseness, rather than small and denned. In other words, it must be masculine rather than feminine in its cast. The closeness of the breeding in males is well worthy of consideration. Ifine-bied males will ceitainly bo more prepotent than those not so bred, the individuality being equal. Linebred may be variously defined. In its application' it is rather a wide term. But it will answer the purpose here to say tha„ : n the sense in which it is now used it means bred within the limits oi a family. But it may be answered, not suen breeding bring along with it the elements of a weakened vigour?” It may, ana does in some instances, but those elements w i not be present in rams with physical development as I have outlined. t Such development shows that degenerating because of the closeness of blood affinities gives them an aggregation of properties which they can hardly tail to hand down to the progeny in a marked degree. There need be no hesitation in using such rams because of the closeness of the blood relations in the ancestry. But to use such rams of ordinary and especially of inferior development would simply be calamitous. A noticeable feature of many light harness horses when driven along the road is their propensity for shying, and I think it will be generally admitted that it is a bad fault in any horse, but more especially in a harness boast. Some horses will shy when, after a rest, they come out full of feed ; but this is more the result of skittishnoss than, actual vice, and soon disappears when work is resumed. The most objectionable forms which shying assumes are those resulting from temper and detective vision. In the former little can bo done to get rid of the evil; but here again the animal’s better nature should be appealed to before adopting any form, of coercion. A flick with the whip may sometimes nave the ' desired effect, but anything in the form of harsh-

The Weather and the Ka m.

Choosing a Breeding Bam.

Causes of Shying in Horses,

ness is more calculated to aggravate than mitigate the vice in ill-tempered horses. In young, half-broken, stubborn colts, where temperate means have failed, a good shake np and a few sharp cuts with the whip may have a salutary effect, but old rogues in whom the vice is established should bo got rid of. As a cause of shying defective vision is one of the worst, and especially when it occurs in horses of an excitable temperament. The nature of the defect will vary in different cases. In some it takes the form of an obvious structural change in one or other of the transparent humours or coats of the eye, suon as a cataract in the lens. In others there is no apparent structural change or apparent alteration of form. Fear, ■ nducee by strange objects, especially if suddenly brought into view, is one of the most fruitful causes of shying, and especially in young horses of excitable temperament. It is at the same lime the most easy of correct on, only requiring that the horse be made to approach, and ultimately to examine the object again and again until familiarity replaces fear. This gentle usage and persuasion, exercised with firmness, will soon overcome all resistance, and one lesson temperately administered will do much to render others which may follow by the trust and confidence which it will inspire. Whilst attending stock sales one frequently hears the question asked, “What are the points of a good milking cow?” In the first place, one must not expect to find all the good qualities of a milker in one cow,' but the more the better. The face should not be long, nor chubby, but a sort of medium, and not heavy; the horns pointed up, and not downwards; the neck of medium tnickness, and a slight drop at the end pointing to the shoulder top The chin should be thin, and arched as it approaches the loins; the latter should be, slightly hollow, and not protruding, as in the case of the male. The hook bonas should bo nearly level across them, and not too wide apart; where the tail joins the body it should stand well above the rump endr*, &Tid not bo flat. The udder should be a fair size, projecting well out behind; and the skin very 'thin, soft, and mellow. The milk veins of a good thickness, and extending w’cll under the belly, where they turn up into the body. You should by pMssing a finger upwards be able to find a hollow, and the larger it is the better. The hide should be thin and so that when one gets hold of a good baneful it should move backwards and forwards easily. The hair should not bo too long even in the winter time, but. it must be of fine short or bare, but it should be of fine quality and soft. The leg bones should be fine, the tail small, and the thinner the better. The animal should have a cheerful look-out, but not wild and nervous, and she should have an easy swinging gait.

Points of a (Jood Mi king Cow.