NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 14

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

While sulphate of copper has been our

standard reagent for dressing seed grain, it has always had a considerable effect on the germination of the seed and its subsequent growth. And those who sowed their crops out of season invariably abelained from steeping it to avoid tlieeo effects- Since formalin has boon discovered extensive experiments have been conducted, spread over many years, to test its effects on the grain as compared with that of bluestonc. A thousand grains each of the cam© variety g.f wheat sown under similar conditions at the same time gave the following results, averaged over five successive years. Untreated, 884 grains germinated; formaline lib in 4G'gal of watr>r, 740 g.ains germinated; bluestonc lib in sgal of water, 606 grains germinated. Both solutions were equally successful in destroying the smut, but it was noticeablo that the formalin plot looked' much better and was a little further advanced. Trie grain was sown not more than a day or two after steeping. Formalin exercises a hardening effect upon the grain, which soon becomes bone diy. So that the young germ does not so easily force itself through the shaw. Grain steeped 1 in formalin loses its power of germination to some extent after being kept for a few days, and this effect is cumulative for a time, but gradually disappears four or live weeks after steeping, while grain steeped in bluestonc at the strength mentioned germinated better after being kept for nine and 15 days respectively. Formalin haa, less corrosive action on the teed, and yields a higher percentage of germination than bluestonc, and if sown 24 hours after treatment, in a soil sufficiently moist, the freedom of the resulting crop from smut is assured. But care should bo exercised to put the treated grain into absolutely new bags, and when steeped the immersion should bo in such a vesselthat the grain can be stirred and the smut, balls floated off. •

Effects of Formalin on Germination.

lii addition to the use of sulphate of copper and formalin for destroying bunt or smut in seed grain, hot water lias , been employed for the destruction of the spores with great success. The process consists in cmcrsing the seed in hot water at a temperature of 132(ieg to 135dcg Fahr., for live minutes, and then plunging it into cold water. The cold gram reduces the temperature of the water, and great care must be exercised to maintain tno temperature at the right height without ove. doing it. Too high a temperature would injure the grain, and any less heat than that quoted would not prevent the germination of tlio smut spores. After being washed' in the cold water, it is spread out on a clean, floor to dry. The only difficulty al.oul the process is to maintain a proper degree of heat, and any one who commands a steam jet can easily regulate it to the required temperature: but few are so fortunat'-'. The grain so treated, even if the pro:ess is cumbersome, is said to come away quickly, hut assurance is made doubly sure with formalin and blue-stone, and no doubt can exist in their ou.-x. No successful farmer neglects to steep even his oats. The ravages from various preventable disease" like smut is responsible for a good many of the inferior crops, and' short y;e!ds in otherwise promising crops.

Steeping Seed <>ruln In Hut Water.

It i= found that crops deteriorate in a few years if the same seed is used continuously; while fresh seed of the sime variety. if judiciously selected, will yield good crops. Many farmers do not take the trouble to <lo so, forgetting that each season a certain amount of deterioration in the vitality and niolificacy of the seed is taking place. Tho falling-on* may bo almost imperceptible, and may never be noticed, but if n«w seed is

A Clianac of Seed.

brought in from an earlier district, or a better soil, he will bo astonished at thedifference in his crops. The new seed will thrive and yield several bushels more to the acre, while the grain will be a much better sample. Much improvement may also be made by a more rigid selection of home seed. Major Hallet develops h.s well-known varieties by selecting the beat S rains year after year, and any farmer can o tho same thing roughly with the sceaoieanor, which is at his service. Ho Will bo astonished to find how much conies out of what he regaids as a. fairly ch«j.n sample of seed 1 wheat. Not only tnat. but the harvest piles may also be secured by means of the cleaning cylinder, and all the weaker grains taken out. If the seed is taken from the best part of the field after being well ripened, and afterwards dressed with the fanners and seed-cleaner, better orops will result than from an annual change of seed. It is not necessary to obtain fresh need every year for the whole of tho crop Bown A few acres removed now aid again will provide all the seed required. The practice need not involve much troublo or expense, but if followed systematical it would add considerably to t.'.o returns Secured from the crop. In making a change caro is necessary to see that the selection made is free from objectionable weeds, and true to name. There is a wid'e field open here for the Department of Agriculture to take up. Much might be done to stimulate the interest in improving the seed used. Not only by exchanges between the farmers who are conducting experiments under their direction, but by the adoption of means to secure the distribution of and put lestrictions on the sale of impure seeds. It might insist in various ways on the necessity for greater care and better judgment in the improvement and selection of socd, and show by means of various object-les-sons how handsomely it paid to do so. If by any means tho farmers could be induced to put the principles of seed selection into operation, there would soon be a greatlyincreased acreage return, and a much greater bulk to bo carried over the railways.

Motor Trn!H<: i n the Koads.

TTi>Am.nna ]i as used a motor oar must admit its utility arcl necessity, and be gratified with the lovely outing which its use offers. It is no wonder that their numbers increase rapidly, end that they are being used more freely by all who can afford to do so. But it is the misuse of the motor car of which the settler complains. The assumption on the part of some motorists is that they, and they only, ought to be considered on the road ; thai tho roads were made and maintained for them, and' for one one else, and that eevryone else should exorcise tile greatest agility in getting out of their way as soon as possible. Tho farmer contends that the roads were not specially made for moton'stf, that his rates supply he necessary material for the upkeep of the- roads, and that those who enjoy tho use of motors do not contribute towards their cost in due proportion. The attitude of some public bodies in reference to tho motor car traffic is justified by tho increased expenditure they compel on liie roads by the speed at which they travel on tho roads, and the difKculty of recognising any driver who does not play the game. My remarks are confined 1 to him, and for his benefit. It is tho speed motorist principally who is the nuisance, and his callous disregard of danger and tho difficulty of getting his number sets the farmers backs up The number of the car is obscured by the dust during daylight, and at night a blaze of light effectual 1 }- blinds anyone who tries to read the number. There should be 6omo well-defined (-.peed limit. County councillors state that it is no use making a by-law which cannot be enforced; but •with a very small amount of prearrangement and ingenuity it could easily be made effective. Evidence could be scoured whi.rh would convict the criminally careless driver. The position must be accepted that the motor traffic has come to stay. At present it is spoiling the pleasure of every one who drives on the road, and costing those who keep up the road much more than formerly. The traffic must be subjected to regulation, and! in proportion to tho difficulty of procuring evidence the law should bo rigidly enforced. Instead of letting the drivers off with a nominal penalty, at which they would snap their fingers, it would be much better for all concerned if the authorities would enforce such fines that the by-laws would' be respected. It would save many lives, make it pleasant for people to -use the road, prevent tho roads being torn up in dry weather, cp they are at present, and avert many accidents.

Tiio familiar hum of tho threshing machine is now hoard all over tho country, and everyone will want the mill as soon as possible, so as to prot their grain away l>efore the weather breaks. Farmers are always anxious to turn their grain into money, usually localise it is needed so much, but also because less is Sustained by allowing unthatched stacks to remain in the open for any length of time. The roads also begin to get heavy when {he frost comes and the weather breaks, and if the price of the grain is high they also like to take advantage of a favourable market. But there are always some breaks in the threshing, and time availto attend to all tho implements which

Implements After Harvest.

have been used during harvest and will not be required again for a year. Sometimes the stress of work induces the user to leave them in the corner of the stockyard or in the field whore they were last used. There are plenty of days in which the time might be profitably spent in overhauling fcuch machines as tho binder, mower, etc.; and if a little time was devoted to oiling and cleaning and putting them safely away under cover for the year, they would be in good condition to start another year 3 work. If repairs are required thev should h? ollVcted at once As a rule these are left till (he last minute, when the local blacksmith is bunged up with work, and cannot overtake- all he has to do. with the crop probably ready to cut. There are farmers who do their own work, and generally treat their machines letter than those who employ labour. As a rule the small farmer has to borrow and return seine of the implements he uses, and he sees that thev are in good order before doing so. With large farmers tho machinery is in the hands of his horsemen, and the thoughtful servant can save his master a good deal in the course of a year by the manner in which he attends to h ; s team and machinery. Such men see that their piaster's interest is their interest, and deserve encouragement, and 1 while being courteously treated they should be compelled to "exercise neatness and punctuality in regard to everything they do-

It not follow that, because the motor

The Motor and I Horsc-breedlng. 1

car is becoming so popular light horse - brooding will no longer pay. Hacks end harness horses will always be wanted, and although it may not pay to breed them on ground on which cattle may bo fattened or dairy cows grazed, there is any amount of suitable country on which the practice may be successfully continued Although motor cars are increasing very rapidly their first cost is high, and they cost a good deal more to run than many people can afford. They are no doubt patronised by the class which . gave the highest prices for handsome carriage horses. But they can only be regarded 1 as a luxury, and one which will have to face a contribution to the upkeep of the roads which they use There would always be a large number of different classes of varied means who would prefer ,Iho slower and safer means of looomotion. They will want horses for the saddle and harness work, ae well as for many other purposes; and many people still take pride in a good horse, and are prepared to spend their m'mcy on them. Horsebreeders will alway 3 have plenty of soopo for their operations. The general utility horse that can be yoked up in a buggy or take its place in the team will always bo in demand. The easy-going thoroughbred hack, which it is a pleasure and privilege to ride will be needed as long as there are cattle to draft and' journeys to accomplish. The p°ny is indispensable for the phaeton or children going to school, and the quiet harness horse which doe.-s not scare women out of their ser.ses will never be supplanted by the motor car.' It will be a sorry day for the Britisher when ho gives up horseracinig. and the chance of securing a Derby ■ winner will still have its fascination for ! the breeder of blood stock. I AGRIOOLA.