SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 17

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) A prolonged spell of easterly weather prevailed during the past week, but the rainfall was by no means excessive. The rain which fell was more in the nature of a heavy mist than anything else. The cold, however, was almost intense at times, and now that the weather has cleared and the tops of the mountains are again visible, evidence is not wanting of the low temperature which existed, the snow having come a long way down the mountain slopes. Ihis is ramer unfortunate, and will cause apprehension amongst farmers on river, flats. Should a warm rain fall any time between now and the end of September floods arc almost sure to result on the flats traversed by snow-fed rivers. The absence of heavy frosts during the- past winter is rather notable, and it is feared that insect life may cause trouble in the coming spring and summer. I'rosts, however, still prevail, but only of a comparatively light nature. They are suthciently severe however, to retard the growth of the grass, which has not made much progress during the past 10 days. Present indications point to good weather, and if that should prove to be the case the early spring which was prophesied will bo an accomplished fact. A few days of drying winds would be appreciated bv those who have grain to sow', for as yet there is only a very limited area ready for the dull. The earliest land is that adjacent to the sea coast, and it is this class of country that has suffered most from the excessive moisture of the past winter. Dairy factory shareholders and suppliers are jubilant at the price ruling for cheese, and last year s experience of consigning has prompted practicably the whole of the Southland factories to dispose of them output at pnees ranging from 6gd to hid, f.0.b., Bluff. It is a notable fact that 90 per cent of the cheese sold has gone to one London firm, and when it is mentioned that the Jidendalo output for the season represents in round figures approximately £60.000, the magnitude of the transaction can bo bettor understood In this connection it is also a, noteworthy fact that a good many Southland factories every year take their cue from Edondalo in the matter of the disposal of output.

The Weather mill the Farm.

Practically every farmer in Southland is talking liming, and regret :s expressed in many quarters that the condition of the roads, as the result of the wet seasons, has precluded many from availing themselves of lime for their land. Many, too, have realised that their giound is much too wet to permit of the best results bein rr obtained from liming. Farmers should realise that the object of all liming is to increase the percentage of lime in the soil, and it makes little difference in what form the lime is applied so long as it supplies the soil with carbonate of lime in a finely divided state thoroughly and intimately mixed throughout the soil. Practically speaking, the whole effect of a dressing depends on this thorough mixing of minute particles of the lime throughout e%eiy pait of the cultivated soil. Lumps of carbonate of lime can produce practically no benefit till they have been weathered and broken down into fine powder, and even particles no bigger than pins’ heads arc largely wasted till they have been reduced to powder so fine that it could not bo felt between the fingers. It is owing to the production of fids impalpable- fine powder on slaking that bnrut lime lias been found to be so effective. The powder is so lino, in fact, that it is very difficult to handle and spread evenly. In the ease of ground binnt lime this difficulty in spreading evenly is overcome, for the unslaked ground lime can bo quite easily spread by a distributor, and as everv little particle of lime slaks shortly after 'its contact with the damp soli the whole surface is evenly covered with a thin coat of slaked lime, which mixes readily with the soil. This is indeed the only gain in using ground lime instead of the ordinary lump lime; but it is an important gain, because it increases the effectiveness of the dressing and allows smaller quantities to be used. It must bo distinctly borne in mind, however, that this slaked lime that wo have been to so much trouble in spreading quickly takes up carbon dioxide gas from the a"r and is converted back again into carbonate of lime, exactly the same, chemically, as it was before the lime was burnt, but with the advantage of being

rile Object of Liming.

now in the form of very fine powder. The change takes place very quickly; in fact, it will commence immediately the slaked lime is exposed to the air, and in the case of a thin layer spread over the soil practically the whole of it will bo converted into the carbonate in the course of a few days. Now limestone, being nothing more than carbonate of lime in a more or loss pure for, it stands to reason that if we could reduce to a sufficiently fine powder it should exercise the same effect precisely as a dressing of slaked lime that has been allowed to remain on the surface of the land for a few davs.

Now that the spring season is almost with us, a word of caution may bo given as regards the mixing of artificial manures. Probably it is now universally know* that sulphate of ammonia must not bo mixed with any manure holding free lime—notably basic slag and precipitated phosphate. The immediate result of making such a mixture is the liberation of free ammonia, whoso presence in the air can at once bo detected by its pungent odour. If it is desired to apply sulphate of ammonia jvith one of these, substances to any particular area of ground, the phosphate should bo put on a month or more before the other substance. Sulphate of ammonia may. however, be mixed with the other ordinary manures, such as superphosphates, dissolved bones, bone meal, kamit, sulphate and muriate of potash, and nitrate of soda-. Nitrate of soda should not l>o mixed with superphosphate, dissolved bones, or dissolved guano. Not only docs such a mixture result in the loss of more or loss nitrogen, but the mass is apt to become sticky and difficult to sow. Superphosphate and dissolved bones should not bo mixed with basic slag or precipitated superphosphate, as this results in the olublo phosphate of the super or dissolved bones becoming insoluble. Potash manures (kainrt and sulphate and muriate of potash) should not be mixed for more than a few hours with any “ dissolved ” manure (e.g., superphosphate and dissolved bones), not because anything is lost, but simply because the mass becomes smeary and unsowablc. Generally speaking, tljo sooner a mixture of manure is sown after it is made the better. Some mixtures, as has been indicated, get smeary, others got lumpy, while others, like basic slag and kainit. may actually become a hard solid stone-like mass, which the ordinary appliances of the farmer are insufficient to deal with.

Mixing Fertiliser*.

In a few weeks’ time.calves will be making their appearance in goodly numbers, and the question of denuding them of their horns is an important one. Not only is it advisable to denude the heifer calves of their horns, but steers should bo similarly dealt with. Anyone who has witnessed a truck of cattle arriving at the saleyard cannot but be impressed with tho necessity of removing these dangerous appendages. .The advisability of remoxing horns from the adult stock is open to question owing to tho pain involved m the operation, but no such objection can bo raised to dehorning calves when caustic soda is applied. Tho caustic soda should bo applied as soon as tho “button-like” horns can bo felt, after tho calf is from a week to 10 days old. There is no danger that the animal will suffer from -blood-poisonmg or other infection of the wound. ihc application of tho treatment should not be delayed, or it may give unsatisfactory results. To apply the potash, the hair should be removed from about, the. horns close to the skin. The potash is mo-stoned slightly and nibbed over tho skin which covers tho point of tho horns until the skin is while. It is not necessary to rub tho skin until blood comes, as this will cause unnecessary soreness. One such treatment is usually sufficient to prevent the growth of the * horns. The following precautions should, however, he taken. Hie caustic should be wrapped in heavy paper to protect tho hands of tho operator. It should not bo moistened too much, or else the liquid is liable to run down the side of tho calf’s head, and thus cause unnecessary pain. Tho ammal should be securely fastened so that, the brad may bo held ■■t'll to avoid applying tho caustic anywhere except over the horns. One stick of caustic rio+ask, if preserved in ta tightly-corked bottle, will servo to dehorn many calves.

IM o nlug I UlVUft.