NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 10

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

In the tillage operations on a farm the roller is of great value, and Bolling. yet_ how often it is used with harmful results to the paddock I Wisely directed, it is invaluable, and, used at the wrong time, many crops of grain and turnips have been seriously reduced in yield owing to the final working being done by the roller instead of the harrow, and vice versa. It is not possible to convey on paper the various circumstances under which it is advisable to leave the ground harrowed or rolled; it depend* so much on the atmospheric conditions, the moisture and condition of the soil, etc., and keen observation in the field at the time is, of course, essential. Granted, however that no one can pick up proper tillage operations under varying conditions by mere reading about them, yet if the reason is set out why any particular operation is advisable, the thoughtful farmer can decide whether such an operation should be undertaken in his particular case. It Is well known, for instance, that grain sprouts quickest where the horses have trodden when harrowing, or where the wheel of the drill has pressed down the soil. The soil thereabouts also looks moist. A rolled paddock will look moist when a harrowed one looks dry, the effect of consolidating the soil being to bring the moisture to the surface, where it quickly evaporates, and is lost in the air. Rolling, of course, does not increase the moisture, but it may hasten the germination of seed by bringing it to them; but there is also a loss clue to evaporation. It frequently is advisable to suffer this loss in order to secure germination quickly. Ground when rolled, having a smooth surface, loses moisture quicker than when rough in times of high winds. Rolling light soils by compacting them really increases their capacity to hold water; but the full benefit is only secured by harrowing after rolling in order to produce a soil mulch, and it is this latter operation that is frequently omitted without sufficient consideration, more particularly in tho spring season. Rolling is of use to crush clods of earth and to give that smooth surface that enables one to cut the crops close to the ground. More particlularly is this of value in regard to the hay crop. If the ground is rolled when very dry the clods are merely pressed into the soil. Each tillage operation, in fact, is worth duo consideration before being undertaken.

In locations where cheese-making is the only market available for When to have milk, of necessity August to Cows October will be the season Come Fresh. for cows to freshen; but when the location permits of dairying all the year round, winter dairying is, under ordinary conditions, possibly the most profitable. Cows coming on fresh in March, April, and May will, if well looked after, produce 25 per cent, more milk in the year than they would on the same feed and care, coming fresh in‘August, September, and October. Why this is so, it may be explained, is because a cow begins to fall off in flow after some six or seven months in lactation, and a cow coming in in the autumn reaches this condition when the pasture is fresh and good, and the natural tendency to diminish the flow is lessoned, and she will milk well on to Christmas. The cow, however, that freshens in the spring reaches this period at the same time that Nature tends to lesson the flow, and this tendency is aggravated possibly by the surroundings, boat, short pasture, etc., and it is difficult to keep up the milk-flow once it is materially reduced for three or four weeks. Special care, however, in the way of soiling crops, silage, hay, etc., will certainly bo of great .assistance" if this important matter is at the present time anticipated, and suitable sowings of forago crops made without de-

lay. This matter of all-thc-year-round dairy* ing pertains, of course, rather to localities adjacent to fair-sized towns, where, in order to hold the trade, it is absolutely necessary that the supply be regular throughout the year.

A large number of deaths of lambs front tetanus have occurred lately Tetanus. j n New South Wales, prp« bably after cutting and tail* ing, and a word or two may bo of value oh the matter, Tetanus is caused through 4 wound or bruise becoming inoculated freni a germ present in the soil, manure, or dust. It is therefore to some extent preventable, and all vards when used at doefc;* ing time should bo cleaned up and the rubbish burnt. Where deaths have fre« quently occurred, it would *be better to change the paddock for docking purposes, and, if feasible, break it up. When tail* ing, the knife should bo frequently dipped in disinfectant. The bacillus is very resistant to ordinary disinfectants. Wounds should always bo dressed cleanly with the best of disinfectants. The germs when iri> troduced into the system produce a power* ful poisonous toxin, causing spasmodic cori* traction and stiffness of the muscles of the back, neck, head, and limbs. If the symptoms develop a few days after infection the disease takes an acute form, and the animal usually dies; but a mild form occurs some* times after the second week, from which there is a fair chance of recovery. The horse is most commonly affected by this disease, an early symptom being the contraction of the muscles of the eye, which pull the eyeball backwards. Large doses of an anti-tetanic serum injected subcutaeoualy in the side of the neck have helped recovery even after the symptoms have developed. An animal should be made comfortable and dieted; but medicine is not of much use.

Farmers could benefit their stock considerably if they would provide A Salt Lick, them with a salt-lick. The present rush of grass in some areas has resulted in losses which might have been avoided if early attention and consideration had been given the matter. The addition of a little sulphate of iron mixed through Liverpool salt, and placed where stock can help themselves may mean all the difference in one’s losses. This practice proved successful with the writer, and the cost is but small. Very probably the lick provided by the Department of Agriculture would prove effective in staying losses among stock, which die apparently for no earthly reason, considering they are in god trim and on luscious feed. The lick referred to is termed'a preventive lick for bush sickness. For some months past experiments have been carried on by the department at the Mamaku Farm with a lick for cattle, the object being to ascertain whether it is of real practical value as a preventive of bush sickness. The lick is in the form of a solid block, and its ingredients are perchloride of iron, common salt, sulphate of calcium, and hydrate of calcium. The calcium (lime) is necessary for binding the materials together. So far this lick has had encouraging results—more So than any other medicinal agents given in the form of licks.. Phosphate of iron, it will be remembered, proved effective as a cure when administered daily over a considerable period, and it now appears that the simple combination of perchloride of iron, salt, and lime is valuable as a preventive. In order that farmers in the affected area may have an early opportunity of using this lick, a supply lias been sent to the manager of the Experimental Farm, Mamaku (Mr R. A. Jackson), from whom it can be obtained on personal application. Actual cost price only is charged—viz., 9d, per block. AGRIOOLA. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. By Ageicola. “ Gatlins ” asks whether it is advisable to sow a grass seed mixture on top of oat crop now covering the ground, having omitted to sow same with the crop, as intended? A satisfactory answer must turn on observation in the paddock and its condition. The extent of_ the oat covering, its height, whether a thick or thin crop of oats, conditions of soil in regard to weeds, and tilth, etc., all bear on the final decision. Under certain conditions favourable to the seed having a fair .chance to germinate, and to bo covered with the roller in a thin crop on clean land, a good job is possible; but it is not the ideal way to lay down a grass paddock which is expected to give good returns perhaps for years.

“Cockatoo” writes in reference to harrowing Dun oats, which are about 4in long, and is doubtful as to the wisdom of sowing out in grass on top of the _ growing crop. The harrowing of a growing crop is usually done in the spring to both thin out a crop that is too thick, and more especially to break the hard crust on the surface, and in most cases very good results are obtained. Observation in the paddock will confirm this view in a short time, and no doubt you are now well satisfied that you wore right. The matter of sowing out in grass is referred to above in the reply to “Gatlins.” It appears from what you say that the crop is thick, and it can only bo determined by observation in the paddock whether grass seeds would have a chance of being covered > if sown now, and germinating satisfactorily.