NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3239, 12 April 1916, Page 10

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

It is to be hoped that the Freezing Works at Burnside are ere this in full working swing. Last Wednesday it was fully anticipated that no cessation of killing operations would occur, and that once the old storage rooms were used ud business would continue us usual, and the overflow of carcases stowed away satisfactorily in the new chamber. Unfortunately, however, in one sense, as the result of strenuous_ testing, some small defects in connection with certain important pipes w'ere detected, which absolutely necessitated a delay until they were rectified The old stores being about full, work had for two days last week to slacken, and ultimately came to a stop on Thursday and Friday, but was resumed again on Saturday. At the present moment of writing, it is confidently anticipated that worK,\ as usual, will be the order of the day, which means that the new storage room has not failed after a severe testing. It may be noted that the additional space provided at these works by the Christchurch Meat Company is sufficient for an extra 100,000 carcases of sheep os compared with the storage on hand last year; and present indications are that it will all bo wanted. _ _ As mentioned, the company did not anticipate even a temporary halt in their buying operations, but, as is the case frequently with the absorption of new concerns, some unforeseen clement intruded and delayed matters. The effect on market values is so evident when exporters are operating or not, no matter how quietly, that any slight cessation on their part is viewed with considerable misgiving by fatteners..

The freezing Works at Burnside.

Medium-sized potato “seed” is favoured by seedsmen for planting, and rarely, indeed, do they stock large"' “seed.” If the tubers are too small the result usually is weak eyes, which in turn put forth weakly shoots, and necessarily a poor crop of inferior tubers. If too large there is a waste of valuable food, and large t'ubex's certainly do not of necessity yield largo potatoes. If medium-size tubers are not available, there is no alternative but to cut up the large tubers for “sets”; but it is not a commendable practice as a rule. The “boxing” method should be more generally favoured. Borne shallow wooden receptacle is desirable, and the tubers placed in the box with the parts with most eyes uppermost. The boxes should bo stored in a cool, airy store, away from frosts, but exposed to the light. In the course of time the tubers will develop one or two dark green sturdy shoots, and possibly others; these latter sort should be rubbed off, so that all the energies of the potato arc concentrated, as it were, into the two or three selected shoots. The result from planting the robust tuber is in most cases a yield of uniform size potatoes, which would not be the case under haphazard methods. At frequent intervals the boxes should bo carefully looked over, and all weakly and diseased potatoes discarded. If sprouting should develop too rapidly, there is an absence of sufficient light and air, and if too slow they can bo hastened by being kept darkened and rather warmer for a time.

Potato “ Seed.”

In regard to temporary blindness in cheep at this time of the year, the experience of a sneepowner in Tokomaru Bay is of interest, as is also the Jbive btocic division’s reply thereto in the Journal of Agriculture. The question is asked as to the cause of a number of ewes (£ per cent.) becoming blind. In a flock of 5000 about tluit proportion were affected. A bluish-pink scum seems to form right over the eye. Sometimes one eye only, or both are affected. Will the ewes get right again, and how best to minimise or prevent the affliction? The reply given is as follows: —Cloudiness of the eye, opacity of the cornea, rendering sheep wholly or partially blind, is of common occurrence during a dry summer. It appears to depend on some disturbance of the digestive functions, which, indirectly, through the nervous system, affects the eyes in this manner. Direct irritation of iho eye from exposure to the effects of dust and bright sunlight cannot be held accountable for the production of this condition. The complaint is generally of a temporary character, and disappears if the sheep can be changed to fresh pasture, where a plentiful water supply is available, or on the advent of wet weather affording a fresh growth of grass. Preventive measure would consist of changing the pastures as indicated . . attention to water supply. Treatment is not practicable, as a rulo ( with a large number affected; but in individual cases' treatment would consist of application of an eye lotion containing two grams sulphate of zinc to loz of distilled water, and 4oz

Temporary Blindness in Sheep.

of Epsom ealts given internally in a pint of water, Shade should be provided for affected sheep, in order that they may have shelter from the effect of the sun's rays.

Unfortunately, we are still dependent on imported seeds to a large extent, and until the matter of production on a largo scale is taken in hand with a will by farmers as a payable farming proposition, so must wo remain, subject to the v-agaries of Home markets. At tiie present juncture, when the world is at war, the Home supply of seeds is necessarily curtailed. Messrs Hurst and Sous, London, England, caxly this present year report, inter aha, as under. In regard to English red clover: “A few lots of medium and low-grade quality have been harvested, and meet a slow market in competition with the lino lots of harvest 1914, supplies of which are now small, and find ready buyers at fully 20s per cwt over prices ruling at the end of last season. There are still considerable quantities of two, and three year old English unsold, growth of which is low. Single cut cowgrass: A short crop of medium and low quality is reported in the Eastern counties. Oxon and Gloucester crops a failure. Foreign red clover: From France a moderate supply of lino, though small-grained, quality is available, and when thoroughly cleaned will satisfy the shortage in good English. Only moderate supplies have arrived from Italy, and again America and Canada have no -surplus for export. The former country lias been buying treely from Franco, both 1914 and 1915 harvest, and Canada has sent home orders for a good quantity of our 1914 harvest at extreme figures. We consider present values will be maintained. White clover: In England a short crop of medium and low grade quality has been saved Trices at present are very high, and in the absence of supplies from abroad this article will continue dear.Alsyko. A few lots of low quality harvested hero, and only moderate supplies from America and Canada of fine and medium quality. Trices have opened too high for medium qualities, and there is room for these, to recede. Trefoil: A fair crop of medium quality in England. Prices have opened high, and, in the absence of a good export demand, wo look for lower figures. Lucerne: Extremely scarce. A very small supply from Provence, Italy, and Spain. High prices will rule. Sainfoin: No new supply of English Giant. English Common reported an average crop. French Giant a small crop, most of which has been sold, Italian ryegrass: An average crop of useful quality saved in Ireland, which finds buyers at full prices in the absence of French supplies of this article, crop in that country proving very short. Perennial ryegrass: An average crop, of fair weight per bushel. Prices rule high, owing to a quantity having been sent to our colonies, ' Natural grasses: Cocksfoot —A short harvest is reported in Denmark, and high prices are being paid; no supplies from New Zealand; only a short harvest in America; some useful Jots have boon saved in France. Foxtail is again in short supply. Poa nemoralis very scarce. Poa trivialis of good quality is scarce, and higher in price than last year. Meadow fescue is fairly plentiful, and rather dearer than last season. Hard and sheep’s fescue and timothy are higher in price. Mustard: A fair crop saved, the major portion of which has been secured by manufacturers and American buyers. Rape: A very small crop in England, and no supplies from Holland. Prices extremely high. Spring tares: No supplies from Russia. AGRICOLA.

Irass Seeds, etc., in England.