NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 8

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

It will depend a good deal on how the Minister moots tho wishes of the deputation which waits on him in regard to taking over growers’ present waiting supplies of Tuscan variety of wheat whether there will be a satisfactory area sown this autumn or not. It rests with the Minister. .Farmers are getting, tired of not knowing in good time just what is the position in regard to prices for the crop not yet sown. If there is to be no interference and a free market, well and good, but if the Government wish to fix prices then let them fix away, but do it in good time, and make the guarantee, whether big or small, at least plainly evident to all. In respect to the sowing of wheat, it is our humble opinion that it is better business to concentrate on the existing arable land and stimulate its productiveness than to half-work an extended area. In growing wheat it is well worth using some fertiliser, say, a superphosphate or bone manure, and so encourage the plant to start growth quickly and strongly, and enable it to stand up against insect pests and rough weather during the comparatively long time which elapses ere bar vested. There is some merit in growing wheat crops at any time, and although not as generally recognised as it should be, there is an obligation on the part of farmers to do so. But in the present circumstances. when "embargos,” "commandeers,” and things of that sort are sprung on producers, it Is but irritating if the pricoflxfng is vague, indefinite, or liable to be suspected as a new kind of " camouflage.”

The Sowing of Wheat.

The Rockford (United States) Cow-testing Association completed ita first year’s work recently.This association has been testing 27 herds of dairy cows, and has reorganised for another year* work. Of 513 oows tested during the year 112 of these were 8old ; and of this number nearly all were unprofitable cows and wore sold to the butcher after having been tested and found to be slackers. Seven cows produced over 4001 b butter-fat during the year, 60 cows over 3001 b butter-fat, and 159 cowt over 2001 b. The average production of tha 306 cows completing the year’s test wai 247.61 b butter-fat, with an average test of 3.96 per cent. Mr F. M. Davis had thi high cow in the production of butter-fat, m 16-year-old grade Jersey, whose year’s pro* duction was 83581 b of milk and 460.21br butter-fat, with an average test of 5.5 peif cent. Purebred sires, axe being used by nearly every member, and great interest is being taken in the work by all of tha' members, who are looking for better results next year.

Testing Dairy Cows.

It is more than likely that this year wiH witness a deal more handfeeding of stock than is usual on farms. The turnip crop is a short one, and stock will have to go a long period on more or less indigestible roughage, and risk impaction, a trouble probably worse than starvation* Commonwealth graziers know something about losses brought about by impaction. The Australasian cites some owner’s experiences. Ensilage as a supplementary food is greatly ' valued for sheep and cattle. Two pounds a day are sufficient to maintain sheep in good health, while from 201 bi to 401 b may be given to milkers. As with other foods, the maximum amount should bo worked up to gradually. _ Molasses added to dry feed alsd prevents impaction. The maximum quantity for a horse is 101 b, coWl 51b, calf 21b, and sheep 11b. The maximum quantity should be worked up to gradually. The molasses should be mixed with boiling water (about equal quantities of each) and sprinkled over the dry ’ feed. The molasses should not be kept mixed long. A bucket of molassos in a trough of water has been found effective with sheep. A practice with some graziers is to mix a good doze of Epsom salts in the water every three or four days. Others, again, us© a mixture of one of Epsom salts to three of common salt, and sprinkle it over the dry chaff, or use it as a “lick.” l Th* dose or Epsom salts is 2oz to 4oz for a cow. ioz to loz for a sheep. The symptoms of impaction are: Left side swollen and kept uppermost in lying down, breathing hurried, pulsation increased. Signs of distress are shown —grunting, grinding the teeth, as if in great pain.' The usual treatment with a cow is to administer on© pint castor oil or Epsom salts in warm water with a tablespoonful of vinegar. In bad cases a veterinarian will open up the cow, and remove the food by hand, or let off the accumnv lation of gas with trochar and carnula.

Impaction.

The Veterinary Department of the English Board of Agriculture recommends the following dressing for mange iii horses:—For a large establishment, procure 91b of lime and 181 b of sulphur. Slake the lime, and make into a thick paste with the sulphur. Place the mixture in a strong cloth, tie the ends, and suspend in a' boiler containing 10 gallons of water, so that the water covers the cloth, which latter must not touch the sides of th. 6 boiler. Boil for two hours, then remove cloth, and throw the solids away. _ Make up the liquid to 10 gallons again with water, and close up in _a barrel. For proventive, dilute the fluid with. 10 _ times the amount of water—i.e., half a pint of thei liquid to every two' gallons of water, and apply with a spray to every part of the horse’s body, using about two gallons to a' large horse. When horses are already affected, dilute the liquid with eight times the amount of water —that is to say, one pint and a-half of the liquid to two gallons of water. This should be sprayed all over the body end Ifegs. The interval between the dressings should not be more than seven days, and it is advisable to give' three applications. The best method is stated to be s dressing with a tar oil and tar acid dip, and then to continue with the lime and sulphur dressings. AGRIC OI,A.

Dressing for Mange.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. By Aghicola. “ Wharehuani ” sends plant for identification. The specimen is much bruised. Iti appears to be a. plant of the order Scrophularineae, one obthe speedwells (Veronica ?). Send a bettor specimen, with flower well pressed, and I will state exactly.

"Aviator," Paradise, writes as follows "(A) I have a level piece of tusock land in its native' stdtef in Otago Central, and wish to oultivate it for crops. Advise me if I am right in doing as follows: —(1) Double-furrow plough, 6in deep, In March j (2) let the weather act on it till June J then (3) disc, roll, cultivate and harrow, and drill in oats {and artificial manure 7) late in July? (4) Is it advisable to roll the oats when 3in above ground to give it a. firm root hold? (5) Should I top-dress the oats when through, and with what? (6) What crops should follow the oats, or what is a good rotation before sowing down Hi permanent pasture, and what Is a good mixture of grass seed in such a case? (B) 1 employ a man to cultivate a field. (1) What wages should I pay per acre in the fallt (2) How many acres can an average man work in an eight-hour day in the' fall on flat land—(a) plough (two-furrow), (b) harrow (four-leaf), .(c) disc, (d) cultivate, (e) roll (10ft roller), (f) sow with large drill, (g) reap (large binder)? (3) Cost of thrashing per ton and cost of chaff cutting per ton? (C) How do you find the number of tons of straw in a round stack pf oaten sheaves and in an oblon<r stack, using vour own dimensions " "Agricola" replies: "(A) (1), (2), (3) You suggest sowing betwixt two seasons. Decide whether you want to sow in the autumn or spring, then go ahead. In the former ease plough as early as vou can do without the feed on the aTea "in question, anrl work un; say. in May, and sow then m oats. In the latter case plough in time to lay up paddock in winter frosts, and sow in_ the spring. (4) If autumn-sown oats, it is a* well to roll crop in early spring. There is not usually the same necessity when sown in the spring, although it must depend on conditions. (5) There should not be anv necessity to top-dross. If a. poor bit of land a small application of sunerphosphate sown with the "grain might be advisable. (6) There is no law about these things. Th« best crop in the world is of no value If you have no market. A rotation perhnpf suitable might be oats, turnips, grain, Tap*

or turnips -with gras3 mixture. There are dozens of good mixtures. Write again when you reach that stage in a few years' time. (B) (1) Give him £3 a week and find him. and he may stick to the job. (2) (a) to (f) Depends on the strength of team, etc. (3) Varies, according to season. See agreement in force with trrashing-machine owner. (C) With a tape measure and trains."