NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 10

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

There are some districts in which yarr plays the mischief with the Yarr In growth and well-doing of New Zealand, arable crops, while in other districts the plant is hardly known, and goes by the name of spurrey (fipergiila arvensis), and in parts of Europe it is welcomed as a fodder or for ploughing under as green manure. In Belgium, for instance, the farmer is thankful for small mercies. The \vriter is convinced that the knowledge, or suspicion, that land unbroken ia chock full of yarr has not infrequently deterred landowners'"from breaking up an additional area for roots, etc. It takas a Southland'er to handle this weed pest. Any reader interested might state his experience in getting quit of the weed, for weed it is, in spit© of Europe's experience. Yarr, or spurrey, is a prolific seeder, ind the fact that the seed can remain dormant £ot years in the soil accounts v'ery often for the immense quantities of the weed which suddenly appear in a paddock. It is most troublesome among autumn-sown cereals at times, while with' turnips, if the land has not previously been handled with the set purpose of checking the yarr, it is most disheartening trying to grow a crop. If the yarr comes up with young 'grass (and it may happen to be sown as an impurity of some clovers), perhaps the best way to cope with it is to run the mower a couple of times at intervals over the crop. The grass usually can then makb headway against the more or les3 exhausted yarr. Failing mowing, heavy stocking with sheep may be usefully resorted to. The" presence of .yarr in the butts of the sheaves makes drying slow and stooking an art. In a wet reason in a turnip crop the weed will win in spite of all efforts. The writer would suggest, when breaking up suspected infested land, to grow a white spring crop, or even tv/o, before trying turnips, and may explain that he has written the foregoing in reply to a correspondent's dilemma. A method said to answer satisfactory with orphan foals is vouched for Orphan by an exchange. When Foals. through the death of the dam or absence of milk the young colt js cast upon the tender mercies of a man, get out the old china teapot and tie the thumb of a kid glove over the spout. Pierce this two or three times with a darning needle, but leave the holes small enough so that the contents of the pot cannot be taken too quickly. This method obliges the foal to work for what it gets, and prevents the ingress of large quantities of air. Another satisfactory feeding utensil is a good-sized nursing bottle, to which a large nipple is attached. There should always be one kept on the farm for use in cases of this kind. Whatever is used should be thoroughly cleansed before and after feeding, and kept scrupulously clean. As feed for the foal choose the milk from a fresh cow if possible, and, better, from one which gives milk low in fat. To a tablespconful of sugar add warm water to dissolve, then three to five tablespoonfuls of _ lime-water, which tends to correct digestive troubles, and enough fresh milk to make _ a pint. Feed about onequarter of a pint every hour for the first few days, always warming to blood heat. As the foal grows the supply of milk may be gradually increased. Whole milk may be substituted later, and the periods be-

tween feedings lengthened. After a few days six feedings a day will suffice, and later four will be ample. At three to four weeks of age sugar 'may be dropped from the mixture, but it will be well even then to continue the use of the lime-water. In five or six weeks ■ sweet skim milk may be gradually substituted for whole milk, and after three months the colt may be given all it will drink three times a day. The bowels should move freely, but if scoura occur at any time give two to four tablespoonfuls of a mixtua-e of sweet oil and pure castor oil, shaken up in milk, and stop the feeding of milk for two or three meals, allowing instead only sweetened warm water with a little lime-water added. soon .as possible get the foal to eat such solid feeds, as oatmeal, crushed oats, bran, a little oil meal, and clover hay. Of course, it should be where it can nibble at grass as soon .as it is so inclined. ■ r .- (t; The quickest, and possibly the cheapest, method of speeding up proUse Lime to duction is a sane use of Increase Yields, lime. In intelligent farming practices rotation, of crops stands first in merit, the wise use of fertilisers (which have risen greatly in price) and careful tillage coming next. By a generous use of lime we ir.%7 save money and avoid buying a lot of costly manures. Crushed limestone may be used, or forms of burned lime, the quantity of the latter per acre being half that of the carbonate. We are past the experimental stage, and can safely reckon on up to 100 per cent, dividend resulting -from applications of lime to sour land the first year, if the humus content of the soil has not been depleted. Although farmers may not, under the present conditions, feel inclined to launch out in manures, there is not the same excuse to stand off" liming, "the cheapest and most readily available agency for speeding up production. Lime or limestone it is not so very material. The main thing is not to "mis 3 the bus." "There is no doubt that sheep dipping will in time become aa _. . much appreciated among ippwg. stock-owners as is the use of fertilisers among farmers," was the opening statement of a paper on the subject of "Sheep Dipping," by Mr H. K. Dxidan, of South Australia. A sheep attacked by external parasites did not thrive, and would soon become: languid and anaemic, Mr Dridan .continued. The biting of the ticks'and "lice soon the animal to rub and bite its wojaliover the seat of "the irritation, and thl§|fleeoe. became torn and. spoilt. A keen observer would soon notice the first 4jKj£s of the attack of the tick by the dfcPthe tips of the wool. The infested sheep would quickly lose. condition/*..the weight• of!-the < fleece would" be materially lessened s and in addition the fibre exhibited a weak, thin growth. The fleece often became knotty and slightly felted, and there" was also considerable discolouration caused''; by dead yolk, which might sometimes result' in a" permanent stain after the_ wool had been scoured. Dipping, if carried, out properly, killed all the lice and ticks, and promoted a clean, and healthy skin. A growth of bright, healthy wool would be assured. A considerable amount of care, should be exercised in handling the sheep, both before and after dipping. In the first place, they should not be dipped when they were hot and sweating, because there was a danger of cramp. They should be given a drink before being dipped, for if thirsty they. * would be inclined to drink the fluid, which injured their constitution, and in many cases caused death. It was a good plan to yard over night and water early in morning, allowing them two hours before they_ were put through the dip. If the dipping was done on a hot day, a good deal of care would need to be exercised or the sheep would scald. In the same manner one should, if possible, avoid dipping oil' a very cold day, as the exposure to the cold wind- might result in death. What may be expected when all our spare water-power is harnessed Electric Power's for farm work is not all joy Handicap. apparently:—"What matea ' Hiram so glum? Never see him smile no more." "Well, he's i got bo muoh up-to-date machinery on his farm that there's no work left for him to do—electricity or gasoline do it all.. And Hi has been so used to worldng from sun-up to sun-down with his hands that he oan't get used to sitting down and resting for awhile, and letting the machinery do ihd work." Hi got in early, and now the trouble is to find safe investments for his money. AGRICOLiAv '