NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 8

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

When btivino a B ill.

To be absolutely sure that you have a good bull of the dairy type, three

things are essential (declares the expert in charge of the Animal Husbandry Depart-

merit. Wisconsin) : “First, tile bull must have {rood breeding. This means that he has a good pedigree. His dam and granddams should he good producers. He should come from a family of consistent producers. Pedigree, however, is not everything. The bull must be a good individual Many a bull with an excellent pedigree is such a poor individual that no good breeder would use him. Type is essential if we ever expect to sell any of the offspring. As far as young bulls are concerned, breeding and individuality are all wo have to judge from. With a bull four years old we should have another index of his value. Good offspring is the real test of the value of a bull. His offspring should show unifromity and be good individuals. The daughters should also be good producers, at least as good as their dams at the same age. If a bull has these three qualities he is a good bull. If he possesses the first two and it turns out that >e does not have good daughters he is no good and should not bo used longer. If, on the other hand,

his daughters prove to be better producers than their dams, you have the kind of bull every breeder is looking for—one that bujlda up the herd.”

Farming in the United States.

Farmers in the United States are feeling

the slackening in the demand. after a period of prosperity experienced during + ..... .. r PI.~ \ •-.A «

the war. The American Farm Bureau Federation has, with a view of discovering some Of the causes and suggesting relief, been conducting inquiries into agricultural conditions generally. The report, recently issued, states that agriculture is facing a position which if not intelligently dealt with will lead to consequences so grave as to affect all industry to the point of imperilling the social order. Such remedial measures as the following are recommended: —“Immediate preferential treatment in transportation of agricultural produce, to the end that crops may be moved promptly. Guarantee to the farmer of larger profits through stabilisation of prices and a mo.ro rational distribution system, eliminating superfluous middlemen. Liberal financing by rural banks, with long and priority credits. Equalisation of agricultural and industrial wages.’’ It is palpable, saya the report, that many industries have been stimulated to the point that they are topheavy. Abnormal credits to manufacturers of luxuries and non-essentials have largely forced up wages and the cost of living, while the producers of essentials have been overlooked. Leaving the interests of the farming class out of the question, it will be an advantage to the nation to grant preferential consideration to agricultural requirements, even though other industries may be temporarily handicapped.

To Keep Meat Fresh.

The present spell of hot weather makes it mncf rllffipiilf L-fion inpat

most difhcuJt to keep meat* fresh, and no doubt, some will welcome the following method communicated to the

Press bv its South African correspondent:—“The sheep should be killed in the evening and allowed to hang outside if a fine night, and as early as possible in the morning it should be out into joints, as for use, and hung in a meat safe. Having hung three or four grain bags round the safe, to keep a certain amount of smoke in, to take two full tablespoons of sidphur, place in a small dish or pan, put into safe, then set alight by putting three or four live coals on the sulphur; close safe, and leave for three or four hours. Meat treated in this manner will keep fresh in the hottest weather for a fortnight. A whole joint must be used at a time; if you cut a piece off and leave the other portion you will find it will spoil where you have cut it.”

An Artesian Well.

Why not have an artesian well on your

property during this present dry spell of weather? It would doubtless enhance its value and be a joy to the

stock. The artesian -well derives its name from Artois, a province of France, where this system of boring for water was almost in genera] use in the twelfth century. At Grenelle, near Paris, in the year 1126, a bore hole a few inches in diameter was put down, and, to the surprise of all, the water rose to a considerable height above the surface. These wells were then called “artesian,” and were so successful that in this province to-day almost every farmer has a well outside his door, says an exchange. The artesian well of to-day is the same in principle, but it lias been developed to a much higher degree of perfection by modem methods and machinery. First of all the soil and sub-soil are niorced until the solid rock is reached. This rock is then bored until the required quantity of water is tapped and flows above the surface. When this is completed, lining tubes a few inches in diameter are firmly fixed into this rock, and connected right up through thd soil. Therefore all water that enters the well is filtered through the pores of the rock, and cannot possibly become contaminated in any way. Besides being absolutely pure and more plentiful, the water is several degrees cooler and more refreshing than that obtained from an. old “dug well.” 'lt is worth while considering whether it is not a payable proposition to-day cn the farm to provide ample water, as a lack of good water for stock is a serious matter, especially when the weather is unusuallv dry. AGRICOLA.