NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 12

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Teat Warts.

Tn reply to a question regarding treating

warts on the teats of a cow in milk, the writer is well aware of the

difficulty, as the best treatment is done in the “ off ” season, and would, if done now probably cause irritation of the growths. On the whole, the application of a strong solution of baking soda each time after milking may be as beneficial as any other method of treatment. In animals that are not being milked the best means of removing these surplus growths is by the use of a blunt pair of scissors. Cut close up to the thin necks, and finally paint the stumps with a concentrated solution of salicylic acid in collodion, or touch the wounds at times with tincture of iodine.

Dehorning of Calves.

Now is the time to give this question the

consideration it deserves. Again the writer presents the treatment free to all who think that horns are

superfluous to all except breeding stock, i.e., some of the pure breeds of cattle. The operation should be performed when the calf is from two to seven days -old. This is how one authority writes on the subject:—First clip the hair from around the budding horns, the tips of which should then be slightly moistened, care being taken to avoid wetting the surrounding skin. Then rub the tip of each horn firmly with a stick of caustic potash until a light impression has been made on the centre of the horn. This can generally be done in less than half a minute. The horns should be treated in this manner from two to four times, according to the size of the horn and the age of the animal, allowing about five minutes to elapse

between each application. If, during the interval of five minutes after one or more applications, a little blood appears in the centre of the horn, it will then only be necessary to give another very slight rubbing with the potash. In some cases the calf may show signs of acute pain after treatment. This can be relieved without lessening the success of the operation by applying, with a small brush or sponge, a solution of chloral hydrate in water. This solution, together with the caustic potash, can be obtained ready for use from a chemist. The following points should be carefully noted:—Roll a piece of strong paper round one end of the caustic potash stick to prevent the fingers being injured. Do not moisten the horn too much, or the caustic will spread to the surrounding skin and destroy the flesh. For the same reason, keep the calf from getting wet for some days after the operation. Be very careful to rub on the centre of the horn, and not round the sides of it. The operation should not be attempted if the calf is more than.nine days old. One man should hold the calf while an assistant uses the caustic. If caustic potash is exposed to the air it rapidly deteriorates and becomes worthless. When not in use it must, therefore, be kept in an airtight bottle. To the foregoing I may add that the application of some vaseline on the parts immediately surrounding the horn or button is advisable in the interests of humaneness.

Dry Farming Commandments.

Although not conforming to all the following dry soil command-

nients, there are undoubtedly many in Central Otago who will view

some of them with credit and scan the others with interest: —(1) Thou shalt have no other occupation than farming. (2) Thou shalt fallow thy land every third year, being careful to plough it both early and deeply. (3) Thou shalt cultivate thy fallow and not allow weeds or any other thing that is green to grow thereon, or winds to blow through it, for in such way the moisture which thy fallow should conserve would be wasted and thy days will be nothing but labour and sorrow. (4) Thou shalt not desnise the harrow, but shall use it < en whilst thou ploughest, and shalt place t.iy chief reliance upon it thereafter, whether in early spring, late summer, or autumn. (5) Thou shalt sow good seed early and down into the moisture, lest peradventure it cometh not up betimes. He who soweth his seed in dry soil casteth away many chances of reaping. (6) Thou shalt not overload thy dry land farm with seed, ' even as the merciful man doth not overload his ox or his ass. Thin seeding best withstandeth the ravages of drought and hot winds. (7) Thou shalt keep on thy dry farm such kinds and numbers of horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry as the water supply inaketh possible, and thou canst grow pasture, fodder,

roots, and grain for. Thus shalt thou be protected against adversity, and thus shalt thou give thy children and thy children’s children cause to call thee blessed, inasmuch as thou didst not too greatly dissipate in thy lifetime the fertility stored in thy soil tnrough many thousands of years. (8) Thou shalt not live unto thyself alone, but thou shalt work unceasingly for the welfare of thy district and the upbuilding of agriculture. (9) Thou shalt study thy dry land farm and its problems unceasingly and ponder on ways and means whereby its fruitfulness may be increased, keeping always in memory the fact that not alone by speeches and resolutions, but also by intelligent and timely hard work, shall production be increased and the economic salvation of thy country be wrought. (10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s big farm. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s big four, nor his mortgage, nor his worry, nor his burry, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s. Remember these dry farming commandments and keep them wholly.

A “ Good ” Bull.

The American Stockman and Farmer recounts a little melo-

drama of the farm wherein the hero and chief

actor was a “ good ” bull. Like all good people, he died young —the reward of virtue. This is the story: Once upon a time an American farmer had a huge black bull running in the pasture along the road. He was playful, but not vicious. An itinerant tinware pedlar often passed along this pasture. His name was Asa Doane. He, through some vocal malady, had an exceedingly high-pitched voice. When he attempted to say “ Whoa ” he said “ Whoo.” The horse he drove was a spirited animal, and when the roads were rough Doane’s approach could be heard for quite a distance. It happened that on an August morning the black bull was feeding along the pasture fence near the road. The tinware merchant could be heard approaching, for- the road was rutty, and the din was considerable. Asa could be heard shouting ‘‘Whoo! Whoo!’’ The bull stood mildeyed, watching this strange conveyance, until he heard Asa’s *' Whooing.” To this? he gave instant attention, and trotted up to the fence, following the progress, of the wagon. “ Moo-oo ” he said. Asa turned and, to his evident great alarm, beheld the nearness of the bull. “Shoo-oo; go away, shoo-oo,’’ he said. “ Whoo-00, Charley, whoo-oo.” Moo-00-oo,” said the bull. Charley, the horse, was for some reason in a hurry that morning, but Asa seemed set against any speed. As later developments showed, he had a box of dynamite in the rear of the wagon, hauling it out to a stumpland farmer. It seems that the bull thought that Asa's whooing ” was a challenge, as he commenced to paw dirt over his back and butt the earth, mooing steadily. Asa, always a timid man, was terrified at the thought of the dynamite in his wagon and of that animated dynamite across the fence. Of what followed, Asa's story wag never coherent. But a neighbour ploughing at some distance said he was surprised to see Asa dismount from the wagon, unhitch Charley, mount to his back, and ride away at terrific speed. Shortly afterwards the ploughman heard the bellow' of an enraged bull, followed by a crash of rending fence. The black bull was in the road. He made several circuits of the pedlar’s wagon, pawing and bellowing. Then he turned and dashed a considerable distance up the road and whirled. With head down and tail aloft, he bore down upon the wagon, intent on its annihilation with all his animality. He was successful. The concussion was terrific, likewise the explosion. . If the only good bull is a dead bull, that blackbone was one of the best. Ihe wagon vanished. Tinware rained on the surrounding fields, and as the terrified Asa never-returned, a few farm wives laid in a lifetime supply of tinware. Farmer Herkimer, the bull's owner, with team and log-chain, towed his good bull home.