NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 12

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

The Mineral Content of Pastures.

It is worth while noting some of the factors which affect the mineral content, of pastures. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has issued a bulletin on the above subject, comprising a report on investigations at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute. As a result (says the report) of investigation of the factors affecting the mineral and nitrogen content of pasture plants it is found possible to increase the yields from natural pasture in an area of winter rainfall and summer drought, to lengthen the period over which feed is produced, and to increase the mineral and protein supply in the pasture by the establishment of superior species (and strains) of pasture plants. The application of soluble phosphate does not materially affect the phosphorus content of plants grown on fertile soil. On the other hand, dressings of superphosphate on phosphate-deficient soils increase the phosphorus content of the herbage to a value comparable with that of a phosphate-rich soil.

Burning-off Tank. In the disposal of primings taken from the trees a considerable saving of time

is effected by the use of a burning-off tank in the orchard. Not infrequently recourse is had to carting off the cuttings from beneath the trees to a vacant space of land in a distant part of the holding. This, of course, necessitates time being spent in loading, tipping, and returning, and additional traffic backwards and forwards over the cultivated ground. When a burning-off tank is used it is simplv drawn between the rows of trees, and as the cuttings arc gathered they are thrown in and burnt while the primings from the adjacent trees are being collected. An ordinary 400-gallon tank that is long past use for the storage of water may be used as a burning-off tank with successful results. The tank is placed on one side, so that the usual opening is near the ground and facing to the front. The top side is then removed, after which the tank is placed on runners, to which chains are fitted, to enable it to be drawn through the orchard. If further ventilation is needed to provide sufficient draught to cause the fire to burn, extra holes may be made in the side of the tank. Another method of adapting these tanks for burning off waste wood from the orchard is to cut the tank diagonally through its centre, making holes in the bottom of the divided portions for the ashes to drop through to the ground. Such tanks are generally mounted on axles affixed to wheels or runners, and, while being more difficult to make, are probably no better thau the first-meutioned method. Potatoes for Pigs. In view of the fact that potatoes are at present barely worth digging, it is interesting to learn that they can be fed advantageously to pigs, according to some information received relating to experiments at the Kirton Farm Institute, England. The animals in one pen received only meals and pollard. Those in another were fed on barley, maize meal, and potatoes. In the third pen the diet consisted of potatoes with a little barley and

maize. Potatoes only were given to the pigs in the fourth pen. In all cases the potatoes were steamed and mixed with the meals before feeding. Thq results, judged by the appearance of the live pigs, showed that the meal-fed pigs looked the best and that as the others were fed more and more on potatoes they showed less signs of good finish and “ bloom.” The experiment was run for over 100 days, but when it come to carcass condition at the bacon factory the potato-fed pigs did not turn out badly. The average dead weight of the pigs from the first pen was 2101 b, from the second 2001 b, from the third 1881 b, anil from the fourth (where all barley and maize meals were replaced by potatoes) 1951 b. This last result is curious, as it shows better results from all-potato-instead-of-meal feeding than from the two-thirds.

Of course, the experiment is admittedly a limited one, and too exact deductions should not be drawn from it. But it shows that pigs can make very good use of a bulky ration made up largely of potatoes and that the food is otherwise suited to the animal.

'The most interesting item, however, is the report on the carcasses by an expert bacon man. He said that all the pigs were of a good and uniform type; that in none was there too much fat or any seedy cut. He found the best bacon condition in the pigs of the fourth pen (i.e., the potato pigs) and that the fat of the bacon of the first pen pigs was soft and oily. The other two pens were between these extremes. This fact may indicate that bacon curers might be ready to pay more for potato-fed pigs if they are of the right bacon kind and arc fed on a balanced ration.

Wool Returning to Favour. A bright future for wool was prophesied by Dr Sydney George Baker, Director of Research, British Research Association for the Woollen and Worsted Industries, in an address at the congress in London of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. “ Wool is returning to favour as a textile,” he said. “The experience of Bradford shows its increasing popularity as apparel. Wool now competes with artificial filaments. Rayon suits specific purposes, but wool is more efficient than other materials. It has held its own, despite competition, because of a wider knowledge of new uses and treatment. The fashions of the Victorian days are recurring. Women who scorned the use of ostrich feathers and wool fabrics are returning to their old love, and this is greatly benefiting the wool industry. The householder now sits in a woolupholstered chair. He wears woollen slippers, planted on a woollen hearthrug. He is surrounded by wool-surfaced wallpaper. He reads a newspaper in whose process of production wool is employed. He listens to a piano equipped with woolfelt hammers. Wool is essential to the manufacture of sporting goods, telephone switchboards, bridge tables, and beds.” The secretary of the Australian Woolgrowers’ Council (Mr J. W. Allen) said in Sydney on September 26 that more important than the actual rise in wool prices was the indication of returning confidence. It meant that woolgrowers could hope for some sort of sustained market. “It certainly looks as if bottom in the wool market has been reached,” said Mr Allen. “An especially gratifying feature is the very good clearances effected. Practically all the wool offered in Sydney during the week has been sold.”

A leading wool broker said it was necessary to keep a right perspective. He pointed out that, despite the recent advance, the market was not so high as it was last March. The Bradford tops market, he said, was now on a basis about equal to that of last October and’ about 10 per cent, higher than last July. It was. however, not yet near the pre-war basis of values. • Wool prices at the sales in Sydney on September 28 soared to new high levels. The previous best figure for the Sydney selling season—l3{d —was eclipsed when Yorkshire buyers on several occasions paid 141 d for greasy merino. Then 15d was made. At the conclusion of the first half of the sale brokers reported that best wools showed a further rise of 10 per cent., making 25 per cent, compared with the first day’s levels. Other descriptions were at least 5 per cent, up on the previous week’s closing rates. The season’s record, 15{d, for greasy merino, was paid in Sydney on September 29 by Yorkshire buyers. AGRICOLA.