LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

Southland Times, Issue 20585, 8 September 1928, Page 14 (Supplement)

LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING.

WORK AT THE GORE AREA. AN INTERESTING REVIEW. The following interesting review of operations at Gore Experimental Area by Mr. R. McGillivray, late instructor in Agriculture for Southland, appears in the Journal of Agriculture. Weather conditions during the past season were not favourable for the growth of the various crops under trial at the Gore Experimental Area. Heavy rainfall was experienced in the early spring. October gave advent to fair conditions for cultivation, and during this month and early November the majority of the crops were sown. Crops generally germinated well and made a good start, but the cold period experienced during November and the first week of December, followed by a period of very dry weather from the New Year onwards, checked growth, and this was reflected in the final yields, and more particularly so the case of swedes and potatoes. The rainfall at Gore for the year ended June 30th, 1928, was 32.84. in. Farmers continued to take considerable interest in the various experiments throughout the season. The Gore Branch of the Farmers’ Union held a field day at the Area during February. The attendance was large, and all branches of the work appeared to be of interest to those present. The agricultural class of the Wyndham District High School also visited the Area and had the scheme of experiments explained. The area under cultivation was chiefly devoted to a continuation of the investigations in connection with plant-diseases, but manurial and variety trials were also undertaken. CONTROL OF OAT-SMUT. A continuation of last year’s work was undertaken. The treatments were (1) formalin (2) bluestone, (3) hot water; and the necessary controls were provided for. Periodical examinations of the various plots were made throughout the season. Smut was prevalent in the controls, and traces were found in the formalin and bluestone treatments, but the hot-water-treated plots were Quite free from the disease. GREEN FORAGE CROPS. Chou Moellier.—This crop germinated well, with every eign of a heavy yield, but early in December it was attacked rather severely by grass-grub. This, together with adverse weather conditions, resulted in a somewhat uneven patchy crop. The outstanding feature was its resistance to clubroot on land where other cruciferous crops were badly attacked. The manurial test comprised four comparisons, ten replications of each being made, with a standard of 2cwt superphosphate per acre. Results were as follows: — Tons per acre. A. (super) 12.8 B. plus 1 cwt blood 15.0 C. plus 1 cwt 30-per-cent potash salts 15.7 D. plus 1 cwt blood and lewt 30-per cent potash salts 15.0 Throughout the period of growth the B, C, and D mixtures stood out prominently, the crop in these plots appearing more even, and plants showing more robust growth of stem and leaves. Thousand-headed Kale.—This crop was grown in 26in drills, and up to the time of thinning in December made poor growth; but during January growth was rapid, and a fair crop resulted. A striking feature in this block was a portion of the land which had not been limed. The line of demarcation was most distinct. On the uniimeil portion the growth consisted of sorrel and weeds, with a few odd stunted plants of kale. On the limed area adjoining a good average crop was obtained without weeds being prominent. Phosphatic manurial trials were conducted, the plots being replicated seventeen times. Manures were applied at the rate of 2cwt per acre in each case. Results were as follows: Tons. Superphosphate 15.7 Seychelles guano 14.6 Ephos phosphate .. .. .. 15.6 Nauru phosphate 14.3 No appreciable difference could be distinguished between treatments during growth, excepting that the Nauru plots were slightly slower in growth than the others. POTATOES. The pure line of the Up-to-Date variety that has been selected at this area has been kept under close observation for another season, and weak and uncharacteristic plants were removed from the growing crop. This line can be said to be 100 per cent pure, and the demand for seed is keen, but only a moderate quantity is on hand. Similar work on Arran Chief was got under way this seson. It is hoped that in about a year’s time a stock of pure line Arran Chief will be secured for distribution. Control of Corticium Disease. —The work of testing clean potatoes against those affected with corticium disease was undertaken on an area of laid ploughed out of grass. Clean seed was planted in plots consisting of four rows alternately with similar plots (controls) of seed affected with the disease. The clean seed plots made much quicker growth and stood out conspicuously over the adjoining controls, and reached their highest peak of growth early in January, when they suffered severely on account of dry weather. The controls, on the other hand, were fully a month later in growth, and were fortunate that at the height of their growth a warm rain fell. The results were outstanding and encouraging in the case of clean seed, and the treatment points the way to the control of this disease. During April the plots were lifted and the tubers were carefully examined by a representative of the Field Mycologist. Thirty comparisons of weights were taken, the potatoes being graded in the field into three classes and weighed separately. Results on a per-acre basis were as follows: Yield from clean seed, 7.44 tons; yield from controls, 5.69 tons; difference in favour of clean seeds, 1.75, tons. The clean seed was the progeny of seed treated with mercuric chloride and hydrochloric acid in the preceding season, and the seed this season was not treated. It showed 2 per cent of corticium infection at time* of planting. The resultant crop showed 13 per cent of infection, as against 100 per cent infection in the controls. Through the enterprise of the overseer thirty-eight varieties of potatoes were grown in small plots, and proved of great interest to many visitors to the Area. Some promising varieties were noted and will be tested again this coming season. ROOT CROPS. The yield of root crops were below the average, owing to climatic conditions. All cruciferous seeds sown on the Area, with the exception of two varieties of swedes, were treated with hot Semesan by Mr J. C. Neill. Field Mycologist, as a prevention against dry-rot. These crops were kept under close observation from the early stages of growth until the end of June. Slight dry-rot infection w.is found in places in May, as compared, with November infection in other seasons. Swedes. The manurial trial of swedes, in which various phosphatic fertilizers were used, created a great deal of interest. All the fertilizers were applined at the rate of 2cwt per acre. The series consisted of six different fertilizers, two drills of each, and replicated ten times. The plots all germinated satisfactorily except the superphosphate ones, which were uneven in growth and the Vtaig yelkus. These ehawftogetics woe in.

evidence for some time; as the season advanced the plants made rapid growth, but the crop was not as even as with other treatments. During December a plant count was made. A 10ft rod was laid in the row and the plants falling within were counted. This was done with each row, continuing in a line right across the block forty counts being taken in each treatment. The average of the counts is as follows, representing number of plants falling within lengths of 10 ft.:— Superphosphate 37.9 Ephos phosphate 51.7 Seychelles guano 55.1 Walpole phosphate 55.3 Nauru phosphate .. 55.8 Sulfurophosphate 53.7 The crop was weighed on 11th Jurfe with the following results: — Tons per Acre. Superphosphate 19.4 Ephos 21.4 Seychelles 21.8 Walpole 20.3 Nauru 18.4 Sulferophosphate 18.8 An area of Caledonian swedes was devoted to a trial of potash and super against a control of super alone. This was a very fine crop throughout, but was rather badly attacked with club-root. Results were as follows: Super, 2 cwt per acre 39.0' Super 2 cwt., 30-per-cent potash 1 cwt 38.6 Super 2 cwt, muriate of potash 4 cwt. 38.3 Super, 2 cwt., sulphate of potash 4 cwt. 40.0 A variety trial of swedes fertilized with super and Schelles guano resulted as follows: Conqueror Green-top 22.7 tons per acre; Smith’s Victory, 28.4 tons; Vilmorin’s Purple-top White, 33.4 tons. Vilmorin’s was a very even block, with sound roots deeply imbedded in the soil and hard to lift. Turnips. A block was devoted to the growing of Greep-top Aberdeen turnips, and manurial trials were conducted with these. Each plot consisted of two rows, replicated twenty-eight times. The strike was uneven and yield low, but the roots were of good quality and average size. Club-root was in evidence, and in patches had reached an advanced stage. The crop was weighed 1 on June 5 with following results:— Tons per Acre. Standard (1 cwt. super and 1 cwt. Naura) .. .. .. 17.5 Standard, plus 1 cwt. 30-per-cent Potash salts. .. .. .. 18.9 Standard, plus 1 cwt 30-per-cent. potash salts and 1 cwt. blood .. 20.1 The series containing potash was distinct throughout, and the. complete manure gave a better start, but in the later stages of growth the various treatments could not be differentiated. Mangolds. Six varieties were sown and proved of interest to visitors, as very few crops of mangolds are to be seen in the district. Results, backed by those of previous seasons, show that profitable crop can be grown. Variety yields were as follows: Tong Per Acre. Barras Stryno V strain .. .. 29.5 Barras Taaroje Trifolium VI .. strain 26.2 Wilboltt’s Dana Ovoid Giant .. Imp. strain .. 21.6 Sludstrup Yellow Long Ovoid 21.5 Half Sugar Giant Rose Marienlyst V strain 14.0 Taaroje Yellow Short Ovoid .. 13.8 A block of approximately 1 acre under manurial trial, with the Prizewinner variety, proved a fair crop. The standard manure was super, 2 cwt. per cwt; seeding, 41b per acre; number of replications, eight. Tons per Acre. Standard 19.3 Standard, plus 1 cwt. blood .. 18.6 Standard, plus 1 cwt. blood and 1 cwt. 30-per-cent. potash salts. 20.6 The crop was very even throughout, and consisted of sound-quality roots. Carrots. Half an acre of carrots was grown, and did well. The size and quality of the roots was excellent, but the crop was a thin one. Manuring consisted of 1J cwt. super and 4 cwt. 30-per-cent. potash salts per acre. The average yield per acre was 24.6 tons. Sugar-Beet. A small area of-sugar beet was grown at the request of the Gore branch of the Farmer’s Union. The seed was sown in October; manurial treatment was 2 cwt. super, 1 cwt. potash salts, and 1 cwt. blood per acre. Germination was satisfactory, and the plants made splendid growth. The roots were lifted on June 27, weights per acre being as follows: Australian, 26.3 tons; Bergamens, 29.3 tons; Kenwanzleben, 32.7 tons. The roots were large and rough. Bergamens appeared to be the best quality. Representative roots from each variety have been sent to the Department’s Chemical Laboratory for testing for sugar content. Special Hay Crops. An area of 5 acres was given to hay crops, subdivided into three equal blocks, all seeded at the rate of 3 bushels per acre, and manured with basic super at the rate of 2 cwt. per acre. The seed mixture in each block consisted of 1$ bushels of Crown oats, to which was added equal quantities of the following: Block 1, Partridge peas; Block 2, Scotch winter vetches; Block 3, Lathyrus peas. The crops were cut and weighed on 15th February, giving the following average yields per acre: Block 1,. 6.5 tons; Block 2, 11.3 tons; Block 3, 5.5 tons. The overseer, Mr.J. Sleeman, carried out the duties of his position in a most satisfactory manner, and Mr. H. Martin, contractor for cultural operations, made excellent work of the drilling, &c. TANNING ON THE FARM. TREATMENT OF SKINS. A SIMPLE METHOD. Farmers frequently have skins which they desire to tan and use. The folllowing directions for the treatment of the skins were recently given at an agricultural meeting in South Australia:— Take the skins to be tanned, preferably fresh from the carcase, or if dry soak them in water until they become soft, Remove the hair by making a lime wash consisting of two shovelfuls of lime and eight gallons of water. Stir the wash and put in the skins; leave them stand for two or three days, and the hair will come off by scraping with a piece of board. Take a kerosene tinful of fresh fowl droppings, and add two tinfuls of water. Place the skins in the solution and allow them to stand for twelve hours to “kill the lime.” Next remove the skins from the lime bath and wash them. The removal of fat, meat, etc., should be done with a blunt edged tool; an old scythe blade makes an ideal tool if ground over bn a grinding stone. Place the skins on a smooth oval surface and work the tool in a diagonal direction, and when thoroughly clean place the skins in the tan. MAKING THE TAN. Take a new kerosene tin, half fill it with ground or finely chopped wattle bark, fill the tin with water, and stand on a slow fire until it comes to the boil. Allow it to cool off, and then strain through a piece of hessian into a clean barrel. Add clean cold water until the liquid becomes the colour of very weak tea; then put in the skins, taking care to see. that they sink below the /wdacfi. After a«lay oriwo add mom

and after the first week the strength of the tan can be increased until it has the appearance of fairly strong tea. One lot of bark can be boiled two or three times. Leave the skins in the tan until the tan has penetrated right through. To ascertain this, cut the edges of the skins with a knife. Always use earthenware vessels—good, clean hogsheads being the best and most convenient. Do not allow the skins to touch iron, because this will burn and spoil the leather. Furs can be tanned as above, except that the lime and fowl manure are omitted. Place the cleaned skins straight into the tan liquor, and turn the skins while in the tan once a day. After tanning, wash the ekins thoroughly in one or two waters or a running stream. For leather lay them out on a flat surface, flesh side up, and smear thickly with equal parts of neatsfoot oil and mutton fat melted together. Allow them to remain until the skins are soft enough so that they will not crumple, then hang the skins over a straight stick in the shade. They can be left until fairly dry, when they should be placed on an oval surface, and the hair side rubbed with a piece of deal board. After hanging up for a day or two the skin is ready to use as leather. Furs should be taken out of the tan, placed flesh side down and smoothed out. A cement floor will prove most useful for this purpose. The skins can be left until sufficiently stiff that they do not crinkle and then turned over and left until quite dry. To soften and put a nice face on the skins, rub the flesh side with a scythe or emery stone.

DAIRY PRODUCE.

GRADINGS FOR THE YEAR. NEW HIGH LEVEL RECORD. The Dominion quantities of butter and cheese grade for export by the Dairy Division during the twelve months ended July 31, 1928 (the dairy industry year), were as follows: Butter: Salted, 71,605 tons; unsalted, 3,118 tons; total, 74,723 tons —an increase of 4.2 per cent, compared with the figures for the preceding twelve months. Cheese: White, 49,415 tons; coloured, 26,338 tons; total, 75,753 tons—a decrease of 0.73 per cent. In butterfat equivalent the 1927-28 amounts for butter and cheese combined represent a net increase of 2.59 per cent, compared with those for 1926-27, hitherto the peak year. A new high-level record in butterfat production has thus been established. NEW ZEALAND EXPORTS. AN INCREASE FOR THE YEAR. PRODUCE SENT ABROAD. The following table of the exports of New Zealand produce for the year ended June 30, 1928, appears in the current issue of the Journal of Agriculture:—

WEIGHING MILK. RETURNS MOST VALUABLE. According to the London Daily Telegraph, the weighing of the dairy yield of each milk cow is said to have been practised in Denmark for upwards of" 100’ years, but fat testing and co-operative recording are of more recent origin. Early in the nineties a beginning was made in the systematic recording of yield and quality milk produced by individual cows, and there was a herd competition, in which prizes were awarded on these results, together with accounts of the quantity of food consumed by each cow, a matter of considerable importance, if not equal importance to output. From the point of view of the breeder it is of some ’moment to know whether a certain yield has been obtained by heavy feeding of concentrates or by less forcing methods. The Danish societies have adhered to the practice of food recording, and in their returns to the Provincial Agricultural Federation they gave particulars of the amount of food consumed by each cow, as well as the usual information concerning yield and quality of milk. These returns form a much more reliable guide to the value.

Item. Quantity. 1,467,954 Value. £ 11,315,756 Butter .. .« Cwt. Casein 44,372 141,430 Cheese .. .. .. 1,529,872 6,360,766 Fish 24,702 85,562 Beef, frozen .. 692,231 977,623 Lamb, frozen 1,865,784 6,669,196 Mutton, frozen 1,095,937 2,085,607 Beef, salted .. Meats, potted 4,990 10,685 and preserved 68,316 237,306 Sausage-skins Lb. 3,715,870 766,345 Milk, preserved 1,091,497 27,513 Milk, dried .. 12,414,035 318,964 Beans and peas .. Centals 208,227 180,559 Oats 260,739 111,155 Apples, fresh Lb. 39,651,282 496,870 Hops .. 406'350 22,612 Potatoes .. .. .. .. Tons 951 7,755 Live-stock .. .. 114,224 Calf-skins .. . .. Number 750,408 245,947 Hides, horse an cattle ,, 451,476 903,834 Rabbit-skins .. 12,333,438 633,090 Opossum-skins . 133,344 77,587 Sheep-skins, with wool „ Sheep-skins 1,371,790 488,206 without wool 8,626,621 1,296,428 Wool .. .. Bales 667,225 16,548,869 Phorium-fibre .. .. .. Tons 13,921 391,759 Seeds, grass am clover Cwt. 75,827 291,161 Tallow Tnns 29,510 882,297 Coal 120,688 172,468 Kauri-gum .. .. 4,588 245,834 Gold . .. Ounces 125,855 518,468 Silver 437,609 43,711 Leather .. .. '.. 20,787 Timber, sawn . .. Sup. ft. 35,389,421 398,474 Other New Zealand produce . 1,095,697 Total Value £54,184,545 Total for Year ended 30/6/27 £45,457,491 In addition to New Zealand produce, reexports from the Dominion in 1927-28 amounted to to £937,591. £1,434,740, and in 1926-27