LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

Southland Times, Issue 22158, 28 October 1933, Page 12

LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

COAL-DUST AS MANURE AN EARLY AGRICULTURIST. Southland farmers, in view of the large deposits of coal in the district, will no doubt be interested in the following article by “H.8.T.” which appeared in the New Zealand Herald:— I had recently loaned to me an extremely interesting old book entitled “A New Treatise on Tillage Land, with Observations, Remarks, and Experiments to Disclose and Abolish _ the Present Prevailing Error in Agriculture.” This treatise, published in 1796, is obviously the work of an agriculturist who was in deadly earnest in his efforts to prove that the use of lime, the then most popular "manure” in England, was detrimental to the crops which it was supposed to benefit. Some of his arguments against lime were extremely amusing in the light of modern scientific knowledge of soil constituents and their uses. For instance, he says: "Take a barrowful of old soapy, rotten dung, and a barrowful of lime, mix them well together with water and plaster some stones m the building way. By this experiment it will be seen that the lime overcomes and is master. The dung is deprived of its nature, for the stones are bound fast together, which all the rotten dung in Europe would not accomplish of itself. Did lime contain that necessary black matter which vegetables require for the composition of their bodies, then would it give life. Vegetable food is of a black matter and passive in the air as well as in the earth, containing a body seemingly fat, oily, greasy, soapy, unctious; and we are all convinced that neither of these natures will bind two stones together. Black and White “Bodies.”

"But now know, brother husbandman, thou steward of the public, that a black body of earth the poorest that can possibly be, will bring forth fruit in some degree of other, whereas a white body, such as lime, cannot bring forth any, nay not so much as a simple green leaf, being diametrically apposite to the given laws of nature. “Vegetable matter, as said before, is of a pure liquid, reamy, black substance, and so also is vegetable and animal bodies when in corruption even in likeness as black as the sight ot the eye, but against the sun full of beautiful colours: Commit the human or animal blood to the open air but a trifle of time, any of you may then behold it in solid perfection. The countless experiments which this verbose author describes in his treatise, all of which were undertaken to prove that lime—by itself-would grow nothing superior to green moss, apparently convinced him that any admixture of this “abhorrent white substance with soil was detrimental. Coal Dust Advocacy.

We have little reason to boast our present-day knowledge that the proved good effect of lime is the result of its chemical action on the other soil constituents which it dissolves, and makes available to the plant. It was practical farmers such as the writer of this old treatise who, by their unaided experiments, found out many of the truths which scientists are to-day conout to a logical conclusion his assertion that white substances aid not promote vegetable growth, whereas black did, this author advocates the use of coal dust as a dressing guaranteed to grow crops on the poorest land. He says in regard to its effect on clayey subsoil: "The working of fine small coal in really astonishing, for without the assistance of expensive instruments, servants, or creatures of mighty strength, it performs the whole .abour of trenching (below the common ploughing) by its own most amazing active power, and singular nature when turned under vore (the furrow) opening that load of earth below into regular breve atoms, that a trifling stick will pass freely and through all its parts... “It occasions the whole deadly mass to turn about by changing its close compact body into a fruitful, mellow, fertile earth for years to come. "That coal is not a manure or dressing for any land whatsoever, I believe no man living can say, and prove it; because I have found it to prosper, by its own self, every plant in the common course of husbandry.”

Origin of Coal. The writer contends that coal, being originally vegetable matter, will, when it disintegrates, provide all the substances essential for complete plant growth, and backs his assertion by saying that he has grown in pure coal dust mature corn of various sorts, of a far better quality than that possilbe from ordinary richly fertile soil. _ It would certainly be a most interesting experiment to try the effect of finely powdered coal on some of our intractable clayey soils such as can be found in the North Auckland district and elsewhere. He assests that “a pure solid bed of clay or marl will, following an application of fine coal dust, become a perfact garden mould in about two years, and never more return to its primitive state.” Agricultural scientists have proved that what such land as is described above requires, is abundant vegetable manure or humus to alter its texture and supply its deficient ingredients. Is it possible that coal dust would similarly supply these deficiencies. Unquestionably lime damages some types of soil, while it vastly improves others, as do also many of the other “fertilizers” in popular use to-day. Again, a too-liberal dressing of any fertilizer frequently defeats its object. No doubt too-liberal dressings with lime have had this effect in some instances in the past. It is certain that we can supply too much of a good thing, and that a balanced supply of all essential plant food should be the aim in all top-dressing.

DAIRY INDUSTRY MENACE OF MAMMITIS. PREVENTING ITS SPREAD. Mammitis remains a terrible menace to the dairy industry, and the campaign against it should be made more general and energetic says a writer m Hoard’s Dairyman. Now that tuberculosis has largely been routed out and contagious abortion prevention is better understood, there is need of a better understanding of the mammitis menace and the necessity for its control. In considering the precautions to take the “don’ts” should first be stated. Of these we may begin by advising that no dairyman should buy or retain a “three-teater” cow. She is likely to prove a “carrier” of the infection of mammitis. In the case of a valuable pedigreed cow that has lost a quarter of her udder through the disease, there is a strong temptation to disobey that “don’t,” but it is dangerous to do so. If retained, the cow must be kept isolated and should nurse her calves instead of being milked. The second "don’t” is to avoid the purchase of a cow that has had anything go wrong with her udder. Dairymen often decide to “run chances in such cases, because of the explanatory assertions of the seller, and almost invariably they live to rue the “bargain.” Another “don’t” is never to let a cow remain in the stable for even an hour or a day when she has an attack of garget, no matter how mild the attack may be. Instantly isolate the animal and have her milked by a person who does not milk other cows. Fit her for the butcher if she does not perfectly recover. Now for a few of the important things to do for the prevention of mammitis. Use a “strip cup” several times a week, right along, to test the milk from each teat of each cow in the herd, and instantly isolate any cow that proves to have slime, blood clots, curds or pus in her milk. Have the milkers cleanse their hands before each milking, keep their finger nails trimmed short, and milk with dry hands. Cleanse the udder and teats of each cow before each milking and imifterse the teats for a minute or two in a milk antiseptic solution after each milking. Cleanse and sterilize the milking machine daily in exactly the way prescribed by the maker. Milk by hand every cow that shows any sign of mammitis. Have affected cows cared for and milked by a person who does not milk other cows. Catch unsound milk in a vessel containing a disinfecting solution and then throw it out in a place from which cows are excluded. Keep the stall floors clean and keep cows, so far as possible, out of water, mud and filth. Protect the udders and teats from flies that may carry infection. _ Always cleanse, disinfect, and whitewash a stall vacated by a mammitisaffected cow, and include the floor and gutter. Use scalding hot water containing some recognized disinfectant for the cleansing work. Do not let cows lie on a concrete floor or cold, wet ground.

RAGWORT MENACE SPECIAL LEGISLATION. Legislation will be introduced this session authorizing county councils to finance the purchase of sodium chlorate in bulk for retailing to farmers for the destruction of ragwort. _ Arrangements have been made with the Unemployment Board under which loans can be made to councils under certain specified conditions. Labour used under this scheme much be drawn from the unemployed. In a circular forwarded to county councils the Department of Agriculture states that the question of what can be done to stimulate efforts to eradicate ragwort and overcome the handicap resulting from the unavoidably high prices farmers have to pay for sodium chlorate has been receiving the active attention of the Government, in view of the pressing necessity for doing all possible to deal effectively with this pest. As the existing financial position prevented the making of a direct grant from the Consolidated Fund, arrangements had been made in co-operation with the Unemployment Board under which loans, up to an over-all maximum of £lO,OOO, could be granted county councils on the following conditions:— Purchase in Bulk. (a) That the moneys so loaned shall be devoted entirely to the purchase of sodium chlorate in bulk. (b) Sales to farmers in small quantities as desired shall be at as low a price as can be arranged (from 3d to 4d per lb. according to quantity purchased is suggested), plus cost of containers, if supplied by the council. (c) Where labour is engaged for ragwort destruction it must be unemployed labour. The Unemployment Board is making the necessary arrangements for facilitating this. (d) That the proceeds of sales to farmers be credited to the general funds of the county. (e) That the county councils pay interest on the loan at the rate of not less than 4J per cent per annum, and repay the whole loan in five years at the rate of 20 per cent each year on the original sum advanced. Such payments to be made from the general funds of the county.

A large or total payment will, however, be accepted by the board at any Importing merchants will be asked to satisfy the Government that sales to county councils in bulk are made at a price which will return to them a fair and reasonable profit in the circumstances and no more.

Special Legislation. It has been ascertained that under existing legislation county councils are not fully empowered to carry out these proposals; therefore, special legislation will require to be introduced and steps to this end are being taken. It is proposed that this legislation shall authorize county councils: (1) to purchase sodium chlorate in bulk; (2) to retail to farmers at a price which may be below cost price; (3) to raise a loan for the purpose without the necessity of taking a poll of ratepayers; and (4) to repay the loan and interest thereon out of the general fund at the rate of 20 per cent, each year. As it is deemed desirable that early action should be taken in the purchase of sodium chlorate, the legislation will be so worded as to validate any steps taken in the meantime by county councils to put the above arrangement into force in their districts. All applications for loans should be made in the first instance to the Director-General, Department of Agriculture, Wellington.

WOOL PUBLICITY WORK OF MISS HOWEY IN ENGLAND. PROGRESS AT BRADFORD. The work being done by Miss G. V. Howey, of Christchurch, who recently went to England in an endeavour to secure greater publicity for New Zealand wool, is outlined in an interview with Miss Howey, published in the Yorkshire Observer. Miss Howey is secretary of Wool Publicity (New Zealand), which was given a grant by the Government for the purpose of publicity work abroad. “It will be to the advantage of your textile people to collaborate with us,” said Miss Howey, when interviewed by the Bradford correspondent of the Yorkshire Observer. Greater publicity for wool will create increased demand for wool goods which, in turn, will encourage growers to produce better raw material. For some years the sheep farmers in New Zealand have been losing heart about the wool side of their business and it is one of the objects of our organization to try to check the tendency which they have been showing to allow their wool to deteriorate.

“This is the first big movement made to organize the wool industry and to set up properly-constituted councils which will determine marketing methods, research, publicity, and general development of the industry.” Proposed Publicity Methods.

Discussing the methods by which wool could be popularized in a campaign such as was now proposed, Miss Howey told the interviewer that these would include general advertising on attractive lines, and a special direct appeal to the housewife to buy wearing apparel and home furnishings of wool.

Referring to possible publicity arrangements, Miss Howey said, “We have in mind for immediate use the presentation of the story of the Golden Fleece in pageant form similar to that staged in America about three years ago. This has already been given in various parts of New Zealand and Australia with great success. It created an increased demand for wool goods, but the campaign lost much of its efficacy because it was not permanent. Our idea is to make this publicity work permanent. The wool council or councils must be permanent bodies with regular funds coming in for publicity purposes. Miss Howey also told the interviewer that she had had talks that day with several leading men in the wool textile trade of Bradford, on the objects of her mission. She had found Lord Bamby very sympathetic and at the conclusion of the interview with him he had dispatched the following cablegram to Mr H. D. Acland, president of the Canterbury Sheep Owners’ Federation:—

“Permit me to offer personal encouragement on the reported movement to form a wool council. If the Dominoin will follow South Africa’s lead corresponding action in Australia would be facilitated. A voluntary levy is here current, but hopes exist that it may shortly be substituted by statutory authority similar to the cotton and other trades. Collaboration between producing and manufacturing interests on marketing preparation, research, publicity, and general development under the control of properly-constituted councils is very desirable.” Support for the scheme has already been promised by the London Drapers’ Chamber of Trade, and by a number of important men in the wool textile industry, the interview concludes.

EXPORTS OF LAMB | PROBLEM OF THIRD QUALITY. LEAN MEAT TRADE. Whether or not lambs of a lower qualty of primeness than that of the standard grades should be exported from New Zealand is a question that has frequently arisen in recent years. The Meat Board’s rigid policy is that so-called “third-grade” lambs must not be shipped, but, according to many farmers and others interested in the meat trade, there is a very sound case, both from the view of the supplier as well as that of the consumer, for encouraging the trade in such lambs for which there is a good and growing demand and which returns good money to the shipper. Several prominent Hawkes Bay farmers expressed the view to a Dominion representative that the export of lambs of a grade lower than the limit of second class should be permitted. One of them mentioned that he had recently been shown cablegrams from Manchester and Liverpool and other industrial centres in Britain asking for third grade lambs. The question was whether they should supply those people with what they wanted, he said. The prices at Home would not allow all people to buy first grades of lamb or other meat. He thought that they should give them what they wanted at Home. “Are these people going to get what they can buy or have nothing? Are we going to say, “We will supply what we have, not what you require.’ ”

It could not be denied that there was definite market at Home for lean meat —or in other words—perfectly good lamb that did not measure up to the standard grades of “prime,” etc. Should we not supply this market with exactly what it wanted? He maintained that we could do so with profit to the New Zealand farmer and without prejudice to the deservedly good name and reputation of prime New Zealand lamb. It was well known that third quality lambs were being shipped to England, the Meat Board’s denials notwithstanding. They could call them “light primes” or “light seconds” or whatever else they liked, but they were nevertheless third grades, and it was undeniable that in many cases they sold at prices equal to or better than prime or “second quality.”

THE WORLD’S WHEAT INTERESTING FIGURES. The magnitude of the task of placing the wheat trade on a more remunerative basis is illustrated by the bal-ance-sheet of the world’s wheat surplus. President Roosevelt’s scheme to raise values has been aided by nature in the United States and Canada, there being a United States crop deficiency estimated at 20,000,000 quarters in respect of this year’s harvest, while Canada has only 17,000,000 quarters of new wheat to export, against 42,000,000 quarters a year ago, but this is completely over-balanced by the enormous carry-over of old wheat in the United States and Canada and the good European harvest. The preliminary estimate of the world’s surplus and the requirements of importing countries are given as 130,000,000 quarters and 64,000,000 quarters. The balance of the United States wheat position shows this wheat crop to be officially estimated at only 500,000,000 bushels, and with home consumption 660,000,000 bushels, the carry over will have to contribute 160,000,000 bushels to the domestic bread basket. Canada, by _ following America’s example in pegging prices, recalls the mistaken action of the wheat pools three years ago, when they held prices some 10/- and 12/- a quarter above the world’s levels and accumulated stocks that are still a burden on the market. It is very problematic whether the world acreage reduction scheme under discussion will prove a success owing to the contending interests, and the wheat outlook therefore appears decidedly bearish. Of the grand total surplus of 130,000,000 quarters, Canada’s contribution to that surplus is 17,000,000 quarters, Australia 17,000,000 quarters, Argentina 19,000,000 quarters, plus a carry-over of 86,000,000 quarters at the end of the previous year.