FARM AND DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 25, 24 July 1911, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY

NEWS AND NOTES. Indian Runner ducks are fine layers and great scavengers. Observe economy in feeding, but don't spare good, nutritious food to profitable layers in the run. Observe the hens which lay during the moult. They will be your best and persistent layers. Don't forget that prolific laying is largely a matter of breeding, combined with judicious feeding.

Much of the dirt in milk comes from the cow's udder, which, if kept clean, should facilitate the production of clean milk. Other conditions, such as the milker's hands and presence of dust in the shed at the time of milking, should also receive attention.

Many valuable pigs have been ruined between overfeeding by the breeder and the ignorance of the buyer as to the proper food. Faith is that quality which leads a man to expect that his flowers and garden will resemble the views shown on the seed packets. Farmers, by the selection of high-class mares and the use of superior stallions can materially improve the standard of their farm horses.

After pigs have been running together it is a bad plan to put other pigs into the same lot, as it invariably stirs up the whole drove.

The jubilee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association occurs next year, and to mark the occasion an effort is being made tp liquidate a £SOOO mortgage on the Association's grounds. Disease attacks many flocks of fowls through the drinking vessels. Heavy mortality lurk's in filthy water fountains.

Over-feeding has its ill-effects. It leaves the blood full of material which furnishes a good seat for disease in the poultry run. Study the feed ration while feed is expensive. Don't forget to scald and use lucerne chaff to keep down the cost of feeding the fowls,

The dairy cows brings to impoverished and half-farmed lands methods that give larger profits, and greater improvements than' come from other types of farming. Brood mares during the winter previous to foaling, if not worked daily, should be kept in the open, but sheltered from storms, Daily exercise is very important to them during this period. | In running pigs on pasture it is best to have all the pigs in one lot. By being together they become acquainted, but if separated 'by. ! a : ' fence they will fight through it, ; becoine restless, stop eaEing, and fret. The education of the 'horse should be like that of a child. Pleasure'slibilld be as much as possible associated with the early lessons, while firmness or;' if need I be, coercion, must establish the Tiabit of obedience. ■

See that the salt used for butter-mak-ing does not convey taints to the butter. Salt absorbs large quantities of moisture from the air, and if kept where there are bad odors it is almost sure to become infected with them.

It is suggested in an exchange that hoggets from this onwards will meet a rising market. The reason given is that the new grass areas in the backblocks require stocking up. "Above all things, treat a cow kindly," remarked Mr. Singleton at a meeting lately. A friend of his, when engaging a young man to work on the farm, said to the man: "Look here, young fellow, if ever you feel like kicking the cows! walk away and come and kick me," (sotto voce) "I will give you your cheque in return.

A Wanganui gentleman hag received a very interesting letter from Mr. John Mason, who is at present on a visit to England. In the course of the letter, which was written at Winchester on May 24, Mr. Mason savs: "It surprised me to find how low the price of farming land is in comparison with ours. Any number of farms are for sale at from £l2 to £2O per acre in areas of from 300 to 700 acres, and generally with good buildings upon them; but, of course, working expenses are much higher than with us. Still, stock sells for much more (with the exception of horses). Wc were much interested in the weekly fair held in the centre of Salisbury. Good Down lambs (on the small side) made from 37s to 39s each; shorn tegs (wethers) up to 40s eachwoollies up to 50s. So you see meat must be very dear here—that is English —the price being about Is per lb. A ▼ery great deal of New Zealand mutton and lamb is sold in nearly every large town, but always very much below Eng-lish-grown price, at present being 7i/„d to Bd, and it is always called 'Canter-, bury. In Bristol I came across a new industry at least it is to me. A firm of bacon curers there buy up all the New Zealand frozen pork they can get and then transform it into bacon. One of tho firm told me that it is then quite equal to the English article, and they were doing exceedingly well out of it. I have no doubt he told the truth, as we saw baconers at Salisbury market sell up to £4 each." The litter portion of the letter will be news to most New Zealanders,