FARM AND DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1930, Page 16

FARM AND DAIRY

POVERTY BAY JERSEYS. INITIAL PEDIGiR'E'E SALE. Attracting much interest from dairy farmers, the initial sale of pedigree stock undertaken by the Poverty Bay Jersey Club proved fairly successful, and though there was nothing sensational in the prices paid, the average of 244 guineas over all lots disposed of, was considered satisfactory. The best bid was for a very attractive two-year-old heifer, which was passed in at 100 guineas. The animal, Pinewoods Maggie, was offered on behalf of Mr. N. 'Burrows, and though small, showed first-class points. Top price, in the matter of actual sales, was made by another entry from Mr. Burrows’ herd, 48 guineas being paid -by a Wairoa buyer, Mr. C. Gemmell, for Oakland Rosa, a four-year-old cow. The actual number of sales made under the hammer was small, five cows averaging 3'5 guineas; two heifers, 144 guineas; nine bulls, 25 guineas and two bull calves, 6J guineas. The best : the 'bulls was a yearling offered on behalf of the Cook Hospital Farm, which sold at 37 guineas. Some transactions were concluded privately after the close of the sale, and the vendors generally were satisfied with the results, as indicating a lively '.interest in pedigree animals.

BONE FERTILISERS.

LONG -LASTING BENEFITS.

Considerable merit attaches to the use of bones as a fertilising agent. There are quite a number of products on the market that consist of bones in some form or another, but in many instances little use is found for them by the horticulturist, although they are probably the most valuable of mild-act-ing fertilisers, and* the plant food they provide is more lasting in the soil than that of the so-called artificial fertilisers.

Bones themselves in the taw state are totally unsuitable, except where they have 'been submitted to comparatively fine grinding, and are converted into What is known as bonemeal. Bones in this st-ate should contain a substantial amount-of organic matter and nitrogen, which is generally reckoned as ammonia. The major portion of bonemeal is phosphate of lime, and this, when applied to the soil and dug in, is gradually but surely converted into a soluble form, which the plant can assimilate.

For outside uso bonemeal is usually applied at the rate' of from 4oz. to Boz. per square yard. It can be used with or without animal refuse, and being of a mild —one might almost say harmless —nature it can bq, mixed safely with most other fertilisers. It is valuaible as a dressing for lawns, can be applied as a top-dressing to herbaceous and rose borders, while it is a valuable addition to potting soils for plants that are gross feeders. A large potful to a barrow-load of soil will not be too much.

NITROGEN FOR LEGUMES.

APPLICATION NECESSARY.

There is a general impression that 11 is unnecessary to apply nitrogen in the. form of artificial fertilisers to leguminous crops such as lucerne, the assumption being that these' crops obtain au their nitrogen requirements from the air by means of the nodules on their roots. It has been found, however, in very carefully conducted experiments in England, that nodule formation, and therefore ; the fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere, does not begin in th? case of lucerne until two or three months after sowing. In the first year lucerne can utilise a relatively largeamount of applied nitrogen, because the protein or nitrogen content of the seed is not large enough to keep it over the so-called hunger stage, and is unable to provide a sufficient development of the root system for nitrogen fixation. Applied notrogen is also, helpful at the beginning of the first production year. It is obvious that unless the plant produces a fairly large root system there can be no large development of nodules, since there will be only a small number of rootlets on which the nodules can form. Nitrogenous fertilisers, therefore, are extremely valuable in the early stages of development of plants such as lucerne and beans.

BOBBY CALF INDUSTRY.

QUALITY OF THE HERDS.

A suggested danger to the dairying industry in New Zealand was brought under the notice of members of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, when the opinion was expressed by some that if the killing of “bobby” calves were to become prevalent there would be difficulty in the future in replenishing herds, as . too few calves would be left alive to ' maintain the industry at its peak. A letter -was received from Mr. Leicester Matson bringing the matter under the executive’s notice. He said he believed that the 'killings were over 1000 a week and the position was a grave one. If the calves were killed it would be difficult for the farmer to replenish his herd in the future. fffn -looking through the exports,” wrote Mr. Matson, “the capital figures of the 'Mairy industry are something wonderful. Therefore its value to the whole of New Zealand is of the greatest moment. Hence the position warrants overtures being made to Parliament to prohibit at least the killing of female calves. This would prevent the risk of the decimation of stocks in the immediate future. If some such step is not taken there undoubtedly must be a falling off in the dairy industry, as the acute shortage of cows means higher prices and herds of a lower standard. It will mean the retention on the property of many old cows that should 'be replaced with young ones.” The Chairman. Mr. C. Mclntosh: The “bobby” calf industry is not new in the North Island, but this is the first year it has come into Canterbury and the position appears to be serious. Where will we 'be in two years when the herds need replenishing and the calves have been killed off? Mr. R. G. Bishop said that in his district farmers were keeping their herds up, but many calves were ‘being killed to stop wastage where there were large numbers of them. The matter was referred to the Dairy Committee.