FARM NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13482, 23 July 1907, Page 7

FARM NOTES.

Canterbury mutton and lamb exports for June were more than half tho totals for the colony. The North Island exported nearly £50,000 worth of b'cef, and phorimum to a greater value. The butter and cheese shipped from the North Island ports totalled over £100,000, while in June of last year the total was but £13,000. The grain export was almost nil — 81 bushels of wheat and 1335 of oats — and the total value for April, May, and June was under £1000, while for the same three months last year it was over £35,000.

There was sold by private treaty, a few days back, a ilax property at Kereru, at a sum which gives a good idea of the wealth there is in the native product. The property comprised 430 acres, 100 acres of which was waste, and the purchase price was £32 10s an acre. Some nine years ago it changed hands at £7 an acre. It is stated that for a run of eight or nine months during the past season the miller leasing the property paid in rent and royalty £1750. The re.nt was £52, and the balance was royalty,, and the royalty was- only on eighty acres. Thus the owners received £22 an acre for raw material, growing in a swamp and never cultivated. Of course, the flax can only bo harvested every three years ; but it is a wonderful revenue from a crop upon the production of which nothing has been expended. The new owners of the property are a Palmerston and Rangitik.ei syndicate.

The profitable nature of sheep-farm-ing amongst small flock-owners is well shown by a Leithfield farmer's return for the past season. From a flock of 203 ewes he had 268 lambs, including sixty-five twins. He sold the whole of the lambs at an average of 16s lOd each, and for the wool off the ewes was paid £86. The total return was about 30s per ewe.

The age of young cattle, may be determined, generally, with a close degree of accuracy, by a knowledge of the dentition at various ages. In the case of aged stock there is no rule that is altogether reliable, although an apiiroximation may be arrived at by a knowledge of the growth of the horns (says an exchange). At twelve months of age the animal usually has all its milk or calf teeth in place. At fifteen months the centre pair of incisor milk teeth may be replaced by the permanent incisors, the latter being through the gums, but not yet in wear. At eighteen months of age the middle pair of permanent incisors should bo fully up and in wear. The next pair may not yet be cut through the gums. At twenty-four months the mouth should show the two middle permanent incisors fully up and in wear, and the next pair, the first intermediate, well up but not yet in wear. At thirty months there may be six broad permanent incisors, the middle and the first intermediate, pairs fully up and in wear, and the next pair, the second intermediate, well up but not in wear. When the animal is thirty-six months old three pairs of broad teeth will be fully up and in wear, and the "corner" milk teeth just coming through the gums. At the age of thirty-nine months three pairs of incisors will be up and in wear, and the "corner" teeth will bo through the gums but not yet in wear.

To cure rheumatism, gout, sciatica, and lumbago the excess poisonous uric acid must bo removed. "Rheumo" will quickly and permanently do this. All chemists and stores, 2s 6d and 4s 6d per bottlo. J»"t +ry it. 10