Farmers' Column.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 1061, 17 June 1874, Page 4

Farmers' Column.

So much of our space wa3 required to publish the statement of the Secretary for Public Works, that we were obliged to omit tho (arming column, which is an ordinary feature of our Monday's issue. The dry weather which lias conlinuod for such an unusually long time, and has Icen m many respects a draw buck lo funning operation?, Las at lost given wuy, niid a considerable fall of rain lias taken j.lnco throughout the district. This will make ploughing and harrowing much esßier everywhere, nnd will make.it possible to break up new land, which it ecarcely wns before. We have several times drawn the attention of farmers to what appears to be a very common mistake, namely —neglecting to make any provision for winter or spring fodder, by sowing rape, mustard or grass among the stubble, and wo quite expect to hear of great scarcity prevailing before long. Tlio drought has sorely affected pastures, and sheep nre beginning to look very poor indeed, especially where English grass nlone is available. Wherever long tussocks abound they are better off, finding an ample supply of small herbage, under and around the protecting tufts. Tho advantages of sowing for foddr-r m stubble may be witnessed m the neighborhood of Qeruldino, where 0110 or two farmers who were wiso m their general ion, have a fine show of grass now, m spite of the long withheld rain. After the last few days' wet, we may soon expect to find wheat, springing m those lands where very early sowing has been effected, but how the tender blades will stand the sharp frosts which may be confidently expected, remains to be seen. Tho South Canterbury ploughing match, a preliminary meeting to arrange which,-we gave an account of m our Instissue.promisestobeaninteresting event. Good men have been placed on the committee, and if those who have been asked to assist them comply -with the request, as there is little doubt they will, a eucccss may be anticipated. Prices of grain arc keoping up finely, and it is a noticeable and very favorable feature that owners are able to hold on till they get their price. In former seaeons the farmer was only too often victimised through not being m a position to be out of liis money for a few weeks oven. We welcome every indication that tho farmers are becoming aßa class, as substantial and independent as they are useful, industrious, and respectable. We talk of an eminent lawyer, an able physician, a shrewd banker, a skilful tradesman, a lucky speculator, but not one of these titles m our opinion carries with it the homely weight that ia conveyed by tho expression "an honest farmer," which belongs par excellence to the tiller of tho soil. Bone Dust and Mangoids.—Mr Dornwell, a butcher and meat-preserver, and also a very successful experimental farmer at Auckland, has been ofinring for the luat twelve months a prizo of £10 to tho growers of the twenty largest mangold wurzel who had purobased a ton of boue-dust from him duviug the previous twelve months, The Cth of May was the day appointed foi tho exhibition, which took place m tho Market-house, Auckland. The Southern Gross says :— There were m all five entries, but only three competitors. Each Bent twenty mangolds, save Mr Wren, who sent twenty-one. They were all of very good quality. John Walters' twenty weighed 2cwt. 2qrs. 141 b., while the twenty sent by Mr Mould and Mr Keay each weighed exactly 3cwt. lqr- 141 b. This was a singular coincidence, and on the fact becoming known, the two competitors agreed to divide prize money and honors between them. Mr Wren's lot had been transplanted, but grown without manure, and wero by fur the largest exhibited. One root weighed 621 b, and tho whole twenty-ono weighed scwfr. lqr. 201 b. Allowing for a space of 2ft. betweon each root a crop of like quality would have yielded at the rate of 140 tons per acre. Hobsb Siioes.—A correspondent of the Bruce Herald writes :—" I have had my horse shod on tho French system for two and a half years. The hoofs are never pared, the frog and bars untouched. They are simply covered rouud whore the shoo fits on. My front shoes are five-eighths inch broad, and have only five nails iv, and the horao has to run a milk cart about the streets eight hours a day. I can confidently recommend tho system to other horsekeepers." Tho manner of shoeing is not too clearly explained, but farrieis might know what is meant. That thero is room for great improvement m the ordinary method, no one can doubt. Lakge Peahs.—Tho Taranaki News says ; —Mr Hullco brought iuto town yesterday BOtno largo pears which were grown m his garden. They weighed on an average two and a-half pounds eiieh, and we wero informed that tho tree still has on it one hundred of a similar Bizo. Give the Boots Pair Plat.—There is a great deal of common sense m these remarks from an Adelaide papor :—During tho earlier stnges of growth, especially amongst cereals, the greater part of the vital power of plants is moro especially directed to tho formation and extension of roots. A young wheat plant, if pulled up, will bo found to Lave attained much greater bulk underground than above, aud the nutriment thus treasured up is an extra store from which tho plant can draw supplies during those subsequent periods when the weather and other causes might check tho powers of tho plant m gathering its daily supplies from without. In fact, tho root has been likened to tlio fly-wheel of an engine, by which a uniformity m its action is secured. In a climate such as ours, where the plant is Biibject to such long periods of drought, it is of special importance that the early development of the root bo us comploto and copious as possible j all tho subsequont wellboing of the plant depends on the root surface it has formed; and its power to resist long drought and other peculiarities of climate is- iv direct ratio to tho quantity of moisture and assimilable food which the roots can store up as surplus available when an exigency arises. Deep ploughing and moro thorough tilth would increase the root surface to a very large extent, and witli it the annual yield per acre, and no doubt a moro generous treatment to the soil m this respect ■would ensure to the farmer a corresponding increase of produce. A supply of oxygen is a necessity to the life of tho root. Heuoo another reason for a well tilled soil, so that it shall be permeablo by the air, and enable tho oxygen to come into contact with tho roots at all points. Lucern roots havo been known to penetrate a depth of 20 feet, and to elaborate to such an extent that they weigh many times more than that part of the plant above ground. An analysis of these roots shows that they are particularly rich m nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid, which they havo collected and organised underground, and have stored up an extra supply for the plant; these are being continually brought to tho surface and supplied to the edible leaves and branches. By feeding off lucern and giving the manuro to the soil, we should be fortilis" ing our surface, from subterranean sources, and by this means the soil would becomo constantly richer m all tho conditions necessary to the production of wheat.