FARMING NOTES.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18239, 13 July 1931, Page 3

FARMING NOTES.

SCIENCE CAN HELP. Alterations in Grasslands. BY CHEMICAL MANURES. WORK FOR THE MONTH. Is there a chemical alteration in the composition of grasslands as the result of top-dresisng during the past 20 or 30 years'/ The question Avas mentioned by Mr Arthur Morton, president of the National Dairy Conference, in his opening address in New Plymouth, as one which deserved thorough investigation. All Avere aware that by using manures, chemical action Avas being brought to bear, and it occurred to him that on that account the grasses were not the same as they had been. It might bo a fact that good cheese could be made from milk produced on those pastures then, but not now, because of the addition o.f acids, alkalis, soda, potash and other substances. Factory managers might not be at fault for the reason that they might be dealing with a different article than that df 20 years ago. At all events, Mr Morton considered that investigation was desirable to see Avhether some of the country’s obvious troubles Avere not traceable to that and other like causes. Science and the Farmer. If special farms did not exist to -undertake experiments for the man on the land he Avould have to make them for himself, and he Avould find it more expensive than the present method. ' In this respect, says Dalgety’s Review, he may look upon himself as rather a fortunate person. It is possible for the Government to carry out experiments on a much better equipment so far as scientific knoAvledge and appliances are concerned, than could be done by any individual method of tackling the job. As a matter of fact, the “practical” farmer, who believes he is carrying on bis job by rule-of-thumb methods, owes a great deal more to the scientist and experimentalist than he is aAvare of, and if in these days an experiment fails to play the part it should in helping the farming community, it is more than possible that it is as much the fault of the farm itself, as of those avlio neglect to profit by it. An experiment farm, or any similar institution, can only be useful to the extent those it is intended to help are prepared to take advantage of its Avork.

A Pig in Pain. A remarkabl cinstance of the sagacity of a pig occurred recently on a Tc Puna farm. Tho farmer, while feeding his pigs, noticed one day that one of them was keeping its mouth open, and after taking a sip or two at the trough repeatedly came up tq. him with its jaws apart and looked up at him. He did not think any more of the matter at the tune, hut next day the pig behaved in tho same manner. Thinking this strange, the farmer bent down and looked into its mouth, to his surprise finding a staple embedded in the upper jaw. He started going away in order to get help in removing the painful obstruction. The pig, however, followed him closely, and on his turning round the fjig again stood looking up to him as before. It then occurred to the farmer that the pig might possibly stand still while. he performed the operation alone, so he found a piece oi wire and bent it into a hook at the end. He inserted this into its mouth and withdrew the staple, the pig, as he expected, remaining perfectly quiet. The operation safely performed, the porker scampered happily back to its companions. Ensilage and Hay. The feeding of ensilage and hay will now be in full swing, and care should be taken to see that the poaching up of the ground by the stock is not too severe. A certain amount of tearing about with the hoof is highly beneficial, but it can be overdone. Advantage should be taken of feeding out to consolidate areas affected by grass grub. In the case of feeding liay, there is the additional advantage of seed being introduced in to the fodder, and if the hay is composed of good grasses and well ripened, the hitroductiou of new seed is no small item. From now on dairy cows should be treated fairly liberally m the matter of supplementary feed, for it must be recognised that there is practically no growth on the pastures and any pasture roughage left from the season just passed is low in feeding value. Cases can be mtanced every year where farmers economise with their hay and ensilage at this time of the season to the detriment of their stock and to the next season’s production. Such economy is false, and as a rule there is ample over when the grass is well away in the spring. With our topdressing nowadays, and our usual ample supply of ensilage there is relatively little danger of being “caught napping” in the spring.