NOTES FOR FARMERS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5777, 22 January 1897, Page 4

NOTES FOR FARMERS

'■ ' "♦ - The weather in Canterbury continues hot and dry, the showers of laat week affording only temporary relief, and scarcely touching the plains where moisture is most needed. As far as the grain crops are concerned, farmers would now prefer the fine weather to continue until harvest is finished, but grass and roots need a thorough downpour to cause growth. Crimson clover (ti-ifolium incar'natum) is not so much grown in New Zealand as its good qualities as a fodder plant merit. A ■ splendid crop is, however, to be seen on the farm of Mr J. S. White, Ohoka, a sample bundle of which was shown in town on Saturday, and was so much admired that more attention will probably be given to this plant in future. It was grown on a a stiff soil, but light land is considered more suitable. The South Australian Register's forecast of the wheat harvested in South Australia is two and a half million bushels, an average of two and a half bushels per acre, while food and seed requirements will amount to three million bushels. Mr Walter Long, President of the British Board of Agriculture, speaking recently, said he believed that the slight upward tendency of prices now being experienced was due to the fact that agricultural and trading conditions were at length adjusting themselves to the altered circumstances of the wo_*ld, brought about by the inventions and scientific developments of the last half century. Such an adjustment would do more for agriculture than a succession of Parliaments could accomplish. The report by Mr Pounds, of the Queensland Stock Institute, on his experiments in the inoculation of rabbits with chicken cholera are shortly to be published. The Queensland Minister of Lands states that they establish to the fullest extent the fact that the chicken cholera method of poisoning i_ to be preferred to any other so far as tried for cheapness and efficiency, and that the results obtained by Mr Pounds are totally at variance with those which were obtained by experts in New South Wales. .;'........-•• ' Agricultural classes have been arranged at Wesley College, Melbourne, to commence in the first term of 1897. The subjects , of instruction will include the study of the nature of soils — their treat-' ment for live stock, fruitgrowing, general crop farming, manuring, irrigation and kindred branches. The classes will be under the care of Mr Angus Mackay, Government Instructor in Agriculture New South Wales. Messrs A. and W. Montgomery, of Castle Douglas, Scotland, have repeated their experiment Of last spring of importing into Scotland Clydesdale stallions bred in America. It will be remembered that a couple of their chief prize winning horses at last summer's shows were bought from Colonel Holloway, a noted breeder in Illinois.'and one of the leading supporters of the breed in the United States. It is now stated that further purchases of distinguished animals from the same paddocks have recently been completed with the view of shipment across the Atlantic. The precise result of this enterprising step is still unknown, but if the animals are as successful at tho stud as the first consignment liave been in the show ring, tlie Field considers that Messrs Montgomery will have no reason to regret their investment. M. Meline, the Premier, proposes to introduce a Bill into the French Chamber of Deputies dealing with the marking of imported frozen meat. The Live Stock Journal has the following remarks on the feeding of foals with cows' milk *. — When the milk of the dam proves insufficient for the young foal it should bo sxtpplemented by cows' milk. Indeed, in any case, if it is desirable to force the growth and condition of the foal, cows' milk may be freely given to it, in addition to two .or three feeds of oats daily. Many thoroughbred foals are given cows' milk "in almost any quantity," both before and after weaning, and Mr William Day, the celebrated breeder and trainer, believes " withoitt any evil results." While recommending oats for the young animals in the early stage of existence, when following the dam, the same authority strongly discountenances the practice of "■iving them beans, peas, oilcake, or any kind of condiments or condimental foods. Cows' milk, being considerably poorer in saccharine matter than that of the mare, should be sweetened by tlie addition of su<mr to make it more palatable to the foal as well as more nutritious, by imitating as closely as possible the natural produce of the mare. It is well not to snpply foals with milk from herds known to contain tuberculous subjects, although tho horse is not, like cattle and Iranian beings, very susceptible to tuberculosis. Still, in valuable studs even the chance of infection should be avoided.