FARM & GARDEN NOTES

Waikato Argus, Volume IX, Issue 773, 6 October 1900, Page 1 (Supplement)

FARM & GARDEN NOTES

An unpleasant change lias taken place iu the weather during the past week, keen westerly galea, accompanied l>y cutting showers prevailing almost daily, which have been very prejudicial to the free growth ofgras-, and fattening of stock. In other directions, also, very little progress has been made, matters agricultural being greatly retarded by the wet and cold condition of the land, I and, as a gnod deal" of crops has yet to 1 go in, a few weeks ot bright, genia l , weather is badly needed. Dairy catt'e, especially, have felt the cutting wind-), the iffect.s of which are manifest in their lowered condition, and rough coats. No farmstockaresosusceptibleto the cold and wet as milking cows, and particularly so when it sets in soon after calving. In such weather straw and hay feeding should be continued, and it will have been noticed that stock which left the straw a week or two ago to graze on the fresh young gras3 speedily assembled round the racks on the first outset of cold weather. Ewes and lambs are doiug well, and should be kept clean. This is important at all times, but particularly so when near shearing Hoggets also will require constant watching to avoid losses, as at this season they are very ape to get on their backs, particularly if infested with ticks. The markets have been antive during the week, prices generally ruling firm. Pat stock are unchanged, butchers'sheep being very scarce. Stores also are in brisk demand ar. full rates- Springing cows are easier, but with a return of .better growing weather values are expected to firm again. The first series of hogget fairs for the seasou have taken place, at which ample proof was given of the general advance in sheep, prices ruling from 2s to 3j 61 per head over last season's opening rates.' The produce markets are firm, most lines showing an advance. Potatoes are again scarce, prices advancing to £3 10s per ton, best Southern seed £4 10s to £5 per ton. Butter i 3 fairly plentiful, but prices are firmer, best dairy making to Oil lb, keg lines 6jd to 7d per lb. Poultry continue in brisk demand, best table birds are 2s to 2s 9d per head. Eggs are wanted at to 7d per dozen. Voting pigs are easier, supplies being plentiful, and the season is yet early for farmer's requirements.

Chary of Innovation —Sflwconservative is the British farmer that it is necessary at this time of day for a Somerset farmer to appeal to his fellows throughout the country to give the reaper and binder a trial on the ground that it has been over 25 years on probation.

Death-traps.— In America wire fences are now regarded by agriculturists as ' death-traps' because many cows and other domestic animals which happrn to bo near them are killed by lightning. There i j , however a means of rendering them harmless. The director of tho Weather and Crop Service of lowra recommends connecting them to ' earth' by wires after the manner of lightningrods.

Colonial Poultry at Home.—ln its ittsue of the 6th ult, the London Daily Mail published the following New Zealand item under the heading ' Headless Colonial Fowls ';—Poultry have need of their heads and feet our colonial cousins do not seem to be aware of. A largo consignment of fowls and ducks has just arrived in London frcm New Zealand, all destitute of these important adjuncts, a deficiency which renders them unsuitable for .'•how in the forefront of the shops. This is the more to be deplored as Homo supplies are plentiful, and, irreproachable as is the quality of the colonial birds, they will find it difficult in their maimed condition to compete with the unsulliad Home product.

Freezing Companies' Profits. —When at the present time so much is said about the gigantic pnfits made by the freezing companies, says the ' Wairarapa Star,' nothing is mentioned about the losses that in the past years have been suffered by shippers Home. Mr J. Cross, of Mastfrton, has shown us the document in regard to a shipment of sheep io 1884. He sent Home 461 sheep, and ou getting his returns found the expenses were more than the proceeds from the sale-' of the sheep in the London market. Not only did he lose his sheep, but had to pay the freezing company £1 12s 6d, the difference between tho expenses and tho proceeds. This was the last shipment Mr Cross sent Home, and his experience is not an unique one amongst the settlers.

Eradicating} Californiax Th'stle.In connection with the question as to the uso of poisionous applications to eradicate the so-called Californiau or Canadian thistle, a writer to the N. Z. Farmer says that he does not think any kind of poison will do more than kill the foliage above ground for the time being. Carbolio acid, he states, causes a stronger subsequent growth, as though it were an effort of nature to repair the damage temporarily caused by the acid. Arsenic, or salt, he says, sinks down into the earth, and nothing but persevering grubbing for two or three years will be efl'eetivo. He particularly advises not to ' disturb the running roots,' by which he probably means not to break them up and ecatter them through the soil; for the same reason he is dead against the use of disc harrows on the Californiau thistle path, and in this we feel sure he is quite right.

AGTiICULTPKAL EDUCATION.—A soore of young men have gone to the United States from Argentina to study agriculture. Their Government -sends Ihein at public expense. They are now learning the English language, and will enter an agricultural oollegoT and also upend some time studying and wurkihu on ►took' farms and western ranches. l>Yom every point of view this is a good thing (saysau exchange). Some one nuy siy that our Americans pay the taxes which support our agricultural colleges, and these. foreigners had no business to tako advantage of our State education. This ti a small and narrow view. This education will be worlh millions in trade to this country. When these young men uo home thoy will want livo stock, implements, and fixtures which can only be obtiined here. We send agents abroad to tell foreign people the value of our products. It is better yet to bring teachers here, and then send them home' to tell their countrymen what we have for sale.

New Zealand Onions.—A merchant in Sydney writes as follows to a frieod in Cbrietohurch, and his remarks, says tho Press, are worthy of the attention of onion-growers in Canterbury :—I have remarked that tho onions arriving from New Zealand are of bad quality, keeping ane 1 carrying badly, and Belling- here as low as ald per bag. As this must mean serious loss to your colony, I thought it well to drop you a liDe on the matter. You will remember that I was in business 16 yeaisago, and you were also carrying on your own business. I sent you 2cwt of onions seed especially grown from keeping strains, and the result was that for some time after you pent us from Canterybury onions as hard as bullets, which were preferred to Victoiian almost, Now„I have had a deal of experience of a praotio il kind both with onions and with seed and I know, from what onions have come here during the past six months that your farmers are growing crops from seed that has been saved from bulbs which were shooting and therefore unsaleable), having been planted for seed I now make an offer through your firm to supply you with scwt or mora of enion seed—brown Spanish, new-set seed, of 1900 harvest, grown by one of the best onion-growers in the colony- a seed that will produce onions having two or three skins, which will carry and keep—at 3s per lb. It would pay the Government to buy this seed, as it must moan seiious los< to the colony tohavo a crop that will not carry to market.

Tiru Tuberculin Test.—Says the Scottish Farmers :—The tuberculin test movemeut has lately had a considerable set-back, or rather will have as soon as facts become more widely ki own. Some time ago a gent'eman resident in the Argentine imported five high-class pedigree shorthorn bulls, for all of which he received certificates signed bv English veterinary surgeons, purporting that they had been tested with tuberculin and found to be free from tuberclosis On arrival at the Argentino port they were examined by the Government vet., and two of tbcm failed to pass the tuberculin test. The result was that he was ordered either to destroy them within a given time or return them to England Ho decided to do the former and instructed his agent to sell them to a butcher, and at the samo time to employ a qualified vet, to examine the carcases, and to report if they were realty suffering from tuberculosis. This was done, aud after very careful examination they were pronounced perfectly free from disease. It would be unfair to insinuate that the Argentine vet. was an incompetent practitioner, as it is quite probable that the long sea voyage had set up a feverish state of their systems, and that the tuberculin seized upon this and caused the reaction. The only fair inference is that as far as our present knowledge carries us in the use of tuberculin, it is not an absolutely reliable diagnostic under all conditions, and the question now to be decided is, What are the con ditions under which it is thoroughly, reliable ? Everything points to the wisdom of delaying the enforcement by law of the use of tu6erculin until we are in possession of more exact knowledge.

Shearing Lambs.—A correspondent of the Wairarapa Doily Times makes the following remarks :—' Does shearing lambs, as a general rule, pay ?' is a question often asked. In reply. I would say that in the case of shearing lambs everything depends on circumstances, and, in my opinion, is not so muoh a question of profit as expediency. I mean to say t.hat the profit is not deiived directly from the wool obtained, but from the benefit conferred by the removal of the fleece. The lambs*thrive better without heavy fleece they have tocarr; during the winter and spring, and' do not requiro so much attention to prevent losses from death by becoming cast. The climate of the North Island is suitable for lamb shearing, and also the northern districts of the South Island. Fabrics made from lambs'wool are not much in fashion now; and the j rice for such wool is very low, but some experts say that the slip from the two shearings combined is greater than that obtained from the same lambs when thorn onoo as hoggets. Tho early clipping probably stimulates the growth of the wool. An early latnb that is not shorn has to carry its fleece about 14 mouths before it gets any relief, and it must follow that a strong lamb would make better progress (always providing tkat the climate is saitable) after getting rid of its burden at tho eud of si.x months. If the results of lamb shearing prove satisfatory, it is more be-