FARMING NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXV, Issue 11786, 24 September 1913, Page 5

FARMING NOTES.

(By "Agrieola.")

The Lambing Season. When fat. lamb was not so valuable as it is now, when wool and mutton were cheaper, and cropping was relied on to a greater extent tnan is the ease now, the lambing did not receive the attention that it now gets. Ewes and lambs, at any rate on ■ grain growing farms, were left more to their own devices, unless any serious trouble took place. .. ■ ,AIJ that is altered nowadays, and tho lauibhig season is one of the most important on the farm. The object each farmer sets before him is a big percentage of good, strong lambs. A big percentage can only be obtained by -rearing every lamb that is born alive; and good strong lambs can only be procured by providing good winter feed for the ewes, and the proper sort of feed for them and their progeny iv the spring. There does not appear to be a great advantage in having very early lambs, except where there is a good butcher's market handy. Apart from the fact that the later the lambs are in season, the better the prospect of feed for'them, it must be remembered that the early lamb market at Home is always well supplied from the Commonwealth of Australia and from the North Island of this Dominion. Then another reason for having the lambs arrive late is the desirability of keeping the ewes on theturnips as long as possible in the spring, in order to save the grass paddocks aa much as possible. This allows the grass •to get away in tho spring, instead of having every blade eaten as soon as it appears. But in order to have the turnips in the spring, so as to save tho grass, the ewes must not be half starved in the earlier part of the winter. They must be kept going on good feed all. through the winter. If this is done there will be less danger of them going wrong in the lambing owing to having been fed on turnips. They should be given a few hours only for a commencement on turnips, and if they are turned off all through the turnip season, after having four or five hours on the roots, so nmch the better; and a day or two now and again away from the turnips altogether will not be a disadvan--4-o t_rc\ * UtgC. In crutching the ewes, watch must be ktpt for those that have only one teat. Any found with that defect must be marked, and if she has twins one of her lambs must be taken away from her. Of course, if such a ewe is noticed before the rams are put in she should be kept for the butcher, or put among the mob of killers for home consumption. But if she gets in lamb, and has twins, the only thing to do is to relieve her the task of rearing more than one lamb. * * * # When the ewes come off the turnips for lambing, they should be well distributed over the paddocks according to the carrying capacity of each paddock. Ewes manage their lambs more easily when they are not too much crowded together, more particularly if twins aiv plentiful. There is the idea in tho minds of some that a change is necessary at frequent intervals, and that the ewes are better to be changed from paddock to paddock while lambing is in progress Change is, no doubt, a big factor in the management of any class of sheep, but while lambing is actually on, the less the ewes and lambs are driven about the better, especially in tho case of young ewes When lambing is over the mobs may be boxed up if thought desirable and various paddocks given a rest in turn. No doubt havingthe ewes in small flocks makes a Jot of work at lambing time, but it is tho best plan. There is a great deal of anti-partum paralysis in evidence this season, whether from too much feed and too little exercise it is difficult to say. Tho general run of farmers now give their ewes the exercise that pregnant animals' should have to ensure good health in the mother and offspring. Yet tho trouble remains in evidence, though certainly it is most prevalent after a good winter such as has been experienced in the Wairarapa, and there seems to be very little that can be done for ewes that suffer from it.

As to the methods to be adopted in ensuring that every lamb born alive shall be reared little need be said. When a ewe loses a lamb she should be given one of twins, and the skin from the dead lamb may be put on the live one. Another dodge is to rub the live lamb with whisky or turpentine putting some on the nostrils and throat of the foster-mother. In mothering up lambs this way a shed may be used, the ewo with the lamb she is to take being put in a dark corner. A small sledge pulled by an old hack will be found useful in bringing to the homestead any ewes that need attention. On rough country the ewes which refuse to take their own lambs, or those that they are asked to bear have to be tied up, or placed in a little yard enclosed by three.hurdles. I have seen a rough shelter made by partly covering these hurdles with sack'ng or straw. A straw stack fenced in with wire netting is also useful, out no coubt tnese and many other are alreauy known to Wairarapa farmers. By getting the sheep in the sued they CMii. however, be easily attends.! to early ard late, at any time dur'n? th;< day cr light.

The. presence of a dog in the lambing j.r.odccks is desirable, though some •'irfi of 0} inion that all dops shoui ■.:} !s l>i-|.t away. The dog should be an old o-i-! that Avill keep strictly to heel, unless I»o ie required to catch v owe c-v lamb lie* should b<v silent in his wor-:, 10-.vtvci- A ewe will defend hor )i-mh usually in the presence of a dog, and a mother which shows a tendency to desert her progeny will sometimes be led to take a sudden interest in it when a dog comes around. Where the practice of putting the ewes with twin lambs into better feed is followed, a dog is necessary to help cut out these ewes, and their lambs. * * # # Hints on Mixing Fertilisers. Sulphate of ammonia should not be mixed with basic slag or any manure containing free lime. Sulphate of ammonia can be mixed with superphosphate, guano, bonemeal, dissolved bones, kainit, sulphate of potash, or muriate of potash. Nitrate of soda should not be mixed, with superphosphate, dissolved bones, dissolved ; guano, or any other dissolved manure. If it is desired to mix it with any of these fertilisers, the mixing operation must be performed just before application. Superphosphate or dissolved benee should not be mixed with basic , slag, or bone flour, as if so the soluble phosphate in the manure would become partly insoluble. Kainit and muriate of potash do not. mix well with superphosphate or ;>ny other dissolved manure. Sulphate of potash should always be used for such mixtures. Leforo mixing, the different materials (Continued Overleaf.)

(Continued from Page 6.) Should be well broken up and riddled. ♦■* ' * * Managing tho Bull. < Fixing up an arrangement by which tho bull cannot see, while at the same time not interfering with his freedom, is regarded in America as tho most effective plan. A correspondent of ■"Hoard's Dairyman" thus explains: — !< i cot a flank of leather and took a 'good five-ring halter that fitted'(you can vary the size), cut the front, 13 inches at top by 8 inches at bottom and 12 inches long; cut front of side pioces square, back 6u a mitre. Put pieces of leather together, black side down ot front and up on side, rivet about threofourths of a irineu from edge with copper belt rivets and burs long oiiough to rivet well, and H inches apart centre to centro (as he will try it severely). The hood will stand open like a box at corners over his eyes, giving good ventilation and some light. Rivet back of side pieces to side flap of halter between the rings, make a loop round back of upper ring and rivet; rivet a strap to lower corner and pass through hitch ring to other corner of side piece; rivet bottom of front to nose piece of halter." It is also a practice of some breeders to put a short rope or chain in the ring of a bull's nose, and this is regarded as a good plan because it gives a man an opportunity to protect himself should a bull unexpectedly charge him.' • The rope or chain is sometimes'put around the horns and tied at the end, long onough to extend through tho ring. Tying the rope about the horns gives a leverage not obtained when the chain is tied directly to the ring.