FACTS FOR FARMERS.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 238, 18 November 1873, Page 2

FACTS FOR FARMERS.

BURGESS AND KEY'S IMPROVED MOWING MACHINE. Tms machine is claimed to be the be»t mower ever invented in case* where the services of ordinary farm labourers onlj are available. If it fulfils this promise, it will be a most serviceable machine ; because hitherto one of the greatest drawbacks to the use of mowing and iimilar mac. inei for ngrieultuial purposes, hus been tho difficulty of working them by unskilled labour and their consequent liabiht) to breakage or derangement whenever this was attempted. The manufacturers state "that this machine is maJe on a new system, by which the crunk ii on a lc*el with the knife, and the cutter bar nearly under the main ailc lhe advantages of this arrangement are said to be important. It 11 of very light draught. This is a result of correct arrangement of Aanoui parts of the machine, particularly of the direct thrust obtained by the crank being on a level with the knife. Tho lightness of draught is not attainable (ai in American machines) through extreme lightness of construction, the mower being one of the heaviest in actual weight. This weight is valuable, at it gives great steadiness when working, and power to cut the heaviest crops." Tho manufacttuers also say • — " Knowing that agricultural implements ottcn go into unskilled hands, we have studied to make the machine as •imple and linndy as possible. The loers for putting in and out of gear, and for lifting th« cutting-bar are most; conveniently situated, besides which a most efficient •»Worn »f oiling, b\ mruns of patent oilers, is introduced. These oilers ure scrpwedon to each of the principal bearing?, nnd besides supply ing the bearing will oil for a day w ith once filling, and exclude all dust and grit. The facility which 13 chinned lor t lie lcncwal of any part of it nt a small cost, is that the p.irN which are liable to wear, are all no small and mt xpruMif that it is better to substitute new rather than to repair the worn ones, and as the machine can be taken to pieces by the most unskilful person, this plan enables farmers to icpair their own machine, and so save the expense of employing » mechanic. The main wheels of this machine aie larger than is usual, which gives them more grip on the ground, and the machine more power. In June, 1872, the Fromo Farmers' Club, being desirous of ascertaining the comparative merits oft ho numerous mowing machines owned b\ the tanners in that district, advertised a trial and offered prizes to the labourers who had worked their masters' machines dm ing the then hay harvest, but making it a condition thnt each such competitor should have ser\ed his mnßtoi :vt least three months, and that he should at tho trial me lih master's machine and cut with it not less than one acre of old mcudou gras* within the hour. Subjected to these conditions the prizes vvero awarded according to the degree ot goodness of cutting. Numerous mowing machines bj the most celebrated makers were used. The result whs the av\aid of the whole of the prizes, Ist, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th to the men who used Burgess and Key's mowers in the competition." Mr W. G-. Ainsworth, York street, Sydney, imports these machines to the colony.

A correspondent of the New York Tribune nntci as follows: — "Noticing in * recent issue jour invitation that those interested in poultry would commumcute their results and experience. I beg to band you mine. Jn Muy, 1872, I had in all 10 hens, 10 chickens, and one cock During the season, from these 10 hens and four dozen Spanish and other eggs, I raibtcl 58 chickens, most of which we consumed when their market value was from 15c to 25c each. I had, beside those bet, 23 dozen eggs, at from 18c to 22c per doz. My poultryhome is a lean-to, Bx6 feet, and G feet high, sloping to 4 feet, made weather-proof. In it I constantly keep a box filled with dry tarth anil ashen, and another w ith sand, old mortar, 4-c. My stock now consists of 11 liens and one cock, four of the bens being nearly pure Light Brahmas, hatched in May last. E\ery moining I feed them w ith potatoes, carrots, and cabbage, boiled, and mixed with corn meal quito hot, and seasoned twice a week with cayenne and salt ; at noon, they get meat and bread scraps from thr table ; and at sunset a little whoJo corn. When I apprehend a very cold night this is boiled, seasoned, and given to them hot. Water is always at bund, and, when needed, is warmed, and renewed as often ns it freezes. The •übjoined statement will bhow how they pay :—

Tins nulintcs the* net proeneds to lie nbout $1 G9 per lien for nun 1 months, or $2 per year I ouuht to say that a dollar'B worth of tie abo\e fi eel is still uiKoniiirne l Inm fully convinced that, neii with breed, feed, and shelter of the very best, attempts at making poultry pay will end in failure and disjoint, unless the moil earneit and unremitting care and attention bo exercised. The very commonest kinds nny be made at least self-sustaining, and the farther you get fiom " common" the greater will bo the profits. Perseverance in gentle and systematic treatment will here, as in all things else, bring its reward. A practical malster and brewei* of twenty years standing gives through the columns of the Tamworth News the following hints to farmers upon the growth and managomctof English malting bnrley : — Firct, as to the soil. Barley should bo sown upon different noils, as experience has brought to my knowledge how the quality varies in being grown continuously in the jsame ground. My experience teaches me that barley sown in rod clay produces a grain reddnli at both enda. and sometimas orer all tlie grnin, with a thick skin and tough luturo, something like the soil it grows in, and therefore not so valuable as that grown in soil of a lighter nature. Now, loam, and gravel, and chalks are far superior for the productiou of malting barley, as grain grown upon these soils gives us a white body of gram with thin skin, plump kerne), and, when malted, a sweet flour, and this is the kind grown England to produce a fine amber malt. Not w t'istanding that bnrley may be grown, and produce a fine crop in the field, yet it is liable to be spoiled by being mown too soon, and that fact will bo discovered afterwards in the shape of a shrivollcd and lean grain, and this w ill never make right good malt. Barley for malting ought to be mown and put in cocks like hay, and stacked m the rick in the same way, and particular care should be taken in stacking, and that it is'jiot damp or " wcttieh," or it w apt to heat and become mow-burnt, and in fact the grain will not " spire " upon the malting-floor, arid it is there where the wholo art of the business is wanted, for without good malt it is impossible to make good ale or porter. It is my belief that as good barley can bo grown in many parts of this colony as at home, and, if properly managed in the harvest-field, would produce as good malt. A short time bnek I receneil a smnll tarn pie of ?.IrPrnk's growth, (of the Hanging Rock) and had that been properly harvested I may confidently say no better was ever grown in tho old country. The barleys most suitable for malting purposes are the " English " and " skinless."

9 liens and one cock Hen and brood . ■1 dozen eggs for setting 1301b corn meal I3agofbran 6 buohrlf corn .. 5 bushels corn $3 9C 1 OC 0 72 1 9C 0 6S 2 r»c 2 75 Total Ck. $13 31 8 fowli and 50 chickens, used for home conBumption, markot yalue 23 dozen eggs, May to October \ 18 dozen «ngs, Decouiber to date (Feb. 26) .]. 11 hens and 1 cock now m stock $15 6C 3 98 5 4C 6 OC Total (Jost $30 93 13 39 Net profil ... $17 5S