RURAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3121, 16 July 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

RURAL NOTES.

liEuijmks as Fkrti users.—There can be no doubt whatever that peas and other j legumes possesss the remarkable power , ofabstraetinu' nitrogen from the air, and therefore it is that a cereal crop following a leguminous one is always benefited. Here, then, is the opportunity to obtain all the supposed benelir.s of a bare fallow by sowing vetches with oats or barley for an ensilage crop. The land will be enriched, and when the ensilage crop is harvested maize or sorghum can be grown and then he cut in time to allow of wheat bein« sown.—lbid. Five Hundrkd Pound of Buttkr

From ON'K Cow.—Duiryfarmors and others will be interested in the fact that their confreres in America, by persistent rare in breeding, have so improved their dairy cattle th'it 5001b of butter from one cow in a year id nut considered an extraordinary yield. It is doubtful whether in New Zealand a larger average than lOOlba year is ever obtained. It takes two and a half gallonx of milk to make a pound of butter by the factory system, and three gallons by the ordinary *ysteir. Value of Rams in Franck.—At a recent sale of rams at the French National School of Agriculture at Grignon, there were offered eighteen Southdowns, eight Leicester*, and seventeen Leicester Merino crosses. The highest prices obtained for the Southdowns was just over £15, average price £11, and the lowest £8. The Leicester* ran up to £23 10s the average being: about £20, and the minimum £6 10s. The best of the Leicester Merinos made o-/er £50, the average was £25, and the lowest £10. The "Practice" of Manuring.— Professor Lowry puts the whole case in a nutshell when he tells the farmers that if one item, of the many required in plant food is absent the plant cannot possibly mature, though it may grow to a certain stage. A chain cannot be strong if only one of its liuks is worn nearly through ; a loaf of wheaten bread cannot properly be made without flour, water yeast, and heat to bake it. If there is not enough of water or other liquid the dough cannot be mixed ; if there is no yeast the bread will not rise ; and if the fire is not warm enough the loaf will be " doughy." So with plants, there must be quite enough of phosphoric acid, nitrogen, potash, etc., for all the requirements of the plant, else it will stop short of its full-maturity. An over-supply of any one of the ingre--1 dients will never make up for the lack of another—they must each one be present.

—Adelaide Observer. Tamworth Pigs.—Our country readers will, no doubt, be interested in the following remarks taken from the Mark Lane Express on the celebrated kind of pigs known as the " Tamwouh." which are in great favour in England :—" The word ' beautiful' would be hardly appropriate to apply to the appearance of any of the porcine tribes. I do not speak too strongly however when I say than the Tamworth

is of a decidedly pleasing appearance. Particularly is this'the case when they are young, when their coats are of that fine rich chestnut colour peculiar to this animal. At one time they had large black spots, but breeders have striven, to eliminate them, and wit'a complete success. They are of great length, _ with deep flanks, and should be plentifully coated with hair of soft texture. Possibly a great hindrance to the widespread popularity of this breed is on account of their long sneuts. There has been a strong tendency within the last few years

to breed them shorter, and already a decided improvement may be observed. In the days when separate classes were not provided for them at shows those snouts were a great hindrance to their success, as the shorter-nosed fraternity always seemed to enjoy the judges' favour. Now all the leading shows provide classes, and these are largely taken advantage of by breeders of the Tamworth. Their economic qualities are of a high order. The sows make prolific docile mothers, and the youns grow rapidly. They are active and good feeders, making a large proportion of lean meat. It is for this particular quality that they are so highly

prized. There is no other breed which carries so much lean meat, and baconcurers of the present day value this property very highly, so much so that they are 'worth more per lb than any other breed. When fed well, they will weigh as much as nine score at six months, fifteen score at nine months, and twentytwo score at twelve months." Colonial Bottee.—The Wellington Press takes credit to itself for having stated nearly twelve months ago, on the authority of one of the most competent judges in New Zealand, that the dairy industry was destined, if properly developed, to eclipse even the frozen meat industry. A succession of confirmatory opinions of more recent date is ! thus enumerated, the whole thing being

concluded as follows :—" Touching on the dairy industry, the Otago D*ily Times of a recent date says that the past season's shipments of butter from the Australasian colonies to England have been the most successful on the whole since the trade was started. Again, The Grocer, a recognised authority in Great Britain, says that the grocery trade at Home has now thoroughly satisfied itself that the Australasian butters are ot a superior quality, and will obtain a permanent place in the market, especially as they arrive at such an opportune period, when pure fresh i grass-butter is absolutely unobtainable. The colonial product, consisting of the purest grass-butter, churned and turned out under the most favourable circumstances imaginable, and possessing rare keeping qualities, with a good' colour and sweetness, has always met a lively demand when other doubtful makes were

purposely avoided by purchasers whose chief aim was to obtain a sound and perfectly wholesome article for their money." We, Press, may add that the season's shipments of butter from Australasia reached the very handsome aggregate of 140,701 packages, against a total of 69,030 in the season of 1890-91, and 51,476 packages the previous season. Uf the total packages during the season 1891-92, no less than 54.000 were from New Zealand, whilst Australia supplied 93,000. The M'Kisley Tariff.—Mr Segrave, the British Consul at Baltimore, in his last report says it is a matter deserving of serious consideration by those interested how far the M'Kinley Tariff Bill will influence rates of freight in course of time. Month by month the proportion of vessels arriving in ballast becomes greater, and it is quite within the limits of possibility that a time may come when the British

shipowner, influenced by more remunerative employment for his vessels elsewhere, or for some other reason, may not care to incur the costs and risks of a trans-Atlantic voyage for a single freight only. '' Should fate decree that such an eventuality should concur with a superabundant harve.-t such as the United States is this year blessed with, the situation of the Western farmer would be piteous in the extreme. Overburdened with unremunerative wealth, he would have no resource but to bury or burn his grain, or to harden his heart and ooudesend to double freight being paid for its transport across the sea. It is hardly necessary to point out that the latter alternative would not tend to its prompt sale unless in direful extremity, and thus the British farmer might finally prevail over his American competitor. I leave it

to more competent critics to speculate on whateffeets, moral, pnlitical, and financial, such a combination of by uo means impossible circumstances might have in this country. It must, however, by no means be lost sight of that at the present moment the solution of a siroat financial problem is actually in the hands of a few score of British shipowners, entirely independent of auy legislative enactments which might be passed in this country, and who might passibly be influenced, from one c.iuse or another, to absolutely renounce American trade." Salvation Fakm.—At the Salvation Army Barracks on Sunday afternoon, Statf-Captain Alderton, who has until recently been connectec with the management of General Booth's farm colony at

the mouth of the River Thames, gave ,in address upon its working. There was a fiood attendance, mid Major Vince presided, Previous to the address devotional exercises were engaged in, and Statf-Captain Alderton's young daughter, who possesses a light but very sweet

voice, sang a solo. Staff-Captain Alderton gave a general description of the farm and the buildings that had been erected since it was taken up by the Army. He then went on to describe the various departments of work, such as the agricultural, horticultural, buildings &c.. detailed the various classes that had

been formed for the promotion of technical, practical ami spiritual instruction. Last winter some forty or fifty acres were planted in fruit trees, and r.omc tens of thousands of strawberry plants had heen put in. When the farm was taken up it was overran with rabbits, and these were caught, placed on a piece of ground 70 acivs in extent, enclosed with a special wir* fence. In this enclosure was also a large poultry yard, and on the farm a dairy factory had been started. The speaker gave some information respecting typical cases of men who were now on the colony, such as

those who had been brought to povrrry and distress through the misdeeds of others, and men whose lives had been ruined through drink. Those nun were, uow contented and happy at the (arm, and if sent to a new colony would be no trouble to anyone, not even the Army itself. — Christchnreh Press.