FARM AND DAIRY.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8078, 14 December 1906, Page 1

FARM AND DAIRY.

There is one principal obstacle to the development of the dairy cow which should no longer be allowed to exis'. That is the lack of appreda tiou of the value of cows which yield over 3001bs of butter a year. The ave age dairyman is not striving to get Mich cows, and is not widiug to take them from the breeds r at their resl value, and, consequently, there aieiot so many persons engaged i<i p o« ucing them as there sir uld bi. If we are given the opportunity to buy dairy cows which will )ield from 30011s to oOOibs of butter a jear, the pioblt-uis of profitable dairying ami of the improvement of deteriorated faims may be considered solved. In the above the cows have no! bt eu credited with the value of thtir manure, which with well fed herds would be a large item, and which, when soil imp ovement is an object, should receive constaut attention. It ihese fertilising constituents aie re-'uri-ed to the soil where crops are grown, with as little loss as possible, either by leaching or volatilisation, it is plain that some profit may be obtained from the cow that produces but 2001 bs of bu'ter per year. Taranaki dairy farmers are giving increased attention to rearing pig", the advance being in both number and quality. During November of last year only seventy pigs were dealt with at the works of the Ellham Company while during the corresponding month of this year the number had increased to 400, and they were of better quality than had hitherto been seen in the district. Farmers have gone in more for purebred boars, especially of the Yorkshire and Berkshire breeds. In addition to being bred better the pigs are being topped off better, and generally farmers are taking a more intelligent interest in the business, wliidi must strengthen the position of the company's brand on the market aud put more money into the growers' pockets. Competition among the manufacturers is at present very keen in the district. Borthwicks are buying largely for the frozen pork tradp, giving the same price as the local factories, 4d a pound. Many farmers are availing themselves of the export trade, as by this means they can get their pigs away at from 70lbs to lOOlba, and they do not require to top them off. One result of this will be that the number available for curiug will be considerably reduced. This will serve a good purpose—it will prevent a glut in the market and thus maintain a fair price for the colonial grower.

In examining a horse with a view to purchasing, never have the horse brought out, or up, or down, to you, but go tc his stall and investigate for yourself certain details, which once you know them require no special acumen to decide upon, or to be aware of. For instance, is there grain in the manger, and the hour of feedii g tome time past ? He may be a bad feeder, nervous, delicate : —well to call the veterinarian's attentiou to this point. Is the straw under his forefeet usually tramped or broken? May be he is one of those irritable, nervous " weavers " (horses which constantly sway from side to side), who are generally, also, bad feeders and poor property. Are stall posts or sides battered or kicked? He may be a kicker by day or night, spoiling his own rest and that of other horses. Does he tear or eat his blankets? Is he tied in any special way, or simply, and as other horses are ? Is he gentle to approach, and to handle—no nipping, kicking, or pulling back on the halter? Does he stand square on both forefeet, or rest one or both alternately? Does he back quietly from the stall, picking up each hind leg without sudden, spasmodic jerking ? And when he returns in the gangway, does he do so smoothly, or does he flinch (in front) as if the boards were not even or his feet hurt him more or less? Are his eyes staring and expressionless, his ears always forward?—indicative of defective vision. Once out of his stall, notice that he submits quietly to being wiped over, and betrays no resentment while harnesßing, at excepting the bit, bridle, crupper, etc., and decorously permitting all necessary alterations and attentions. Accept no departure from absolute docility of deportment, for, be sure that if the animal betray either excitability, nervousness, or vice in the dealer s hands, he will be far worse with you, for you don'c know, and he will know you don'c know—and those combinations spell trouble. In the same way, see him led out and put into the vehicle in wLi.-h he is to be driven, notiug each stage of the process, viewing him always with the icily critical eye of the individual who does not (yet) own him. Excuse nothing, and make no allowances for less. If he makes a move you don'c fancy, say so frankly, aud look further—there are plenty of horses.—Teunessee Horse Review.