FARM AND GARDEN

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14584, 5 February 1921, Page 13 (Supplement)

FARM AND GARDEN

.aniOULTURAL EVENTS FOR WEEK ENDINQ FEBRUARY 12. MONDAY. Btock Sale at Ohinewai. Stock Sale at Ohaupo. Block Sale at Cambridge Clearing Sale at Tirau. TUESDAY. Block Sale at Ongarue. Btock Sale at Hikutaia. Btock Sale at Te Puke. Stock Sale at Tlrau. Sheep Fair at Ohaupo. WEDNESDAY. Btock Sale at Te Kuiti. Ram Fair at Hamilton. Stock Sale at Matamata. Clearing Sale at Putaruru. THURSDAY. Btock Sale at Hamilton. Ram Fair at Hamilton. FRIDAY. Bheep Fair at Tirau. Bheep and Cattle Fair at Ngaruawahia. SATURDAY. Btock Sale at Te Awamutu. IMPROVING GRASS L r, IDS. VALUE OF TOP-DRESSING. PROPER GRAZING METHODS. " (No. 1.) It is now recognised by many farautumn top-dressing is more beneficial mers that late summer and early and profitable than top-dressing at a later'period, when the ground has become cold and dormant. Grass topdressed in February and March, February preferred, will respond quickly to super or a mixture of super and guano, and help the dairy cows and other stock when the feed is going ofT In quantity and quality. In the autumn it will give the grass a big start and help the stock through the winter when thev need more nourishment, and also make the grass grow at least a fortright earlier in the spring. In the summer although grazed, nearly all grass and clover paddocks run more or tese to seed, much of which is shed and germinated; early top-dressing will assist the young plants to thicken up the grass. It is to the mutual interest of the grazier and the dairyman that all stock should go through the Winter without loss of condition. What Authorities Prove. — In the monthly journal published by the British Board of Agriculture, much valued information is given on this subject. In a lecture delivered at the Bath and West Counties Show recently, under the auspices of the Ministry, and as part of the latter's grass land campaign, Prof. R. S. Stapledon, M.A., Of the University College of Wales, Aberyswyth, stated that if British agriculture was to be of maximum service to the nation and was to give the fullest recompense to the farmer a proper balance must be maintained between Crops and grass. What was retained cf any and every kind of grass must be every* inch of it productive. Derelict grass lands were the nation's agricultural slums, and to begin all over again With a new system of rotations might prove to be the best method of improvement. Grass land improvement, was largely effected by the use of wild *vhite clover and phosphatio manures, and of productive instead of half productive temporary leys. It was necessary, therefore, that they should have phosphates,, white clover and good seed of the proper kind for leys. A little further on in his remarks this lecturer points out that no matter What method of grass land improvement is adopted, the maximum benefits can never be attained unless grazing is properly regulated, and unless also the grazing is heavy in proportion to the amount of keep, that is to say, in proportion to the success of improvements. Speaking very generally, there was far more harm done by understocking than by over-stocking. What was wanted was a sort of rotation system of stocking, store cattle following fattening animals, sheep following Stores, rather than competitive mixed grazing. Intensive grass-land management was not compatible with large enclosures; the enclosures required to be varied in size according to the time of the year, the weather conditions and the type of animals. Writing on the subject of the "Increased Production of Grass," such a well-known authority as Gervaise Turnbull, F.L.S., late Agricultural Instructor, Wiltshire County Council, states that the-use of artificial manures for grass was now recognised as a profitable means of improvement of land «nd increased production, with advantages over yard manure at least in economy of labour and improved quality. The writer had made a careful examination of the results of most of the very numerous and scattered experimentj on hay conducted in England for many years, mainly in Midlands and the North, aided by personal experience. In the course of this article the writer calls attention to a point, Which is said to be of considerable practical importance, but often neglected, via., to sow in dry weather and so avoid uneven distribution through the ground owing to the small lumps caused by the rain. In die observations particular attention was directed to potash and phosphate, both for economy and all-round excellence.

The following table gives the best results over a series of years:—

Phosphate.—Potash,, locality Gransley, No. of years 8, increase over unmaflured 16cwt, profit per acre 325. Complete, Salop 4 ? 12yrs, IGjcwt,. 18/4.

Nitrogen and potash, Staffs' llcwt.,

Nitrogen and phosphate, Leeds, 1112yrs —8s ild.

Nitrogen and phosphate, Salops, 12 yrs, 15cwt, 18s 6d. Nitrogen only, Leeds, Syrs, 7s. Dealing spe-ckleally with lime and superphosphate this authority states that liming very seldom pays directly. Even with superphosphate it is a somewhat doubtful investment, because slag nay pay better. Jt has been clearly proved, however, that ground lime and 6uperphosphate may do as well as or tetter than slag in live weight increase, but here again slag pays better on slag soils, even light ones. It is worth noting, however, that there may be more profit from lime'and superphosphate than from slag where hay is concerned. At Cransley, over 8 years, the profit from slasr was 17s 'id per acre per year, while lime; and enperphosphate gave 32s Bd. Generally lime and superphosphate may be ■aid to succeed where slag succeeds. . . . Without any doubt phosphates are fhe key to success where quality is concerned and are admirable, even When used alone. THE PRODUCTION OF COWS 60ME MORK WAIKATO FIGURES. The figures of butter-fat returns, from Waikajo'and other places, which have been published in these columns during the past couple of weeks have aroused keen Interest. The writer is glad to see that Waikato farmers are taking an literest in the returns and that they are able to well hold their

own, many of them, with the best stock from other parts. The latest correspondent with valued information is Mr b. Lye, the well-known Newstead farmer, who writes: — . . "In reference to figures published by you in the Farm Notes, perhaps it would be of interest to readers to hear or local cows producing good butter-Mi .returns. It is, to my mind, slightly misleading to quote money value lor the following reasons, viz., butter-fat payments are different in the various districts in New Zealand, and sometimes the value is placed at per quart estimate. In giving the following figures I trust others will ao likewise, for it is only by comparison that one finds out wiiai can be done, and is in fact being done by Judicious breeding and culling of dairy herds. Last season (1919-20 I placed cloven Newstead cows undci semi-official test, and all qualified, and were awarded certificates, the average production being 4641 b butter-fat in 355 days. The average production for December, 1919, was for 11 cows 55.661 b of-fat. For December, 19/0, the twelve cows on test produced the good average of 57.51 b butter-fat per cow, S.O. test. 1 might state he figures above are from entirely different cows each year, making 23 cows from the Newstead herd." Among Mr P. J. B. Ryburn's Jersey herd at Paterangi there is a cow with a wonderfully high record. This is "Sunflower's Distinction," ' a mature cow, Byrs, who gave 8865.21 b of milk in 299 days, and 585,531 b fat over the same period. In the tenth month. December, her return was 880.01 D milk, With a 6.9 test, and a return of 60 721 b fat. "Sunflower's Distinction" was bred by Mr H. E. B. Watson, the well-known Jersey breeder and judge, of Tai Tapu (Canterbury). She is the dam of "Twylish's Distinction," owned by Mr W. H. Mier, of Rukuhm "Twylish's Distinction" was the champion'bull at the recent Waikato and More Southern Data'. A splendid record of the milk producing qualities of the Shorthorn dairy cow has been obtained by Mr G. N. Bell, of Palmerston North. The Milking Shorthorn cow "Dairymaid" has just completed her semi-official test and her certificate shows 15,3491 b of milk producing 722.721 b of butter-fat. the test for the November and December months being 5.5. During the whole of the period under test she was never milked more than twice a day and has had no artificial foods. During the winter a little clover hay was given and dry bran in the bail, these being the only additions to ordinary paddock feed. "Dairymaid" was champion at Palmerston North In 1915 and 1916, and is a splendid type of the Milking Shorthorn breed.

JOTTINGS i

It pays to breed quality stock—whether farmer or pure-bred breeders. Do yourself a favour. Get rid of the scrub,' 4<% he bull, boar or ram.

Curing the average farm flock Is profituule for the owner. Drinking water, plentiful and cool and fresh in summer, is an absolute essential to heavy milk production. A proper crop rotation will do much in reducing the cost of weed control.

Fine soil is more fertile than coarse soil—thus the reason for careful cultivation.

The farm is a home, and should be neat and attractive, with a lawn, trees, shrubs and flowers. /

A scrub sire is backed by his tail only, a pure-bred by man's thoughtful work for generations.

Legumes improve soils directly in two ways—by adding organic matter and by Increasing the nitrogen content.

According to a representative of the Gippsland Co-operative Selling Company, who has returned from a visit to Singapore and Java by the s.s Roggeveen, the agreement with the Imperial Government whereby Australia's surplus butter is taken from October to April at the fixed price of 2745, is having the effect of seriously hampering the export of butter to Java. Butter is arriving at Java from Holland at a cheaper rate. Java was previously a big market for Australia, but If Java could buy cheaper there was every probability that the Australian trade' would be discontinued.

With tiie great progress made in agricultural education during the last decade some hope is entertained that farm schools, along the lines of the Teachers' School recently held at Ruakura, will have a permanent staff of teachers, and will eventually become an established institution under the name of the Ruakura School of Agriculture I Pedigree dairy Shorthorns vie with Frieslands in the esteem of English dairy farmers-. At a sale of 90 females and seven bulls from the herd of the Duke of Westminster an all-round average of £223 15s was obtained. The London Dairy Show winner, Cherry Ben, was vjuthdrawh at COO guineas. The Royal champion cow, Bare Charm, realised 875 guineas, her heifer calf making 270 guineas. Two bulls,, Eaton Benedict and Eaton Royal Regent, made 410 guineas each. A Friesland heifer, Sparrowycke Desire, which has a milk record of 13,0 10 lb of milk in nine months, realised 1000 guineas at a sale in Essex on November 10. A 20,0001 b cow, Dark Eye, and her twin yearling heifers, Conda and Zulu, and her bull calf Record, made a total of 2120 guineas, the individual prices being GlO guineas, -130 guineas, 330 guineas and 750 guineas.

The teachers who attended the recent farm school at Ruakura felt that they had benciitcd both mentally and physically during their term. They spoke in eulogistic terms of the instruc tion received from the visiting instructors and the officers of the Department of Agriculture.

Mr J. D. Head, of Springhurst, Victoria, has sold a Jersey bull caif, Nobleman, by Arcadia's Choice, dam Trefoil, to a leading dairy farmer on the north-west coast of Tasmania. Trefoil's record is 70521 b milk, average test G.,16, 4341 b butler-fat in 273 days under the Government test. Arcadia's Choice was bred by Mr Knight, of Cobram, and is out of Arcadia, tiie winner of the butter test at the Melbourne show. Trefoil's dam, Alsyke of Springhurst, now in the herd of Mr T. Mrsley, Daly-ton, yielded 82151 b milk, 5.2 s test, 43ilb butter-fat in 273 days in last year's lest. This young Jersey should have a marked effect on the Tasmanian herd.

A good and cheap harness blacking is made by melting 2oz mutton suet and 6oz beeswax together, then adding Gnz sugar-candy, 2oz soft soap, 2Aoz lampblack, and ioz powdered indigo. When thoroughly mixed, add a quarter pint of oil of turpentine. For harness polish, break ioz glue and pour over if one pint vinegar: Id it remain till quite soft. Dissolve 2oz gum arabic in half a pint of black ink. Add another half-pint of vinegar to the lirsl solution over a lire, but do not let, it, boil. When dissolved, add gum solution, and keep it, at ISOdeg. Fahr., adding 2dr. isinglass dissolved in a little water. Apply a thin coat with a sponge.