FARM AND GARDEN

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15016, 12 August 1922, Page 15 (Supplement)

FARM AND GARDEN

AGRICULTURAL EVENTS FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 19.

MONDAY. Stock Sale at Cambridge. Stock Sale at Patelonga. Clearing Sale at Tirau. TUESDAY. Stock Sale at Hamilton. Horse Sale at Mutamata. Clearing Sate at Waitangaru. WEDNESDAY. Dairy Sale at Claudelands. Stock rale at Te Kuiti. Stock Sale at Matamata. Clearing Sale at Waitoa. Clearing Sale at Pukerimu. THURSDAY. Stock Sale at Morrinsville. Clearing Sale at Te Aro'ha West. FRIDAY. Stock Sale at Ngaruawahia. Stock Sale at Putaruru. SATURDAY. Stock Sale at Te Awamutu.

NOTICE TO FARMERS.

Recognising the Importance of giving the farmer highly scientific advice, we have made arrangements for articles to appear weekly from the pen of a recognised authority on agricultural matters. Farmers are invited to address any queries on farming matters to “Practical,” care of Waikato Times, and they will be answered in the succeeding week’s issue.

ANBWERS TO CORREPONDENT6.

'‘F.C.,” Albany.—Milk fever is not i hereditary. It is only cows that T are good milkers that become affected and it is liable to occur with the third, fourth and fifth calf. When the symptoms are detected air should be pumped into, the udder, the teats being tied with tape, and if the animal is not on her feet within three or four hours the process should be repeated after working the old 'air out. The animal should be placed in such a position as will prevent her from spreading. Once a cow has had milk fever she is subject to it again.

Ergot In Hay. *N.L.,” Orini. —It is safe to use hay made from grass affected with ergot? Cases of stock poisoning are known to have been caused by feeding hay made from ergotised grass, chiefly due to tall fescue in it. You should therefore not take the risk of feeding such material, as ergot in any Quantity is risky. Even comparatively small amounts have been known to kill horses. If you have dairy cattle In milk it is not advisable to feed the hay, if you suspect it at all.

SUMMER FORAGES,.

(By “Practical).

Now that we are beginning a new milking season, and facing another spring with our stock, be they sheep, dry cattle, horses, pigs or whatnot, the question of providing ample feed to back up the pastures, if a dry spell should lower their production beyond the maintenance level, should be in the mind of every careful farmer. “The trust to Providence’’ way is, or should be, out of date in these times of hard finance. After the spring flush is over, and the production of the pasture goes down (especially is this probable where no top-dressing has been re-, sorted to), then it is a safe insurance to have the turnips to which to turn the stock on. If we are dairy farmers and the factory will allow turnips to be fed, all right; if not, then the farmer must consider a crop which is allowed. Green maize means more labour and does not provide so good a fodder. Japanese millet can be fed off, and cows like it and milk well on it. About 15 to 201bs. of seed will sow an acre, with about 3 cwt. of superphosphate applied with the seed. Land intended for maize or millet should be got ready without delay, t so that sowings can begin in October and November. Rape is a crop that will always HH a place with the sheep farmer. It is good for pigs. It should be sown with about 4ozs. of field mustard added to 31bs. of rape, and the seed mixed with 2cwt. of superphosphate and lewt. of blood and bone. The whole can then be sown through the drill using every second coulter. H sown with the double ridger the results are better. The sheep, when feeding it off, walk up between the rows, which are 28in. apart, and do not tramp down the crop. In the cultivation of the standing crop when it is young, the wide rows are an advantage. Rape may he sown late m September if conditions are favourable, or early in October. Sorghum and Sudan grass have been disappointing in Waikato but they give good results in sheltered situations in this and adjoining districts however.

PHOSPHATiC FERTILISERS*

USE IN N.Z. AGRICULTURE EDUCATING THE FARMER. The foll'owng paper on “Phosp'hatic Fertilisers in New Zealand Agriculture” by Arr A. F. Ellis, the New Zealand Commissioner to the British Phosphate Co., conveys much valued information to agriculturists. Mr Ellis states: — . The beneiiLs arising from usin Q phosp'hatic fertilisers 'on our New Zealand soils have been so fully demonstrated from time to time that the fact hardly requires stressing. It will generally be agreed that under most of our agricultural conditions, the farmer cannot afford to put in crops without them, and in many districts topdressing is equally necessary. It is evident that phosphoric acid is the limited factor as regards our capacity of production, and fortunately such fertilisers are cheaper and more lasting in their effects than nitrogenous Or potassic. The action of phosphoric acid on plant growth lias been dealt vritih fully from time to time by competent authorities, and hardly calls for further reference. Its great service in bringing on the growth of legumes "'ill: their wonderful property of absorbing nitrogen from the atmosphere and storing it up in tile roots,for the benefit of grasses and other crops, is now fully recognised. Probably this is one of Hie most important factors in the beneficial results obtained from ton-dressing our grass lands. The fact' that phosphatic fertilisers are supplied in three different degrees of solubility, however, calls for some comment; a good deal of misconception exists in this matter, and one frequently hears of the less suitable fertiliser being selected for certain purposes. To put this matter in a .concise form, and avoiding confusing technical terms, the following appear to be I he general characteristics and ftoaditjons under which the various.

ph'osphatlc fertilisers should be used:—

Water Soluble Phosphate. The onlv form this is supplied in is the well-known article, Superphosphate, the quickest in action or ai phosphates, and particularly adapted for cropping, by reason of the way the voung plant is helped on. Us wonderful effect on root development, and in hastening the maturity of the crop, leave it without a rival in these inspects. Where soils arc more or less acid, particularly when the super i used for top-dressing, it is advisable to use lime also, as this fertiliser is an acid one.

Citrate Soluble Phosphate,

This is usually supplied in the form of basic superphosphate, Basic Slag, and finely ground raw phosphate, ur these, basic superphosphate may be considered the quickest in action and as regards percentage of phosphoiic acid is somewhat higher than highgrade basic Slag. Being an alkaline fertiliser it can be used with advantage on acid soils, ar.d many authorities hold that it is the best article to use for top-dressing, particularly where the rain fall is not very high. Basic slag is ■ prepared under the Bessemei process of manufacturing steel, is fairly quick, and gives good results, but this process has been superseded m England and some other countries, b> the “open hearth” method, which yields a much lower quality slag both as regards percentage of phosphoric acid and citrate solubility. Some of this “open hearth” slag is corning into the Dominion, and care should be taken to make sure that it will compare favourably with other citrate soluble phosphates as regards results. In any case, even high-grade basic slag contains less than half the percentage 'of phosphoric acid that finely ground Nauru phosphate does. In the latter, a small percentage of the phosphoric acid is citrate soluble, and this has led to much misconception as regards its utility. The analytical process of estimating citrate soluble phosphate was first introduced as being the nearest approach to what actually takes place in the soil when a phosphatic fertiliser is applied, and it was therefore considered can authoritative lest as to the manurial value of the fertiliser. But of late years it is becoming discredited in this respect, and it has been demonstrated repeatedly by field tests, that phosphates not highly citrate soluble, but high in phosphoric acid content, have given as good, and frequently better, results than a fertiliser containing more citrate soluble phosphate but a lower total phosphoric acid. The reasons for this are not difficult to arrive at. Many of our New Zealand soils are more or less acid, and this acidity is the main factor which renders the phosphate available for the plant, thus doing in slow degrees what the sulphuric acid does rapidly in the process of manufacturing superphosphate. The phosphate, white taking up the acids of the soil, at the same time counteracts the acidity to a considerable extent, in the same way that lime does, and thus further assists towards estabishing fertility. Recent experience in the Auckland province has demonstrated the effect of soil acidity on raw phosphate very forcibly. It has been found that when mixed with finely ground limestone, the phosphate has not given such good results. The reason Is that the lime neutralised the soil acidity forthwith, thus counteracting the conditions which would have rendered 'the phosphate more readily available to the plant. The best test therefore for cilrate solubility is the actual use of the fertiliser in the ground, for the chemist cannot produce in the laboratory the same conditions that prevail in the soil.

Insoluble Phosphate.

This term is misleading, for though tricalcic phosphate is insoluble so far as pure water is concerned, when applied to the soil it encounters different conditions. The soil waters contain carbon dioxide and organic acids, which slowly but surely act on the phosphate. The principal phosphatic fertilisers in this class are finely ground Nauru, basic slag and bonedust, though the value of the last named is enhanced by its percentage of nitrogen. Phosphatic fertilisers containing a high percentage of insoluble or tricalcic phosphate can he used to best advantage for top-dress-ing on acid soils, particularly in districts where there is a good rainfall; the latter factor in a very important one. Without the rainfall the phosphate may lie for some time practically inert in the soil, but of course the process of rendering it available starts as soon as rain sets in. Soils which arc rich in humusor decomposed organic matter, respond readily to this class of fertiliser. As thesc-so-called insoluble phosphates are slowdy soluble, the benefit from using them extends over three to four seasons, so that for permanent improvement to grass lands they may be considered quite suitable. It is very necessary ttiat the material should be ground to a very fine state of division, at least 80 pur cent, passing through the standard sieve of 100 holes to the linear inch. These fertilisers should be applied preferably in the late autumn or winter, in which case the plant has a longer period 1o draw its requirements of phosphoric acid before the spring conditions set in. If applied in the spring when immediate action is necessary, this can be obtained by adding a proportion of superphosphate, say one part of super to two of finely ground Nauru, This mixture is very useful in many ways, and may be used l'or cropping purposes, as well as top-dressing. The water soluble phosphate gives a quick start to the young plant, and as it matures, the less soluble phosphate can he dealt with.

It will be seen from the foregoing that Nauru and Ocean Island phosphate is capable of supplying all requirements as regards phosphatic fertilisers. If a quick-acting phosphate is required, superphosphate is most suitable. If an alkaline fertiliser, suitable for top-dressing any soils and safe for cropping even on acid soils, is needed, basic, superphosphate is most suitable. If permanent benefit to grass lands is wanted, and provided there is a good rainfall, finely ground Nauru with its 8-4 per.cent, of tricalcic phosphate may be expected to give good results, particularly if the soil is more or less acid and has a good percentage of humus. Finely ground Nauru will supply phosphoric acid cheaper than any otiier form of pliosphatic fertiliser without exception, and though Ire is some adverse comment from sellers of other fertilisers, ns to its solubility, there i,s little doubt but that all the phosphoric acid will be available for ttie plant within four years’ lime. In the manufacture of superphosphate and basic superphosphate, the high quality of Nauru and Ocean Island phosphate leaves it without a rival, and at the present time practically all of those .fertilisers used in the Dominion are manufactured from the deposits of the two islands. Owing to its high-grade, superphosphate containing 45 per cent, water soluble phosphate is placed .on this

market. In England the usual grade of super is 30 per cent., and the saving in freight and handling Charges to the Dominion farmer by using an article containing half as much again phosphoric acid is obvious. In districts where railway and other transport charges are high and roads bad, it is of particular importance to use the highest grade fertilisers. With regard to the finely ground Nauru, it has a competitor in basic slag, for whic there is 9- considerable demand, no withstanding the fact that experiments conducted in certain localities under (he supervision of the Department of Agriculture brave demonstrated that results obtained from finely ground Nauru even in the first year, arc ahead of those obtained from basic slag, me fact that Nauru contains more than twice as much phosphoric acid compared with even high-grade basic slag leads one to confidently expect that m the second, third and fourth years after application, Nauru will still be ahead. That of course remains tome seen, and the results Which the Department will supply in due course will be eagerly looked for. The question of price is naturally or vital importance. In England basic slag being a bye-product is sold to the farmers at less than half the pi ice obtained there for finely ground Nauru. Naturally its use is strongly advocated, and undoubtedly it is a cheap form of supplying phosphoric acid in lhat country. But in New Zealand, the position is reversed, as basic slag costs more than finely ground Nauru, even though it contains less than half the percentage of phosphoric acid. The prices of the two articles as being retailed o.n the Auckland market compares as lollows: —Basic Slag 18 pei cent. P2 05 —equal t 0 nearly 40 per cent, triealcio plios. at £6 lOs per ton, cost per unit of tricalcic phosphate 3s 3d . Nauru Phosphate—B4 per cent, at £5 17s 6d per ton—cost per unit of tricalcic phosphate is sd. The difference in favour of Nauru is therefore Is JOd per unii, 'or on a percentage of 84 per cent, tricalcic phosphate —£7 14s per ton. It may be taken as a general rule that where basic slag gives good results, finely ground Nauru will also be successful, as similar soil and rainfall conditions are suitable for both. It appears therefore that if through inadequate rainfall or lack of humus in the soil, satisfactory results are not obtained from the finely ground Nauru in' certain localities, it would point to the advisability of using the more soluble phosphate for top-dressing, basic superphosphate. Some other competitors with finely ground Nauru in the New 7 Zealand market are several island phosphates, ranging from about 30 per cent. t 0 65 per emit. Tricalcic phosphate. Though these are of low quality, several thousand tons are imported annually. The article supplied from one of the islands is so low in tricalcic phosphate that one ton of Nauru is equivalent to about three tons of the other. (To he continued).

MIXED FARMING.

In connection with the reported revival of interest in an extension of mixed farming throughout the Dominion, it is perhaps not out of place to note that the subject is receiving considerable attention in Western Canada —a country far less favourably situated in this connection than New Zealand. In u letter to the southern writer, “Ploughshare,” a Canadian correspondent points out that never was the need of mixed farming so generally accepted and recognised b> farmers of the West as it is to-day. “.Many farmers have," lie continues, “been forced into the position of actually having to obtain dependable sources of revenue in the way of dairy products, poultry, eggs, butter, cream, cheese and other tilings. It is fast becoming apparent that farmers will have to acquire dairying cattle, despite the fact that Western Canada is the world's granary. This does not mean that farmers in outlying districts are in a, position to go in for straight dairying'—for this unfortunately is not another New Zealand—and obtain dairy herds, hut they will have to obtain a class of cattle from which to get more milk.” The same correspondent lias a sly tilt at New Zealand land values. He writes: “For the life of me I cannot understand how folk in your little Dominion situated many, many thousands of miles away from the world’s markets, can afford to pay such huge prices for your farming lands. I know you have got us licked hollow 7 from the purely pastoral point of view, but we counter-balance that with our wheat, and in the East with our orchards; but just cast your eye over the following clipping culled from a Canadian paper, and relating to a/farm, not out in the “wild and woolly” west, but in a longsettled and nore congenial Eastern Canada:—lsoo dollars (£300) gets 335-acre farm, 10 cattle, growing crops, and 3 horses, sheep, poultry, hogs and full equipment if taken now; on improved road convenient market town; 100 acres tillable and very productive; 50-cow, creek-watcred pasture; about 3000 cords wood, 100,000 ft. pine timber; 8-roomed house, 25-cow barn, stable, poultry house, etc. To close affairs, all 5500 dollars (£1100), only 1500dol. (£300) cash.

“And if this docs not make you realise the hold-up prices you arc asking for your New Zealand land, good though it be, read tile following, which is another typical advertisement from the same paper:—Farm on improved road 4000 dollars (£800)—13 cattle, horses, poultry, pigs, implements, etc., included; 00 acres ii\ heart rich agricultural district convenient R.R. town; 55 acres tillage, 30 acres pasture; about 1000 cords wood, orchafrl, 5-roomed house, 100 ft. barn, etc. To settle affairs only 4000 dollars (£800), part cash.

CARE OF THE FEET,

It is becoming a common habit in cattle photography to stand the animals in straw up to their knees. This camouflaging accentuates the deep blotchy appearance of the animal, and the casual summing up of the photo is "great.” It is great in the sense that it is a “take-down,” for the feet arc by nu means the least important part of a quality beast. At one of our leading shows last year a magnificntly topped bull, which secured a prize in a strong field, had a pair of fore feet like a horse, and it was rather a surprise to some of the cognoscenti that the defect was overlooked by the judge, or, perhaps, was deemed by him of sufficient unimportance to outweigh the other qualities. It is highly important that both beef and dairy cattle have sound feet and well-formed joints and legs. It is not only the horse that suffers from curby formed hocks. Such sickle hocks are weak and liable to break down under sli'ess and strain. They are highly objectionable in a big, heavy herd bull. lUil the constitutional defect is not the only one. If* is not uncommon to find bulls and dairy cows affected willi foot trouble induced by dirt. Some dairymen seem to think such a condition of the feet is of little matter provided the animals do not evidently suffer much as indicated by severe lameness. That is a wrong impression, for pain m the feet and inability to walk comfortably always mean more or less uutliril'liness in growing

and fattening animals, inefficiency in bulls, and failure in cows to produce the maximum amount of milk. AUei lion to the feet of all stock, ho matter whether it be horse, cattle or sheep, pays. It is considered good practice to “pick up each foot of a horse m turn at. least several times a week, if not daily, and tear away all lodged bodies that possibly might prove injurious. Many a nail is got rid of in this way before it has punctured the foot and caused lameness. It is wise to now and then cleanse the feet of cattle that go out in yards , \ cre lloi pick up manure or other deietenoub substances. Sometimes a rope is pulled backwards and forwards between the iocs, which is worse than leaving the feet alone, as it aggravates or causes inflammation and gives film germs a chance to invade and injure the f cet. It is also good practice to keep the feet trimmed to level condition and normal proportions and shape Allowed to grow at will the toes tend to become too long, or lap over or turn up, and discomfort to the animal results. Cattle, beyond any other stock, perhaps, respond in pounds, shillings and pence to good treatment.

JOTTINGS,

The Manavvalu, which is the original home of the Friesian breed in the North Island, has an enviable record to-day for its magnificent herds of the black and white cattle. In June last reference was made to a lengthy list of sales from lo.cal herds for export to Australia, including a young bull and pine females from the Oak view herd of Mr A. R. Green, of Kairanga. One ■of these cows sold for 600 guineas, which was then a record price for all treeds, and another cow was sold for 400 guineas, and a cow and her bull calf for 850 guineas. Since these sales were reported a young bull in Taranaki has been sold for 650 guineas, but this price has again been beaten by a Manawatu breeder, who has sold a two-year-heifer for what is believed to be the record price—for all breeds —for an animal bred by a New Zealander, of 800 guineas. At the time of the previous big deal, Mr Green was pressed hard to put a price on this heifer, Jessie Monona Johanna of Oakview, which was first in her class at the championship show at Stratford in November. He, however, refused, and negotiations have been continued by the South Australian firm, Messrs Henry Collins and Co., of Lucernedale, with. Hie result that Mr Green has now agreed to sell this heifer for the record price stated. She is sired by Dominion Dutchland, which is also the sire of the cow sold for 600 guineas. Jessie Monona Johanna of Oakview is on test in the £SOO Friesian Cattle Derby, and it is believed that she has an excellent oportunity to win the big prize Although only a junior two-year-old, she has produced 570 lb of butterfat in 279 days, and as an illustration of what a great performer she is, her production for July (her ninth month) was 621 b of butterfat. At Hie present time she is giving over 501 b of milk per day, and is leading, by a considerable margin, the figures put up by the former New Zealandchampion in the same herd, Rose Poseh of Oakview, 7iSlb of fat as a junior two-year-old. Mr Green will not deliver Ibis heifer to the South Australian firm until she finishes her present test, and if he succeeds in winning the big prize this heifer will have earned for her breeder tlie sum of £lo9o.—Manawatu Standard