On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 1 June 1911, Page 1030

On the Land

Avoid too heavy shoos when shoeing young horses. It tends to make them awkward, and is an unnecessary burden for them to bear.

A colt once stunted never fully recovers from the effects. It is quite necessary, then, that the colt be kept growing steadily, even if it requires special care and attention.

If colts are handled rightly from the time they are foaled, there will be no trouble in picking up their feet and working them as long as it is necessary to put on shoes.

On the first suspicion of mange the affected animal should be isolated and care taken that no grooming utensils, rugs, etc., that have been used on affected animals are used on others until after disinfection.

The earlier months of an animal's life need to bo devoted to' getting bone and muscle and strong internal organs. This is done by the use of corn ,pasture, and a protein supplement. Then push along to the right condition for market by the use of a large proportion of corn and less protein.

An exchange has the following recipe for the removal of warts from a cow's teats —Take of fresh butter two parts by weight, finely pulverized table salt one part by weight. Mix by rubbing together thoroughly. Keep in a tight wooden box; apply enough to cover the surface of the warts after milking. The warts will dry up and come off.

There was again a large yarding of fat sheep at Burnside last week, the number forward being close on 4000. Prime wethers sold at an advance of Is on previous week's rates.' Unfinished wethers and all classes of ewes were disposed of at late rates. Quotations: Best wethers, to 20s; medium, 17s to 18s Gd; others, 15s to 10s Gd; best owes, 15s 3d to 16s; extra, to 18s; medium, lis Gd to 12s 9d. There was only a medium yarding of lambs, which brought prices not materially different from those of last sale. Quotations: Best lambs, 13s Gd to 15s; medium, 12s to 12s Gd ; inferior, 9s to 10s Gd. There was a good yarding of fat cattle, composed for the greater part of fair quality. Prices showed no alteration from those of previous sale. Quotations: Best bullocks, £lO 10s to £ll 10s; medium, £8 15s to £9 10s; inferior, £7 to £7 15s.

The nervous temperament of the milk cow is much more highly developed than that of any other farm animal. If the cow has a bright, placid eye, and a clean-cut, lean appearance, indicating that her food is converted to milk rather than beef, we may conclude that she is a good producer. However, if the eye is dull and the body covered with flesh, the animal as a rule is lazy and is not adapted to the active life which a profitable cow must lead.

It is wonderful how much a little paint and whitewash can do towards brightening up a country place. These will not only add to the appearanco but to the healthfulness also. It is poor economy to permit buildings to go unpainted. The money thus saved would not begin to repair the, damage done by the hot sun and the beating rain. Buildings kept well painted will not only last much longer without repair, but will lend an air of cheerfulness to the place that will have a beneficial effect on the occupants. The butter should be thoroughly washed in the churn, taking care to keep it in granular form till all the buttermilk is removed (says Country Gentleman). When the butter is taken on to the worker the salt should be mixed through it as well as possible, still keeping it in granular form. Then allow it to stand for five or ten minutes for the salt to dissolve; then work till the salt is all dissolved and no grains of salt can be felt on the tongue when a morsel is put into the mouth. If the salt is not all dissolved before the butter is printed it will be mottled. It is not at all necessary or advisable to make the salt into a paste. If the butter is washed as described there is always enough water in it to dissolve the salt.

At last week's sale at Addington there wore largo entries of stock and a good attendance. Beef showed a decline. There was practically no chango in store sheep, and fat lambs were still firmer in price. The fat sheep market opened well. Pigs sold better. There was a poor demand for store cattle, and good dairy cows sold well. The entry of fat lambs totalled 6184, or less than 100 more than last week. There was good competition all through the sale, the quality showing an improvement on late yardings. Export buyers were keen to operate, and took out of the total at prices ranging from 7s 3d to 18s 9d. The yarding of fat sheep was a -very laryo one. There was good competition for all classes, and prices were firm right through the sale. The range of prices was : Prime wethers, 17s to 21s sd; others, 14s Gd to IGs Gd; merino wether?., 14s 3d; prime ewes, 14s to 17s Gd : medium, lis to-13s Gd. There were 431 head of fat cattle penned, including a number of lines of very prime duality. In conseoueneo of the large yarding there was a decline of about Is Gd per 1001 b. Steers made £7 17s Gd to £ll. extra to £ls; heifers £5 17s Gd to £lO 10s. Pigs of all classes formed good entries, and there was an improved demand for fats, resulting in a brisker sale. Choppers sold up to 80s, h'eavv baconers 50s to 565, and lighter 38s to 47s Gd (equal to 4<l per lb), laree porkers 32s Gd to 375. and smaller Ww to an a (equal to 4}d per lb).