On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 7 December 1911, Page 2502

On the Land

SOME WHEAT TESTS.

— ~4 (By A. Macpherson, in Journal of Department of

Agriculture). (Concluded from last week.) Variety Test. This test was carried out in the same field as the manurial one, and adjoined it, and the land received the same working. The varieties of wheat were sown and harvested on the same date as the manurial tests, with the exception of the variety Red Marvel, which was not sown until the 20th August, 1910, and was some weeks later than the other varieties in being harvested. Six varieties of wheat were sown, in plots of onetenth of an acre each, and were drilled in with 1501 b per acre of the Christchurch Meat Company’s fertiliser. The seeding was at the rate of 1£ bushels per acre. Following are the results:

All varieties sown on the 24th June ripened about the same time, and were, during their period of growth, subject to the same unfavorable weather-conditions as the manurial tests. All varieties suffered from grub at the roots of the plant, with the exception of the Solid Straw Tuscan. The Red Chaff, owing to the late dale on which it was sown, was slightly affected with rust. Smut was noticeable in both the Bordier, and De Noe wheats, and all varieties with the exception of Solid Straw Tuscan and Red Chaff suffered from the ravages of the small birds. The Bordier and De Noe varieties, owing to their liability to shell out, were badly shaken with the high winds, and consequently suffered in yield. The greater number of animals that can be kept comportably upon the farm the better. The more stock the greater fertility of the soil and hence the larger crops each suceeding year, which in turn permit a larger number of animals. Good, heavy milk cans are the kind to own, because they will last well and are not easily dented. When the cans are badly dented, as cheap ones are apt to become, it is almost impossible to keep them clean. The thin layer of tin over the iron is cracked, and that exposes the surface of the iron to the action of the acid in the milk, which soon rusts the iron. The result is that taints and bad flavors are produced . in the milk and cream. About one-half of the live weight of the pig is % water. The amount of water in the carcases, however, A, depends considerably on the condition of the animal (says the Kansas Farmer). A thrifty, growing pig that is not very fat will contain proportionally more water than a pig that is very fat or in prime condition for market. Generally speaking, pigs with this degree of variation will contain from 42 to 50 per cent, of water. In order to have a pig develop to the best possible advantage it must have sufficient water to supply this amount, and, besides, it must also have water for the general working of his internal mechanism.

Grain. Plants & Stalks to Plot. Variety Sown. Yield per Acre a Square Yard. Bushels Plants Stalks Stalks 1. Pearl ... 20.28 ... 105 ... 302 302 2. Solid Straw Tuscan ... 31.00 ... 95 ... 341 341 3. De Noe ... 18.66 ... 87 ... 294 294 4. Bordier ... 13.37 ... 77 ... 251 251 5. Red Chaff ... 20.58 ... 88 ... 236 236 6. Red Marvel ... 14.96 — — ... —