ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, 18 November 1920, Page 43

ON THE LAND

(.V;- :. MARKET REPORTS. There was a good yarding of fat cattle at Burnside last week, 218 being offered, prices throughout being slightly ; - easier than previous sales’ rates. Prime bullocks made from £24 to £2B 2s 6d, medium £l9 to £23, light and unfinished £ls to .£lB, prime heifers £lB to £22 2s Gd, medium £ls to £l7 10s, light and inferior, £lO to £l2 10s. Fat Sheep.—There were 1161 yarded. This was the smallest yarding for some considerable time. At the commencement of the sale competition was very animated, but towards the finish prices were considerably easier, and at about a par with the preceding week’s rates. On an average prices were from 4s to 5s above last sale’s rates. Prime heavy wethers made from 60s to 68s, prime 52s » to 575, medium 45s to 50s, prime ewes to 55s 3d, medium 40s to 435. Spring Lambs. —The largest yarding this season, numbering 68 head. The quality was fair, but competition was not so keen as at the previous week’s sale. Values ranged from 25s to 37s 6d per head. Pigs. A medium yarding. The demand for bacon was slack, and prices showed a reduction of Id per lb, while porkers suffered to the extent of d per lb. Best baconers realised from lid to Is per lb, and best porkers from Is Id to Is 2id per lb. THE DAIRY HERD. Large-sized dairy cows are much more in favor amongst the generality of dairy farmers than small ones, the reason being that the former are more saleable than the latter when they cease to be sufficiently profitable as milk producers (says the Farmers’ Union Advocate). It is not, however, mere size, but rather beef-carrying capacity, which enhances the value of a dairy cow when her milk-yielding days are over. A big-framed cow is not necessarily a good fattener and beef-producer, although size is more often than not looked upon by the dairy farmer as being equivalent to beef-making qualities. Aptitude to fatten and beef-carrying capacity are dependent, not upon size, but upon shape and breeding. A cow that is a good but not an extraordinary milker is more likely to produce offspring of a type for which there is a demand and pay her way meanwhile than either an abnormal elder or a heavy-fleshed beefy animal with no pretensions to dairy qualities. Moderation in this, as in most matters, will, in all probability, pay best in the end. It is a question of supply and demand, and which will pay the breeder best to produce. The production of milk in quantity and in quality is not alone a question of feedine. The great majority of dairy farmers are careful and skilful in the arrangements for the provision of the rations of their herds. It is probable also that these herds, being under their personal supervision, that the rations are more carefullv prepared and more skilfully administered than in herds where the management is left to employees. It is. therefore, largely a question of breeding, and without the requisite blood the best, results cannot be obtained. The selection and maintenance of the herd, geut l e, regular, and punctual treatment of the animals fbreimbout the year, provision of sufficient wholesome food for them, and abundant water, with frequent changes of pasturage when in milk, are some of the special maxims of successful dairying. the VALUE of green manures. Alhough concentrated manures of all kinds are now fairly plentiful, the cost remains high, and, therefore, those who wish to exercise economy would do well to consider the advisability of growing green crops for ploughing in during late autumn or early spring. These green crops have a two-fold purpose, as not only do they prevent weeds growing, but also prevent soluble plant foods from being washed from the soil by winter rains. Plants known to make rapid growth are often grown for no other purpose than that of being ploughed or dug into the ground; and.by means of their succulent foliage they improve the texture of the soil upon which they have been grown. Clovers, vetches, rape, mustard, buckwheat, and many other crops are useful when grown for this purpose, and are best ploughed in Just as they are coming into flower, at which stage they are richest in manurial constituents, and: also readily decompose. Soils of a light sandy nature are most benefited by this system of manuring, as they are incapable of retaining soluble" manures for any length of time; whereas in the case of the decaying plants their food constitutents are

being gradually given up to the succeeding crop, and can« not be washed out of the.-soil to any extent. Arable land' which is some considerable distance from' the homestead is often successfully treated in this way. Very few soils, especially • those being freshly ' broken up, are over-charged vpth humus; therefore, should farmyard manure bo scarce, the cultivator will do well to give his attention to this simple but none the less effective means of enriching the land with nitrogen and other plant foods, and of equal importance is the mechanical -effect of green manures in altering the texture of heavy In ii cl.

USEFULNESS OF LINSEED. Linseed, as distinct from flax seed grown for fibre, should not be overlooked in the choice of crops for present sowing (says the Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture). It has this special advantage, that it is comparatively safe from wire-worm; it can therefore be taken after old grass, whether as a first or subsequent crop, or it can be used to ~ fill up a thin corn crop or to replace one that has failed. As a calf food the value of linseed is well-known; there is no better food for young stock, and though the ordinary feeding stuffs are likely in the future to be more plentiful than heretofore, still home-grown linseed has in the past proved cheaper than purchased, and a supply will always bo found useful. Linseed will do well on any good medium land. The seed-bed should be fine, clean and compact, so that the seed may be covered at a uniform shallow depth. .The best preparation is a moderately deep autumn ploughing followed by cultivating, harrowing and rolling in spring. It is the usual custom to grow linseed after a straw crop; but where the soil is light, or when it is too late to sow barley, it mnv be taken after a root crop which has been fed off by sheep. It is an excellent nurse crop for seeds—the clover benefits by the slight shade offered and at the same time weeds are kept in check; With seeds of good germinating capacity, one and ahalf bushels (781b.') per acre is ample. A little more is required for broadcasting. Linseed ripens irregularly, but should be harvested while some of the seed bolls are still green, when the stems have turned yellow, and the lower leaves have fallen. It is unwise to wait until all the bolls are ripe, as loss of seed will result. If only a small area is grown the crop mav be threshed v sth a flail. A proportion of the bolls will remain unbroken, and will require to be crushed to liberate the Seed and chaff can be separated by passing through a winnowing machine. In the case of larger areas an ordinary threshing machine should be used. . The drum should be set close and a high speed maintained. If, is usually necessary to put the straw through a second time. In an average season from 8 to 12 cwt. of seed per acre mav be obtained. In addition there may be about 8 cwt. of chaff, of which stock are very fond.