Farm and Garden

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 361, 9 April 1903, Page 7

Farm and Garden

~ +. ORIGINAL AR lOLES CULTIV\TION TO CONSERVE MOISTURE, MS HE drought in this colony hoa left hark *^ e > rroun( l with too little moisture jHb* t°* the production of good crops. It is therefore important that every effort should be made to prevent the waste of water by evaporation from the ground, To do that effectively it becomes necessary to understand the factore which determine thiß lobb. Water is wanted to the roots of crops and not to the surface. Now, the upward movement of water by capillary attraction depends on the amount of moisture already in the soil and on the soil texture. Jost as water will bo drawn up in a cloth slightly moist much better than in a perfectly dry one, so will the water in the ground rise more rapidly through soil slightly moist than through soil entirely dryj and aa it will rise higher in a tube of very fine bore than in one of larger sise, so will it rise higher on soil that is firmed. What is wanted is to make the conditions as favorable as possible for the ground water to rise to the plant roots, but as unfavourable as possible for it to en«irely reach the surface. Where the subsoil is too loose and open it would be improved by rolling. But the most important thing under the present condition, where the actual amount of water in the subsoil is small, is to prevent its loss. This can be done by thoroughly drying the surface and by making the texture openthat is, by producing a dry, porous earth blanket er mulch. Of course this means the loss of the little water contained in the surface inch of soil, but it means at the same time the prevention of the loss of that below, and the more thoroughly the mulch is dried the more effective it is. This thin layer of soil may be made so dry that very little or no water can rise into it, and at the same time it prevents the air in contact with the moist soil below from changing, and so greatly lessens the water it can take up. 1 The reason why we put a blanket on a sweating horse in winter is to prevent evaporation from the surface which cools him. In the samo way the earth blanket prevents evaporation from the moist soil underneath. That some evaporation does still take place at the line between the moist soil and the dry surface can readily be shown by partially filling a jar with soil made moist .with a weak salt brine and covering it with an inch of dry loam. The salt will accumulate in a layer between the mulch and the moist soil as it evaporates. The effectiveness of this mulch is destroyed by rain, which destroys the crumb-like structure, making the soil grains run together and moisten* ing the soil so the moisture of the subsoil is brougl tto the surface and lost. A quarter of an inch of rain is worse than none, and the only thiner the farmer can do is to get rid of it, so it will' not be the cause of the loss of water below. So far as possible, then, corn land should be cultivated after every rain. How soon after the rain will depend on the character of the soil, By careful observation every farmer should learn just . what conditions the soil of each field must be in, so that the lumps will break up readily into crumbs under the fingers. The cultivation to develop the mulch is also very helpful in allowing the air to get to the soil, and of aiding the development of nitrates. The best cultivators are those with small teeth, which can be readily adjusted, so tint those near the rows of corn can be raised as the season advances. The importance of early ploughing of corn land is generally understood. Whether the land should be harrowed alter ploughing or left ia the rough furrow will depend on the nature of the soil. If the soil is clayey or liable to bake it is probably best not to harrow till planting time, or if it is harrowed as soon as ploughed, then care must be taken not to allow a crust to develop on it, This will require two or three hatrowings. SELECTING BREEDING A.ND FEEDING SWINE. In raising hogs for market it should be remember d that the female somewhat resembles a machine shop from which the finished product conns, consequently it is absolutely necessary to select sows with especially strong constitutions. This, in fact, is the most important p r int. Constitution is indicated by good heart girth, Wf.U sprung ribß and a frame rangy and tending towards coarseness. Quality am at also be considered. Having decided upon the type of animal to be raised, then keep fo it: it is detrimental to successful breeding to o'langA frequently from one type to another. Tae boar should have opposite characteristics to the sow; the sow should tend towards coarseness, and the boar should tend towards fineness. The boar should havj comparatively fine bone, fine hair, and sott mtllow skin and a head indicating refinement. He should a l so be vary compact He must, however, have a vigorous constitution, and be a healthy animal every wajr. In selecting breeding stock —either bows ox boars—it will pay to consider the sisa of the litters from which animals come. Other things being equal, breeding stock from large littera would be m< re prolific. In selecting hows it ia well to avoid choosing those which fatten too readily. Let that quality be transmitted to the offspring by the bear. See that the sow has generous development of higb.pric«d cuts, the most valuable in t*io hogs b ing the tender loin; but close to it is tho ham, the difference in price usually being about some few pence per pound. The sides, or bacon, como next; then tho loin and rump, and finally the shoulder Thes • parts are all comparatively most valuable. In selecting hoga to be fattened, consider first the outline of the body, depth of chest, mellowness of &kin, fine bone and silky hair. These all indicate that the animal will will givi good results of fdible product when dressed By indiscriminate crossing in breeding the farmer soon loses the characteristic value of pore breed stock and transmission of good points. Tho flush of a do3irable hog for fattening purposes should b3 firm, yet mellow, and cover the bones well.