TUSSOCK AND FURROW.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 6

TUSSOCK AND FURROW.

By W.W.D. The showers that fell about the beginning of the month were very welcome indeed, and farmers on the lighter class of land were right glad to hear the rush of rain on the roof. The week or so of nor'-westers dried up the land thoroughly, and there were brown patches appearing on the ridges in the paddocks that should not have been showing until Christmas time at least. However, the situation is saved for the time being.

"God's own country" is in the throes of yet another .industrial trouble, and at tho time of writing it looks very much as though things were going to be really serious, although I sincerely hope they are not. We had got over the slaughtermen's "strike''and the waterside workers' clash down in Timaru had also been settled, and everyone thought things were quiet for a spell, but the sudden explosion in Wellington upset all calculations, and now we are in the midst of something that looks as though it could develop into bother. ■

Up to the present the country people in Canterbury are not feeling the pinch to any extent, but on the Peninsula there are deep growls beginning to be heard, for the reason that the dairy produce in that locality is getting held up to its detriment and to the financial loss of the producers. All eorts of methods are talked of to relieve this state of affairs, but it seems far easier to talk than to do anything, and it cannot be denied that the strikers have a fairly strong position, and can make things unpleasant, fora time at any rate.

•On the other hand, I rely strongly on the fact that there are astute, sensible men on both sides, and I feel almost sure that the "shrewdies" are* in a big enough proportion, on both sides, to realise that a little tact and horse sense would settle all the rumpus in a very short tim'o. Probably there are some people who would benefit by the strike if it was prolonged,'but no one can deny that on the whole it would be disastrous, more or loss, to everyone in the Dominion, and to no one more so than to the waterside'workers. 1 expec% and hope by the time these notes appear that all will be tranquil again; the batons used for boiling the billy, and the bayonets for . peeling spuds.

A peculiar feature of the whole affair was the eudden and violent uprising of a fair proportion of the farmers. In a general way Ltbink the farmer has considerable sympathy with the worker. Eβ is, as often as not, one who has risen from the ranks of horny-handed ones himself, and no one should know their point of view better than he does. Yet it must be confessed that the attitude of many workers in the country is not calculated to inspire the farmer with much sympathy. He has. been "let in" so often that he has got hard and suspicious, and I am afraid in same cases he nourishes rather revengeful feelings, though of course he would not acknowledge that! I have received a letter from one writing under the nom-de-plame of ""Willows," and he says:—"Can you let mc know the. cause of my cows eating willow trees, especially the young bark, which they strip off and" eat ravenously. They are all troubled with coughs and in low condition, considering tho quantity of grass." So far as

the cause of cows eating willows is concerned, they do so, I think, because they like it. Both horses and cattle like to chew the young willow shoots and the bark," while cattle and sheep are very keen on chewing flax leaves alto. It is possible that the sharp taste, may act as a tonic of sorts. Your cows should certainly be putting _on condition now. though the early spring grass is not too nutritious, as a rule. 1 don't like the cough, with so much tuberculosis about. Give tho cattle plenty of rock salt to lick. The Timaru Show this year was a, good all-round display, but, from the public's point of view it was marred by the cold, drizzly sort of weather. The farmers present, however, were very pleased to see the rain, and one's remark pretty well voiced the opinions of the wUole lot. He said.—"Oh, blow the show! It's a bit hard lu£k for the Association, but I am thinking about my rape and turnips!'' And, after all" the rape and turnip crop is of more importance to the community than an A. .and P. Show. As usual, the three outstanding classrs at Timaru wore the sheep, tho light horses, and the draughts, and this year I think the cattle were rather better than usual. The fat lambs were real picture*, and I should have liked to cart one home for eatitig purposes very much. One can congratulate the management of the show whole-heartedly on the way they carry out their business.' Mr R. Leslie Orbell, the secretary, is a veteran at the game, and with good assistance everything goes off like clockwork. The Prrss are very well looked after by tho management, who are sensiblo enough to know that a little forethought and consideration is generally worth while, but it may bu pointed out, that the Press room is getting very small for the number of men that has to work in it. If it cannot bo enlarged, may I suggest to the Association thai it docs away with the central tnblo and rigs up a shelf about two feet wicjp round two sides of the room, for writing on. This, I think, would make a good den I more actual working space. "When these notes appear the show of the year, the Metropolitan Show at _Addington, will bo "just agoin' to begin," and from tho entries which have been announced it will be a good one. No doubt, if the strike is not settled before thnt date, sonio of the classes will be more or less affected, but it should not make a great deal of difference. I am much afraid, though, that the Jubilee Show will not be held by an Association that is froe of debt, as was hopod when tho liability campaign was started, as from all I can hear the response to the appeals niado has not been very gratifying: Only a comparatively small proportion of the members - have come to light with their subscription, and if it hnd not been for tho generosity of the few who gave big sums the oiitlook would be black indeed. If the money is not "up" by the end of the year it -will be most unfortunate.

As most people know, tihero has been as much, if not more, agitation about the stockyards at Homebush, N.S.W.. as about tho ones at iVddington, and a writer in the Sydney paper; "Town and Country," makes some remarks about tho 'carriace of sheep that are of interest to New Zealand fanners, especially as the season is about to start. He says that the crucial point in the matter of a railway journey for stock is how long can they go without food nnd water without detriment. If the weather is cool and tho track comfortably loaded they suffer little inconvenience for 24 hours, nor will their condition be affected to any appreciable extent, but, beyond that time the privation begins to tell on them, more or less according to the sex. Sheep can go without water for 48 hours, but this is bound to tell on their constitution, and butchers, or other fat stock buyers can easily pick out such sheep.

Stockowners, as a rule, feed_and water thoir stock immediately betore trucking. This is a grave error, as it often leads to sheep coming down in the truck whenever there is a jolt or the train goes round a sharp bend. There is constant voiding going on which makes the floor of the truck very slippery. Sheep should have arest in the trucking yard of at least five or six hours to enable the . voiding to. be done in the yard. In many cases.the sheep do not get sufficient attention on the journey from the manor men in charge, and as often as not an owner allows the sheep to go on a long journey without sending a man with them. them, and who would it will»» * o gj2l lessen the great mortality that has been going on for very many years.

This species of co-operation could be carried out in another «' a & ™7 f ™ minimising overcrowding. dozen owners trucking from one station make up a total number of fats that can comfortably bo earned -in seven trucks. Each individually has ordered one. truck only, but that meant that each truck would be overloaded. By each paying a proportionate share of the seventh truck they lessen the likely mortality and number of cripples. Some agente say that the latter run from 1 to over 3'per cent. At 2 per cent, m say GOO sheep, this means 12 sheep. At present prices these would average 15s per head, or £9. This more than compensates for the cost of the extra truck. The weekly list of dead and crippled sheep do not make up altogether the losses in a consignment, as a number of carcases are often found bruised, and for freezing purposes would be rejected.

A good deal of tho blame for damage to stock on railway journeys is put on tho shoulders of the railway servants, and in Australia the causes of complaint are as follow: —(1) In shunting loaded trucks porters do not exercise sufficient care to prevent a bump; on to the trucks to which they are to be coupled. (2) Whenever a station is reached, at which the train stops, the drovers are not allowed sufficient time oy the guard to see whether any sheep axo down in the trucks. (3) "When the train is on its way again it starts spasmodically, and this, naturally, bumps the trucks against each other, and throws sheep off their legs. Other complaints, shared by the owners ajid agents alike, is that, in order to make up a full load, trucks of merchandise aro added at various stations, causing delay in transit, and intensifying the jolting trouble. Then again it is asserted that some engines are used, that are incapable to draw the load at any great speed. The contention of all interested m the fat stock line is that fat stock trains should be treated in the same manner as passenger trains and continue their journej without any stops, except to water the engine, and at such a stop the drover should be allowed to examine every truck for any mishaps. '

M.R.C.V.S., has an interesting httle note in the last "Jooxt faS*.+w\. the mortality that has occurred amongst lambe from the condition termed acuta congestion of the kidneys. Hβ says that it is a matter for regret that the trouWe occurred, for the owners could not have observed the neoeesary precautionary measures. When big healthy lambs in a flock begin to die the opportunity should at one© be seized to cut and tail them all, and the resultant bleeding will relieve the plethoric condition and stop the trouble. "In eonio cases which have come under the notice of officers of the live stock and meat division," says I>r. Reakes, 'It has been

quite clear that this lack' of knowledge or lack of belief in the information furnished by the Department, has been responsible for a considerable loss. One instance which was brought under my personal.notice was furnished by a shepherd (a very trustworthy and capable man in other respects) who would not believe that over-nutrition was responsible for the trouble, but held the opinion that the mortality among the lambs was due to the presence in the stomach of wool-balls. His treatment consisted of putting the'lambs on their backs and rubbing their bellies.

"On what line of reasoning he was working it is difficult to understand, but presumably the idea was that the rubbing would havb the effect of 'moving on' the offending wool-ball to some part of the anatomy of the animal where it would cease to cause trouble. If so, he was utterly wrong, and "naturally the lambs died in spite of his mistaken, though doubtless wellmeant, effort. In a former article in the 'Journal , it was stated that an examination' had been niade of the stomachs, of 4043 fat, healthy lambs killed in freezing-works, and that ; of this number 20-per cent. had ; been found to contain wool-balls. It will be of further interest to note that in-the case of .one works, of 600 examined 49 per cent, contained wool-balls, and in another.4B per cent. These old beliefs; which arose in days when better information was unavailable, are hard to kill. Yet stockowners who have adopted the necessary measure of cutting and tailing their lambs as soon, as the trouble has made its appearance have realised that the resulting bleeding and consequent relief of the plethoric- condition of the lambs has caused the mortality to cease. I hope that when the next lambing season comes round lees will be heard of deaths through kidney congestion."