STRATFORD SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1288, 17 November 1911, Page 8

STRATFORD SHOW.

Preliminary arrangement? Imve , been completed ' for the Stratford A. and I\ show.

The association has- expanded 'a pood deal, of money in improving Ihe show grounds duriii" tho last twelve months.' Practically the whole of it=s property, comprising thirty-eight acres, has now Iwen levelled and in id down in grass. Tho whole of the bull n.:id horse boxesforty in number—art now completed, and give the impression of <m up-to-duic racing stable on a largo scale. Extra, accommodation for .-Keep and cattle, including fafc cattle, is also now ready. Tho ground is now or.e of tho most up-to-date and pictuw.-:f|iie show grounds in the Dominion. It is anticipated that stock of high quality, particularly dairy stuck, will be exhibited at tho forthcoming show. Entries close on Thursday, Xii-vntn-ber 23. Intending exhibitors are asked .tg plane their entries with M'r. Kd\<;ard'.Jack/on as early as possible (o ensure correct cataloguing.

ChicK-rearinc is not only profitable, bnt a pleasure, when jou feed "A. and P." Chick Hniser. It is a complete and properly-blended fond for Young Chicks. Obtainable from all storekeepers.—Advt.

Factory* Managers are invited to drop a post-card particulars of cheoso vaU and hoops, the best made, Victor brand, to Albert J. Parton, Carterton. Do it now. , ,

THE SHOW AT WANQANUI. SOME FUKTHEK AWARDS. (By Tel<xrav)h.— Special Correspondents Wanganui, November 16. "People's Day" at tho show was a groat success from -n financial point of vjew, a record crowd being. present. ..Lho morning trains from nortli and south wero P'lckod with visitors. The competitions ■in the ring proved a great attraction and f-'oine splendid , fencing was seen both iu the men's arid, ladies' competition. -The judging of the dog classes was complettd to-day. . In addition to the awards summari-wl' yesterday, W. A. Smith secured nine firsts nml specials in smoothccvited fox terriers, and Chas. Limino six. W. High ton cleared the board in the wirehaircd fox terriers, and D. T. Sinclair nml R. H. Sheppardl carried oIV practically everything in the Irish terrier C Ayrshire bull, 3yrs.-F. Mills, 1; Slack Bros., 2 and, 3. Two-year bull—Siack Bros., 1 and champion; F. W. Wilkie, 2. Yearling bull—F. W. Wilkie, 1; Slack Bros., 2 and 3. Two-year heifer—Slack Bros., 1 and 3; F. Mills, 2. Yearling heifer—Slack Bros., 1; F. Mills, 2 and 3. Caw—F. Mills 1 and champion; Slack Bros., -2; Draughts—Entires: A. Alexander, 1; A. Donald, 2. . Plough team— Miotics Bros., I. General farm team—Rhodes Bros., 1. Pair for town purposes—Wanganui Borough Council, 1. . , Champion mare—F/. Short's "Thelma." Reserve champion, J. D. Ormond's "Knhin.a." Champion entire: J. W. Harding's "Baron Dpiniler." ■Milking'test for-dairv cows—Miss HitcliiD, 1 and 3; W. Bason, 2. Dairy cow iu milk—,l. C. Montefiorc, 1; M. Wills. 2. Dairy heifer— J. Wilson, 1 and 2; J. Hodges, 3 and y.li.c. Pair dairy heifers— J. Hodges, 1; G. W. Collins/ 2' and 5.'

FLUSHING THE EWES. INCREASING THE LAMBING PERCENTAGE. ••< Flushing the ewes is a practice followed out by the best English shepherds, .and the practice is also followed by some American farmers. As high a percentage of lambs as possible is desired, and flushing tends ..to make the ewes more sure .us breeders, and also results in more twins. Tho breeding ewes usually ruii on pasture after their lambs are. weaned, and thus do uot maintain a high condition. Two or three weeks before breeding time- an extra allowance of feed is given. This feed is such that it will rapidly increase ,the weight of the. ewes. Alfalfa or clover hay, together with corn silage, and some of the concentrates, such as oats, barley, dried brewers' grains, and the like, arc usually fed. This extra feeding to improve tho condition of the ewes before breeding is known as flushing.

CLASSIFYING COWS. A NEW SCHEME.' A writer in tho , "Guernsey Press" quotes one of the teachers at tho Vauxbelets School as proposing the following scale for classifying dairy cows. Although specially applied to Guernsey, it may well challenge the attention of every owner of cows no matter whether scrub's, grades, or pn.rebrods:-*-"A Guernsey cow can give, under the best conditions of food and descent and care, 'ten times her own weight in he.r milk production in her .season,, say a year. Those giving eight .times their living weight, in a season's milk are valuable and profitable animals, and all farmers should aim at such production. 1 If ouly six times her weight, is yielded, there is only a moderate profit. When but five times the animal's weight is yielded in weight of inilk, only the cost of keep and food arc earned, and just the value of the calf is added. Anything less is downright loss to the farmer. Every farmer ought regularly to weigh, the milk from each cow, or use a graduated milk pail, and so know which cows aro profit earners and which losers.' Many fanners who complain that dairying is unprofitable are feeding cattle which rlo not. pay, and are ignorant as to which they are. This homo test, can bo easily carried out by evervone.

"Stated in another way and in briefer form, the classification may be tabulated as follows:—

■ Annual Yield of Milk. Class. Ten times weight of con- Excellent Eight, times weight of coiv ' v .. Good Six times'weight of-cow Medium .Five times weight of cow Poor Anything less ....'.. Worse than Worthless

NORTH OTAGO SHOW. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) O'atnarii; November 16. The show of the North Otagd A. and P. Association opened' to-day in fine weather, but towards tho, evening rain began. to fall. .-The. entries in the main classes were slightly less than last year, d'ue largely to the unfavourable season. Championships were won .as follow:— Merinos, ram and ewe, Frank H. Smith; Border Leicester, ram and ewe, T. S. Little; English Leicester, ram and ewe, D. Grant; Lincolns, ram and ewe, N.Z. and A. Land Company; Shorthorns, bull and cow, Jfitchell Bros.; Ayrshires, bull arid cow, A: Gillies.