FARMING NOTES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 96, 17 January 1935, Page 5

FARMING NOTES

Manawatu District Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, January 16. It is understood that a large shipment of butter from Levin has been solu in New York and will shortly be dispatched to the United States ot America. A shortage ot butter in the United States, accounted lor by drought conditions, has resulted in the price rising to a sufficiently high level to enable prouuce from the Dominion to surmount the duty of 14 cents, a pound imposed on produce from this country. Care of Pigs. . . Pigs do not sweat like the majority ol animals on the farm and consequently must find another means of reducing the temperature of their bodies during the summer months. Pigs should be provided with a shallow concrete wallow filled with clean water rather than be allowed to roll aud cool themselves in dirty and stagnant pools. OU added to the water will improve tlie general health of the animals by rendering them free from lice and other parasites besides reducing the possibilities of their contracting skin diseases. Shelter from the fierce rays of the summer sun is necessary for fattening pigs and where shelter is not available some measures should be taken to see that the animals can find a cool spot. A good idea is to place a ioad of straw on the roof ot the sty to absorb the heat of the sun. At the present time when there is a large amouut of milk available on farms it is common for farmers to overfeed their pigs. The practice of overfeeding is just as bad as underfeeding and siiould be strictly avoided. 'The flush of milk cun be better used by feeding a larger number ot animals. The Harvest Season. The harvesting of oat and wheat crops in the Rangitikei and other surrounding cereal districts is now in full swing. Tue weather for harvesting has been ideal and many fine crops have been cut. Early Di the season the crops felt the effect of the continued dry weather, but the rain of several weeks ago came as a blessing to the crops and swelled out the grain. Large areas of hay and ensilage were harvested in the Manawatu district this season. The harvesting operations were favoured by fine weather, and there should be an abundance of these fodders for winter feeding. The quality of the hay is stated to be excellent.