Page 4 Advertisements Column 5

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1990, 28 January 1907, Page 4

FARMERS’ COLUMN. IMPROVED MILK SUPPLY. A great deal lias been accomplished by our dairy instructors in the direction of improving the milk supply or raw material on the farms; while that is true, there remains a greater field for improvement in this part of the work than in any other lino of work that could ho undertaken to help the industry so far as further inprovonient in quality is concern oil. In order to accomplish this much-needed improvement moro practical instruction is needed amongst the farmers. Inspection serves its purposo, hilt it does not educato the farmer how to produco a cloanor and purer milk. FEEDING COWS.

A groat difference of opinion prevails with respect to the feeding of cows for dairy purposes. Naturally, the milk-seller, jmro and simple, regulates his footling so as to obtain the greatest possible quantity of milk without regard to quality beyond a sufficiency to enable it to satisfy the analyst. The butter-maker or purveyor of cream in the country has to puy more attention to tho quality of his milk rather than the quantity, in so far as he desires tho greatest possible quantity of both the articles mentioned. How to feed to obtain these different results is a matter that needs not only great scientific knowledge and study, but also with this actual practical,, shall we say working, experience which can only bo obtained by the closest attention to the cows and their performances. COW TESTING. Since January last 16 cow-testing associations have been organised through tho initiative of the Hairy Commissioner’s branch at Ottawa, Canada. Records are being kept of 4500 cows, owned by 350 members of these associations. The records so far show that tho average yield of milk in Ontario and Quebec is not much over 30,0001 b. of milk per cow per annum. They show, however, that thoro are herds of 20 cows and over that average 50001 b. In every case these larger records have been obtained by just such methods as those cow-estiiig associations are intended to promote, that is, finding out what each individual cow is doing and weeding out tho unprofitable ones. To encourage other dairymen tb do likewise, arrangements have been made by tho Dairy Commissioner whereby the addresses of the owners of any herd in tho rceords may bo obtained, the idea being that others may learn from the owners of profitable herds how such satisfactory results have been reached. Tho value of systematic cow-tcst-ing was shown in last year’s records by tho AVisconson (America) Experiments 1 Station. A check was kept upon a series of ten head of cows in different' parts of tho State. In one caso tho best cow gave 82301 b. of milk in a year; lior percentage of fat in the milk was 5.03. She made 483 lb. of butter. The poorest cow of tho ton gave 19861 b. of milk ; per cent, of buttbr fat 4.78, and she made 1111 b. of butter. Bv moans of this checking the value of a dairy cow can be accurately told. Her pedigree and breed are important, but are. less important than her milk and butter producing powers. In the progress of civilisation and the development of manufacturing industries it lias been learnt that it is impossible to make bricks without straw, but the cow is still dependent upon feed for tlio making of milk, no less than for maintenance. In other words, the cow cannot make milk from nothing. Tho more feed, tho more milk, up to the limit of the cow’s capacity. All experience, therefore, proves that tile largest profit only results from liberal feeding and good care. It is always good economy to spend an extra shilling for j feed or propezr stabling where by so doing one can add two shillings to his income. DEHORNING CATTLE.

It is much easier, to say nothing of being more 'humane to dehorn calves when they lire young, preferably when from three to four days old. Clip the hair away from the button take a stick of caustic potash, wrapped in some material to protect the fingers, moisten one end with water, and rub gently over the button until the skin becomes slightly raw and smarts a form, which will soon disappear, and, if the work is properly done, will leave the calf without horns. One application is usually enough, but in case the horns start again, the application can he repeated. Caro should bo taken that none of the caustic potash runs down over the hair to injure the eyes and skin. In case the horns break through the skin before the caustic is applied, it will probably be necessary to use a knife to cut off tho button, after which a little caustic potash can be rubbed over the exposed surface. There are a number, of chemical preparations which give good results, but a man cannot afford to pay very much for them, as caustic potash is comparatively cheap and effective, SCIENTIFIC FEEDING. The chemists call that class of eleJtnont in the food of the cow that corresponds to the red muscle of loan meat to the white of eggs, and the cheesy part of cheese in the ration of men—protein. Tho sugar and starch and similar compounds they call carbohydrates and fat in another, while in the third they give tho ration between the protein on the one hand and the carbohydrates on the other. All of these points are important, because a well-nourished cow, turning out 1 2 Oor 30 pounds of milk a day containing a pound of fat, needs a good supply of protein for the support of her body and for the cheese in tho milk, and a largo amount of carbohydrates and fat to keep her warm and to supply part', at least, of the materials out of which the butter fat is made.

THE MARKSMAN’S ENEMIES. Captain Davies, tlie King’s Prizeman, writes at length in the November Pall Mall Magazine on the evolution of a marksman, and gives some frank confessions as to the dilliculties he experiences through wind, the mechanism of the rifle, hesitation and a hundred other chances. The average beginner (ho says) is inclined to regard the mirage as a fatal and grievous handicap. As a matter of fact, an experienced shot at the long ranges (SOO, 900, and 1000 yards) is never happy without a mirage—more especially in a light wind. The only two shots I fired at the last stage of tile King’s Prize, when I could not see the mirage, were both magpipes. Tho wind, without this indication, had scored off me. Another point the beginner should always bear in mind is to record eacli shot as ho fires it, in his scorebook, and he very accurate in marking his diagrams as soon as his shot is signalled on the target. The importance of this is that an accurate record of every shot teaches him how to hold his elevation. Any marksman may be at fault in his wind judgment simply because the wind bloweth wliero it listeth, and no man, from the moment he pulls the trigger until the bullet arrives on the target, can be absolutely certain of the strength thereof. 'But there is no excuse except slovenliness (which is a poor one) for persistent faults in elevation when once a man knows the idiosyncrasies of bis own gun. For, of course, in a matter of elevation, cadi rific lias its own peculiarities, which have to be mastered. An Bisley the other day I picked up a strange rille, and missed the target at 200yds. Having made up one’s mind on the vexed question of the wind, my advice to the beginner is to lire his shot at oiice, and not to bang over it until lie lias had time, and possibly reason, to change it. I know that I have the reputation for firing my shots rather rapidly, hut it only promotos indecision to hang over your shot. On the other hand, it is essential for the beginner to learn patience, and not to throw liis possible changes of conditions into account. As regards the posture for shooting, there is now practically only one which the marksmen need study, and that is lying down. The first thing lie has to learn, .of course, is not to lie in a plumb-line with his target, but at an angle of some 45 degrees. So. too, in tho matter of aiming, most good shots sight directly under the bullseyo. Personally, I always aim at the top of the target, hiit it is not a method I should care to recommend. On one occasion this little weakness probably lost me the King’s rize. It happened to be a very bright day, on which nothing except the hullseye itself was visible; consequently, I went all over the place, as ,although my wind imlgment was good, I had no definite spot on which to get my elevation. I do not knock off smoking at Sisley, nor am I a teetotaller. I find it is jiossible to play a game of bridge in the convivial atmosphere of camp of an evening, and to do creditably on the ranges on the following morning

THE PERIL OE OUR TIME. Iu Lung Riseaso. Hr. Sheldon’s Now Discovery for Coughs, Colds, and Consumption cures lung trouble. Small dose. Pleasant to take. Every bottle guaranteed. For sale by A. W. J. Mann, Agent, Chemist,