FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2101, 8 June 1907, Page 4

FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Fannors in tho Asliburton County (says tlio Guardian) aro boing much hampered in tlioir work of ploughing owing to tho dry condition of tho subsoil. In tho higher portions of tho county tho ground is said to be in first-class order for agricultural work, which is boing pushed alioad oxpoditiously. A good area has boon sown in wheat, some of which is already up, and looks woll and healthy. Several graziers complain that tho turnip crops are rotting, tho result of some form of blight said to bo previously unknown in tho country. In somo localities (says tho Timaru Post) water has still to bo cartod for stock, and for liousohold uso. This has boon going on for six months at least, and thoro is ovory prospoct that it will liavo to be continued for somo time yot. It is an oxponsivo method of gotting tho water supply. Tho wages of a mail and tho oxponso of foeding two or tliroo horses is not small in tlieso days. If tho money had been invested in putting in un-

derground tanks, or in digging wells, it might havo onsured a fairly lasting supply of water, ns woll as effecting a permanent improvement. Tho divining rod is still in uso in somo quartors. Mr. C. M. Jackson, of Cliortsey (says tho Ashburton Guardian) has alroady ripo raspborrios on his farm. Tho canes, which woro planted last spring, aro runners from a new variety of raspberries which was impor--tod into the colony last year. Speaking of a slight docreaso in prico of storo lambs noticeable at tho Ashburton stock market, tho opinion was givon that tho lack of competition for this class of stock was attributable to tho fact that a largo proportion of tho yarding of lambs had exceptionally poor teeth. “For somo unaccountable roason,” said one obsorvor, “lambs this year are losing their teeth very rapidly; and I havo noticed that even those of my own flock that havo been depastured on grass alono, are in a bad state as regards tho condition of their teeth.” Some of tho mouths of lambs yarded at tho sale were quite as bad as those of “gummie” or “cull” ewes. It is generally recognised among graziers that the teeth of lambs will not stand the test of turnip-feeding in tho way that older sheep will. Tho lioavy shoop-sliifting occasioned by last summer’s drought is strikingly shown by the railway returns (says tho Dunedin Star). For tho year ended the 31st March, 1907, no fewer than 506,046 sheep were trucked outwards at stations botween Kurow and Clinton, while 335,351 were railed inwards. During the previous year, when tho tra'ffic was normal, the figures were only 280,259 outward and 251,372 inward. The white grub, which has been so destructive in the North Otago district in past years (says the North Otago Times), is reported to have had an effective check owing to the long-continued drought. In some parts numbers of the grubs are to be seen dead on the surface. “If properly conducted” (says ,/Rouseabout’ in the Timaru Post), “school gardens may give children an insight into the nature and properties of soils, manures, seeds, and plants. They may even be tho means of turning children’s thoughts in the direction of agriculture, and that is most important in a country liko ours, which must be regarded as agricultural for, let us hopo, all time.” The substances from which alcohol may bo profitably mado are maizo, potatoes, ' rye, wheat, barley, oats, and sugar-beet; in fact, any grain, fruit, or root containing starch or sugar. It is estimated in the United States that one aero of potatoes will produce 500 gallons of alcohol, and that a bushel of maize will produce about 2J- gallons of alcohol. Tho increasing domand for alcohol for motor and othor power cannot fail to stimulate its manufacture. A Nobraska dairyman says ho onco tested tho milk of a cow after she was suffering tho excitement of being chased about. The Babcock tester showed 2.3 per cent, of butter-fat; the next morning tho test showed 4.1 per cent.; and in a week, when she had rogained her wonted state of mind, she tested 6 por cent. Farmers who allow a dog to rush and worry the cows, because they do not move quite as fast as suits their driver, may study this fact with profit. Deports from Germanton, Now South Wales, with reference to the prolonged spell of dry weather, state that the outlook for the winter months is anything but encouraging. Hand-feeding of sheep is being done at Ellerslie, Jarra, Kinross, Carabobala, and Little Billabong. In fact, right through the district grass is very scarce, and the supply of water for stock limited. Reports from To-

cumwal state that sheep are dying by hundreds. Even in Germanton pastoralists are killing lambs to save the mothers. Ploughing is at a standstill, and the outlook for the early crops is serious. Only old land has been treated by the plough, and in some instances seed has had to be sown twice.:

In an agricultural contemporary we read: “Beans and maize, when used as horsefeed, should always be crushed, as tho grain is hard and elusive, and may escape proper mastication.” And a few lines lower down the column: “Horses are quite equal to doing their' own crushing and grinding, and the extra mastication ensures larger admixture of saliva which is essential to digestion.”

An Australian paper says that all reports go to show that woolpacks and cornsacks will continue to be dear. Manufacturers are well hooked ahead with orders. Another factor in the situation is that, although the juto crop last year was a good ono, much of the jute was damaged by floods, and a limit was placed on the supply. Large demands ar o being made for bags for the now Indian grain crops, which aro turning out woll, and orders from South America

have been very largo. An American farmer says: —There must bo a national revolt against- the worship of manufactures and trade as the only forms of progressive activity, and a clear recognition on the part of the whole pcoplo that the tillage of the soil is the natural and most desirablo occupation of mail.

In an experiment made at South Dakato station, United States, it was found that 4211 b of peas produced 1001 bof grain in pig-feeding. It took 4581 b of maize to produco the same amount of gain.

RECORD PRICE FOR A MERINO EWE. Advices to hand from Australia state that a stud ewe from Mr. Horsfall’s famous Widgiewa flock has been sold for the high price of 200 guineas. This constitutes a record sale for ewes. By the same mail we are notified that a ram from this celebrated flock realised the very high price of 1000 guineas. The performances of the Widgiewa sheep in the show ring for years past have been the subject of discussion among up-to-date sheep men the wide world over. The greatest records of prizewinning ever achieved in the history of-isheep-breeding have fallen to the lot of the owner of this famous flock. Everything on Widgiewa is of the very best that experience dictates and money can procure. The production of a perfect fleece is, of course, one of the objects aimed at; and that this object has been attained is convincingly proved by the prices realised for the Widgiewa wool n the sales. For 1904, 1905, find 1906 the clips from this station gold up to I4d, 14id, and 15d per lb 1 :• "

il! the gronso, the average for all the flooco boing within a fraction of 13d Ipor lib. Tlio clip ranged from 1200 to 1400 balos ouch season, making truly a great avorago. After long and painstaking experimenting, Mr Horsfall and his manager havo arrived at tho conclusion that for tho production of a porfoct flooco of wool Quibell’s Dip stands unrivalled by any othor preparation on tho markot, and it is now solely used on Widgiowa Estate —whoro tho abovomontionod high-priced sheep havo boon bred—and also on Mr. Horsfall’s othor properties. It may bo boro mentioned that Mr. Horsfall’s annual clip of wool runs from 3500 to 4000 balos. Full particulars of this splendid dip can bo obtained from Mossrs Dalgety and Co., who aro agents throughout tho North Island.