BY THE WAYSIDE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 28, 17 February 1937, Page 15

BY THE WAYSIDE

News of Interest to H.B. Farmers DEHORNING - 0F CATTLE Receht saies at Btortford Lodge have again emphasised tho value of dehorning in cattle raisfng. At last week's sale at Hastings there were severn] beasts on offer which were gashed from horns, and their value was consequently affected when they were offered. AlthoUgh the farmer and breeder may deplore the absenca of horns as taking away the appearance of an animal, the presence of horns is hard" to justify in c.ommerdial cattle to-day. A dehorned animal is/easier to handlo, and is leSs liable to cause damage to itself and other stock. Bruising of tlie flesh and damaged hides repult in a serkm* loss each year to the farmers of Hawke 's Bay. Foul-Brood Eliminated. Tribute to the beneficial resiilts obtained .by Wairoa apiarists irom the instruction given them by ' the apiary officers of the Departmexlt of Agriculture is paid.by a wairoa correspoxident. Pointing out that the amouiit of foul brood has been wiped out, he at tribute^ this almost entirely to the demoiistrations and advice given by Mr. L. Reisterer, the Government Apiary lnstructor for Hawke 's Bay. Hti also mentions that this season has been quite a good oue for honey production as ,far as the. Wairoa district is cOnccrned. Butter-Bo* Types. •The reduction of the number of butter-box types. from three to two is generally approved by dairy company ofticials, as it will overcome oue or twO diificulties, and there Will be no advantage resulting. from this action. Ixl Hawke 'a Bay the standard type of box, which is being done away with as from August 1, was used principally for the, loeal trade. It is considered that the two remaining types — the sub-standard and the saraxxac— will be quite suf» flcient. The eliminatxon of the standard box has the following advantages: (a) The saving of a large quantity of white pine timber annually; (b) simplifying the p.osition for sawmilleri and box-cnakers as regards the thickness of boards for use in box-making. For llext season 's boxeB only two thicknesses will require to be ordered instead of three, as fof the curreni seasoxi; (c) the reductioix in the percentage of broken bpxes as the standard box, being unwired, is more prone to damage than tixe wired containers. A Splendid Movement. The writer was interested to note in these notes last week that the Norpe-. wood and Takapau Yoxing Farmers' Clubs are to pay a yisit of inspectionto Massey Agricultural Ooliuge in April. Such visits have a distiuct edu-; cational value, and are well worth eneouraging. It is to be hoped that these visits will become an even greater feature of the work of the Young Farmers' movement. In this connection it is worthy of comment that, in April next, a party Of 50 members of the Young Farmers' Clubs in Taranaki wiil speud a week touring in the southern part of the North Island. Such tours can be of inestimable value in bfoadening viewpoints and enabling fresh ideas to be obtained on matters agricultural. Interest In Y.F. Clubs. Because of the increased interest taken by education boards, the boys girls' agricultural clubs movement has greatly developed since being taken over by the Education Departmeut. The services of the department 's agricultural instructors were being made available to a greater extent, he said, and this, combined with the willing co-operation of the Departmeut of Agriculture, had greatly stimulated interest in the movement. Wairoa Y.F.C. At the monthly meeting of the Wairoa Young Farmers' Club, Mr. R. Fowdrell presided over a good attendance. Ten new members were elected. Mr. A. C. de Lautour gave a talk on the training and working of dogs for dog trials, while Mr. F. H. Mardon dealt with fat lamb production. Mr. Alexander, a member of the North Island Council of the Y.F.C. movement, expressed his pieasure at the growth of the movement in Wairoa, and also discussed the value of top-dressing in the East Coast districts. Quaint Superstition, It appears that in Essex there is a prejudice, or superstition, against white animals in a dairy herd, writes a Home correspondent. it is held that a white animal brings bad luck to the ownpr ahd to the herd. To test this local feeling — which has been held for generatiuns past — a white heifer was introduced two months ago into a herd, and it sbrvived only a few days in its new sui roundings. Such is local superstition. We are all famillar with that of tho black cat, but I wonder if the white heifer belief obtains in otlier districts! Combatiug T.B. Pennsylvania is the 43rd State in the United States to obtain the modified accredited rating which signifies that bovine tuberculosis has been reduced to less than one-half of 1 per cent. Oelebrating the State 's conquest of this disease, an achievemont day was held on December 16 at Harrisburg. Fertilisers at Home. Fertiliser values at Home .afe variable, acCording to delivery poiuts, but superpho.'jphate may be said "to range from about £2 10/- to £2 19/- per ton, ant1 nitrogenoag manures from £6 19/ to £7 12/- per ton. Sulphate of amxxionia, for insiance, is worth £6 19/- and nitrate of aoda £7 12/-