Agricultural and pastoral.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1531, 5 December 1873, Page 37

Agricultural and pastoral.

The Biscathorpe Rams,

Mr Larkworthy of Wanganui, having imported a number of Lincoln sheep, selected from those procured by the Biscathorpe rams, the Chronicle gives the following account of the flock, extracted from Bell's Weekly Messenger :—'' The Biscathorpe Bams have existed as a Hock, as descendants of the old Hngnaby breed of long-wools, for about 120 years, and there has ever been during that period an enterprising determination and progressive intelligence at work to secure and perpetuate every excellency in the animal, and hence for size, form, early maturity, constitutional hardiness, productiveness, disposition to fatten, and for length, trueness of staple, pliability and softness of texture in the wool, these rains cannot be surpassed ; indeed, Mr Kirkham lias brought the breed to such a state of perfection that, as the annual season conies round for letting, there has always been attracted a large attendance of eminent farmers and wool growers from all parts of the world, and a brisk competition has been the consequence. This year, the rumor having become current that the distinguished tenant of Biscathorpe Hall was about to leave that place—which he found a wilderness, but has converted into a fruitful spot and a veritable ' Garden of Eden'—rather than pay an advanced rent, there was the largest and most influential gathering we have ever seen at Biscathorpe. There was likewise a strong feeling of sympathy with Mr Kirkham, and deep expressions of regret because of his prohable exit from the pastoral stage of life as a ram breeder. Sixty-eight sheadings were sold for 1,772 gs.; 1G two-shear rams for 357 gs.; 30

three-shear and upwards fetched TO.'VA- gs. The total sale realized £3,0G8 12s Gel, giving a general average on the 120 sheep of £25 lis 6d." "We understand," adds the Chronicle, " that Mr James W. Baker, who has the oldest flock of Lincoln sheep in the district, has purchased from Mr Larkworthy two of the rams for £IOO each."

Milk Refrigerator. " CEdipus" writes in the Melbourne Leader: —lt is somewhat singular, but has been known for some time, that the more rapidly milk is cooled, after leaving the cow, the longer it can be preserved in a marketable condition. Probably the sudden cooling checks the generation of infusoria which the natural heat and eontact with the air might otherwise devclope. A knowledge of the fact has led to the invention of a refrigerator into which the milk is speedily poured. This consists of a receiver from which a coil of pipes passes through a vessel of cold water. The milk in traversing the coil speedily loses its warm temperature. If it is required to raise the temperature of the milk, instead of cooling it, hot instead of cold water has to be employed. Skinning Wheat. Mr. W. P. Baker of Bristol, has described to the institution of Mechanical Engineers a process for skinning wheat or converting it into flour or semolina. The skin is taken off rapidly by blades rotating in a cylinder. While the blades grow blunt on one side they become sharp on the other: so to speak they sharpen themselves, and by rotating in opposite directions on alternate days, are always ready for use. The kernels of the grain are then passed between fluted metal rollers, and arc converted at pleasure into flour or semolina of the best quality. Semolina means half-milled or half-ground. The close-fitting skin which has been stripped off contains a chemical principle known as cerealine, said to be noxious. Bread in which there is no cerealine is beautifully light and white; but there is good reason to doubt whether it is as nutritious as brown bread. The question is one which may be left to further experience ; meanwhile it is satisfactory to know that machinery is available for completely separating every particle of the husk from the flour. If the separation is not made before the grinding, it cannot be made afterwards. In the International Exhibition is a machine which shows how the process briefly described above is carried on.