Farm Topics.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 August 1910, Page 4

Farm Topics.

(Complied from Various Newspapers) Ft has been decided by tho British Government that all wheat grown within the .limits of the British Umpire shall be admitted free of ditty to England. Lucerne has a value apart from its food content; it is an appetiser and tonic, with a' good effect on tilw digestive 'tract of all animals. La nil values in England are not on the increase ; a block of f>o acres, sold last month for £380, changed ■bands in 1870 .at CSO per acira. A start ivs to be made by -Mafia farmers (Victoria) to grow beat for sugar manufacturing purposes An area of 108(5 acres is to be planted under the direction of an office.} , of the States Department of Agriculture.

That Guernsey cows have A very appreciable dairying value is a fact I'ainiliair to all dairy farmers who havo had any experience with the breed. For the production of rich milk and ereiain, for a •maximum butter yield, for hardness of constitution, they are hard to beat. But •a lUi on fib tlie cattle fatten with the greater readiness ban the Jersey, and usually attain a heavier weight- than animls belonging to the latter breed, they cannot be said to make good ■bitk-liw's moat, except to t:heir nativo home. The average milking rapacity of a Guernsey cow is equal to that of any other breed, and, on tdie whole, it may be classed in tin's respect with the Ayrshire. Compared with Jerseys the milk is about c(|iial in butter-fat, content to that produced from these cattle, is even. richer in colouring, and the average yield pcir cow is said to be .greater. With regard to tihe question of maturity, however, the Jerseys have a slight advantage over the breed in question; tho hitter usually comes into milk :it .something over two years of age. Uiiifoi'ttinately (heir most Jitting purpose is for Initterinaking, and they take kindly to the system of. productive grazing where food is easy of access. In temperament the cows are exceedingly docile, which is probably aci-omited for by the fact that in their native island they are generally tethered in the Ileitis throughout the .summer months, lading fed on hay, roots, meal and. bran in the winter. As indicative of what Guernseys can accoinplicsh in dairy production, the butter tests made at the, Royal Counitis Show at Heading may bo quoted. Thus the average of live eons w:>,s summarised as follows: Days in. milk, 7">; milk, 3-31 i> 7Joz; butter, lib UJoz; ratio, 11). I". It is 'interesting to note that the past year. 15)0!), lias been a record one in Guernsey. A largo number of cattle havo been exported, principally to American fanciers, in one cas? over 800 being sent in a single- fortnight. For crossing and grading on cows of mixed breeding with the object of improving the milking capabilities and the ■hardiness of the 'herd in general, and the quantity and quality of the butter output in particular, the Guernseys are well worth a trial, and dairy farmers would do well to experiment for themselves in this direction.

Till-] POTATO. Weight Tor weight, bread is six times more nourishing than potatoes. The potato thrives better in Portugal than in any part of Europe, the average crop in Portugal being-equal to twelve tons to the acre. Tho potato is three-quarters water, and is deficient in nitrogen besides. Hence it is not in itself a perfect food. The gum on the back of postage stamps is made of farina extracted from potatoes. Tho Dutch make a molasses-lik-e- syrup of potatoes, and potatoes farm the starch that stiffens the world's shirts and petticoats. The potato but too often adulterates cocoa, potted meats, honey, butter, and tapioca. Potato spirit, a very pure, alcohol, is used to fortify wines, and it is prophesied that this spirit will supplant gasoline, as the motive power of automobiles. From potato leaves cigarettes are made, and from potato pulp buttons, combs, and penholdais.