Hints For Farmers.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 January 1911, Page 4

Hints For Farmers.

MAIZE CULTIVATION. Every attention should Be given to the"proper cultivation of maize and similar fodder crops. The seed having been sown in rows alt least 3ft apart, .the .soil should be kept stirred on iTfe surface between, both to keep down weeds and to conserve the soil moisture. Care must be It'Uken not to work too dose to the growing plants or to stir the soil too deeply. The fine feeding roots of the plants arc liable to be damaged in either case, and the growth of the crop to Ibe thus eihocked. Also as the object of intor-eultivation is to conserve the soil moisture shallow working only is required. To bring damp soil to the surface from below will cause unnecessary loss of moisture, and the crop will suffer from iltis loss. The lightest possible stirring of the surface soil is all that is required; but the work should be repeated frequented til! the crop is too high to get Itihe cultivator through it without damage to the plants; On very light soils a piece of brush fixed under the cultivator will shorten the working length of the teeth, and prevent them from running too deep. FEEDING CATTLE. New Chum : The secret of feeding cattle successfully i.s to pay close attention>to the constitution of the different animals. Some will eatmore of one kind of food than others but tihoy should never be given more than they can consume. Food should not be kept lying before them. It is better to keep /them short so as to make them keen for the next supply. They should gain Iff II) daily from birth if they are properly fed and looked after. hi giving grain, all the inferior grain on the farm can be used to hotter advantage in feeding than sending it to market. Light unmarketable barley is a very good feeding article to mix with grain but it should only be given in small quan/tities at a time. Heifers require les skeep than bullocks; they come earlier to maturity, feed more quickly, rcqurie less straw for their bods, and they can be sold at from 18 to 20 months old, RE-CUTTIXG FILES. There are many recipes for converting old files into new ones by means of acids, and the following is one of the best. The files must be thoroughly cleansed in warm water, containing a small quantity of potash, which readily removes any grease or dirt from them. After the files are Ithus cleansed, they must be washed with warm water, and dried by artificial heat. Next place one pint of warm water in a wooden vessel, and put into it as many files as the water will cover. Then add 2oz blue vitroil (sulphate of copper) finely pulverised, and 2oz of borax well mixed, taking care to tnrn_the files over so that each may come in contact with the mixture. To the above mixture ithen add 7oz of sulphuric acid and Joz of cider vinegar, which will cause the files to assume a red appearance at first, but they will in a short time resume their natural colour. Then ithey must be removed, washed in cold water, and dried by artificial heat. When dry they must be sponged with olive oil, wrapped in porous paper and laid aside for use.