Farm and Garden.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 149, 22 April 1909, Page 4

Farm and Garden.

Pasture and Milk Supply.

A very peculiar effect has been not* iced on the increased proportion of fat in milk in Cast Fries land, when cows are turned oat to pasture. The effect was almost immediate, taking place so soon that the observer did not think that the change of food could have been the cause. It is the mote remarkable wben one considers that change of artificial food may increase the yield of milk: but it does not seem to have any appreciable effect on the per centage of fat. An example of the result of green pastures is given in a Friesland paper.

"The herd was turned out to pasture on Bth May, and on 9th May a remarkable increase in the proportion of fat was noted, but almost without appreciable changs in the total yield of milk. Yield of the herd in the byre, 247*1b milk, 2.98 per cent. fat. Yield after one day on pasture, 249J lb milk, 3.34 per cent, of fat. After fourteen days the total yield of milk had increased to 3451b. while the average per centage of fat bad decreased to 3.02, or practically the same content of fat as that of the milk just prior to turning out to pasture. It was noted, moreover, that what was recorded for the herd generally was found also in the case of each individual cow." The joy of the cow at once again getting into fresh air, and feeding on natural pastures, instead of being confined in a position—which they must look on much the same as we do a gaol and fed artificially, might have material effect upon the yield. Anyone observing the eagerness of animals to feed on the grass as they are liberated from a time of confinement, will know something of the effect of cows going out to pasture after a long winter's confinement.

Ensilage Making. Of the three methods of making ensilage, comprising the pit, the stack, and the overground silo, respectively, the first named is now all but completely discarded in favour of the two latter. The general principle underlying all methods of ensilage is comparatively simple. Where a green crop of any kind i« thrown together in a heap, fermentation immediately begins, and the aim of a successful system of ensilage is to control this fermentation and reduce it to a minimum. Consequently one point in connection with slack ensilage is its necessarily larger percentage of waste, owing to a less complete exclusion of air. Fermentation being a process of combustion. in which the union of the carbon of the organic matter with the oxygen of the air,results in the formation of carbonic acid gas, it follows that the portions of the feeding material lost in this combustion are not the fibroos and woody parts of the plant, hut the most valuable food constituents of the crop. In stack ensilage this loss amounts to from fifteen to twenty five per cent, while in an over ground silo, properly constructed, it is reduced to from five to ten per cent.

The Onion Plant. The onion plant is almost the only vegetable that does not require a change of soil. The Aldenbam onions are celebrated in England, and they have been grown on the same site for the last twenty years, and this year withgTeat success. Deep trenching seems to be essential, for the roots of onions penetrate nearly a yard deep. In autumn the beds are trenched four feet deep, adding manurr as the work proceeds, with old lime rubble near the surface. Mildew is the worst enemy the onion has to put up with, and this pest is prevented by the careful preparation of the soil. An open situation is indispensable and there must be a free development of the leaf. long season of growth is required ; the seed is sown under glass, the young plants when large enough are pricked off in boxes, and afterwards planted out where they are to remain. In dry weather they are watered freely, adding soot as a leading stimulant. The aim is to produce large, shapely, well matured bulbs, without a semblance of undue neck. The varieties chiefly grown at Aldenbam are Alisa Craig, Leamignton Giant, and Cranston's Variety.

Poultry Notes.

Some take infertile egg* from the incubator after they have been in long enough to prove them infertile and use or sell them. Don't do it. They may not show themselves spoiled but they are not fit for food. In hot weather the comfort of the fowls depend upon shade and fresh water. They should have ready access to both. This is particuarly to be observed in the case of young chicks.

Gapes ia not a disease; it is only the manifestation of the lodgment in the throat of the chick of a parasite, a double headed worm hatched from the ground where it feeds. This is often so prevalent that it is mistaken for an epidemic disease, and it not infrequently destroys all hope of profit in the season's batch. Keep the runs, especially the feeding places well sprinkled with lime from the time the first chicks are hatched in the spring until there are not longer any small chfefca.

That the bot fly is to be dreaded is very evident from a report circulated in South Australia. A portion of the stomach of a horse that had died from this cause was shown in a chemist's shop. A large number of the bot larvas were still attached to it. Although it bad been immersed in spirits the larvae were still living. The chemist tried several liquids on them, but without avail, and even chloroform only disabled them temporarily.

A new method of maintaining the freshness of milk without the use of preservatives has, says an English health journal, just been discovered. The milk is sprayed through a series of nozzle* with the result that the fat is broken up into the smallest possible particles, and their separation is rendered impossible for some hours, in spite of the churning effect of a long railway journey. This is expected to increased the possibilities of milk transportation by some hundreds of miles.

To test soil for lime it is recommended to take a few shovelsful of soil from different parts of the field and dry, pulverise, and mix them thoroughly together. Take a few oonces of this, powder, and reduce to ashes on a shovel over the fire. Put these ashes wben cool into a glass tumbler, and mix with them as much water a it will, take to cover them. Stir this with a glass rod or wooden stick, but not with anything metallic. To this paste add an ounce of hydrochloric acid, which is commonly sold as muriatic acid, or spirits of salts, the mixture being stirred all the time. If a fairly brisk effervesecnce takes place, it is a sign that the soil contains a fair percentage of lime,but if little or no effervescence takes place the soil contains little or no lime.

From time immemorial it has beep known by agriculturists that the cultivation year after year of the same crop on the same piece of land is a system which cannot be advocated.

Although Japan is generally supposed to be the home of the chrysanthemum, it is said to have been a fashionable plant in China over 3600 years ago.

The first fertiliser factory in Europe wan established in France about the year 1800, the principal manufacture being "Poudrette," made from the material collected from town sewage. The excrcmented matter was dried, pressed into cakes, and ground into a fine powder. It gave excellent results as a fertiliser.

It should be the pride of every owner of a flock to have a good one, uniform in quality.nnd of a high average of excellence. This cannot be unless the flock is culled once a year.

One hundred pounds of wheat bran contains 12.21b of digestive protien, 39.21b of digestible carbon-hydrates, and 2.71b either extract or fat.

The deep roots of the stinkwort are said to improve the mechanical texture of the soil, and possibly bring up supplies of food from below.

Do not cut prairie grass for seed the first summer. For that purpose tfee plants should be three or four years old,and thoroughly established.

The depreciation in the value of fanning machinery, through neglect on the part of farmers,must in the aggregate run into many thousands annually.

Much sickness among pigs is due to unclean quarters, wet pens and exposure.

Pigs should have free access to salt and ashes at all times. Wood ashes can generally be secured and the animals should have all they can eat. When not convenient to give ashes charcoal is a good substitute.

A healthy sow can be bred within a week after her pigs are weaned.

In cattle feeding, cow peas and lucerne bay make a good substitute for wheat bran.

Lucerne bay, boiled potatoes, separated milk and a little barley and pearoeal, make an ideal food for brood 40W8.

The brood mare should have a few hours exercise in the yard or on the road every day. It do not pay to keep her confined.

Watch youc horses' eyes. Many a horse would be saved from blindness if commonsense care were exercised in time.

The best results will be obtained by dairymen who pay special regard to the following factors:— Cleanliness, coolness, and early delivery to the manufacturer.

By milking the cow dry not only is the whole of the available milk obtained, but the richest part of it—the stoppings—is secured.

None but the best cows should get the good feed. Of course you shouldn't have poor feed, therefore you should have none but the best cows.

It is not the cow that eats the most or the cow that cats the least that is tb>! best cow, but the cow that makes the best use of what she docs eat.

The milk of recently calved cows must not be used until three clear days after parturition and milk from diseased cow must not be sent to the factory.

The cow is the great soil improver, The manure from the herds of cows al! over the country is doing more to build up the soil and make it produce better crops than any other one agency known to us.