Farm and Garden

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 183, 19 August 1909, Page 4

Farm and Garden

THE FUTURE oF W<:i:AT. j As a direct effect of tl r- cent harden- | ing of the wheat r i.kct in Great Britain and America the price of this grain has advanced considerably during the laat month or two in all parts of the Dominion, and at the lime of writing considerable transactions are reported as having taken place in the Sootb Island up to 4a 6d per bushel. Now, the question for farmers whose lands are adapt' ed for wheat growing" naturally is "Will the present prices hold?" According to figures of the well known authority Beerbohm, the probable exports from the wheat growing countries will total for 1908-9 season 54,750,000 quarters, while he places the minimum requirements of the importing countries at 63,000,000 quarters, thus showing a shortage in general supply of eight and a quarter million quarters. Out of the above exportable quantities Beerbohm makes the United States responsible for 17, 000.000 quarters,but if the recent cable from America may be trusted, it is j somewhat doubtful if the States will have this quantity available, for the American Secretary of Agriculture, | who has taken what at least may be termed a hopeful view of the situation, [ states that there is sufficient wheat in America at normal prices to make I bread for all until the new crops come | in. and adds that these will be abnorm- | ally large. In the face of this s ( atc- i ment it would appear to be doubtful , whether our American cousins will j have the quantity of wheat to export which the authority quoted estimates. ; It must be remembered that the pres- | ent shortage in the world's supply of . wheat has been brought prominently before us for some time past, and that the rise in values that has lately taken place should not be unexpected. On : the other hand, the producing power of tbc world in regard to wheat growing has ample scope for expansion, and where anything approaching a payable price is awaiting the producer there j, need, in our opinion and in the opinion j of many of the leading authorities at J Home, be little chance of any chronic i shortage. Everything points to prices S for the world's staple being well main- » tained for a year or two to come at { least, after which.perhaps, the inducement of better values may lead to temporary over production. HISTORY OF THE ROMNEY At tbe gathering of wool-classing, students held at Mr E. Short's property, at Waituna recently, Mr G. C. Wheeler, of Stanway, delivered an J address on the "Early History of the j Romney in New Zealand." He first j paid a tribute to Mr Short for the energy and ability he had shown in regard to tbe classes and the promotion of such gatherings as the present. While h* felt certain that there were many who knew more of the subject than he did he thought it was incumbent on all of them to do their share to make such gatherings a success, and his hope was that those whose knowledge of New Zealand and its Romney flocks was more extended than bis own, would at no distant day, and at some similar gathering, fill in the information omitted by him. Old records stated that in the reign of Henry 111, when the widow of De Mont ford was residing at Dover, the garrison were supplied with sheep from Romney Marsh at Is lOd each. About the year 1550, laws were made for the preservation of Romneys, but it was not until the early part of last century that the breed underwent much improvement, and that was by a Mr Goord, in 1810, and he claimed this was effected by selection alone. Kentish farmers were too well aware of the great constitutional advantages their sheep possessed to sully the pure blood by the introduction of Leicester or any other crosse*. It is the vigorous old breed, which for centuries was reared on the storm-swept pastures of Romney Marsh that has, after many years of opposition and not a little ridicule, firmly established itself in this part of New Zealand. About 50 years ago, Dr Webster, in the South, and Mr Ludlam in the North Island, introduced tbe Romney. In those days there was no frozen meat trade. Sheepbreeders grew wool and boiled down their surplus stock for tallow, and as there was but a limited supply of purebred rams, undoubtedly many grade rams were used. These caused disappointment, owing to light fleeces, and as about this time there was an abundant supply of good Lincoln rams, the much-maligned Ro*neny was under a cloud for 25 years. A faithful few, however, kept tbe Romney flag flying, and in course of time their faith was justified. In drawing attention to stumbling-blocks to breeders, he pointed tbe direction of the life-energies of an animal towards the undue development of some particular point. Thus, Lincolns were in New Zealand made to grow an enormous amount of wool, but as this was expected to be done off grass only, the unfortunate animal could grow no flesh 1.e., well developed muscle, but was attained at the cost of wool. While yet another striking instance is found in the Syrain sheep whose tail sometimes attained a weight of 50 pounds, supported artificially on boards with wheels.

Tbe lesson for breeders was to improve their sheep as evenly as possible, and not to give prominence to either wool or flesh. It is this which has gained for the Romney its popularity —his wool was sufficient to make him a good rent-payer, yet he had flesh and vigor enough to actively climb over hill country. Though wool was selling well and mutton had never been so low since freezing was started, it would be a great mistake to increase the wool at the expense of the fleshit would be useless to develop a very heavy fleece if the animal had not the strength to carry it. Mr Wheeler then dealt with tbe diversity of fleece caused by tbe land upon which tbe sheep grazes. The genius of a breeder could do a very great deal in developing bis flock if he works with his lands, but be could not successfully oppose it —he could not breed a heavy-boned sheep on land that only produced "pipe-stems;" nor coold he grow a dense fleece on land which producetfan open ore. He concluded: "I must not close without special reference to her who has been

likened unto the goose which lays the golden egg—the Romney ewe, tbe mother of our golden-fleeced ram lambs. What a mother she is! She is both prolific and affectionate. But it is of no use to be so unless she has the constitution, he r very affection would be her ruin; but, developed as she is. she proves herself the worthy mother of a hardy race, and is a regular breeder to a ripe old age." Mr Wheeler pointed out that they had evidence in the sheep shown there that day by Mr Short, which justified the faith of those who believed in the Romney years ago, justified everything said in eulogy of the breed with which he had so long been connected.

POULTRY NOTES. What to do in the way of cleanliness will perhaps be better remembered if a set of rules are laid down for the reader's guidance. Provide a good dust bath for the fowls to wallow in. This is the best remedy for body lice. Paint the roosts once or twice with a good liquid lice destroyer. In early fall apply a coating of carbolated whitewash to the woodwork of the I interior. It is an excellent licedestroyer and disinfectant, besides reflecting more light on dark days. Use clean nesting material, and drop several moth balls in the nest. [ Remove the droppings in thawing ; weather. As an absorbent use dry r earth or sifted coal ashes. The latter ! also make an excellent dust-bath, j and the fowls greatly enjoy picking [ them over for bits of cinder. | For litter, use straw, chaff, leaves, for cut corn stalks, covering the floor | six or eight inches deep. Once each month remove the fine litter, earth | and droppings next the floor. Then add fresh material to the desired [ depth.