Farm and Garden

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 213, 2 December 1909, Page 4

Farm and Garden

MILK TK.STS. Miiic-teUing and the nccvo.-ary detail? ii. connection with the successful carrying out of the work have from their importance been treated very fully in these notes during the pa3t few weeks, and in the same connection there are some things that should be thoroughly understood about taking samples of milk for testing. The reason why we have so much controversy about the Babcock test is that people arc careless in getting samples. The Babcock is absolutely reliable. This is indisputable. If an honest man uses the test, and if an accurate sample of milk is taken, there is no question but that the Babcock test will tell the absolute truth every time. Very often the trouble arises in getting the sample. For instance, when a man finishes milking a cow. be may take a dipper and remove a sample of milk from the top of the pail. This is not a fair sample because cream is lighter than milk and rises to the top, and as the cream has been rising slowly but surely to he top of that pail all the time he had been milknig, that sample will be richer than the average of that milk. To get an accurate sample after the cow is milked the milk should be emptied from one pail to another until it is thoroughly stirred op; then the sample taken at once. Or it can be taken with what is called a "milk thief," which is simply a hollow tube having the same calibre throughout is entire length. Insert the tube slowly into the milk, until it reaches the bottom of the pail, put the thumb over the top of the tublo and raise it up. In this way some of the poorest milk in the bucket will be obtained, some of the meduim milk in the centre of the bucket, and some of the richest milk on the top. One will have an accurate sample, and the test will be a true one.

A mature sow can raise two litters as successfully as one, and with no extra feed, save that required for nourishing the second litter. Where only one litter of pigs is raised yearly from mature sows it is difficult to keep them contented during the summer and fall unless they arc fed so heavily as to become too fat. Many calves die annually from apoplexy. More often than not the cause arises from the animals having received as their daily ration coarse and indigestible foods such as hay or old grass, which have n detrimental eiTect on their systems. If a young cow's parents have for generations been bred from good milkers she is almost certain to possess the same valuable qualities, whether mated early or late in life. Showing does not affect these hereditary qualities of the animal if judiciously trained. Dry food, such as chaff and bran, with a handful of crushed barley, should be given to marcs whose foals have the least tendency to scour, whilst hay may also be given to check the flow of milk. It is necessary to notice whether the youngster sucks frequently, and, if not, milk should be drawn away at intervals till he regains his appetite and can take a full quantity.

The development of competent dairymen is just as important as tbe development of cows. These highly specialised cows require judicionus and kindly treatment. Neglect will not only be reflected in the chum, but disastrous and costly deterioration will quickly follow. A generation of neglect will practically undo the work of a century. Tbe culmination of the breeder's art must be supDlemented with correct methods of feeding and proper handling. Start early and keep your stock in first class shape this year. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." It is much easier to keep out internal parasties than to get them out. Get some good cows and do not be afraid to feed them liberally. Comfort and abundant feed are the keynotes to success in handling the dairy herds. Without comfort tbe milk flow will dwindle. The Lincoln stud flock of Mr Perry, of liawke's Bay, comprising nearly 600 ewes, gave a return of 110 lambs per cent. Growers report that the steel blue ladybird is eradicating tbe scale in the orange trees in Hawke's Bay. For the nourishment of horses, experiments have proved that 51b of oats are equal to 101b of fresh clover. Get your litters on tbe market as early as possoble. Potatoes should not be planted in tbe same soil two years in succession. No amount of work on the soil or in culture will make a good crop of corn unless the seed is good. The ton of mixed hay contains about 9601b of digestible dry matter, while eigbt tons of silage contain 25601b of dry matter. Keep the dairy sweet and clean. If you gain nothing else than an increased reputation as a good butter maker it will pay you. Perseverance and intelligence are the only two things that will-win in the dairy. Without these you bad better get out of the business. The pigs' sleeping quarters should be littered a foot deep with cut straw, which may be thrown into the yard after being used, but the yard should always be cleaned out after a rain and dry material then added. The milch cow should not be compelled to take much exercise. Water should be convenient, as travelling a long distance for water compels her to drink water in large quantities at too long intervals. A circumstance sometimes overlooked is tbe temperature of the milk; this should be from 80 to 90 degrees Fahr. If colder than this it must bp. heated, or less perfect separation will result. If the water supplied to dairy cows is not quite up to the mark the farmer will soon have trouble with his milksupply without any interference Ly inspectors or other representatives of the sanitory authorities. Cows, as well as other stock, have a wonderful liking for silage, and much ' f the success of feeding it can be attributed tit*? palatability. They "'.'tn I refer it, to a certain extent at I ear?. to fresh cut or good grass iajii'- lajvur*', .