Farm and Garden

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 214, 6 December 1909, Page 3

Farm and Garden

*T-T'M>ATK HAIRYINi;. America is a country on which big thirtg3 are accomplished in connection with agriculture, as well as with commerce and manufacture, say san exchange. A body known as the Broadviewed Dairy Company has been establised. wbicb claims as its purpose to make the biggest dairy in the States. An estate bs been purchased, where it is intended to keep a very large herd of cattle of tbe highest grade and to demonstrate the possibility of conducting dairy fanning on tbe intensive principle on land wbicb has been utilised in tbe growth of wheat. The chief crop wbicb it is proposed to grow is lucerne, and each cow is expected to produce milk to the value of £ls to £lB a year, which it is claimed will make as large a return as four times the area devoted to the wheat crop. Each of the cow sheds, or bams as they are termed, is intended to accommodate 50 cows. Tbe plan of tbe buildings is pretty much the same as that in modern homesteads in this country, but there is one innovation which is worthy of tbe attention of those who are interested in dairy buildings in this country- The manure and other refuse is removed in large buckets, which are suspended on a pulley attached to a track fixed overhead. These tracks reach the outside the barn and every bucketful of dung is emptied into a cart or waggon placed for tbe purpose, and thus quickly removed on to tbe land, thereby preventing tbe building of dung neaps and the consequent waste of fertilising matter. Tbis method I have seen adopted in Cheshire on a simpler principle, although one which is not so elaboartc nor so easy to accomplish. In the Cheshire case the farmer's men wheeled the manure to the outside of the cow bam and pitched it into a cart, in which it was conveyed to the fields. Light is abundantly provided in the American cow bams, one half of the entire wall space being occupied by windows, one of wbicb is fixed at tbe hark of each cow. Ventilation has been provided through the roof, in which are glass windows, wbicb also increase the light. The tuberculin Vot is to be applied twice yearly, and • v.>ry effort will be made to prevent the introduction of tuberculosis. In the building provided for the storing and prepartaion of the food there is a bath for tbe men, a lavatory, toilet, and clothing closets, each man being required to wear a special suit while milking. Tbe milk is carried to a special milk bouse placed 100 yards from tbe building containing tbe cattle. It is drawn on a special truck from the barn to the milk house, where it is emptied into a cotton filter subsequently passing over a cooler consisting of coils which are filled with brine. After cooling the milk is placed in cold storage and kept cool with ice, wbicb is manufactured on tbe farm.

Tbe butter milk from a first class dairy is always a good starter to use, but it is of no use to supply it where tbe conditions of the milk, for tbe dairy, or management are in tbe least imperfect. Scrupulous cleanliness is essential to successful dairying—carelessness in this respect leads to unwonted ills. Tbe produce from tbe dairy cannot be of so bigb a quality, and troubles from taints and perhaps presence of disease are more prevalent.

Farm animals should be fed according to their needs. Tbeir needs depend of course, upon tbe product that they yield. Work bones are kept for supplying energy and should be supplied with feeds that will furnish tbe required energy at the least possible cost, all things considered. Seed potatoes should be disinfected before planting. A safe method, especially for small lota, ts to observe the following formula:—(a) Soak for two boors in a solution of one-half pint of formalin to 16 gallons of water; or (b)one and a-half hours in 2oz. corrosive sublimate dissolved in 20 gallons of water.

A horse trainer says that the average person does not know how to pet a horse. He says they do not pet them in the rigbt place. Rub bis eyelids or up between the ears. In petting horses most people slight these nerve centres. They stroke the horse's nose. While a well behaved horse will accept the nasal caress complacently be would much' prefer that nice soothing touch applied to the eyelids. The project of the American Beef Trust to monopolise the meat packing of Argentina is still a topic of considerable interest in that country and the United States, says the Live Stock Journal. There appears to be a general consensus of opinion to the effect that, unless some combination of the Argentine meat companies is formed to counteract the workings of the trust one after another of the freezing companies will fall into the hand? of t:> powerful American combination, who.•-••-■ object is, evidently, to control the export meat trade to the wor;■:. 'lf.' wonder is that the stockowcer.' :' Argentina do not urge the G"V-t:-.::> ■- legislate against a riant:' r •■•> •.:■.■■ raising industry, vastly ;rr.i'.rf.a:, - . .•■. it is to the national -.volrap-.