Farm and Garden

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 231, 5 February 1910, Page 3

Farm and Garden

COLOUR IN SHORTHORNS. In the matter of colour, preference has always been expressed for a good red Shorthorn animal. The reds with white markings have never been taken to kincliy, and many a good bull has been sacrificed to make a Christmas steer on that account. The yellow tinted or faded hues are avoided. Nothing lends distinction to a ball more than a good colour, and a mossycoated roan, ■ without too much white, looks as well as anything-. Some of the old blue-blooded cow-i arc light roans, suggesting faded colours, and to rectify this in the offspring there is no more satisfactory cross than a red bull. The roans, of course, spring from the unity of red and white, and although the latter finds practically no sale amongst foreign buyers, it is an admirable corrective when judicjously used in home herds. There have been quite a crop of good white bulls in the English show rings of recent years, and one generally finds that in firstclass herds it is necessary to revert to a white stock sire to set vacrant colours right in succeeding generations. BREEDING MARES. It is difficult to lay down any hard and fast rule regarding the best age at which mares breed. There are all sorts of theories on the subject, some manifestly correct, others quite the opposite. Some farmers reckon that three years of age is too young for any xr.aro to be put to the horse, and on the face of it one would suppose that no mare should be breeding before she is fully matured. At the same time, where horses are running wild up country the majority of young mares have their first foal before they are three. It is certainly inexpedient to breed from a mare when she is old and practically worn out. Many instances can, however, be cited of mares that have produced really excellent stock when they were far advanced in years. Soma mares are naturally brood mares and will breed well under any circumstances and almost to any horse. Aga in, other mares which from appearance one would scarcely regard as brood mares at all, sometimes prove to be capital breeders. DUCKLINGS AND WA.TER. That adult ducks require water in which to swim is generally acknowledged. The absence of what is their natural element does not decrease the productiveness of ducks, but it is found that ducklings bred from birds kept entirely on the land are less vigorous, do not grow nearly so fast, and- are more subject to disease. But so far as young birds are concerned they grow more • rapidly if they are denied water except for drinking purposes. Stock' birds should not be forced. Where they are intended as stock birds, however, the better plan is to give them full liberty after the first fortnight of tHeir existence, and allow them access to water; though by so doing development is retarded, and they grow slowly as compared with those which are subjected to forcing treatment. They have a stronger frame and a reserve of strength which is essential to their future work as breeding stock. Size is obtained ultimately, but not with the same speed, and they are not fit for slaughter as ducklings. CALIFORNIAN THISTLE. It is stated that a disease is attacking the Californian thistle in Otago. The leaves -first of all Wither away, and the plant gradually dies. The thistle is growing so thick on rich areas o£ the Taieri Plains, however, as to make the hmd practically worthless. A southern farmer declares that the application of salt—only a light dressing—i 3ei sure means of destroying this pest. '