Farm and Garden

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 284, 10 August 1910, Page 3

Farm and Garden

THE COLOUR OF SEED. A sample of red clover seed should be purple, as purple seeds are the most vigorous; lighter-coloured ones may be strong enough to establish themselves, but they are not so safe. Very pale seed should be avoided, whilst brown ones are dead. The most common impurities are docks and plantain, but dodder is such an obnoxious pest that it should be stringently avoided. Unless a man is an expert in seeds, he is viry foolish to buy without the aid of a magnifying glass. A shilling seedtesting glass of about five-power reveals so much that the ordinary buyer has not expected he had overlooked on causal observation, that if he once u-ies one there is little need to advise him to use one again. It is the most valuable shilling a farmer spends in the whole course of his farming. White clover seed should be of a true golden colour; very light ones have weak germination, and brown ones are dead. A very large number of varieties of weeds are found in white clover; sometimes as much geranium as white clover seed has been sold to experienced farmers, who from its size and colour had not been able to distinguish it; an experienced seed dealer will notice its deeper colour and oval shape. Docks, sorrel and pla'ntain are the most common among the many seeds found in white clover, which, from its short habit of growth, has to be cut so close to the ground as to cause many to be gathered with it. Alsike is liable to contain many of the seeds found in white clover, but higher cutting causes many to be missed. The seed should be dark green in colour, though the best samples will contain some of lighter green. " Crimson clover commonly called trifolium, contains decks and plantain, but its size allows it to be easily freed from the weeds found in the smaller clovers; and trefoil is rarely unclean for the same reason. Lucerne ia rarely impure, though occasionally trefoil may be present.

BREVITIES. Always have salt where you have animals. Good rock salt will answer all purposes. Even in a good season good methods of farming work out to a substantial increase to profit for the farmer. In all countries where agriculture is scientifically pursued it is realised and recognised that the use of lime is of immense benefit to the soil. Use new seed wherever you are in a position to choose. Old seed has lost some of its germinating power and many of the grains will fail to strike.

There is no text-book for the man on the land. Conditions vary in short distances, and it is.for each man to use his own good judgment and decide for himself. ;

The farmer need have no fear of over-production in the horse industry, as there is a large actual shortage of horses amongst all civilised nations. Fallowing and working the land well will pay, but only the progressive few have adopted the innovations; success has well repaid their enterprise. When a horse is being shod the feet should be given plenty of room. The wall of the hoof should not be filed away, and the frog should not be pared with the knife. In America and Canada practically every dairyman and stockowner has his silo or silos, and could not get along without them. Stress of circumstances accounts for this fact. Sheep try to obtain a little shade by placing the head under the body of the next, and so on in regular order. These animals utilise the bodies of others to provide shade. Ought we not to help them by providing or reserving clumps of trees?