THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 399, 27 September 1911, Page 7

THE RURAL WORLD.

Mr Lane, during the discussion that followed on the petition of the Tangoio settlers to the Hawke's Bay Land Board for the eradicating of blackberries, suggested that the Agri cultural Department be written to asking if they could import a species of mutton sheep to eat down the weed. Angora goats were not much relished by the public as food, and Mr Lane declared that he was almost certain that in South Africa he had s«en a good eating sheep, although not a good wool-producing one, that would destroy blackberries just as well as the Angora goat.

j A considerable area is being planted I with potatoes this season, and should | the blight deal leniently with us there ! should not be any shortage this year. I One local resident has planted five

; acres which nowadays is considered a pretty big patch. The yields last sea- - son were much better than for some ! years past, and the majority of far- ! iners managed to grow enough to see ! them round. For several seasons it I was quite common to hear of a man | planting three sacks of reed, and dig- | ging up only two. A settler last year j planted three varieties of main crop- ! pers—Up-to Date, Northern Star, and I Irish Rock, the last-named giving the I best results. Taranaki exchange.

"I am a great advocate Cor the use of salt when storing hay for winter use,"explained a Haiwinui farmer to a Manawatu Standard reporter. "I don't stack my hay, but store it in a shed, and with each load I distribute some ten or fifteen pounds of coarse salt, and it would astonish you to see how the cows relish it. They don't leave a blade of the hay behind. My cows also have access to rock salt in their paddocks, and I can testify to its value as regards their health and condition. Perhaps you may have seen cows chewing bones. Well, I believe that isito get something similar to salt that the animals crave for. I have had to make some of my cows drop a bone they had been chewing for an hour or so, and which they would swallow if they could. I make it a rule never to leave any bones lying about where the cows can get them."

Reports from the Waikato state that it is probable that before long a real shortage of beef cattle will be experienced there. Comparatively few turnips were available for stock during the winter, and these were eaten by forward stock, the majority of which have already reached the butcher. Store stock are. generally very backward, and cannot be expected to be fat for some months, even if kept on the best of food. So far, the season, has been very disappointing for graziers, and butchers must have had a good winter, as bsef cattle have never touched the high prices whicn ruled for a few weeks in the autumn.

The bottom is out of the potato market, says the Dunedin Star. Potatoes, are going to be cheap. They are cheap. Otago has been growing more than we can eat or sell, and, being a perishable commodity, they must be got rid of. Recent sales in the country have been at the rate of 40s per ton, or 3s 4d per bag on trucks, and already in some southern districts potatoes are being fed to the pigs-

Some farmers are -of opinion that the high price of land at present ruling in the country will be followed by a slump and bad times. Others, however, are optimstic, and consider that prices are not higher than the real value of the land, and look forward to long-continued prosperity provided the seasons continue favourable. —Astiburton Guardian.

The problem of how to prevent calves from sucking is agitating the minds of dairymen in Canaia as much as in New Zealand. A wellknown writer in a Canadian dairy magazins, asked for the best cure, states that it has been found advantageous to feed the young calves in stanchions and to keep them fastened there until all desire for nursing has left them. A little ground feed thrown in the manger after they are through drinking the .milk tends to doaway with the desire to nurse. The feed takes up the milk which may be left on the sides of their mouths and noses, and after they have eaten it, they very seldom have any desire to nurse one another. This plan works reasonably well in most cases. Of course, now and then a calf will form the habit of nursing even when the plan suggested is carefully followed. In such instances, the writer knows of no better way than the use of the calf weaner, or a muzzle with spikes.

Of the 38 white owls which arrived in Hastings for release on their mission of destruction amongst small birds, one has since died. Three or four had escaped from their cages before {heir acclimatisation period epxired, and they peem to have found their winga very quickly, as they were soon after perched on the top of a pine tree. Sparrows have been introduced into their cages and short work was made of them, whilst a minah put up a very little better fight against these feathered ferocities. It is not denied (says a local paper) that the owls will probably levy a toll on the native birds, but, on the other hand, it is contended that the industries and prosperity of an entire district cannot be allowed to suffer for mere sentiment. It is also pointed out that there are very few native birds in these parts, and that the number of owls released is small.