THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 473, 12 June 1912, Page 6

THE RURAL WORLD.

DRY QUARTERS AND HEALTH

Particular attention should be given to the continued health of the breeding stock. Prevention is better than cure. And this is especially true in the case of roup and other diseases, the best preventive being dry, comfortable quarters. A damp roosting house is apt to cause trouble, even though it be warm. Of course the location will have to depend on the intending breeder, as climatic conditions are different in almost every district. •VETCHES AND OATS. Winter vetches and oats make a very good feed for stock in the winter; the sowing may be done from middle of March till end of month. By sowing at that time the feed comes much earlier. Vetches however, do best on a rather heavy, moist loam, but will do well on moist clays, or any other soils not too light and shady. Growers should, therefore, bear this in mind if contemplating growing this corp. A bushel and a-half of oats and one of vetches is a fair seeding. As the vetch is a leguminous plant, nitrogen should not enter into the composition of the manure used. As it is, as already stated, of a trailing habit, a strong straw in its fellow plant is a necessity, and sulphate of potash as above should be used. As regards manure for the oats I know nothing which suits oats as well as slag, 2§ and 3 cwt. per acre, according to quality of soil, being the proper amount to use. I know of a case where 4 cwt. of slag per acre on a strong river flat was applied to oats, and when the crop was only about a foot high it began to lodge. In this case half the quantity would have been ample. Having mentioned vetches it is as well to Bay that if stock are allowed the free run of the field they are liable to get blown, it is, therefore, better to cut the crop and feed it carefully. The trouble this involves puts vetches out of the question as a general feed for stock, so that they are only suitable for men whu only milk small herds. Another drawback to their cultivation is the high price of the seed, which runs about 12s 6d a bushel. COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF SULPHATE OF AMMONIA AND NITRATE OF SODA. The cause for the different relative effect on the crops, of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia affords an interesting study for scientific men who apparently are still at variance upon it. Professor Wagner, a recognised authority, is of opinion that the lower relative fertilising value o/ sulphate of ammonia is due to loss of the active fertilising substance" caused during the conversion by bacteria of the ammonia during the nitrifying process, and filso to the evaporation of ammonia into the air. This view is now combated by other scientists, who maintain that the losses so caused are quite immaterial, and that for practical purposes, atlhough as a rule the effect of sulphate of ammonia may be slightly more uncertain still in many eases the results obtained from the use of the fertilisers in question, is about equal. It is pointed out that sulphate of ammonia should be applied earlier and in cold soils containing a good supply of lime, and that it should be well incorporated with the soil. Sometimes it will produce results superior to nitrate of soda, especially in rainy seasons, when the nitrate may be washed out of the reach of the plants. On the other hand, for late application as a top-dressing, when immediate effect is required, preference should be given to nitrate of soda. The opinion is gaining ground that the most certain and best results are obtained by an application of the two fertilisers each in smaller quantities. PREVENTING SORE SHOULDERS. A correspondent of the Breeders' Gazette gives the following method for preventing sore shoulders on horses:—"We have tried for about ten years and found it valuable when used all the time. Line the sweat pads or collar that comes next to the horse's shoulders with pure white oil cloth which can be bought for about 6d or 9d a yard. The oilcloth must be pure white without a coloured mark in it. Put the smooth part of it next the shoulder, lining the pad or collar all through and sewing it in around the edges. With collars lined |;this way, we have never had a horse with sore shoulders. Onceor : twice I neglected to do it, and at once the shoulders became sore. The collars can be washed, and kept clean. The method is a success and is very simple and easy to apply. With our teams of work horses not one has sore shoulders. Ths idea has been a great thing to me, and I want to pass it on." THE CHEESE INDUSTRY. The fact that fully fifty new cheese factories will be established by next season raises the question as to whether the present high values fur this product on Home markets is not encouraging our dairy farmers to embark in an enterprise which may prove disappointing in its results. Certainly, present indications are strengthening the position of cheese against butter. For one thing thosa dairy companies which are remaining firm to butter are calculating on strengthening their position by reason of casein manufacture, but recent reports regarding this bye-product are not so assuring. We are told, for instance, that the Home market is being over supplied, owing to the limited demand for casein, and though we may command the position by turning out a superior article, still it is not reassuring to know that the profits from the new enterprise are problematical. Doubtless, a warning recently received in the Dominion as to the limited demand for casein has influenced several butter companies to abandor. the idea of casein manufac-

ture, and turn their attention to cheese. Of course, the exceptionally high values of the past season have been due to the common cause—the supply being equal to the demand, and directly due "to the shortage in the butter output, in the northern hemisphere, owing to the unusual drought of the last summer. Now, there is the Australian drought, which will probably affect the market next season. Obviously, when things right themselves, and normal seasons are experienced in the cheese producing countries above the equator, we may expect a lowering in values. The chief country we have to reckon with is Canada which supplies the bulk of Britain's cheddar importations, and there we know the local demand is checking the export trade. The seasun now in progress in Canada will decide the fate of our cheese industry next season. One fact in favour of butter is that it is a common article of diet, whereas cheese is consumed by but a limited number of consumers. Another argument in favour of the former is that many new avenues of trade are opening up for it, while Britain is our one outlet for cheese. One assuring fact in regard to cheese is that notwithsanding the great coal strike in England, the consumption of cheese proceeded apace, and again, in spitt! of the high prices ruling for it, there has been little or no check in the demand for it. Of course, meat has been relatively high at Home — again owing largely to last year's drought in the northern hemisphere and with no cheap substitute, the position of cheese has been %vell maintained. In addition to the increasing local demand in Canada, a fact to be remembered is that the tendency is for the Home production to decline, owing to the rapid development of the city milk retail trade, which is diverting considerable quantities of milk from cheese making. Altogether there is a good propsect for cheese on British markets, but as the amount which can be consumed in any one season is limited, there is a considerable risk that ths supply will overtake the demand, and when this position is reached supplies must decline. Fortunately many factories which will be making cheese next season have dual plants so that should cheese prove less profitable a commodity th»n it has this season it will be possible to revert to butter, and those possibly maintain the values of cheese at a fairly payable point. This is a most gratifying phase of the position, especially as our dairy companies are controlled by men who are keen students of the market position, and are in close touch with the course of events at Home.