THE BUBAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 493, 21 August 1912, Page 6

THE BUBAL WORLD.

GROWING KALE. The season for sowing kale is, of course, over ; but it is at all times seasonable to direct attention to what is beneficial to farmers. A great deal has been written on the subject of autumn and winter feed, and among the crops mentioned, thousand-headed kale has been drawn attention to. But notwithstanding this, it will not be out of place, even at this season, to again bring under the notice of farmers all over the Dominion the value of this easily grown and valuable crop. Mention of it now will, I trust, stimulate interest and induce men to make inquiries of one another and thus gain valuable information before the sowing season begins. I think a good deal of misconception exists about the growing of kale, some people being under the impression that it will only grow on fairly stiff soil, drained swamp being particularly suitable for its cultivation. While it appears to give the heaviest yields on such soils, it is by no means a poor crop on light soils. Indeed, in one district where the soil is of a light nature it has grown to a height of over two feet. The accompanying illustration will show what can be accomplished in kale growing in Waikato. This crop was grown on Mi* E. Goodrich's farm close to Hamilton. The soil was originally somewhat light, a sandy loam overlying a substratum of gravel, but several years of cultivation and stocking have consolidated it; still it could not be classed as heavy land. The paddock of 75 acres had previously been cropped with swedes. The land was ploughed, worked, and rolled; after the seed was sow.n half the paddock was rolled a second time the second rolling being omitted on the .other half. No difference, however, in the growth was perceptible on either half. The amount of seed sown was 31b per acre out of every coulter uf the drill with 2 cwt of manure per acre, in the proportion of two of super to one of bcr.e. The seed was sown on December 7th and the crop was ready for stocking in three months. A break of 25 acres carried 1500 lambs for three weeks and three days. This works out at <SO lambs to the acre, an unusually heavy stocking. This will givo some idea of the carrying capacity of a good crop of kala; it also disposes of the idea that to grow it successfully it is necessary to have heavy soils, or rich alluvial flats. The heavy crop from such a light dressing of manure as 2 cwt and spread over every coulter, may be accounted for by the fact that the whole of the manure absorbed by the turnips was practically returned to the land by the stock which were fattened on them. Previous to the swede crop the land had been in grass for some eight years, so that there was an abundant supply of nitrogen and humus.for both corps. Personally, I consider Sib of seed to the acre too much; half the quantity or even lib out of the turnip coulters would in my opinion have as good results. This, however, is "one of those things on which it would be unwise to be dogmatic; it would be desirable for prospective kale growers to experiment for themselves and then adopt which ever method gave the better results. I know of a case where lib of seed was sown on one and a quarter acres with wonderful results, but it is quite possible that the smaller leaves and stalks of more thickly grown plants may be more suitable for lambs.

As a drought resister, I think I am right in saying that kale is much superior to rape and that, it is a heavier cropper has been amply proved. A couple of ounces per acre, as a mixture with swedes, have been tried to my knowledge on several occasions but I have not seen it a success; that, however, is only my own observation, and does not prove that it is not desirable to make the experiment. In the rich soils of Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Manawatu, kale grows to perfection, and there is no doubt whatever in my mind that it would do equally well in my mind that it would do equally well in very many of the South Island districts. Perhaps it would not be correct to say that it will grow wherever swedes will grow for it is well known that splendid curnips can be grown on extremely light soils; but it would be advisable to try it on such land, for 1 know of one instance, as I have stated, where it did well in such a case. If the experiment of growing it on very light country is tried, it would pay to giye an extra cwt. of manure. If the land has been in grass and clover for a few years no nitrogenous manure would be necessary; but, if aftei', say, turnips on new country, it would be advisable to use from one to one and a half cwt. of blood and bone to the acre in the mixture. I would also suggest that on light land tha addition of 281b to 301b ot sulphate of potash be added to the other manures, this amount per acre to be tried on about four acres and the result noted. As kale is a crop which is grown for the leaf, niuogenis an essential part of the food of this kind of crop; nitrogen is an essential part of the food of this kind of crop; nitrogen is essential of course for all forms of plant life, but some require more than others; too much, for example, in roots would tend to promote leaf growth at the expense of the bulb. The experiment of thick and thin seeding is* worth trying; personally, I favour the latter, but every man should try for himself; he could easily ascertain which the stock preferred by having some of each in the same break and whichever the stock Drefer it is fair to assume will give the most satisfactory results. He could also find out which would carry the most stock ori a given area. I know of a single kale plant weighing 401b. To refer again to manuring: were it not for the corrosive effect of kainit

on the drill I would be inclined to use it for all plants of that family instead of sulphate of potash, at the rate ofl cwt to the acre, for the salt in it seems to have a good effect on all such plants. In testing the effect of potash it would be well to have some of the untreated kale in the same break as the potash dressed plot, so as to see if the stock show any preference for one over the other, as well as to find out if the quantity of crop is increased by its application. "Practical" in an exchange.

INDEPENDENT TESTNG

The independent testing of dairy factory milk has always appeared to the writer as a sound proposal not merely the testing of the suppliers' milk but the testing of cream, skim milk, and butter miik. The proposal has met with a considerable amount of opposition, chiefly from interested people, whose principal ground of objection has been that it is practically a reflection on the honesty of purpose of the factory manager. There is nothing in this contention. To say that it is unfair to the factory manager to bring in an independent tester is tantamount to saying that it is improper to have an auditor overlook the work of the dairy company's secretary. Obviously it is in the interests of all concerned tnat the whole work of testing should be in the hands of an independent official. The supplier will thereby naturally have more confidence in the company, the factory manager will be kept- strictly up to the mark, and there will be a beter spirit maintained among neighbouring dairy companies. It is not too much to suggest- that some companies which have boasted of very high returns for buter fat would never have reached the figures they publish had they recorded exactly the percentage of butter fat in the milk of suppliers. It may be all very well to say that it matters little if, say, two points are deducted from the supplier's test as the supplier gets all there is in a cooperative b isineßS, while two points make it possible for the copmany to show a good return (and may be incidentally cover up faulty management); but such methods should not be tolerated in any co-operative concern. It is gratifying to see that more than one dairy company has tried independent testing, and is quite satisfied with the results. The suggestion is worthy of consideration —that where an independent tester is employed the conducting of co-operative herd testing associations is rendered very simple. The two things should work hand in hand. In his slack time the independent tester could well visit the herds of suppliers, and check the weighing of milk and record the butter fat percentages, while his experience in the work of testing should enable him to become an adept at making up simple monthly returns for the suppliers. Herd testing has come to stay and before many years arp past, there will probably be hard'y a dairy factory in the Dominion which has not its own herd testing association, and in the presence of a herd testing association it will surely be possible for the one official to combine the two duties. Certainly the proper checking of factory tests—especially of skim milk butter milk, and whey—will go a way towards placing the industry on a satisfactory basis. The check it would give to the tendency to manipulate tests, with the object of showing a high return for a season's butter fat payments, would be an advanttage which cannot be over estimated.— Exchange.

Are you weeding out the unprofitable cows? This is the most profitable business in which a dairyman may engage. The times demand cows that are steady income producers. Do not kick the cow because you are angry; go and kick the gate post or the milking stool instead until you recover your senses. A few lessons will break you of the kicking habit. The carcase of a pig that was hanging in one of the big curing warehouses in Christchurch 1 att week was said to be in a truly shocking condition being literally covered from head to tail with purple and black weals, evidently inflicted with a formidably stout stick. There were hundreds of these marks many of which had penetrated deeply into the flesh in fact the greater part of the back and most of the right side was one continuous discolouration. There were signs of blows even on the side of the head, but those on the back were inflicted with such iorce that had they been dealt on the head they would inevitably have killed the animal straight off. The brute's hind parts black with kicks. Its whole condition was a witness of the most ferocious brutaliy on the part of the owner. The poor animal was actually so cripled by the treament to which it had been subjected that when it was unable to stand, and had to be carried from the truck in a wheel barrow. The abattoir authorities stated that there were three or four other pigs in a similar condition. The matter is being inquired irto by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.