THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 555, 2 April 1913, Page 6

THE RURAL WORLD.

LUCERNE HAY—HOW BEST MADE.

According to a bulletin isued by one of the American experiment stations, lucerne intended for hay should be cut when it begins to bloom. The leaves, which are much richer in protein than the stems, drop off and shatter worse in cutting if the plants are allowed to mature too much before harvesting. It has also been observed that when cut at the beginning of the bloomingperiod—about one-tenth in bloom the next crop, under favourable conditions, starts quickly and makes rapid headway. The most important factor in making good hay is favourable weather. Hay exposed to excessive rains, especially that from leguminous plants, is greatly injured in quality and feeding -vafue. Every farmer knows that hay is injured by rain and dew, which cause it to bleach and mould, and take from it the natural aroma and palatabilifcy essential in hay of goodquaTiy:' but not all are aware that hay cured too much in the sun not only bleaches and loses leaves by becoming too dry, but also loses its palatability, and often in weight. When curing hay of any kind the aim should be to expose it to the sun no more than is absolutely necessary. The curing should take place to the greatest possible extent through the action of air and wind, as hay cured in this way retains its natural colour and other good qualities, which make it nutritious and palatable to stock. The best hay is, therefore, made by curing largely in cocks rather than while spread over the ground in the swath or windrow, exposed to the sun shine. Hay in the swath and windrow is also more exposed to injury by rain and dew than hay in the cock. On account of the shattering of leaves, and the greater tendency to bleach, the loss in curing clover or lucerne hay in the swath or windrow is apt to be greater than the loss from curing grasses in this way. Hay cures more evently and thoroughly in the cock than in the swath or windrow. If left too long in the swath the leaves become thoroughly dry, while the stems may still retain a large amount of moisture. Such hay will not cure fully and evenly, and is often put into the stack in a partly cured condition. If hay is raked before the leaves are dry and placed in cocks, the leaves continue to pump water out of the stems, thus allowing the hay to cure out fully and evenly. Lucerne well cured in the cock in this way will keep perfectly in the stack; but when cured in the swath and windrow it is often stacked in such condition that it will turn or spoil. Further., the greater shattering of the leaves which takes place when the cur ing is done in the swath and windrow reduces the yield and makes the hay less palatable and less nutritious than bay which has been properly cured. HERD TESTING. The herd testing associations are going to show the need for their existence during 1913. In all seven associations have been formed between the Tweed and Byron Bay (New South Wales), and these embrace a very large number of cattle. On the Tweed watershed there are associations at Terra Nora, 1300 head; Condong, 1300; North Arm, 1000; and Uki, 1300. Then there are Burringbar, 1200; Mullumbimby, 3100; and Byron Bay, 1500, giving a total of 10,800. But this ia not all. Most farmers entering, say, 50 cows for the test at present are the possessors of 90 or 100 milch cows, some of the balance being dry, and others too far gone in milk ; but these will come later, and it is safs to estimate that the total cows tested for a full lacta tion period, or for part of a period at the end of 1913 will be well over 15,000. Surely a fine result, and ons that must be felt in the cattle sales of the near future. The tattooed earmark of the tested animals will soon be seen in the saleyards, and the beast that can show the high test iB going to bring the high price. Of course, tbe above figures do not include the herds entered for the pure herds test. It is proposed at an early date to hold a conference of herd testing associations in Murwillumbah, when a system of uniform working will be decided upon. At present the Uki and Terra Nora associations are at work, the latter being on the second round of the herds, and some interesting information surprising to good judges of stock, has been gleaned as a result of the first test. Mullumbimby has its first tester at work, and a second starts shortly, and a third will be at work any time now. The Condong tester will commence operations by the end of the month, and Burringbar, Byron Bay, and North Arm shortly after. The movement is the biggest attempted in Australia, and reflects great credit on the organiser, Dairy Inspector Mclness, says the Tweed Times. CARE OF THE MILK. The following statement, made by Professor O. F. Hunziker, before the attending the short courses at Purdue during January, sums up in a few word* the situation relative to the care of milk and cream on the farm:— "Cleanliness and low temperature are the fundamental essentials in the proper care and handling of milk and cream, regardless of what disposition may be made of the product. The puipose of these essentials is to prevent or retard bacterial fermentations which shorten the life an impair the keepings quality and wholesomeness of milk and its products. When the dairyman disregards these essentials he becomes a menace to the health and life of the consumer and a demoralising factor of the markets of dairy products, curtailing the financial success of his own business. Witth due attention to the proper care of milk and cream he becomes' a benefactor to the human family, a promoter of high quality of dairy products and a guardian of the welfare and prosperity of his business." — Hoard's Dairyman.