Farm and Garden.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 50, 6 January 1872, Page 7

Farm and Garden.

MASTERTON STOCK SHOW. (prom our own correspondent.) The first pastoral show, under the auspices of the Wairarapa Pastoral and Agricultural Association, ever held in the district took place at Masterton on Thursday last, under the patronage of his Excellency the Governor, his Honor the Superintendent, Lady Bowen, Mrs Fitzberberb, the Hon. Mr Waterhouse, Mr Bunny, Capt. Pitt, Mr Wardell, and numerous other distingushed visitors. The Association not having accerded to me that courtesy which is usually afforded to the press on such occasions, I am unable to report the speeches made at the luncheon, which came off at the stockade, about three o’clock in the afternoon. These were, I am told, like the luncheon itself, excellent of their kiud, and that made by his Honor the Superintendent was especially happy. It would appear that judges and' invited guests had to pay for their own accommodation, and their own luncheons. The charge made for accommodating the Governor was £3l—not a small sum for four meals and two nights’ lodgings! I need not say that his Excellency soon took his leave of Masterton for more hospitable and less expensive quarters at Huangaroa, the seat of the Hon. Mr Waterhouse. On the arrival of the vice-regal party at Masterton a brief address was presented to him by Mr Valentine Smith, on behalf of the inhabitants. In this address his Excellency was thanked for the special interest he had evinced in the welfare of the district by kindly undertaking so long a journey to comply with the request that be would honor with his presence their first pastoral show. To this address the Governor promised to give a written reply on the following day, when probably more people would be present. This was accordingly done. The show was held on a portion of the educational reserve in the vicinity of Masterton, and which had been fitted up with pens for the occasion. As has already been stated, the competition was by no means so keen as could have been desired. For the best thoroughbred stallion Mr Masters’ Socrates gained the first, and Walker’s Clymenus the second prize. For the best thorough-bred mare, Mr Donald’s Raven’s Wing obtained the first, and Mr Collins’ Rebecca the second prize. The prizes for the best draught mares were awarded respectively to Mr Yule and Vfr Cockburn. There were several ponies and hacks exhibited, to two or three of which prizes were awarded. There was a good exhibition of cattle. Mr Bannister’s short horn bull “ Madcap ” carried off the first prize ; and the best yearling bull, the property of the Messrs Beetham, gained the first prize in the class to which he belonged. Mr Cockburn gained the first, and Messrs Beetham the second prize for the best cow of any age or breed ; and the first prize for the best heifer was awarded to the Messrs Beetham. For the best fat beast, of any age, the first prize was awarded to Mr R. Collins, and the second to Mr H. Bently. There was a very poor exhibition of sheep, and they were much less in number than had been anticipated. The exhibitors were chiefly Messrs Rockel, Waterhouse, Gilligan, Bannister, Renall, and Hunter. There were some very superior rams shown by the latter gentleman, and also by Messrs Waterhouse, Rokel and Gilligan. Mr Rokel carried off the first prize for the best pen of ewes, and was the only exhibitor in several other classes. The long woolled sheep chiefly attracted attention, and the first prize was awarded to Mr G. Hunter. Some fine pigs were exhibited by Messrs Donald, Bannister, and Perry; but as with the sheop so with the pigs, there was very little competition. When, therefore, it is said that the show was a success, it must be understood as meaning that it was the means of attracting a large number of distinguished visitors ; for, a 3 regards both cattle and sheep, the best in the valley were nob exhibited, partly on account of the distance to which they would have to be driven, and partly on account of the little publicity that was afforded to would-be exhibitors, as to the rules and regulations which had been adopted. This was a great oversight on the part of the stewards or committee, which it is to be hoped will on the next occasion be avoided. With this exception, they deserve every commendation for their exertions to make the first pastoral show of the district a success, and if they did not attain it, they have a right to feel that they deserved it. The judges for horses were Messrs Beetham, Braithwair.e, and Li cena ; for cattle, Messrs Andrew, Morrison, and Riddell; for sheep, Messrs Everett, Harvey, and Donald ; and for pigs, Messrs Donald and Perry. Their decisions on the whole gave general satisfaction. His Excellency Sir George and Lady Bow'en, and the Misses Bowen, left the following day on a visit -to the Hon Mr Waterhouse at Huangaroa.

MEAT CURING. [to THE EDITOR OE THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL.] Sir, —I beg leave to offer a few remarks to my fellow colonists upon the necessity of curing beef and pork for foreign markets. Knowing that cattle are now cheap enough, I am only sorry I am not in a position to undertake the business, as I am sure a profitable business may be carried on in both beef and pork, which will not require the expensive process or capital employedl in preserving meat in tins. A suitable building of course will be required for slaughtering, and cutting up and salting ; good large troughs must be provided. The meat, well salted, should lay three weeks, but turned and changed often until every particle of blood is extracted from it; after that, if the meat is nice and sweet, pack it in good casks with plenty of coarse salt, ten or twelve pounds, or even more—a little spice will doit no harm, but add to its sweetness when the cask is opened. The casks should be good, and made of seasoned timber; inch remu, or inch and an eighth when well seasoned, will do, standing three quarter or inch chime when finished. The bottom end should be flagged with a tucking flag, and a flag down each joint as for oil; all round the chime should be painted, as nearly all New Zealand woods are porous. After the meat is packed in the cask the head should be put in by the cooper and flagged as described above, and painted ; put in the brine through the bung hole—the bung must be put in tight with a piece of canvass, and secured by a bit of zinc or lead tacked well down over it. The tierces should hold from 2501bs to 300 lbs. If care be taken, and the meat cured during our cold months, I guarantee it to keep seven years in any clime. Salt beef done in this way will be eat in London and elsewhere, on board or on shore.—l am, &0., Progress. THE MASTERTON STOCK SHOW. [to THE EDITOR OE THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL.] Sir, —The promoters of the Wairarapa Pastoral Association must have been gratified to see so many entries, and such a number of visitors as there were yesterday. The most sanguine could not have expected more. But there was one great drawback, namely, the want of competent judges. The committee did the utmost in their power to secure good judges, and no blame can be attached to them, but it is hard to say who are most to blame — competent men who refuse to act, or incompetent men for undertaking to do things they know nothing about. Some of the awards remind one very much of the weed commonly known as drake taking the first prize for rye-grass seed some years ago in Wellington. For instance, a gentleman with great expense imported some pure Nigretti sheep from Germany. I believe they had taken prizes there, wherever they were shown, and held their own against some of the best flocks on the other island. I understand these sheep cost £BO a piece in Germany. Their owner must have felt inclined to laugh when he found four of his best pens marked as “ not deserving,” while he received a prize for good rams selected from the flock, and which he had entered merely as a make up. In horses a prize was given for an animal which was shown merely as a curiosity ; and activity, one of the principal considerations in this class, hacks, was not noticed at all, as the horses were not moved a step during the judging. A half bred short-horn bull received a prize in preference to his sire, a beautiful short-horn, imported by Messrs Beetham, I would be very sorry to say anything that would damage such a useful institution, but a repetition of yesterday’s judging would certainly cause the breaking up of the society. I have seen one or two shows of this kind, and must say that I have never seen such active stewards anywhere, and no blame can be attached to them if dissatisfaction prevails.— I am, &0., A Member oe the Society. Masterton, Dec. 29. THIN-SKINNED LAND. What is the real meaning of this ? I am so frequently told, “ I have no depth of soil, mine is thin-skinned land,” that I naturally asked whether there is hard rock immediately under this thin skin of 5 inches of ploughed land, and then I find that there is under it, probably, 150 feet deep of good honest land, but that it has only been skinned, the body remaining untouched. Now there is nothing, really, more easy and simple than deepening this thin staple to any reasonable required extent. Keep the top soil where it is, but break up the hitherto undisturbed subsoil, so that air and water can have access into and through it, and so that the top soil and manure may rest upon broken ground and gradually mix with it. This has been my practice for the last 28 years, and, as a natural consequence, I get these large crops, which are the surprise of many who once knew the poverty of the soil. I effect this object by following in the track of the first plough with another plough, minus the breast, drawn by four or six horses, the first plough turning the top-soil on to the broken under soil. The effects are prompt and obvious ; rain-water sinks rapidly through the top-soil into the broken under soil and thus facilitates its passage to the drains. The top soil is thus left dry, and fib to receive the full benefit of warmth and changes of temperature, the subsoil partaking also in degree of the like advantages. As a rule, the subsoil having remained unbroken for ages, is panned down so tight, as to become almost impervious, and certainly, in a great degree, debarred from atmospheric influences. All this becomes gradually changed by subsoiling or under ploughing. See what takes place on our heath ; the upper soil has often been taken away, the exposed-subsoil, for a time, remains barren, but, after a certain period, it becomes improved by the action of air and water, and is again well created with vegetation ; and is again robbed, or stripped, as I have frequently

witnessed during 30 years. Elements of fertility exist in our subsoil abundantly, but are in an unavailable or passive condition. They are raw, and want cooking by atmospheric exposure and influence. How well the late Rev Samuel Smith, of Lois Weedon, understood this. He not only exposed the subsoil to atmospheric action by ploughing his top soil together, and leaving the intermediate space of raw subsoil uncovered, but greatly hastened the cooking process by intermixing with the bared subsoil plenty of manure, so that it became very quickly good feeding ground for the roots of plants. The adjoining root crops (Swedes) soon found this out, and occupied the hitherto barren soil with their fibres. The evidences of the value of deep cultivation are plainly shown wherever a ditch has been filled up, or where the drains have been deeply placed. There the crops show a visible advantage for much more than 20 years. Some fancy that it is because the land is there better drained, but the true reason is the deep loosening and disturbance of the soil. Deep and good cultivation and manuring remain visible for nearly a century or more. Walking with a friend on his fields, I asked what was the cause of one portion of the crops looking so much better than the rest. “Oh !” he said ; “that was once a cottage garden—a long while ago. I have known the field 50 years, and it must have been some time before that.” I have a proof of this on my own farm. In 1846 I exchanged two acres of land with a neighbor. These two acres (in common with the rest of my land) had been drained and deeply subsoiled about four years previously, twenty-five years have since elapsed, and during the whole of that period the crops on these two acres have shown a marked superiority over the rest of my neighbor’s field. As a basis and permanent improvement, I look upon deep cultivation as equal in importance witli manure. The two combined with drainage, give the key to profit. It is very much to the profit of Mr Smith, of Woolston, that he concentrates the power of his engine on a single subsoil tine passing deeply into the furrows between the ridges. The disturbance of the subsoil can never be too deep, provided the surface soil is allowed to remain uppermost, or gradually intermixed with the subsoil. Every impediment to the fibres of plants is a loss to the farmer, causing delay in development; we all know that the compression of heavy land by carting or treading renders it comparatively barren—witness a cart track. The elements of fertility are there, but are nob available. The roots of plants descend many feet in a friable subsoil, naturally or artificially drained. The old story conveys a sound agricultural moral. The old man, on his death bed, told his sons that somewhere iri his field he had buried some money. The earth was deeply and carefully searched; the money was not found, but a treasure arose in the greatly increased produce, resulting from deep and perfect cultivation. Most of the great old docks, thistles, and other weeds, that I see as I passed by rail standing high above the laid corn crops, have a safe and lasting anchorage in the undisturbed subsoil. My agricultural friends, like myself, are I know, fond of profit. Let me assure them that one of the most ready ways to get it is by deeper cultivation. Every farmer coverts deep, friable soil; as it is so scarce let us make some ; we can do so profitably if we choose to use the means.—F. F. Mechi, J uly 30.

MISCELLANEOUS. England uses 86,000 tons of bone dust and 210,000 tons of guano a year. Tea of red oak acorns will euro scours in calves. Lime used about rhododendrons checks their flowering. Boiled potatoes and boiled peas mashed together, and fed with sour milk, will put flesh on hogs faster than corn. A condensed “ philosophy of farming”— Feed your land before it is hungry ; rest, it before it is weary; and weed it before it is foul. A simple and effectual cure for ringworm in calves will be found in train or whale oil, laid on the parts infected with a small brush at short intervals. Five per cent and perhaps ten, can be added to the amount of milk obtained from the cows of this country, if the following rules are inexorably followed : —l. Never hurry cows in driving from the pasture. 2. Milk as nearly at equal intervals as possible; half-past five in the morning, and six at night are good hours. 3. Be especially tender of the cows at milking times. 4. When seated, draw the milk as rapidly as possible, being certain always to get it all. 5. Never talk or think of anything besides what you are doing when milking. 6. Offer some caress and always a soothing word when you approach a cow, aud when you leave her. The better she loves you the more free and completed will be her abandon as you sit by her side. We append the not uncommon practice :—l. Let seme boys turn the cows away, and get him who is fond of throwing stones and switching the hind ones every chance he gets. 2. Milk early in the morning and late at night, dividing tho day into two portions one of fifteen hours aud the other nine hours. 3. Whack the cows over the back with the stool, or speak sharply if she does not “so” or “hoist.” 4. Milk slowly and carelessly, and stop at the first slacking of the fluid. 5. Talk and laugh, and perhaps squirt milk at companion milkers when seated at the cow. 6. Keep the animal in a tremble all the lime you are milking her, and when done, give her a vigorous kick. To preserve meadows in their productiveness it is necessary to harrow tnem every second autumn ; apply top-dressings and roll them. All lands on which clovers or the grasses are grown, must either have lime in them naturally, or it must be artificially supplied. It matters little whether it be supplied in the form of stone lime, oyster shell lime, or marl. No lands can be preserved in a high state of

1 fertility unless clover and the grasses are cultivated in the course of rotation. Clover, as well as other grasses, intended lor hay, should be mown when in bloom. k Burned clay ashes are true farmers friends on heavy land ; they descend gradually into the subsoil beneath the ploughed lands, .fertilising it, and rendering it more porous and acceptable to the roots of our plants. Twenty years of experience have shown that nothing puys better than burning stiff clay in dry weather, especially where it is mixed with stones. From a state poisonous to plants, it passes, by burning, into a fruitful condition. Worthless pastures ploughed lightly and burned become fruitful and productive fields. How remarkable is the change produced by burning. Cold, wet, heavy, and adhesive or slippery, according to weather, they at once become friable, non adhesive, warm and dry. Stubble. —As soon as hay or grain crops are removed, a flock of sheep, where these invaluable aids to the cultivator are available, should be turned on the land to pick up everything in the shape of weeds to prevent seeding. When the weeds have been cropped down, or in the absence of sheep, the land should be at once scarified three inches deep and a set of light harrows passed over it. On this surface so prepared, mustard, turnips, vetches, and barley or rye may be sown either lor teediug off with sheep or to be ploughed under as green manure. But whether any such crop as we have mentioned may be sown or not, scarifying the ground should not be neglected if only for the simple reason that by this means moisture is retained in the soil; so that early ploughing, which is always followed by beneficial results, can bo carried out with ease to both man and beast, even should the weather continue dry afterwards. Anyone trying this practice will never again allow the soil to lose all that mellowness acquired under the shade of the crop, and become bound like stone for the want of scarifying. With a good scarifier it is not a costly operation, and the benefit that will be derived from early ploughing, which without the scarifying could not have been done, will amply repay the expense of it. Another advantage is that it enables the work to be got well forward, so that early sowing may be practised. We have before us a curious old work on “ agriculture,” that first saw the light in the days of Cromwell, in which lime is highly commended. It seems to have been among the first attempts at book writing on agriculture in England. The writer, a Captain Bird, aims to be practical, and though somewhat confused and complicated in style, yet, as showing the “ wisdom of our ancestors,” an extract may not be deemed out of place. “ Liming” he writes, is of so great use that whole countries, and many countries that were naturally as barren as any in this nation, and had formerly (within less than half an age) supplied with corn out of the Fielding corn country, and now is and long hath been ready to supply them, and doth, and hath brought their land into such a posture for bearing all sorts of corn, that upon land not worth above one shilling or two shillings an acre, they will raise (well husbanded with lime) as good wheat, barley, and white and grey peas, as England yields; yea, they will take a parcel of land from off a lingy heath, or common, not worth tho having ; nay, will not have it to husband it, and will raise some gallant corn, that naturally is so barren, worth £5 or £6 an acre. If men would, alter good liming, take three, four, or five crops, and then lay down to graze, it would not be the least prejudice; a little manure now would produce more fruit than as much more upon the old sward. Many men have had ten crops of gallant corn, after one substantial liming, some more upon very reasonable land of about Is 8d per acre. Some men have had and received so much profit upon their lands upon once liming, as hath paid the purchase of their lands. I myself have had great advance thereby, yet I lived 20 miles from lime, and fetched it so far by waggon to lay it upon ray lands.”—American Paper. Such is just now the absurdly low price obtained for butter—not enough to pay the milking of the cows and dairy expenses—that we are glad to meet with anything indicating an outlet for our surplus wealth of this article. We therefore give the following from the “ Sydney Mail” in reference to the shipment of butter to Ceylon :—“ A ton of Ulladulla butter, prepared by a firm in George street for the JP. and O. Company, is to be seen at the rooms of the Agricultural Society. It is remarkable for having been to Galle and back, and for having consequently been melted and yet not destroyed. It was purchased at Is 2d per lb, prepared, tinned, and put on board the mail steamer Avoca at Is 5d per lb. The common price of butter in Indian and Chinese ports is 2s 6d, and upwards. It strikes us that this would prove a far better market for butter than England. The materials used in the preparations are, to every hundred weight of butter, 101 b of dairy salt, Boz saltpetre, and l|lb of powdered loaf sugar. The butter is tinned in 61b tins, and packed in cases amongst sawdust. The taste of the specimen in question is very good.” With the prices quoted above, as those ruling in Indian and Chinese ports, it would surely pay to exercise every care in getting up an article in such form and so packed as to stand the voyage, and command a price that would leave a handsome price to the shipper. The above lot was packed in sawdust, but, unless the tins containing the butter were soldered down, sawdust is not a suitable article for the purpose. Mr Henry Eedwood, of Nelson, imported the first steam threshing machine and the first steam plough into New Zealand.