Farm and Garden.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 229, 29 January 1876, Page 22

Farm and Garden.

During a dry season, says the Country Gentleman, every country resident should secure several barrels of road dust. Those who keep poultry may secure by its use a valuable fertilizer, nearly as strong as guano, with none of its disagreeable odour. Place an inch or two of road dust in the bottom of a barrel ; then, as the poultry house is regularly cleaned, deposit a layer an inch thick of the cleanings, and so on, alternately layers of each till the barrel is full. The thinner the layer is, the more perfect will be the intermixture of the ingredients. If the soil of which the road dust is made is clayey, the layers of each may be of equal thickness ; if sandy, the dust should be twice as thick as the layer of droppings. Old barrels of any kind may be used for this purpose, but if previously soaked with crude petroleum or coated with gas tar they will last many years, If the contents are pounded on a floor into fine powder before applying, the fertilizer may be sown from a drill. Road dust is one of the most perfect deodorizers of vaults—converting their contents also into rich manure. Place a barrel or box of it in the closet, with a small dipper, and throw down a pint into the vault each time it is occupied, and there will be no offensive odour whatever. This is simpler, cheaper, and better than a water-closet, and never freezes or gets out of order. Mixing the road dust with equal bulk of coal ashes is an improvement, making the fertilizer more friable.

The fruit-growers of Victoria seem to be going ahead in the way of jam-making. The Times says " Visitors to the late Exhibition must have been favorably impressed by the grand display in this direction, more especially that made by the Victorian Jam Company, whose head-quarters are at South Yarra. In view of the coining season the manager of the Company, Mr. Marcus llobotham, has made the most extensive preparations, and the factory at South Yarra is a perfect hive of industry. It is expected that fully 100 hands will be employed, and at present 15 tinsmiths are at work, in addition to a dozen coopers and cai-penters engaged in preparing barrels for the fruit and cases for the tins. The ' kitchen' is fitted with seven furnaces, to each of which is allotted an immense stewpan, the largest being capable of accommodating a ton of fruit. Immense stacks of open cases, replete with tins ready for the reception of the jam, are ranged round the building, while in another room is stored some 50 tons of ' brewers' crystals' ready for use. Everywhere the most perfect order is shown, and the general cleanliness reflects the greatest credit on the manager. Over 2,000,000 lbs. of fruit will be required for the coming season, and already Tasmania*! raspberries are arriving. The bulk of the fruit, however, will be Victorian grown." There is a very wide-spiead prejudice (says the Queensla?ider) against colonial tobacco amongst colonists, which is probably traceable to some bad method of manufacture in former times. We can remember as an illustration of the feeling, some fourteen or fifteen years ago, hearing an anecdote of a blackfellow refusing the article as "no good; that fellow colonies?i /" From the following paragraph it will be seen that colonial growers and manufacturers have gained ground since that time. Our experience of the colonial article has not been great of late, but the one experiment we have made with it recently was decidedly encouraging. At the last exhibition in Brisbane, Mr. Hooker, who has a small tobacco factory at Kangaroo Point, handed us a few figs of negrohead and ■cakes of cavendish of his own manufacture, remarking that they were too new for use, as he was unable to keep a stock, or even to supply orders fast enough. They were nice looking and shapely, but new and raw with a vengeance, and with more than a suspicion that they were rubbish we shoved them into a drawer to mature, and only thought of them a short time ago when they had become as dry as a bone. However, we tried a pipeful, and straightway smoked the whole lot. The tobacco was of course hot on account of its extreme dryness, and many smokers would consider it rather light, but in point of fragrance we never smoked its equal. Goldleaf, cavendish, or Latakia are nowhere compared with it in that respect. It smelt of tobacco, not of treacle or rubbish or brown paper. The leaf which produces so splendid a perfume must have value. Without going so far as to say that the Queenslaud tobacco in proper condition will be acceptable to smokers whose tastes have been formed on the American weed, we can assert that for mixing with other and stronger tobaccoes to give them fragrance it should be invaluable. This is a matter which closely affects our farming friends, for tobacco, although an exhausting is a very profitable crop, and should an extensive demand spring up a valuable addition to their sources of income would be established.

A correspondent of the Australasian gives the following as the result of his experience of the use of arsenic in the treatment of footrot in sheep : "Five years ago, he states, his sheej) were very badly afflicted, and he tried numerous remedies for their cure without avail. He then tried a preparation of arsenic and water boiled together, and succeeded so well that since the adoption of this remedy footrot has disappeared from his flocks, as well as from the flocks of his neighbors and of all who have tried the cure upon his recommendation. He allows a quarter of a pound of arsenic to a gallon of water ; the water has to be boiling before the arsenic is infused. The water and arsenic are boiled together for 15 or 20 minutes, and the liquid is then poured into troughs and permitted to cool. The feet of the sheep to be operated upon are carefully dressed and pared, and care must be taken to have the whole of the decayed or diseased portions of the hoof removed, and the sheep thus prepared are passed into the trough, leaving them there for about a quarter of an hour—about the time necessary to prepare each sheep for the bath.

The whole flock should be passed through the arsenical preparation, even if all should not require to be previously dressed. The cost of the preparation does not exceed 10s. per 1000 sheep, the wages of the men employed to pare the sheep's feet excluded. Wet or damp weather is preferred for carrying on operations. Mr. Merriman has given it a long trial, and is satisfied that the remedy is an infallible one. When he commenced using the application, he states that nine out of every ten of his sheep were affected, and in one month afterwards all were cured, and not one has since had footrot.''

We take the following interesting account of an English flower farm from Nature : "Towards the end of last century it was that a Mr. Perkins, of Hitchin, in the County of Herts, bethought himself of growing lavender on a large scale, with a view to realizing a profit, the soil being admirably adapted for its cultivation. So successful was he in his venture that at the present time there are some 35 acres in the neighborhood of Hitchin under lavender cultivation, essential oil enough being yielded to produce upwards of 2000 gallons- of lavender water annually. Mr. Perkin's farm is known as Mount Pleasant. Every care and attention is bestowed ujjon the plants, nine acres of which—that is, some 90,000 plants—were clipped by hand. The plough is never used, the ground between the rows being forked. The young plants are bedded out in rows in November at a uniform distance apart of one yard. At three years old they are at their prime, but when seven years old, owing to the quantity of wood that has been made, it is more profitable to set new plants in their stead. The best time for visiting the fields is towards the end of July and beginning of August, in which latter month the harvest begins. The sickle is used in cutting the flowers, which are then tied up in small sheaves and at once removed to the distillery. Here all the stalks are removed, leaving little more than the flowers ; for Mr. Perkins found, after many experiments, that the proportion of essential oil that was obtained from the stalks was both very small and of inferior quality. The work of distillation is then pursued under the superintendence of Mr. Perkins, who, being a chemist, has succeeded, after a long series of experiments, in producing a most admirable perfume, which connoisseurs jjronounce to be superior to any other manufactured in this country or elsewhere. Certainly the lavender flowers and water we received were the former very beautiful and the latter most exquisite. The still used is a large copper vessel, capable of holding 200 gallons, and set over a furnace. The flowers are placed in this, and pressed down very light, after which the vessel is filled with water. In about four hours the process of distillation is at an end, and the result is about a pint—more or less, according to the success of the season—of essential oil. The still is then emptied, a further supply of flowers put in, and the process commenced again de novo, the refuse being taken back to the fields, where it remains till used as a manure for the next year's crops." We are indebted (says the Sydney Morning Herald) to Mr. Alexander Bruce, the Chief Inspector of Stock, for the following estimate of the annual production of beef and mutton in New South Wales, and of the surplus available for exportation :—By the last returns the number of sheep in the colony at Ist January, 1875, was 22,800,000, and with the increase may now be put down at 24,000,000. The number of cattle in the colony at the beginning of the year was over 2,800,000. It would now be, say, 3,000,000. The annual "cast" of fat sheep may be safely reckoned at l-6th of the gross number, and that of cattle at 1-Sth. The average weight of fat cattle may be taken at 6001b5., and fat sheep at 501bs. The population at the beginning of t"he year is given in " The Statistical Register" at over 580,000. It may now be taken at 600,000. The consumption of butchers' meat may be put at 61bs. per head (man, woman, and child) of the population. These data give us a supply of beef to the extent of 225,000,0001b5., and of mutton 2,000,0001bs.; or together, 425,000,0001b5. The home consumption at 61bs. per head (187,200,000 lbs.) reduces this total to 238,000,0001b5. Of this surplus, Victoria (calculating the population and stock in the same way) requires more than 90,000,000 to make up the deficiency in her meat supply, and South Australia more than 6,000,000. But, after the deficiency of these two colonies is supplied, there would still be a surplus in this colony of more than 142,000,000 to be disposed of in the shape of preserved meat. The value of our meat supply for Victoria and South Australia, namely, 96,000,0001b5. at 2d. per lb., would be £BOO,OOO ; and the value of our surplus simply, 142,000,000 at 2-kl. per lb., £1,183,333 6s. 3d. If all our total" surplus production of butchers' meat could be coverted into cash at these very moderate prices, the growers of beef and mutton would be the richer at the end of the year by £1,983,333. According to the Ballarat correspondent of the Pleasant Creek Neios, " The use of petroleum oil and its efficacy in the cure of American blight, is one of those things apparently not so well understood as might be the esse. An orchard proprietor of my acquaintance who has made this aphides question a study, and who, by the way, has for some years suffered greatly from the ravages of blight, thus addresses me on the subject of petroleum treatment —' After repeated trials with various cure-alls and alleged certain remedies, I gave up all hope, and "was about letting the blight have it own way, preparatory to rooting up the infected trees. But an article in an English paper sent me by a friend alluded so strongly to petroleum that I was induced to forego the grubbing-up business for the new idea. I took a painter's brush, and as directed applied the oil to infected trees. One fact soon was apparent — the petroleum was not only sucked up by the downlike surface of the aphides, but spread itself up and down the trunk and branches wherever the blight was present. I was encouraged to persevere in the treatment, and did not dißist until I had well brushed all the

infected apple trees in the garden. The effect has been almost marvellous ; but one tree shows the faintest signs of blight this season, and that was one I bestowed the smallest amount of attention upon. I shall have a really splendid crop of apples the coming season—quite an event in my garden. As far as I can see, there is no doubt about the treatment, and the wider it is made known the better.'" A correspondent of the 3fount Alexander Mail writes :—"I have seen from time to time in your paper paragraphs relating to the blight on trees, and the various cures recommended ; but the last, in which petroleum was used, had a special interest for me. I have used it extensively, and find, true enough, that it will kill the blight—and the tree also. Three years' experience has proved this to my cost. I am induced to give my 'perfect cure,' accidentally discovered. Draught castor oil, thickened to the consistency of paint with soot taken from the chimney, and applied with a brush, is certain and effectual ; and not only for all kinds of blight, but hide or bark-bound trees."

ON FRUIT GROWING.

It may, without doubt, be considered a reproach to Wellington that the supply of fruit is so very deficient ; but there ai-e reasons for all things, and we will endeavor to find out the reason for this defect, and probably suggest a remedy. In the early days of the settlement, there were many fine fruit trees within the boundaries of this city, and delicious pears, peaches, and other fruit were common. I think we will find that, for two reasons, the supply of fruit has fallen off. The first of these consists in the various blights and attacks of the insect world, which have damaged or destroyed the fruib trees, combined with the mischief caused by occasional heavy and unseasonable southerly gales, to which the proximity of the ocean must always render the locality liable. The second reason consists in the persistent raids of juvenile pilferers. Persons who take the trouble to grow fruit, and who find their trees stripped before the fruit is ripe, are discouraged, and give up the pursuit. Now I find, in various publications, that the growth of fruit trees in pots is strongly advocated, 2 5ar ti cu^ar ly such fruits as figs and peaches. This cultivation apjjears to have become an established fact in England, and if successful in that country, it ought to be more so in this. Fruit trees in pots could be kept under due control, could easily be syringed and otherwise treated, so as to be kept clear of insect pests, could be moved into shelter from a heavy gale, and might be so placed as to reduce the danger from pilferers to a minimum.

It is said that figs in pots will give in England two crops in the year by facilities for preventing the plant running to wood. In Auckland two crops a year are produced by ordinary cultivation, but not so in Wellington. To carry out a system of cultivation in pots to advantage, I would suggest that the nursery gardeners take the matter up, and prepare potted plants for sale. Few non-pro-fessional people possess the necessary skill to prepare the compost, and select the plants. The industry might soon become one of importance, and be productive of much profit to the professional gardeners, while supplying a much needed article of diet. Hoping that the above suggestions may be generally attended to, I remain, your obedient servant,

EXPERIENCE WITH FOWLS. At different times we have tried some of the different breeds of fowls, and have finally settled upon the light Brahmas as being pre-eminently the fowl for profit. Silver-spangled Hamburgs.—We first tried this breed, and liked them.. They are the handsomest breed ' of fowls with which we are acquainted, and, to those with whom profit is only a secondary consideration, we can warmly recommend them. With us they proved to be great layers of very small eggs ; three of their eggs weighing about as much as two Brahma eggs. Their chickens were very hard to raise; not more than one-half of all hatched would live to maturity. Still, with all their faults, we thought them much superior to the so-called " dunghill fowls," which we had previously kept. Black Spanish.—We found these fowls to be good layers in the spring months, but poor winter layers. Their eggs, though not as large as the Brahmas, are of good size. One great fault of the Spanish is, that their combs are so large, that unless warmly housed they will get frost-bitten : and after their combs are once frozen they never look handsome again. They are very susceptible to disease ; and withal are not as desirable as the Hamburgs. So we discarded them.

Buff Cochins. —We purchased a trio of Buff Cochins of a friend, who highly recommended them, but we did not like them. They are not so good layers as the Hamburgs, though their eggs are larger. They can fly much higher than the Brahmas can, and are not as docile ; at least such has been our experience. Light Brahmas. —At first we did not think we should like them, as a busy-body had told us that they were inveterate sitters. " Why," said he, " they will sit on a cart-wheel if they can find nothing else." This, however, is not the case ; for if they are taken in hand immediately when they first become broody, they can be broken up in from two to four days. The Brahmas are great winter layers ; and winter-layers is what pays in poultry-keeping. Their eggs are large. I weighed some of their eggs of the average size a few days since, and found that they weighed at the rate of seven eggs to the pound, lacking one ounce. The chickens are remarkably hardy ; scarcely ever lose one. Our Brahmas are so tame that we can pick them up in the yard, or take the eggs from under them while they are on the nest. We keep the Brahmas confined with a fourfoot lath fence.

White Leghorns.— Since we have kept Brahmas we have tried the Leghorns. They

are first-rate layers, and their eggs are of good size. We have not kept them long enough, or in sufficient numbers, to pass correct judgment upon them ; but, from present appearances, we think they may prove a rival to the Brahmas as far as egg-production is concerned. From the above facts, we have come to the conclusion that when both eggs and chickens are wanted, the Brahmas will give better satisfaction than any other of the above-mentioned breeds of fowls. We do not feed our chickens on hard-boiled eggs for the first few days, as some recommend ; that would hardly pay in this vicinity, with eggs at twenty-five cents per dozen in the spring months and fifty cent* per dozen in the winter. We feed the chickens on Indian meal, wheat screenings, cracked corn, and small potatoes boiled and mashed. The chickens thrive upon such food ; for this season we have raised 125 light Brahmas and 25 Leghorns ; also about 25 half Brahma and half Leghorn chickens, and have only lost two by disease.— Passo/ic, in tlic Country Gentleman.

MEAT PRODUCT PER ACRE. (From the Agricultural Bureau Report.)

Mr. J. J. Mechi, one of the leading scientific farmers of England, considers meatmaking one of the main points of his agricultural success. He regards it as an essential part in good farming to make meat and manure in summer as well as in winter. This, however, cannot be done without shelter for animals, combined with good ventilation to protect them from flies and other insects ; with proper provision for this necessity, he has succeeded in putting on both growth and fat in summer time. He acknowledges that there is no profit in feeding stock at market prices, but where a farmer has sufficient capital and knows how to use it, he will find stock-feeding profitable, on account of its sure product of the best and cheapest manure he can obtain. Mr. Mechi finds his margiw. of profit in the very large grain, root, and green crops which he is thus able to raise at a cost below market prices. He gives the following balance-sheet of his live-stock operations for 1874, on his farm of 175 acres at Tip tree:—

The increase in value of the live stock and poultry at the end of the year was £IBB 35., or £sl ss. 6d. less than the amount paid for new animals during the year. This deficit shows the extent to which the whole livestock value, old and new, was reduced, and must be deducted from the aggregate sales to show the net meat product of the year. This will leave £684 Bs. 6d., which at 9d. per pound gives an average of 104 pounds of meat per acre, worth £3 18s. The total cost of feed, including produce raised on the farm and purchased from without, amounts to £717 16s. 5d., from which, deducting the wool sold, £43 14s. 10d., there remains £674 Is. 7d., or £3 16s. 4id. per acre as the actual cost of production, leaving a margin of only Is. 7-Jd. per acre to pay for labor and attendance, which is estimated at £IOO in the aggregate, or lis. sd. per acre. Mr. Mechi's profit, then, must have been in the raising of his home crops, and in the fertilising elements added to his land by his abundant product of manure.

ONLY GOOD FARMING IS PROFITABLE. (From the Rural Carolinian.) The best way is to look facts squarely in the face. This is one of them. Poor farming does not "j>ay." We cannot isolate ourselves, if we would. We work in competition with the world. Rude, antiquated methods, mere plodding, unskilled labor, worn out, unfertilised sods will not serve us against science, skill, labor-saving implements, and heavy manuring. On fertile, virgin soils, the old, rude, wasteful system may, for a while, give the farmer a living, by robbing posterity, but in all the older jaarts of the country we have got beyond that. If we cannot manure our lands, adopt the best and most economic methods of working them, train and skilfully directour labor, and use, wherever practicable, improved, labor-saving implements, we shall go under in " the struggle of life." Five bushels of corn to the acre, or one-fourth or one-third of a bale of cotton is not a remunerative crop, at any price for our products that we are likely to get. If we cannot do better, we may as well " lay down the shovel and the hoe " at once. It is the same everywhere. In New England, in New York, in Pennsylvania, and even in the great fertile West, there is the same complaint, " farming don't pay." But good farming does "pay" there, and it pays still better here. Make a bale of cotton to the acre—a great deal better than that can be done —and from twenty-five to forty bushels of corn—which is setting the figures very low, again——and other crops in proportion, and farming will no longer be unremunerative.

January 1, 1874. Value of live stock, including poultry .. £737 19 0 Corn and hay, the produce of the farm consumed during the year, estimated at market prices .. .. .. .. 177 5 0 Corn, oil-cake, malt, culms, bran, &c. purchased .. .. .. .. .. 431 Grinding corn, medicines, veterinary, &c. 21 5 3 0 0 Live stock purchased during the year .. 239 Green and root crorjs of 25 acres raised and consumed .. .. .. .. .. 8S 8 6 C 2 Total £1695 3 11 January 1, 1875. Value of live stock, i«cluding poultry .. £926 2 0 Fat meat sold 691 19 2 Wool sold 43 14 10 Poultry sold 33 7 11 Total £1695 3 11