GLEANINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8350, 10 February 1913, Page 2

GLEANINGS

An English paper recommends giving cows which fail to hold, for several days before oestrum is expected, in damped food bicarbonate of potash 2 drams, powdered gentian ioz, fenugreek ioz, and half-an-hour before service, injecting with, a syringe . loz bicarbonate of potash dissolved in a quart of tepid water. In “Live Stock Journal” a farmer having a cow which had aborted, explains that he had her served about four months after, and when about half gone in calf gave her each morning a handful of hemp seed ground up with dry barley. She carried her calf safely each year afterwards. One of the outstanding features of the present wool season has been the regaining by France of tho position of our largest wool customer. Two seasons ago France led Germany by the narrow margin of 14,400 bales, but last season Germany outstripped her rival by 27,800 bales. This season France has so far set up a lead of 52,000 bales, her purchases having increased by 43,400 bales, whilst those of Germany have declined by 48,000 bales. The United Kingdom, as usual, occupies third place in our list of wool customers. A correspondent writing from Runanga to the “Groymouth Evening Star,” records the successful operation of tho fruit parcels post in the receipt by him of a package of red-heart cherries of magnificent quality from Roxburgh, after tho fruit had been no fewer than six clear days in transit. Ho says; “It was generally conceded by those who were fortunate enough to sample some of these cherries that they were the finest and largest of that variety they had yet seen m theso parts. I write simply because I believe that with proper application and a general support of the public the fruit parcels post system can be made a distinct success.” Breeders of stock in England have been astounded with the rapid advance in grade made by tho Argentine. The breeders there had only rough and inferior native cattle on which to grade, and they have accomplished tho results which we see in the published returns daily by tho aid of purebred Shorthorn bulls. The Rhodesian breeders are doing something of the same thing with the Polled-Aberdeen-Angus stock on the Africander cattle. In the case of the former breeders had to take as their groundwork the original humped cows. It is said that a Banffshire man, who was a cattle-breeder in his own country, and is now cattle-farming in Rhodesia, stated that the cattle of the third grade Aberdeen-Angus cattle, by pure bulls, would do credit to a farm even in the north of Scotland. In the light of what has been accomplished in so few years in these two countries with such material as a foundation, it is asked what should cattlebreeders in this part of tho world have accomplished all these years with such improved material to work upon •* The loganberry is an excellent fruit which has not received the attention

which it merits, probably owing to a fear of its spreading and becoming as great a nuisance as the blackberry pest. if properly cultivated and the runners kept off the ground there is no danger. The uncooked fruit, although luscious in appearance, is somewhat too acid for tho majority of people to eat, but when cooked or stowed, and served up with sugar and cream, it is delicious. Loganberries will grow and thrive in most situations, and when established are vigorous growers. The long shoots should not be allowed to lie on the ground, or they will root speedily. These shoots should bo tied up to a wire or wooden fence, or pruned well back. Loganberries aro not so eagerly devoured by the birds as raspberries aro, and therefor© you can depend on the fruit ripening without protection and fruit can be gathered when quit© ripe. When it is desired to increase your stock of plants allow the runners to trail on the ground, pegging them down in summer, when they will readily take root, and be ready for transplanting in the autumn.