NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 7

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Harvest work is proceeding too rapidly to please many farmers, Farm Work who would have been for March. quite contented had they been delayed for a time by moro rain. The grass is suffering badly fi-om want of sufficient moisture, and stock are getting hard up. Extra green food is air*.ady being carted out to the cows in the fields, and any ewes still nursing their Jambs will have to be relieved at once. This should have been done in any case a fortnight ago. Those who have not provided a good slipply of hay will require to reserve some of their last crop of oats to chaff, and feed with crushed linseed or linseed cake or a few turnips.

Unprofitable stock should now be got rid of. The first draught may be made from the ewes. All old crocks, coarse-woolled or bare-bellied sheep, and any others that will fail to contribute their share to the wool halo should be packed off to better country ai.fl help to swell the fat sales later on.

Rams have already been let away for early lambs, but unless good fre^h teed is provided to encourage prompt conception and ample provision is made to feed the lambs when tbey arrive, it is wiser to wait till the ordinary season, when there is the prospect of food for the lamb and its mother at the critical time.

A supply of porkers may now be bought up. The wheat stubbles will keep them going for a time, and the cold weather is approaching. A few chains of sheep netting wi:l secure them, and seconds wheat will soon be available. There is always a lot of rubbish grain about the stedding after threshing which can only be turned to profitable account by crushing or steeping and feeding to pigs. The Stubbles. — On account of the harvest being cleared off the fields earlier than usual this year, an opportunity pre=ents itself of giving the stubbla ground more attention than is often possible. The first step towards a successful root crop next year is gienerous and ample cultivation early in the year, becun on the stubble. This is continued at intervals throughout winter, as the condition of the ground permits, and finished up with light working whet the drills are opened and the crop sown. In this way the moisture i* not worked out of the ground, the "aid gets in.to\ perfect order, and the braird comes away regularly and satisfactorily-. If a earth crop is to be grown which in early spr'rnp: will help to fill the gap caused by the failure of the swede ci'op, or. rather, the decimation of that crop by bligiht, this should be the first -work undertaken. Success with such crops largely depends on getting them in before cold weather gets in. when growth is retarded. Any stubble not used for supplementary crops should have the stock turned on to thorn as soon as. the- stooks are cleared- and the shod wheat sprung. A month'n valuable feed is oft"n thus ,-ocured for draught ewes preparatory to tupping, or for other stock, and many v»eeds are prevented from seeding

As soon as the stock have eaten up all they can get the harrows and cultivators are kept going till a fine tilth is obtained on the surface. The object is to clean the land by springing all the weed seeds which have grown in the previous crop and shed their seeds. The success of germinating these will be directly proportionate to the fineness of the surface obtained. On land on which it is proposed to grow a second grain crop, the success of that crop will largely hinge on the successful sprouting of these weed seeds. A fine tilth must be obtained, so that everjr minute seed may have a chance of growing. Once grown, they are either folded again with sheep or ploughed in and killed. The final ploughing before winter can await rill next month. Working the stubble in this way accomplishes more than cleaning the ground : it unearths and exposes innumerable creature pests that might, under other circumstances, harbour up for the winter and develop into a perfect plague in spring to destroy our crops. Thatching should not be neglected as soon as the stack settles down— that is. a day or two after it is built. Flat-headed stacks especially require protection before the first heavy rain is experienced. The. straw for thatching should be picked and pulled straight, and firmly fixed to the stack.

Young seeds, as soon as the gfrain crop is removed, should be carefully examined, and any spots which have failed immediately resown and, if dry, rolled in. The stock must not be allowed to eat the heart out of the young clover. Sheepgraz,ing closely on young grass has ruined many a promising field of pasture. Seasonable sowings are Cape barley, vetches, rye. grain, rape, and stubb'e turnips, and mustard may be grown for ploughing in. Strong ground, a good tilth, and an immediate start ensure success with thf s-3 crops in any ordinary Reason ; but no two winters are alike, and miscalculations as to the time any one of them may be available for use are excusable. The only certainty is that they will provide more or lees spring food, and if the winter is open and there is appreciable growth some of Ihem will feed during winter. The growing of catch crops combines the beneficial action of the winter fallow with the production of useful fodder, and prevents tho loss of volatile plant food' from the soi 1 . This they help to store up and render available for the incoming crop.

Rape and Italian ryegrass, along with stubbie turnips, may now be sown on clean stubbies. A good deep furrow, well worked down and well drained, is necessary. From 3cwt to 4cwt of superphosphate and lewt of sait sown broadcast and lewt of Pertivian guano drilled in below the seed would not be too heavy manuring, unless the ground is alluvial, flat, and rich, when les9 than half of these quantities would give a good start and a heavy crop. From 31b to 5 T b of rape seep, mixed with 81b to 101b of Italian, will cover the ground, drilled in. in rows 14in to 15in apart. It will Be found that the Italian rvegrass will keep tho sheep and lambs free from inflammatory troubles frequently experienced on rape alone. If sown at once this ought to be ready for folding in midwinter in a favourable year. In any case, it will be re.idv at the beginning of August if the ground and treatment are any good, and is the best the flock-owner can grow for his sheep. This might be followed by rye grain and Cape barley, mixed, for spring folding.

The dairyman will d°nencl on oats. Cape barley. or rye grain, with vetches and rane. or mixtures of the?« grains with the legumes. These mixiures balance the ration better than the grain crop alone, and all make excellent fodder crops for cutting as required in early spring, and may be c' eared in time for turnips. Whatever mixturo is used must be well treated. Sufficient manure to start it off growing at once and keep it growing in spite of cold weather and a liberal seedine are features which cannot be neglected with impunity.

The Education Board is to be congratulated on emerging from its Instruction ihrysalis state so far as in agriculture is concerned, Agriculture, and carrying the chairman's

motion to initiate agricultural instruction in our schools,. But we do not want to wait two years for that consummation. The country has plainly demanded that a beginning of some kind should soon be made with this work. The appointment of even one teacher gives promise of the establbhemnt L<ter on of a fully-equipped school, set apart «olely for the instruction of subjects bearing on agriculture. Tn view of euch a contingency and the expressed demand of our loading associations and unions for provision of the kind, the man appointed now should be of such calibre that he could take charge of such an institution. A good all-round man to take chai'ge and local lecturer? for special subjecis would meet the presont want of the district. "What a capable enthusiastic r*">an can do for his rountrv is well exemplifi?d in the ca«e of Dr Robertson, of Canada, who initiated tho movement for improving the quantity and quality of the grain grown in Ihe various states. By careful selection and the cooperation of fhou^ncis of farmer«, and by inculcating better methods of cultivation, the production of oa*^ over whole districts was increased by 10 bushel* per acre. Do we rea'ise what that mean^? The increase of a single Lushel of oats nor acre in our Dominion would supplement the farmers'

revenue by £20,000, and in Canada the work of this one man secured more than 20 times that amount in one cereal alone. This work was begun by host 6of school children hand-picking the grain sown, and when the results were recorded for the benefit of the parents, the idea, systematically directed, spread over the country like wildfire, with the above result. There is no reaeon why something similar should not be done here ; *t only want 6 the capable direction of the master mind. Dr Robertson certainly was not appointed to teach a school, but a man of his initiative would make his presence and knowledge felt whatever position he occupied. I am putting in a. plea for the appointment of a firstclass scientific man for what he can do in addition to his present class work when his sphere of operations is extended, and endeavouring to show that such an appointment is justified, and that any amount which will have to be paid by the beard or Government for the services of such a man would certainly be recouped a hundred fold by the country. The policy of making use of cheap local men for responsible positions has been pursued far too much in agricultural matters for the good of the country. The appointment of men of high scientific attainment to control the work of our State farms and direct research work m the Dominion would have repaid the country a hundred: times over.

Any flock-owner who has had any experience in breeding a flock of pureThe Selection bred sheep of any kind of Ram*. knovs that he does not get one lamb approaching to absolute perfection in a hundred. He also knows with what care the ewes have been drafted into «>mall lots and given to rams peculiarly suited to improve their progeny. Yet even after the greatest care has been exercised and expert knowledge brought to bear on his work, the prizes are few and far between, and the dissapointments many. That consideration should console the owner of a crossbred flock of ewes who despairs ! of getting his flock up to the standard [ desired, and finds that even to arrive at a moderately good lot he has to cull out about one-third of his number annually. Considering the way in which his lambs have been bred, he need not wonder at ' this result. When perhaps a dozen rams I are let away together with 500 or 600 ewes | it would be a perfect miracle if there were not several misfits brought into the world. I This shows the great necessity for care in the selection of ajl the rams used. One ; bad one will ruin the character of the flock 1 and increase the number which will have to be culled out annually. It also shows the necessity of taking steps to judge the work of each ram, by marking some of the lambs got by him, and of retaining the satisfactory ram. irrespective of age consideration. The seaeon is fast approaching for buying in the rams required, and the question might fairly bo asked what characteristics ought we to look for in selected heads for our flocks? In the first place the ram should bear the stamp and character, indisputably marked, of the breed he represents. Ho should be decidodlv masculine in appearance, resolute, and of noble bearing, having decided character and impreisoive mien. Particular attention is paid in the first place to his head. lie should face you boldly, possess a good width between the eye«. which should stand out prominently, arul be bright and clear. The sleepy-headed ram should be discarded at once, no matter how good his other qualifications may be. His head should be well carried 1 and firmly «et on a neck which gradually enlarges to a full junction at the shoulders. Seen from any possible direction there should be no hollow at the back of the neck. Constitution is indicated by the wide, dpep chest, well-filled brisket, and good heart girth, and ability to pile on flesh by well-sprung ribe, with straight wide back, well covered to the root of the tail, and fine bone. His hindquarters should bo full and well let down in the leg and flank. His bone should be sirong enough to carry his weight, and the legs placed well apart. He «hould also stand straight and square on his legs, with as little daylight under him ac possible. As to the fleece, the quality of the lambs got is largely dominated by the quality of the ram. Whatever the breed the wool must bulk well. Seize a handful on the ribs and iudge the density. Examine the back and look for any weakness in the wool there. If such exists the wool on the points and belly will be deficient. Next compare the wool on the shoulders with the ribs and hindquarters, and see that there .is no marked variation in character. Then turn the sheep up and noto the extent of bare country below, and see that good wool is carried right round the sheep, and that the physical conformation i 3 complete. ' Pelect the ram that has the required class of wool — that is, well covered and even throughout. Tho selection of a ram is a very important matter to the flock-owner. The question of profit and lose is closely bound up in judicious mating, and there is room for the exercise of preat judgment in securinir what is wanted to suit the ewes we have. Improvement is always effected by using ovenly-woolled rams of good quality and breed, in preference to trying to counteract the weak points in

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the ewe by securing correspondingly strong points in the ram.

Anyone Tvho is intimate with the homes of I some small farmers and j Cottage working men know that Gardeni. + here is not the semblance of comfort in them or pride t&ken in their surroi;n dings. This state of things' is frequently seen in tha case of leaseholders, who are birds of passage, an«i use a farm to raise the wind and flit elsewhere. Frequently the dogs andL, fowls fin>i in them a common resort with the members of the family. No attempt is marlo to secure better accommodation or make a small garden and grow vegetables and a few flowers. Ambition seema in some cases to have pretty well died out, or to bo conccrtrated on the farm work, and they live acquiescent in their filth. Fortunately, such homesteads are the exception, but the renisrks about to be made apply also to tha nent and tidy housekeeper who has neglected the garden. What x a difference there would be in the lives of the occupants of these squalid cottages if they could be induced to make and look after a small garden ! Better and more wholesome food would quickly follow, along with a healthier outlook on life. In a short, time the garden would be better managed, and some pride taken in the home. Simple comforts in tha home would soon be obtained, and a better state of things gene/ally would exist. Although harvest is the busiest time of the year, this month is the best of all to make a start with any garden, and much of the after-success will depend on how it is treated to begin witrt After deciding in the arrangement of the walks, a proper system of drainage should be thoroughly carried out. Four-inch field pipes may be inserted for the purpose. The soil must be trenched up in the autumn so as to expos© " it to the action of the air and frost. If supply of well-rotted stable manure* la obtainable the subsoil, as well as the surface soil, should get a good coating mixed Ithrough it as the work proceeds. Care should be taken that this is not allowed to be exposed to the sun for several days before it is covered up. Then a little artificial manure sown with each lot of seed works wonders in some crops. Tne seed sown should be the best obtainable, and put in at the right time. Any gardener's annual may be obtained for the asking, and will give full information on that and otber points which the amareur will want to learn about. "Weeds must be kept down religiously : they are gresdy feeders, and take up the nourishment the vegetables require. Every cottager should secure a supply of rhubarb roots, plant a few mixed fruit trees, and grow some flowers and shruba.

If he h»6 worked on a form, and applies the knowledge there gained, he will have an abundant supply of nutritious food for himself and family. With the display of a little taste he can make his cottage homely and 1 pretty, the envy of his •neighbour, and the pride of his children. As his experience increases, he can lower his household expenses materially, and probably have Something to sell, and if he is a neat and tidy worker he wilt soon get proud of the teal home he has established by his own work. It seems Impossible to believe that the residents in our chief The Glat In centres cannot consume all Fratt. the fruit that ia produced so far in the country districts. Yet such is the case. Either householders neglect to buy up and bottle ripe fruit when they can get it, or they depend altogether on the jam factory. fn »ny case, there is a glut of plums and pears on the market this year, and no householder who neglects at once to stock up his shelves with c supply that will be available throughout the year has any right to complain of dear fruit or dear jam for the rest of the year. So far as the farmers ere concerned, after paying for cases, freight, picking, and expenses of selling there ie nothing left for them. They would just be about as well off to let the birds have the whole of _ the crop. One reason for the glut in -plums is that they are all ripening together this /ear, no doubt on account of the dry season ; consequently the season will be short and sharp, and housewives would be well advised to make use of their opportunities. AGRIOOLA .