NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 7

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS

In an ad-dress on diseaso >i stock given before the Agricultural ConTnberesUsls. ference, Mr Reakes, the Chief Veterinarian, made special reference to tuberculosis, and emphasised the immediate need of taking steps to repress it. He 6tated that in view of tfe-j proved existence of the disease and the several means pointed out whereby the disease was being spread, he was of opinion the following preventive measures are immediately necessary: — 1. Continuance of the present system of weeding out and slaughtering all notice-ably-affected animals. Doubtful cases to be tested with tuberculin. 2. So dividing the farm into paddocks that each paddock can in turn be kept for some months clear of cattle altogether. Sheep could be grazed upon these paddocks while the cattle were off them. 3. The constant maintenance of cleanliness in nrilking-sheds and, so &r as is practically possible, holding yards. 4. The pasteurisation of all separated milk and whey at dairy factories and creameries before its removal by farmers for - the purpose of feeding calves and pigs. 5. The provisior of good winter feed, both for cows and for young stock, thus enabling them to maintain a high standard of vitality and giving them a better chance of resisting infection. All these measures xjould without much difficulty be carried out by the dairy farmer, except No. " 4, which involves dairy factories and creameries, and this is a most important measure. In the case of tubercular germs distributed in paddocks, yards, or milking sbsdi, he stated that there was no certainty of them invariably getting into the system of either cattle or of pigs, since they are to a great extent exposed to the gevmicidal influence of sunlight and other influences detrimental to them. But in the case of tubercular milk they must gain direct entrance in large numbers into the animal body. The prevalence of tubercular disease- among pigs fed upon separated milk or whey demonstrates this fact clearly. Most calves in dairying districts receive the same diet, and though admittedly they, as the result of being tho progeny of generations of ancestors, many of whom have been the subjects of tuberculosis, have more resistant power than have pigs, with whom tuberculosis is not an inherent disease, yet a large number must contract the disease in their early

More Planet, Jr., agricultural .and carden implements are in use in the world than any other three makes put together. — Ximrco and Blair.

days, though many years may elapse before they exhibit outward manifestations of its presence. At tbe Agricultural Conference. Mr C. J. Reakes, Chief Veterinarian, ' } EffeetUeness stated that there could be ttiPastearl- no question as to the effec&atioa. tiyeness of pasteurisation of • «kirn milk, and pointed out that in Denmark and in the States of lowa and: Minnesota pasteurieatioc ' bos been made compulsory by 'aw, with good results. In this country, where practised, it has proved in every way satisfactory. He said he knew of one dairy factory where last year tho -skim-milk was not pasteurise*!, and the percentage of diseased pigs " fed upon it was *ound, when slaughtered, to be from 59 per cent, to 100 per cent. This j year the milk was heated, not thoroughly , pasteurised, yet successive largo batches of ' 'piga kept in the same pen, reared from the same stock, under similar conditions as j in the previous . year, were killed without i . a single diseased animal being found, and i among those batches in which tubercular 1 pigs we*e present the highest percentage , was 11 per cent. Again, he could name two factories within three miles of each j other in one of which the by-product, j whey, 13 pasteurised, and at the other it not. In ihe first case a tubercular pig , which has been fed upon wfhey is a rarity ; I in the other, a large purchaser who is 'j under inspection will not buy the pigs ■ at all "on account of the number found j diseased on v slaughter ; and in tile case of 1 other factories where the whey is pasteurised he can obtain no record of tuber- ( culosis among pigs fed upon it. He revi gretted that, owing to tihe fact that a , factory 6kim-milk pr whey-fed calf rarely . comes under the hands of a Government j meat inspectoi before reaching maturity, it j was impossible to obtain such clear statis- - tics concerning calves as are available in | tht case of pigs; but, knowing the degree to which cattle are susceptible to tuberculosis, he was quite satisfied that the feeding of calves upon skifh-malk or whey from ' dairy factories 's one of the most potent ' factors in the spread of tubercular diseaso J in this country, and, moreover, that the pasteuriaartior of the dairy by-products ' 1 would be one of the most valuable prevenI tive measures which could be adopted. It is a well-known axiom, that good cultivation of the soil -is equal to Th*Valne©f a dressing of a valuable TJUye. fertiliser. JReoent%, '. some experiments were carried out by the Government Agriculturist in j Cape Colony. At that Experimental Station ' a piece of land was selected, divided into j-pJots, and dressed evenly with a complete fertilisei v Aftei being ploughed, a cultivator was run over the land; oats sown wiith, a drill, and the ground then rolled The paddock -was divided into four plots, and each successive plot received 1 "'' 1 one more ploughing than --the previous one, wiljh the fallowing results: — Plot 1, one: ploughed, yielded 7501b oaten hay per acre. Plot 2, twice ploughed, yielded 10001b of oaten hamper acre. Plot 3, three times ploughed, • yielded 18801b oaten hay per acre. Plot 4, four times ploughed, yielded 38001b oaten j hay per acre. Equally striking results were 6aid to be obtained from the barley and wheat crops planted during the past year under similar conditions — that is, the firet lot was ploughed and harrowed once only, ! the second plot twice. The results of these experiments emphasise the importance of . careful tillage, and show that, although I manuring 'is highly important, yields can bo still further and profitably increased by extra ploughing 01 cultivating. In India, ! where the peasants often find it difficult . to obtain fertilisers, and labour is cheap, ! they depend largely on obtaining good crops by increased cultivation, and frequently j plough thedr land four or five, times. Four j ploughing^ appear to be the most tried j at the Robertson Experimental Farm, and I it is probable that ploughing much mor-; frequently than this would not have had I any better effect As the Royal Agricultural Society's show, to be held in Liverpool in Affrirnltoral 1910, regulations for the , Motor Traction, triak of agricultural motors 1 have been finally considered • and settled as follows : — — Reg ula t ion 5. — t 1. For the purpo-es of these trial* an | ) "agricultural motor" may be described as ; any form of motor, using- either steam, oil, 1 p?trol, or electricity a& its motive power, which (a) Shall be capable of hauling direct in work a plough, cultivator, harvotcr, cv ' other agricultural implement. (b) Shall be capable of driving s=uch agiicultural machines as a threshing machine, chaffcutter, grist mill, etc. (c) Shall be capable of hauling a l«ad along a' road ant 1 on the land. 2. The machines shall be testcnl for efficiency in carrying out all thr-fc classes of , work. j — Fuel Consumption. — ! 3. The trials shall corset of ploughing with a three-furrow plough an area of about six acres, one part of which shall be ploughed shallow, and the other part deep \ at ihe discretion of the judges. 4. The fuel, water, and other supplies

consumed throughout the trial will be carefully noted and compared with the weight of earth removed. ? — Ploughing and Cultivation. — 5. Flfrbher trials on various classes of land with multiple ploughs and with other cidtivatmg implements Jto bo provided for the compenilors with which they may wish their tractors to be supplied may be made at the discretion of the judges. 6. Special attention will be- .paid in the ploughing and cultivating trials 'to • the weight of machine traversing the land, the space and time occupied in -turning at the headlands, and the manner in which the work is finished offl. — Harvesting. — 7. The trial will consist of hauling on© or more self-binding reapers of aot less than 6ft in width round a plot of given area, cutting as far as practical on all sides. v —Traction Trial. — 8. A course will set out over roads and land selected by the society, and each competitor shall declare, before starting, what weight he is ( prepared to haul over such course; the fuel,, water, and other supplies consumed during the trial will be noted. With selected motors hill-climbing trials may be made. Motors must conform to the requirements of Ac*s of Parliament. — Machine-driving. — 9. Each motor will be tested driving on to a pulley on a counter-shaft fitted with c brake — the diameter of pulley, Speed of counter-shaft, and toad on brake assimilating to those on a threshing machine. TO. The time, taken and attendance given wall ba noted in all triads. 11. Implements, unless otherwise stated, will be provided by the society. —Fuel — 12. The fuel, whether solid' or liquid, will be provide*" by the society. The coal will De Welsh steam coal of uniform quality, and the petroleum or other liquid of on» of the recognised brands. 13. Each competjtor to state how many men will bt required to attend to the machine. 14. The following are some of the points to which special attention will be direfcted: — (a) Weight of machine. (b) Weight; per inch width of wheel. (c) Mechanical design and constniction. (d) Adaptability to variou; kinds of work. (c) Ease of handling. - (f) Safety of handling. <g) Ease of turning and space required - for same.' (h) Facility for attachment, (i) Attendance necessary. " ~* \j) Consumption of fuel, water, and other supplies per uait of work done. . Ik) Price. AGRICOLA. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Subscriber ,for Thirty-five Years," Roxburgh, writes: — What would be the best clover and grass to sow down a paddock; with for three years to be used for cutting and making good hay? At the end of three year I intend ,to plough in clover for manure tc enrich the ground. Which would be libe best month to sow, and how much seed' per acre would I. require to use? ' Answer : — For your district the best time to sow grass and clover seed for hay would be September. You. "should sow from 361b ; to 401b of seed per acre in* the following proportions: — Rycgrass, 251b to 301b; alsike, 21b; cowgrass, 31b; red clover, 21b; white J clover, 31b. If you have any hilly midges ' add cocksfoot io the mixture of grass eeed, I about one bushel to the acre, and reduce the clover eesd. j

"Farmer," Waipounama, writes : —Could you give any information ac to the use of nitro-bacteriiJe? Has. it been used for oats in New Zealand? and if so, was it a success? 1 saw it stated in the Review of i\e views that Professor Bottomtey,, of King's College, .London, hac been succcsstul in inoculating oata. (2) What quantity of bluestoue should be used per bushel of wheat when pickling wheat?

Answer: — (1) I have no information to hand as to the use of nitro-bacterine for inoculating oats in New Zealand. (2) The following preparations are generally used: — Half a pound of bluestone to the bag of seed in lgal of water, sprinkled over the grain ac it is frequently turned on the barn floor. • '

"Wheat Farmer" writes: — I intend sowing some 50 acres wheat this season, and would be gJad of your valuable advice on what manures to sow to get best xesults. The ground is all clean, old lea, half ridges, the remainder being heavy river flat. Good crops have been grown on the same ground without manure, but I am undei the impression that without taking into consideration the possibility of a larger yield, a sowing of manure, would" heh. to ripen the crop earlier, which would mean an earlier harvest, and consequently less danger of being caught by early frosts. (2) Is it necessary to bluestone wheat that has been grown from bluestoned Beed tbe previous year? I have heard of very successful results being obtained by bluestoning every other year. (3) Do you *dvise the ,new

process mentioned in your last vgeek's notes? If so, can the formalin be obtained locally, and what is the cost? Answer: — (1) You had better use a dressing of superphosphate with a little potash mixed for yom wheat crop, which will certainly help you in the direction you desire. (2) It is advisable" to dress wheat seed every year, even though it has beea grown from seed which has been bluestoned the previous year. (3) Formalin, as state** in a previous note, is now considered the most profitable treatment 'or dressing wheat, and can be" obtained from. Messrs Kempthorne, Prossex, and Co., New Zealand Drug Company, Dunedin.

"Subscriber" forwards a rough sketch or plan of a wookhed. and\asks if the space mentioned '« sufficient for 70 ewes and three shearers, and to store about 50 bak>3 of wool.

Answer : — Tibs space shown on the plan would hold only 30 ewes. The usual area for each sheep ir sheds is sft x 21i, and 1 as your pens are barely 40 square feet, only four or, at a pinch, five sheep could be yarded. ' Your -ther ' dimensions would answer your purpose, provided yo-' allow plenty of bead room.

"Subscriber," Edendale, writes: — As I am thinking of takiug up a farm, with a .small capital of £400, I would like your advico before starting as to which is the best— b dairy, or agricultural, or any small thing connected, with it, such as c perpetual leas©- for five years, and in that time, if I like it, I can keep it. Answer: — Youi question is rather a difficult one to answer offhand, because so much depends ' on circumstances, such as your previous -experience in farming and* in what direction your inclinations lie. Dairy farming is no doubt profitable if worked on intelligent and economical lines. .A small grazing run or a perpetual lease holding might bt the most suitable for you, but a -great deal depends upon your own inclinations, energy, and ability as to wna-" branch of farming would be the most suitable- for you to take up.

"Poaka" writ's: — 1 wonder whether you wqnld kindly favour me through tV.e columns of your paper with your opinion as to the value' of buttermilk as a food for pigs. Perhaps you would make a comparison between buttermilk and dcim-milk, the lattei 'of which, as all "pig men" know, is a very valuable food for pigs. Answer : —From experiments carried out in America, ekim-mUk gave the gain pcr v pig. as wall as the most economical gain, but buttermilk came so close to skim milk ir feeding value tha* it may" ne rarded as practically equal to ekiro-milk lir as this exoeriment goee.

"Farmer," Fairlie, asks for a, reply to the following questions about formalin for dressing grain before sdwing, as he would like to try it instead of bluestone:' (1) Quantity par bushel required? (2) Probable cost? (3) Where procurable? Answer : -In Notes on Rural Topics o' July 21 the questions, you ask were fully gone int* ii« a note on the prevention ot smut. Vse at tho rate of loos, avordupois to 14-gal of water, but even 50gal of water to 16oz of formalin may be used with goo<» isssuTc-5. For treating wheat, abou,t fc?aJ l of the solution per bushel Is required, while •for oats about 2gal is the amount recommended. Formalir can be obtained from Messrs Kempthorne, Pioss*r, and Co., Pvew Zealand Drug Company (Limited).

"Fanoei,"' Wyn'Jharn, writes:— (l) What, quantity of salt is contained in a barrel? 1 want to know, as 1 intend trying to kill out the Canadian thistle in the manner eugeested in a paragraph in the Otago Witness a few weeks ago. (2) Which is tn<s best manure for growing potatoe on river flat land? Would you recommend basic slag with potash? Answer:— (l) You do not state the size of the barrel required to contain salt. How many gallons? Without this, it would be impossißle to state the quantity >l salt. (2) For growing potatoes on river flats the best manure is systematic cultivation witi a dressing of guano. A reliable authority places potash next to guano, a«d lime about, the same, while superphosphates are said to induce the blight.

"Farmer" wants io know what quantify of cocksfoot -per acre should be sown for seed purpose where- no other seed is eqwi with, it? Answer:— When sowing cocksfoot on nz.'t country, with no other seed, about two bushels at Jeast i? necessary, 241b to tho acre. In many parts of Otago's hill land even a« ninth as 351b to the acre of cocksfoot is " sown.

"Xew Chum," Canterbury, writes:— A 1 * a .constant reader of the Witness, 1 am much interested in aJI your notes, and m th« issue . of July 14, 1909 I read with much interest -your reply, to D. Evans, Ugbrook Station, Blenheim, in re fattening lambs on peas, and as my land is inclined to be dry, I -would bo greatly obliged to you, if not too nwich trouble, to answer the following questions: — (1) Most suitable kind of pea to bow? (2) y When to sow? (3) How much per acre? (4) What class of manure and Jiow much? (5) About wlusn

lo feed off? (6) If advisable to keep lambs off in wet or frosty weather? Answers: — (1) Many varieties of peas are sown: the New Zealand white wonder 's highly 6poken of. (2) Sow in August or September. (3) About 501b to the acre ;S considered a good seeding, sown with grain drill. (4) Two to three hundredweight per acre of superphosphates is a suitable manure. (5) Hoggets can be turned on to the crop when the peas are well pedded. (6) Yes, it is always advisable to keep stock off any leguminous crop in wet weather. Lambs are reckoned to put on 81b weight per month on peas. "Small Farmer" wants to know what sup«Tpbosphate is, and what crops it is best suit;d for. He has had 10 bags sent to him, and he does not know how to use it, and asks for directions. Answer: — Phosphate of lime, which is well suited for grain crops or for topdressing grass lands in spring. If used as a grain fertiliser, drill in with the grain about 2awt to the acre. For top-dressing grace paddocks, spread at "about the rate of 3owt to the acre. You should have good results.