WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 20

WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL

~ * - *^ Until . Wednesday Ye enjoyed fairly good weather. On Monday the - The ""glass commenced f to fall Wither. ." steadily until Wednesday, when •• the - reading was 29.3deg. Although it was warm and bright, heavy rain suddenly set in, and the land is again in a. state of- bog -At 'the- present it is very cold and sprbfcing -snow, -so that at least another' week will be lost in seeding, which is a serous matter to many. Lambing is proceeding very well, so far, there nas' been no serious Lambing, mortality "among the ewes, and the one' or two cold Bnaps we have had has, done no material damage to the lambs." There is every prospect of a good percentage being made, with plenty of feed for the first two months at least of their lives, which means more than is generally recognised. A good start is the main thing in life, either in the vegetable or animal kingdom. An animal if starved so as to become stunted directly after birth, can never give the same results as when well nourished and sheltered. 'Docking in the earlier districts, if the weather is favourable, will be in progress in another week or t^o. Although we have not had the same fatalities reported with regard to blood-poisoning as was the case in the south in by-gone years, farmers are now more careful than formerly to see that the yards are in a sanitary condition where the operation has to be performed-, and quite a -number take the precaution to erect temporary yards in the paddock where the sheep are. This is a wise proceeding both" with regard to protection against blood-poisoning and the general welfare of the lambs, as from the knocking about they get by being driven through. a number of gates to reach the yards before being operated on they become heated, and then having to take them back often through dirty gateways is responsible for most casualties when they occur. I hardly think the use of the searing iron instead of the knife is gaining much ground, and personally I think the old-fashioned plan is preferable to altogether preventing any flow of blood, more especially in a season like this, when tho lambs will be in good condition. With regard to this question it is interesting to note what sheep men in other lands do. Lately I got hold of a leather bound, large volume of 1000 pages, " The IJuetrated Stock Doctor and Live Stock Encyclopaedia," by J. R. Manning, M.D.V.S., an American work. . In this the following instructions are given: — "Docking lambs: This should be performed as soon as th© lamb' is fairly strong and growing; say, when- a week old. Let an attendant pick up th« lamb, and holding>^iis rump pretty firm against a post of suitable height, the shepherd seizes the tail and pressing " the skin back towards the body, places a twoinch chisel at the point of separation, holding it firmly enough so that it will not slip, when, with a light blow of a mallet it is severed. ' Throw the tails of rams in ■one pile and those of ewes in another, and enter in the shepherd's book the sexes and numbers. It is well at the same time to place a paint mark on the rump for future recognition. A pinch of powdered copperas on the "end of the tail will stop bleeding Occasionally a lamb will bleed severely. If so, tie a ligature tightly around the stump, to be removed in about ten hours, or a touch of redhot iron will be more effective. Castration : Many perform this operation immediately before docking. It has always been practised by myself, and I have never found any reason to discontinue the plan. In any event the sooner it is done the better for the lamb. I have docked and gelded at three days old, and with -the best results." Dr. Manning goes on to describe the operation, which is much the same as is practised in the colonies — except that the testicles are drawn with the fingers instead of with the teeth. The curious part of tho instructions is why it should be thought necessary to be armed ■with a mallet and chisel to cut off the tail of a week-old lamb when a small, sharp pocket knife is sufficient for a six-weeks-old lamb. When the tails are strong a butcher's knife is better. As showing the difficulties they nave to contend with in the States in breeding sheep, I will further quote as an object lesson to those in New Zealand who complain that it does not pay to look after ewes at lambing. On management, the doctor says: "It is absolutely necessary when early lambs are expected that a warm place be provided for the ewe at lambing time. The room need not be large and may be divided into pens suitable for each ewe when there are a number to lamb at one time. Heat the room by means of a stove, and if the ewes are healthy and hearty they will take care of themselves as a rule. But the shepherd should be present in case the young lambs want assistance, and here will be found th? advantage in having made the sheep fami ■liar with and relying on the keeper, for thus there will bo no fear displayed." Thistrouble and care that has to be taken in the States may seem absurd to the colonial iborn, but personally I had to take my turn in watching lambing ewes all night. On the "Borders" certainly we did not provide stoves tc heat the -sheds, which were open, and only thickly bedded with 6traw. Therefore, it should appeal to New Zoalanders to go to some little trouble and

$fore Plane?, Jr., agricultural and carden implements are in use in the world than any •otneir" three makes put together. — Nhnmo «nd Blair..

provide some shelter for **wes at such a critical time. From time to time in this column I have had occasion to deplore the j iMprsvement little . interest farmers on of Draught fche Manawatu took in Horses. breeding draught Lorses. Contractors and other users of heavy horses have had to defend on being supplied by Waikato and f Taranaki. Therefore, I am glad to be able to report a forward movement with regard to breeding a superior class of horses. Perhaps the prices realised by some of the Taranaki breeders in Sydney last month has opened the Manawatu men's eyes to the possibilities of horse-breeding, more especially now that mutton and lamb are so much under a cloud. Whatever the reason it is a wise proceeding to ( add another output to the product . of the farm. At the same time it has to be remembered that even I good horses rise and fall in value the same es everything' else, and that before im- , proved horses can be put on the market prices may have receded c -rom • what they are io-day. But supposing such, is the case the value to the district of having laid the foundation of good horses will be incalcu- ' lable. When a rise again takes place far- ' mers as breeders will be in a position to take advantage of it, which they are not to-day. For some- time quite a number of farmer* have been picking up any good mares in the market -with the- intention of breeding a few good colts for sale. But it was left for Air Short, the well-known Romney breeder, to go into the business in a big way, which he has already done, j About three months ago he started by buying two or three mares at Mr Taylor'e sale in the Waikato. This he followed up by going down to EJderslie and buying some , of the highest-priced mares ?rom that famous stud. Afterwards he went as far south as Invercargill, and picked up some more, making 13 which he purchased in the South Island. These were landed at his farm near Feilding la6t week. The other day half a dozen enthusiastic Clydesdale lovers anl "Antigua Ovis" made a journey to inspect the nucleus of what it is hoped will become a famous Clydesdale , stud. Mr Short deserves that this should ' be the case by the enterprise he is show- t ing in establishing it. On arrival at the farm 12 mares and fillies were led out for two of the best judges in the district to pass their opinion on, and it has never , been my lot to see such a number of good ones together, except at some big show, , and seldom then. ConsidleraUe argument took place as to which was the best, everyone having a particular favourite. The decision must be left until they appear in , the show ring, which some will probably • do in the spring. The mare from the . Taieri is a good one without a doubt, but there wexe others equally as much liked. There were some others we did not see, also good once, I understand, and there are tihree other mares, a yearling filly, and, a colt, now on the water from England, accompanied by -a stallion' to take the head of the stud. Unfortunately, they will not reach here before October, which is late for -the mares to be stinted. Two of the mares bought in the south are left until stinted, while possibly two or thieo will visit Bancor at Kia Iwi. Mr Shor' j has not yet decided how he will arrange. Nothing is yet known as to the name or pedigree of the stallion purchased at Home, as Mr Short commissioned Mr Hoeken, who is now in England, to select the animals, 'giving him a free hand. As Mr Hoeken is recognised' as one of the best judges we have had in the Dominion , we may expect something extra good. i 2s"eanly sIU tHe factories slx^S creameries are increasing their output of Dairying. butter and cheese — mostly butter. Most dairymen admit that cheese pays better, but the trouble is with a considerable proportion of suppliers, more especially in the back county, the hay private or Home separators, and the creem is so less expensive to cairt than, the whole milk. Be- . sides, home-separated milk is worth so much more for feeding purposes than fac- i tory milk or whey. The question arises whether there is mcc danger of a fall • in the price of butter than cheese. Mr James Murray, manager of the Chelten- i ham Dairy Company, expressed his opinion ; at a meeting last week thus: "When! butter reached a certain price consumers went in for substitutes ; but in th-e caee I of cheese there wa6 no substitute." Perhaps ' this may be correct. At the same timo ' it is impossible to forecast the market, ' go many factors come in that arc never thought of. The producers' whole object t should be .-o supply only first grade of the article he produces, as he car have no ' control of the market. Even should all the dairymeD in the Dominion combine i (which eeems unlikely) they could not con- I trol the market in London, but by making a pure unadulterated article they can de- ' mand and receive the highest price. With 1 regard to eelYmg the output this seasonbuyers seem to be sitting tight. As yet no offer has been made that I have heard of, and sellers seem no more inclined to state their terms. ANTIQUA OYIS.