ITEMS FOR FARMERS.

Patea Mail, 21 May 1881, Page 4

ITEMS FOR FARMERS.

The Americans arc laying down a scale of points for the Clydesdale. The Mcchi fund has now reached the creditable amount of £SOOO. The latest from California is a most re. markable discovery that sheep may be protected from scab by " vaccination.” At Glasgow, a milk dealer has been fined £2 for allowing a sleeping apartment to be in communication with his milk shop. A free use of the currycomb and brush on the horses and mules that are in use upon the farm adds very much to their comfort as well as their looks. English farmers are beginning to find out that thin sowing of wheat tends to larger cars and consequent larger produce per acre. An imported Durham cow, the property of a farmer near Aurox-a, 111., has given birth to six calves in less than two years. The bovines were born in pairs. Manures applied to soils are of use in three ways : First, by improving the physical condition of the soil; second, by acting as solvents; and third, by dii’ectly feeding the plants. Cows that are well fed will sometimes cat the litter from horse stables. It (.will no* hurt them in the least, and when they are not well fed may do them good. It is no harm to cows or horses to keep both in the same stable. Lice on cattle may be killed by rubbing the parts infested with sweet-oil to which one fourth part of kcrosine-oil is added. The new insect powder is also an effective remedy for lice. . American cheese is found to be so adulterated with, lard, that in the New York Assembly the Committee on Public Health is making an investigation. Between 30 and 40 head of cattle are said to have died on an estate near Oamaru a short time ago through eating rape before the frost had thawed in the morning.”