FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 957, 10 November 1882, Page 2

FARMERS’ COLUMN.

The Taieri paper hears that a wellknown West Taieri settler, when in Dunedin a few days since, fell into the hands of the Philistines, the said Philistines being a gang'of horse-dealers. The settler asserts that be was drugged, and while in a state of semi-consciousness induced to sign a number of cheques. He estimates his loss at £IBO.

The Bay of Plenty Times mentions that during tiie present season a mare belonging to Mr James Ellotf, of Mangere, gave birth to a foal, which presented the most hideous and- monstrous appearance conceivable, The general formation of his head resembled a even the hair that covered it, and its ears were longer than those of an ordinary donkey ; it had but one eye, and that centred in the forehead, fiery red in appearance, and protruding an inch and a half, shaped like an

inverted thimble. The upper jaw was very peculiar, whilst the under jaw curled over his mouth, and closed or rested on the face, just under the eye. There were peculiarities in other respects about the head, but the body was fairly developed. The foal lived a few days, but of course, was unable to suck, and Mr Ellelt thinks that, in trying to feed, it choked with the milk. It is intended to preserve the carcase, and it has been, sent to a taxidermist for that purpose.

The wife of a farm bailiff near Wantage, in Berkshire, was recently stung upon her forehead by a bee. She died within an hour afterwards.

In the Timaru Herald of the 17th inst, a correspondent criticises the balancesheet of the Farmers’ Co-operative Association rather severely, particularly pointing out that besides being indebted to their bank to the amount of £20,000, the Society are about to distribute £IOOO in dividends. The position appears certainly rather incongruous, when the members are called upon to make all their purchases from the stores of the Society, although it is admitted (hat the prices charged may be higher than elsewhere.

A most extraordinary freak of Nature occurred on a farm at Woodend (Canter-

bury) a few days ago. On Sept. 28, a * cow, the property of Mr J. Stanton, gave birth to a bull calf, which was fully matured and healthy, and the cow, which was not in her ordinary condition on such occasions, grazed along contentedly' till Tuesday, Oct. 2, when she was delivered of another bull calf, equally healthy, and of as good quality. Both calves and the cow are now doing well, and Mr Stanton is at a loss to know if he shall call those calves twins.

As the spring season advances, so in a greater or less, degeee are apple trees affected by American blight, but a very simple and efficient remedy has been discovered. About seven years ago (says the Press) a resident in one of the suburbs of Christchurch, whose acquaintance with the iron trade has enabled him to know that iron buried in the earth would give off a percentage of oxide, dug some in around his blighted apple trees, and soon the effects were shown in the decrease, and ultimate disappearance of the blight. Any refuse iron from the shop of the blacksmith, or the yard of the ironfounder that-may be available, will answer the purpose. It need hardly be explained that the earth thus becoming impregnated with oxide of iron, the roots of the trees feed on the same, which, ascending in the sap, poisons the food of the insects, and they speedily die away, never to come again whilst the sap contains a particle of oxide of iron. THE COMMON HEN AS A MOTHER. The common hen makes the best mother for the most varieties of fowls. Her want of discernment, or indifference to the pedigree of her supposed progeny, make her (says the Philadelphia Weekly Press) a valuable ally in, raising those odds and ends of poultry which most people have about their barns at one or other period. Ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas, peafowls, &c., are all alike the subject of her affectionate solicitude, and probably she would own a toad, were one placed under her at hatching time. Sbe has more practical sense in the bird-breeding business than anv of the other breeds of feathered bipeds. Think of a goose, a duck, a turkey, or. peafowl attempting to raise chickens!

Services will be held in the Patea Wes* leyan Church on Sunday as usual, also at Kakavaraea in the afternoon. Mr W. Dale will hold his weekly sale at his mart to-morrow at two o’clock, when a large quantity of miscellaneous goods will be offered. The Ashburton Cheese and Butter Factory is now open for the receipt of milk. The price given is fourpence per gallon. A cheese maker is manufacturing a brand of cheese which he has named “Truth.” That cheese will doubtless have a good run, as “ Truth is mite-y, and will prevail.” The proposed Akaroa Frozen Meat Company has fallen through, as it appeared there was no probability of a sufficient output to pay the working expenses of the works and cover cost of plant.