FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 99, 29 December 1914, Page 3

FARMERS’ COLUMN.

DIGESTIBILITY OF SILAGE. j. With regard ;o UU: question of the ; digestibility cf mb go .u against that cf tliß original crop from which it is produced, it is generally recognised, according to a note by Professors; Guthrie and Ramsay, in the Government agricultural publication of New South Wales, that it is about the same as that of the dried fodder (hay), both silage and hay being slightly less digestible than the original green fodder. This, lower digestibility is not due to any actual increase of indigestible material, but to the fact that there is always a considerable loss in the conversion of the green crop into hay or silage (apart fro mthe loss of water), and that this loss chiefly consists cf sugar and similar soluble substances, which are wholly digestible. A loss of as high as 20 per cent, of material is possible in the conversion of green crop into silage, and the material so lost is for the most part Hie digestible portion cf the fodder. On the whole there is less loss of material when the crop is converted into silage than in the case of fieldcured crops, and the silage, if properly prepared, is much more succulent and palatable to stock. If the fodder in drying is exposed to rain, a very, considerable loss of material results, whereas in the conversion into silage such conditions can be avoided.

DISINFECTANTS. Disinfection offers one of the most important means at our control for the eradication of specific disease. By means of suitable disinfectants we may make positively certain that the discharges and excretions of the sick are rendered inert; that everything winch has been in contact with the patients has been so treated as to be unable to convey the disease, and the building occupied by the diseased cases dealt with in such a way that healthy animals can be placed in it without fear of infection. PRINCIPLES OF DISINFECTION. A disinfectant is an agent either chemical or physical, which destroys disease-producing germs, and to be effectual all of these germs must be destroyed. Disease germs are minute living bodies: they float in the atmosphere, are carried by water, food, manure —and, in fact, by anything that has been in the vicinity of an animal suffering with a contagious disease. There are disoass germs which offer little opposition to the action of disinfectants, and others which are most resistant. Most of the disease-producing germs do net multiply outside the body,'but a few of them do, and these can be propagated, under favourable (conditions, almost indefinitely. These organisms being so minute can be carried about in the air as dust; they may ledge in the smallest crevices and most remrte portions of the stable or cow byre, and in places most difficult of access. Hence it is evident that the usual so-called disinfection, which consists of scattering a strong-smelling substance about, cannot be efficient. Disinfectants, to be efficient, must be thorough, and carried out in a systematic manner.

RULES OF DISINFECTION. Permit the entrance of a plentiful amount of light and air. Sunlight and fresh air are the most valuable aids that we possess in destroying the germs of disease. Direct sunshine rapidly destroys disease-producing germs, which otherwise, in the dark, won l cl continue to live indefinitely. Fresh air is an oxidising agent, and a powerful ally to the action of the sun’s rays; hence the importance of thorough ventilation to all premises, whether occupied by men or animals, j dense the stable thoroughly. Re- | move all dirt that may harbour the germs, and allow the disinfectant to (come into contact with all parts of the building. Cleansing of the stable includes removal of manure, removal of piles of fodder, sweeping the ceiling, walls, and floor, removal of rotten I woodwork and loose boards, removal of dried accumulation about mangersflccrs, drains, bails, and, partitions; scrubbing the mangers, stalls and partitions with hot water, soap, and washing soda. After the premises have been thoroughly cleaned in the manner mon- ■ Toned, they will be ready for the apply ' cation of chemical disinfectants. | There are many disinfectants, some f them more efficient than others. ) One of the most'active is bichloride of mercury or corrosive sublimate. This | substance is poisonous, and must be I used with great care. It is generally i used dissolved in water in the proportion of 1-1000. One ounce of corrosive «nblimate dissolved in. eight gallons of water makes a solution of the right strength. In making the' solution, the corrosive sublimate should be dissolved in cue gallon of hot water, and then I mixed with enough cold water to make ! eight gallons. The solution should h° ' kept in a wooden tub or glass or i earthenware vessel. It corrodes metal, and owing to its poisonous nature it |is not recommended for general use. Chloride of lime is another good disinfectant. One pound of chloride of lime should be dissolved in three gallons of water.

Carbolic acid is probably one of tie ’nest disinfectants for general use. It should 1)0 prepared in the propo-Lien of one part of the acid to 20 parts of water, cr one pint to 2'h gallons cf vat or. Lysol is superior to, but dearer than ■R.rbclic acid, in the proportion of 2 jor cent, in water. ,'Lyucl is a most ictive disinfectant. Sulphate of iron, commonly known is copperas, makes a very good ana cheap disinfectant, for.- boors, gutters, and drains. A saturated solution made by dissolving as much sulphate of iron as possible in water is employed. Bluestcne (21b to every three gai!ons of water-) may be employed in '■.he same manner. Sheep Dip.—The disinfectant properties of most of the dips depends as i. rule on the presence ol creolin compounds, which are coal tar products, obtained during the destructive distillation of coal. This is a good deo dcrant, but its power as a germicide is somewhat variable. It should he used in the same proportion as carbolic ic id. Whitewash. —This is not an active disinfectant, but forms an excellent purifier, and should in all cases be in)d after thei ot'hbr methods- of cleansing and disinfection have been employed. If chloride of lime be added to whitewash in the proportion of !ID to three gallons of water, the value of the application is greatly increased. * In using any disinfectant it, is most ; m port ant to make it up in definite proportions!. Haphazard 'methods (of rdding more or less disinfectant to a bucket cf water is either extravagant -r useless, depending oo whether too much cr tco little of -the active agent has been used.