NOTES AND GLEMANINGS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 271, 9 June 1888, Page 3

NOTES AND GLEMANINGS.

U.nb Ciooi) Kams. —There is no {lock so perfoot but somo dofocts will be found in the owes which roquiro cn-recfcing, and, thorofoie, care should bo taken to uso a ram which will bo likoly to improve in tho oilspring the faulty points observablo in tho ewes. It must, moi cover, be a matter to which the tlockma>-tor gives anxious attontion in selecting a rani, tint, in conocting dofects in the ewes ho docs not overlook any faulty point*, in tho ram wliicli may bo transmitted through the ewe, and thereby c'-oate impei lections in the lamb which the mother did not possess. AlvNrurs and Plant Food.— "A direct supply of plant tooiV i y- s )l writer, "docs not iully explain the action ot manuies. Many feitiluers opeiate indirectly to leod ciops by their chemical ollects upon tho soil. Thus, barn-yard manure, in under going decomposition, yields a Supply of carbonic acid, which may act on tho mineral constituents of the soil and liberate its eleme"t j . Many mineral element-, a so, .-.uch as common suit, plaster of Paris and other saline mailer*, may react on tho soil, converting potash and magnesia, tor instance, into so'uble forms, and thus giving the saino lesult as would lollow an immediate use ot tho last named substance." Ni'W Yuumiis ok PoTVTOhs--Foifar-shho ib keeping well to the liont, says the Ko tk British A</ncu(titr<*t, us rogauK new \aiietio*. ot poiatue.-. It pioducul the t.imuus Champion, whicli had a loimj, and Mieees-ful reign, and it piomi.-os to piowdc sucee«sois of fully equal meut. l->cMde-« the iaimeis majors and eai ly Angus ch'.mpions of Mr Anderson, P;>iUhdl, winch have been already noticed in the^e columns, anew variety, called the Uelt, has 1 ttely been foicing its way into popular la\oi.r. The Celt was raised from tho plum in 1880, by Mr Niool, the original 1 disci ot" the Champion, and since then it lias !« en care tully tended and hugely gio«ui by Mr Duncan, Panlath) Mill, Camoiisbio. This new variety is marked by a dense spiending "haw, so that weeds have no chance with it after it h>b grow n a bit. Tine to it* name, the Celt i>3 hardy, lull-sized, and CNCcedingly prolific, while in point of table quality it is all that can be dc-ned. As, the potato ciop is now one of the most remunei.itne that the farmer lmc to dispose of, the importance ot growing only the rest and most prolific varieties that can bo had is at once apparent. Thu Celt is well woithy of the attention ot groweis on account of it* inherent capabilities, and we understand that a l-irge proportion of the available supplies of ihis variety has been taken up by Mr Puimm >nd, ol Stilling, who is w r ell acquainted with its moiits. Amucitltural Tk \imni. Schools. — Some months agotheie was appointed in England a departmental commission to consider and icpurt on the subject of the establishment of schools for tiain-ng in agricultuial and dairy operations. The commissioncis heard a gieab many witnesses, and tho> h:i\o n >w issued a report. They suggest thai suvun ! district dairy schools, one in each of the five "agricultural pioduco districts" of England and Wales, and two m Scotland, should be immediately established, with an endowment of (say) £500 a year to each school, and a grant for equipment of (say) C2OO, with a special grant (where necessary) toward buildings, and funds (.-ay) £50 a jear for 10 scholarships to be competed by boy* an.3 girls at elementary schools situated in the " produco district" in which the di&tiict school is placed. Among other iccom-me-.dationh they propose that piovision -hould be made by the State for oiiginal agricultural icscarch, and that an annual grant in aid of C3.Q00 should be placed at toe disposal cf the Agricultural department, to be expended in such manner as might be thought best, w/hcthei in investigation as to diseases of animals or plants, or in piosecuting disccveiies in other branches of agriculture. Nas\l Cat u< it 1 1 in Horsis. — This is an inllammation of the mucous mcmbianc of the nose, which becomes hot, swollen, and dry, and afterwards discharges a watery or purulent matter This ailment is seen mostly in young animrtls when they are changed from place to place, and when keptTn badly ventilated stables. In ordinary acute cases good caie w ill etlect a cure in a few days ; but when the disorder as sumes a chronic form it may last tor months and result in scrio.is complications. Inhalations of a stimulating character form the principal remedial agencies. Vinegar or b»r put on hot bucks placed in the manger is a con\enient means of application, lodotorm is also used in chronic case* Jerusalem Artichokes for Pics.—Artichoke* grow easily in some soils, and yield heavy crops without must cost for labour. They have been grown for swine several yeais at the Michigan Agricultural College The method of management has been to have a small patch of artichokes convenient to the swine pens, upon which the breeding sows weie turned early in the spiitig, and allowed to harvest the roots for themselves. The crop is thus grown with very little laboui, since it icquires no harvesting, tho roots remaining in the ground all winter, and it furnishes succulent tood for the sows just when it is most needed and most diflicult to obtain from other souices Proie*sor John^o , Farm Superintendent, was so \vell pleased with the results of 'his management that a few years ago ho enlarged the antichoke plantation. DIKH'TIOI^S KOR A Toii4CCO CHOP. — A writer in Fanniwj World nays : "I will give you a lew ot my ideas about a tobacco crop. In the first place, the ground should be broken early, and about four inches deep. When that is done wait ten or twelve days, and then plough it again and repeat, until the time comes to get the ground ready for setting the plants, then harrow and plough again, and hairow a second time. Now lay off four feet one way, and the other way two and one-half or three feet If tho I land is level enough roll the ground, packing, so it will not dry out quickly. When a season comes you can set out your plants without any trouble. Then as soon as it leaves skelp round it with a hoe. Just as this m done, take a small ono-horse plough and plough as close aa possible without loosening the plant. Plough three or four times and hoo twice ; the last time it should be primed and hilled up, then, if it has been done well it is ready for topping. Tobacco should be wormed from the time it gets as big as a plate, until it ib cut. Take it to the house (if large), six or eight plants to a four-foot stick, and hang it up in open house. This keeps tho dew and the rain off i -, and it does better never to get wet. This is my experience in tobacco raising."

Selection of Seed Maize. —Upon this subject Professor Morrow, of the Illinois Agricultural College, in the course of a thoughtful and practical paper ea* s :— Any variety may bo improved by continued carofu'l seloc'ion ot seed. Any varioty will dotorioto if seed bo carelessly or unwisely selected. Selection of&eedfiom the bin", especially if this bo done in the spring, only gives opportunity tor the choico of satisfactory ears. Selection in the iield, in bho early autumn, gives opportunity to determine the comparative carli-nc-s of tho choson cars and the character of the stalks on whiclt they weio produced. And in both these respects great difierencos will be found in corn of tho same variety, even when growing in the same hill. It is impossible to combine all good qualities in one varioty. Early maturity is e-pccially dosirablo where tho Bummoibiiie short, but remarkable cai lines'* is never accompanied by large size and great pioduetiveness. Our experiments ha\o shown that, one year with another, we- get bet for results from varieties which aro not afc either extreme as to size or lime of ripening. This woidd be still more true in icgiona further north (colder), until localities aic reached where- early matin ity is the chiof essential. Haiuht Extermination.-- Tho following is an extract fiom A. 1). Bell's letter regauling the doings ot tho Sydney Conference :—": — " Tne Commission has of course been mostly concerned with the proposal of M. Pasteur, a proposal in which the eminent French scientist has himself so much confidence that he ha?« sent out three representatives to introduce it and prove its entire efficacy 1 may say at once that the Commission do not view with entire appioval the cvtent of knowledge and of pr^paiation displayed in the enterprise, which in tact appeals to have been conducted with extiaordinaiy looseness up to the present junctiuc, but nothing has yet transpned to wairanr. any lo^s of hope in the ultimate value of Pattern's suggestion, and very groat care luis been taken by the Commission to give it a lair and fullhial under the amended conditions. Evoiy icasotmble facility will be olloied foi a series ot scientific and piaccical e\puiiments."