Notes and Gleanings.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 418, 9 November 1889, Page 4

Notes and Gleanings.

Tkatning as Hoksk RHOEKb. — T fc is stated in the Ar/ricullicral Gazette that Professor Axe lias brought befoie the Veterinai-y Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society the general question of the improvement of horse-shoeing, and has sketched a scheme for the establishment of an institute for the training of farriers. He sugge-ts that a joint committee of the Royal Agricultural Society, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and the Farriers' Company should inquire into the necessity oi such an institute, and if thought advisable, take steps towards its formation. Professor Axe has undertaken to submit his scheme in writing for the consideration of each member of the Committee, with a view to its formal discussion at the next meeting on the 6th November, and also to lay the matter before the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Cactus Fodder — Mr R. C 4. Ely, Keilor, Victoria, recently brought under the notice of the South Australian Agricultural Bureau some of the economic and commercial values of the cactus plant prepared by his process. One good man, Mr Ely said, could prepare cactus and attend to 100 head of cattle. The process was costless. Mixed with lib of cotton seed meal-cake, or equivalent, to every 101b of prepared cactus, it would produce the firmest beef in 90 days, singularly juicy and tender. Tho apples, when ripe, were eaten by every animal. Hogs got fab enough upon them to render into lard. It was both food and water, and its uses were by no means confined to cycles of drought. As an uninflammable hedge it would, by preventing the burning of trrass by engine sparks, save claims for compensation against the Department of Railways. As a ience, posts and wires being sufficient, the cost of rails was saved, and the primings would sell for as much weight for weight as Swede turnips As a lubricant the whole plant was used, costing about Id per lb., which would do as much work as 3d or 4d worth of grease and rags. It was especially useful in preventing and cooling hot boxes.

Brkedinu from Young Sows. — Because swine will breed when not more than one-fourth grown is no reason for supposing that the produce will be as large and vigorous as those from mature animals. Yet many farmers whose largest item of cash income is from hogs sold, depend upon such accidental breeding for keeping up the supply. It is highly probable that much of the disease among hogs is the result of successive breeding from immature parents. It would be but common sense not to breed sows until they are at least twelve months old, and keep all that prove desirable until they are several years old. It is equally important to breed only from a fully matured pure- blood male. Pigs from such animals will surely make at least a 300-pound hog at nine months of age, if treated judiciously.

How Grazing with Stock Increases Fertility of Land. — Every person in any degree conversant with agriculture knows that pastures become enriched by grazing with sheep and cattle, though there is nothing, apparently, added to them further than what they produce. The elements of plant food ai - e in a considerable degree derived from the atmosphere, such as carbonic acid and ammonia, which are accumulated by means of growing plants, and incorporated with the soil, thus gradually gaining in fertility. Water is also a source of fertility, bringing to the soil such fertilising substances as nitric acid and ammonia ; and the surface soil is also enriched by the action of the roots drawing the mineral constituents fi om the subsoil into the plants, and afterwards spread on the surface in the manure of the stock grazed on the soil.

Swekt Ensilage.— Where it is intended to pi-oduce s^eet ensilage (says the Principal of the Dookie College), the crop may also be cut when full grown ; but it must lie a day or two in the field, so that at the time of being put away in the silo it contains less than 75 per cent, of moisture. The process of filling should go on slowly, so that the temperature may rise trom between 125 and 150 degrees Fah. Should the temperature not be sufficient, either the fodder has been too wet or the filling and consequent compression had been going on too rapidly. When a sufficiently high temperature has been obtained, it should be immediately cooled down to below 90 degrees Fah. by applying the pres-

sure, or the ensilage will rapidly spoil. The testing the temperature of the silo is a very simple matter. I procured a 12-feeb length of common gaspipe ; to this I had welded a steel point. I drove this into the ensilage mass about the centre, and by means of a small glass "thermometer and a piece of string I was able to test the temperature at various depths. I should mention that it in well to put a little wool in the bottom of the pipe to save the glass thermometer in its descent.

The Stkawsonizer in France.— ln the presence of a largre and influential gathering of agriculturists from all parts of France, the now well-known air- power distiibutor, the " Strawsonizer," was put on trial in the grounds of the Paris Exhibition lately. Mr G. F. Strawson, of Newbury, the inventor of this most ingrenious appliance, which has been described and illustrated in a previous issue of the Farmer, showed and explained it. The work done exhibited very clearly the various classes of operations of which the machine id capable. It was tirst used as an insecticide, liquids being distributed in a fine spray, both over the land for such crops as turnips, swedes, mangels, or grass, and also in perpendicular sprays for tall-growing crops such as hops, vines, or fruit trees. This work was done very well, and the judges were exceedingly pleased with it. The machine was then shown as a broadcast seed-sower, barley being very evenly and effectually broad-casted over a wide surface. It was then shown as a manure distributor. Salt was distiibuted at a very small rate per acre, and this showed the action of tho machine in the distribution of such articles as sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda, guano, kainit, and such like. With these operations also, the members of the jury were very pleased.

Galloway Cattle — The black hornless breed of cattle wh.ch takes its name from the ancient province of Galloway, in the south- .vestern part of Scotland, is one of great antiquity. The black polled cattle are referred to in a history of Scotland of the time of Alexander IJI, 1249. The agricultural report of Scotland for 1794-5 says : " The Galloway breed of black polled cattle is universally known and admired." It is furf-her stated that at the close of the third quarter of last century, from 20,000 to 30,000 Galloways were annually driven from their native pastures, feeding as they went along the old, well-known trails, to the Norfolk and Suffolk fairs or markets, where they were bought up and fattened for the London market. They have always been regarded as a superior breed, their beef selling in the London market for a penny a pound more than that of other breeds. Galloways possess in an eminent degree the " beef form " — straight level back, broad loins, round, well-ribbed bairels, full crops, deep chests, long quarters, clean, short shanks, with moderately fine bone, and mellow hides covered with a rich, thick coat of long, fine hair. The Galloways show their " claims of long descent" and centuries of pure breeding by their great prepotency. When crossed with any of the horned breeds the progeny are nearly all hornless. The present high standard of excellence of this breed has been achieved and maintained through the efforts of skilful and intelli-gent breeders. Though they do not possess the superlative beef qualities which distinguish their congeners, the Aberdeen-Angus, the Galloways have many properties which render them peculiarly valuable. First, they are hardier than any other domestic cattle except the West Highland. Their dense coat of thick warm hair protects them so thoroughly from the cold winds that even a blizzard has very little effect upon them. Second, the absence of horns may surely be claimed as an advantage in these days, when the cruel saw is kept busy removing" horns from cattle of othor breeds. Third, their hides if removed during the winter months make robes scarcely inferior to those of the now practically extinct buffalo. It is easy to see that a breed which can stand all sorts of weather, fatten easily and produce a carcass of superior beef, and a- skin of extra valne, is one adapted to a wide and varied range of conditions and requirement?.