RIFLE SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8106, 10 May 1906, Page 3

RIFLE SHOOTING.

The following are the handicaps in the Wedding Ring Competition for the ring presented to the Tarauaki Rifles by the ladies of New Plymouth, the conditions being that if the winner fails to make proper use of it in twelve months, he must forfeit it and return it to the Company for further competition. Of course, only unmarried men take part in the firing, which will be held to-day and Saturday at the 200, SJO and (WO yards ranges: Private Humphries, Pvt. T. Marret, and Pvte A. Marret scr., Sergt. McKeown, Corp. Armitage and Pvt. C. G. Okev 3 points, Pvt. Banks and Pvt. Davies S points, Sergt. Black, Corp. Roberts, Corp. Joseph, Pyt. Buxton, Pvt. L. C. Wood, Pvt. Tippins, Corp. Clark, Pvts. Kurta, Nippcrt, Furlong, Francis, Blanchett, E. C. Clark, Stewart, Pellew, Nisbet, Whitcombe, Type, Silverston and W. C. { Woods, 15 points; remainder of company 20 points.

FARM AND DAIRY. (Written for the New?,) The dairying season of 1905-6 is jnst about over, and a rijjht good season it has been. The spring came in fairly early and mild, making grass plentiful for early cows. Good rains and suitable growing weather prevailed for soveral months, and the " flush " kept up right through the summer. Prices have been right all alon? the line; in fact, since tho inception of the industry in the province the season has, perhaps, been the best in this connection. True, prices obtained for calves havo beeu very low, but for pigs ,goocl money has been secured.

Winter is once more nigh, and for the greater part herds have been dried off and turned away for the winter. Those persons who have spent the season tending dairying operations are enabled to have some relaxation from hard toil, and in many instances to take a holiday jaunt. But, about tho milking cattle P They, too, require holiday and rest to recuperato for next season's milking. Most of our successful dairy farmers have seen the error of treating their dairy cows like so many automatons. Cows are not machines to be left unattended while not being run at actual work. Many farmers apparently forget this, and the animals get through the winter as best they cin on starvation diet. No winter feed has been provided other than the scant growth of grass, and perhaps straw that is musty, unnutntious and only (it for stable bedding instead of fodder. The animals have to go through tho harsh, biting, winter months, as veritable bags' of bones, instead of being kept sleek iu condition, warm and comfortable. Already a great number of herds have been allowed to fall into poor condition, with the result that they cannot be fed sufficiently to put enough flesh on their frames to guard against the ravages of the winter months, which they now have to face.

And the consequence ? These herds will come into milk— not profit—in the spring, no more (it to do their duly at the milk pail than to ily. Lots of farmers seem to think that their cows will bo all right and milk well, no matter how fleshless they are, so long as there is plenty of good grass for them to feed upon. This is a most absurd idea ; Before a cow can be at her full profit of milk, she must be in good condition. A machine will not run without oil; no more will a cow return her full yield of milk until her organs arc strong, healthy, and fit to do the work demandci! of them. And so, instead of cows thai, have wintered badly coming into their (lush of milk when first they come in, they have to feed on the "spring pastures for six weeks or more before they are in sufficient health and flesh to do the work expected of them. The consequence is that the farmer loses these six weeks, which should, in reality, be amongst the most profitable of tho whole season.

This is a plmse of the industry which is not receiving sufficient attention, especially in Northern Tarauaki. Dairymen have certainly gone in for improving the hreeds of their herds, and the milker of to-day is a, much superior cow to the animal of half-a-dozen seasons ago. ]3ut dairymen must not forget that tho more the breed of dairy cattle is improved, tho more attention is required for these cows. They aro more delicate, and not nearly so hardy as tho rough kinds that formerly constituted the herds Strains of the Ayrshire, Alderncy, Jersey, and other delicate breeds have been introduced to secure richer and better milk-producing animals, and it must be remembered that cattle with these strains in them require to be better fed and looked after during the rough winter term. It can hardly be expected that the farmer can afford the expense of housing his dairy herd, but if he will only study his cattle in tho autumn, and not let them fall away too much before the winter, and when winter comes provide the more deli-cately-bred beasts with cheap covers, and his whole herd with plenty of good winter fodder, he will be considerably in pocket at the end of the milking season.

Farmers, Jet the holiday season m cowdom be a holiday and not a period of starvation. Treat your herds as you would have them treat you next milking season. Such treatment is well within the bounds of every sensiblo and systematic one of you farmers. By having your cows in good condition when tlicv come to profit, your losses will be less through disease, etc., as more than one half the diseases from which cattle suiter are caused through the animals being kept jm a semi-starved condition through the rough winter months. Mr J. A Kinsella, Dairy Commissioner, in'his last annual report states: " The all-im-portant question of feeding in winter receives little or no attention iuthc colony' fu my opinion, this is a matter of the utmost importance, and it should be 'iurctnlly studied and carried into effect by our dairy farmers."

ITCHINESS OP THE SKIN. Ever have any irritation of the slim? There are mauy forms of it, any of iliem hail enough to tax your patience. Hemorrhoid, a plague of the night; no rest for the sufferer from this complaint. Eczema, too ; hives don't sound dangerous, but they cause much misery to those afflicted with them. Doan'V Ointment is u wonder for any such trouble. No irritation of the skin can resist its soothing, healing influence. Lots of New Plymouth people know this. Mrs Jorihn, Junction road, New Plymouth, says •.—" I had an irritation m the hack of my neck for a long lime. This caused me a lot of trouble and pain, which I was compelled to endure, because I could get nothing to relieve mc, though I used a great many remelies. Some time ago, howerer, I obtained a pot of Donn's Ointment, and \ uu glad to say that Ibis preparation 'ins given_r,ic relief. It stops all the pain and irritation, and is very sooth:ng and healing." Doan's|Ointmont is for sale by all ■ilismists and storolcepe.rs at 3s por pot, or will be posted on receipt of price by Foster-McOlellan Co., 7(5 Pitt street, Sydney. But be sure it is Doan's,