FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 7 March 1907, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

XHE COLONY'S CATTLE. An interesting lesson is conveyed by that section of the agripultural etatist.cs dealing with the cattle of the colony. This shows that while the total number of cattle increased by 40,814, the pure-bred stock have decreased by 3003. The lesson is obvious. Tin three principal dairy breeds—and it is in connection with dairy cattle where the chief falling off has taken placeare in the following numerical position:—

Shorthorns (the bulk of these, however, being of the beef type): Total numbers, 53,188j decrease, 234. There is an increase under three headings ot 785, there being 438 more bulls, 227 cows or heifers for breeding, and 120 tieifers under two years. The decreases total 1019, the principal heading being 542, two year heifers intended for dairying,' next come 400, in twoyear breeding heifers; and 77, in cows or heifers for dairying.

Jerseys: Total, 4814; decrease, 54. The principal increase wab in liulis, 175; cows or heifers for breeding to calve this season being 124 more. The decreases were 246 and 139, the former in dairy cows or heifers to calve this season , and the latter in heifers Under two-year-old.

Ayrshires": Total, 4157; decrease, 534. An increase is only recorded under one heading, breeding heifers over two years, of which there are four more. The figures for the essentially beef breeds, Hereford and Aberdeen Angus, are equally interesting. They indicate a remarkable popularity for the former, as this is the only pure cattle breed in the colony which shows an increase, and the increase amounts to the excellent total of 177'J, the only decrease recorded being 230 in cows or heifers for dairy purposes. On the other hand, Aberdeen Augus are receding before the advance of the llerefords, having decreased by no less than 1503, the greatest falling off in purebred cattle recorded. The prillcipal heading of decrease in cows or heifers kept for breeding, of which there are 1806 less, to this liawkc s 13av contributes 909, Otago 007, and Auckland 143, and Wellington 137. The other decrease is in hefers under two years—4o3. In other sections increases are recorded, and a very interesting fact is that while the only docrease in Herefords is in females kept for dairy purposes, the principal increase in Aberdeen Angus is under this heading, the numbers being 407.

A NEW MOTIVE FOR MILKIXG MACHINES. What promises to revolutionise the motive power for milking machines has lately been thoroughly and practically worked out by Mr G. Hutchinson, of K:\puni, says the Waimate "Witness." That it is practical is •hown by the fact that about 20 orders for the motor have already been received at £SO each. And this is the total expense apart from the milking machine, no vaeum pump or engine of any sort being required. And when once installed the machine costs absolutely nothing to run and is unbreakable. Like all really good inventions it is the very essence of simplicity. A very moderate quantity of •water is required to work it, no great head or fall of water being necessary. It is simply the water and not 'the fail that does the work.

Imagine two four inch cylinders upright, a foot or so apart. Joined on to these at the bottom and bending away at an angle are about 20 feet of four inch steel piping, the last two feet of the piping being nearly horizontal The total drop is only five feet and may be even les-. Over each cylinder is a piston that fits closely on top not inside cacli cylinder. The two pistons are connected by a bar with a handle, and are movable so that one piston is down on the cylinder when other piston is up. A one inch vaeum tube is let into each cylinder at the I >ide. These two small pipes join together into one at right angles lo ' them, which goes away any distance to the vaeum tank which is no bigger than a 25 gallon milk can. Above ' the tank is a pipe that connects vriih the raiiking machine and to which a pressure gauge is attached. Water i- let on to the cylinders by a small race. The operator (who may be a :iu>rc child) works the handle of the pistons backward and (forwards for about two minutes, thus letting the water into each cylinder in turn and 'iidleiiiy .-hutting it oil". Al'.er that lime the piston- move up and down of themselves. The sudden shutting oil' 'of the water produces a varum at die upper end of tlr pipe: to sali>fy this, air i- drawn through the small pipe from the tank; as the water mrnils with the sudden stop Ihi* air stopped by valves from going back up the small pipe, finds an exit at the upper end o f the cylinder, and >u the action continues until the gauge shows a pressure nf from 13 to 30 lbs.