FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 30 May 1907, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

Wheat is going up in price 1 says the Tiniaru I'ost). A sale was uIlVi-U-il at Timani at 3s 7 , / 3 d lor 11 lino of Tuscan which is in store here. For good milling Velvet, even more than this could be obtained.

A society of German farmers, in order to stimulate the coiisumptiMi of milk, hl< established siuuptui ai ly-litted-un milk-drinking halls in many of the large towns of that country. They arc proving a great success.

Old customs die hard, and horse-breed-ers think that a docked tail gives neatness ami finish to the appearance of a hunter or a hack. Docking, however, is only a question of custom. la England they are already getting used to foxterriers with long tails.

The Timani Post says that a gentleman who has just returned from a trip to the Mackenzie Country slates tint the back country is looking very well. T! ere his been much more rain (here tli hi near (lie coast and there being a good supply «r feed for this time of the year, the sheep on the nm? are doing well.

Foals, old horses, or those with defective teeth should have (heir oats crushed or bruised. If a horse is addicted to picking the grain out of the chatl in his ration damping the feed may prevent him. It is desirable to damp the food of horses .suffering from cough, cold, broken wind, or any respiratory trouble.

A large lly, locally known as the grcfli bottle lly, is ravaging the Murehison district Hocks (Victoria) at present. It attacks the body at the flanks, and. after eating its way into the llcsh, deposits its larvae, which, if not destroyed at once, soon causes tlie death of the sheep. One farmer lost twelve sheep before discovering the cause. A solution of phenyle is being used.

There is no better place (says a farmer's paper) to cultivate a social spirit than on the farm. Those who commune with Nature, studying her various moods, learning much of her wonderful workings, and thus reorganising the creating and controlling hand which holds the universe, should aspire to nobler achievements than mere getting of wealth. There is no better place for a social gathering of any kind than in the country, for whatever the occasion which brings together the members •jf a rural community, there is an absence of formality and an air of goodfellowship which always ensures a good time.

At Te Rau-a-Moa last week (says the Auckland Herald) the Minister of Lands was much interested in the experiments that had been conducted to rid the district of ragwort weed. The land, all bush country and rich soil, was taken up on the occupation with right of purchase tenure, and as soon as the bush was.burued off the yellow ragwort made its appearance, taking possession of every acre. The Government then sent up a number of crossbred sheep and grazed them on each settler's land in turn, paying a small sum per acre for grazing rights. Very soon the sheep conquered the ragwort, and now the settlers have sheep of (heir own, and a ragwort plant is scarcely ever allowed to flower. I The difference is found in the fact that | with the addition of the sheep on the pastures the settlers are able to supply a quarter more milk to the factory than they were while running catttle. alone, and the district shows every sign of prosperity on every hand. In reply to the Minister local residents stated that they found tint sheep on (he same pasture as cows made no difference to the milk, and the butter was of a higher grade.