FARM DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 8 June 1907, Page 3

FARM DAIRY.

SALT FOR COW'S, it is well-known, of course, that all warm blooded animals must get salt in some form or other to make up for wear and tear and secretions of the body. The solid matter of tlie blood consists of onehalf common salt, and therefore tastes brackish in the mouth, while all the excretions—such as tlie sweat—throw off a certain proportion of the same. All mammals, therefore, must get a supply, somewhere to keep up tlie correct proportion. As a rule most foods contain enough of it for the purpose, though all animals will lick earth or any saline substance if they can get it. In the case of milk cows, however, an extra quantity is demanded by their system, because [he milk requires a certain proportion, and the body must be drained for litis; if the external supply is not kept up then the animal will sillier sooner or later. Horses, bullocks, sheep, and pigs seem to get as much as serves their turn out of their feed, but not so cows. In recent experiments the effect of withholding salt was noticeable—with some in a month, with others in a year. There was engendered a state of low vitality,followed by a sudden breakdown. There was loss of appetite, a haggard appearance, and a decrease m the milk yield. But a speedy recovery followed when salt was again supplied.. In a general way a cow ought to receive about an ounce daily in addition to what is in the food, but circumstances will vary; 0.0 of an ounce is required for every gallon of milk yielded. 'The facts quoted are given by Dr Babcock, the famous dairy chemist, and there can be no doubt about their accuracy.

FERTILISERS FOR FARM CROPS. From a bulletin by Mr Arthur floss on •'Fertilisers for Farm Crops," issued by the Michigan Agricultural Experimental Station, the following extract is taken: —One of the best known ferllisers for wheat, or most other crops, is farmyard manure. Unfortunately, most farmers are unable to produce enough manure to cover their hind, and must resort to the use of commercial fertilisers. Farmyard manure alone, however, is not :i well-balanced fertiliser, as it is deficient in phosphoric acid. In order to increase the amount of this material, it is excellent practice to add about 40 pounds of acid phosphate to each ton of manure as the same is being made. This not only results in increasing the phosphorous content, but also iu preventing the loss of nitrogen. Manure will not only produce excellent results oil wheat and other crops, but is also one of the best known means of insuring a catch of clover.

The best results from fertilisers can only hi! secured when the same is used in connection with proper preparation of the soil, good .drainage, good seed, etc. One need not expect the fertiliser to take the place of such necessary conditions any more than good tillage, etc.. can lie expected to take the place of the plant food necessary to produce the crop. It has been repeatedly observed on the station, farm, and elsewhere, however, that liberal fertilisation will tend to counteract the bad effects of unfavorable seasons, insect ravages, etc.. by causing the production of strong plants better able to withstand such adverse conditions.

DESTR< >Y 1 X(i BLACKBEBBY. The following method of eradicating blackberry is by Mr V. B. Cuthrie, of the Xew South Wales Department of Agriculture. Mr (iuthrie suggests that the freshly-cut stems should be dressed with dry powdered nrsenite of soda. A correspondent who tried this wrote that "this was only partially successful, owing, perhaps, to the powder purchased not being the best kind, being lumpy, and having no means at his disposal to make it line -a huge quantity fell to the ground, refusing to stick to the ends of I he stems —where it did cling it did its work effectually. However, the idea of applying nrsenite of soda was ufade use of by mixing n solution of arsenic and soda, in the proportion of lib of arsenic to 21b of washing soda, and mixing them in five gallons of boiling water (Hie water must be boiling when the mixing takes place). This was applied to the roots after digging around them, so that the li.piid would percolate to the roots. This was most effective; the chimp of briar is now (|uite destroyed." The cost of treating this particular patch, having an area of about 12 square yards, was about 2s (id; it would therefore be too costly for large areas, unless a less quantity proved sufficient to kill the plant than was used in the instance above quoted. Arsenile of soda is a very deadly poison, and in ordinary circumstances contact of living plants with very small quantities is sufficient to kill. In the experiments carried out at the llawkesbury Experimental College the cost of nrsenite of soda solution worked out at 2d for five gallons. If. (hen. care is taken to apply the solution without waste by means of a spray pump, the cost should not lie beyond a reasonable amount, and would, without doubt, lie cheaper than grubbing by hand. [A word of caution with regard to slock ! running in the same paddock is necessary. Owing to the poisonous nature ■of arsenile of soda, stock should be removed until the scrub has been eradicated. By this means any grass (hat may have been sprayed will have died, and will thus be burnt, and the risk of accident from poison reduced to a minimum.

FKKDIXC THE COW. In the feed lies the profit. If the cow •■an e:u only enough lo decently support (herself in t ii ll( .h luxury—'•puts it all on her hack." as they say of some people--he eanu.-.t be profitable, for her products for the dairy must be out of proportion to the feed consumed. II will not even things up for this cow for her leeder to shorten her rations with (he hone of lengthening the profit, for she will simply insert her rule v f priority, take her own share out, first and return has never yet been found a feeding skill

so dinning thai it could change the individual tendencies of the cow. and in thi.- case what cannot he cured should he '•"•hired. The solution of that cow proI'li'in is lo get tho other kind of cow. I And the other kind is of that strain of dairy animals Unit have die ability of ""I only consuming largely of (lie food "f production, bill of making the produce oiil of i( as well.

| Now. this cow. while perhaps directed i'l special, perhaps :.itili.-ial lines, has never been taught that her lirst law is self preservation; Unit to do the work of the master she must, take care of herself: so to her. al-.,,. (he food of sup-

l'»i'l 's necessary, and it is ,p,ite hupos"il'l" dial", she shall show a profit from this basic feed. | f (he prolif is absent tin: evidence is present that there is a lark of led or proper care. '» I I'is ease, the trouble is not in Ihe »'W but in the owner of her. and the cure lor such an owner- well, now. how shall we prescribe for such a case'; \y,, „,ay even mutely diagnose it, but all these years haven't we insinuated the foolishness of preaching around hini? Perhaps the preaching and teaching have 1 "■ " l«'<l diat there was not even tic <"">< "f I iiought, support,',, him for him, I'll"" perhaps he has not. heard of il.