FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 136, 30 May 1908, Page 6

FARM AND DAIRY.

Linn l is absolutely essential for the tli of plants; without it no-crop can prosper, although the requirements of the various crops are very diU'erent. From the ago of two and one-half years a well-bred colt, properly fed and handled, should ho able to do enough work about the farm to pav for hi* keep. The French Government have allotted C4(i(M) for the expense of representing .French agricultural product* at the Anglo-French Kxliibition now open in ]»ndon. Food is of value in proportion as it properly digests and its eonstitueni H become properly absorbed in the system. Liberal feeding is necessary to fatten a pig. but liberality must be combined with judiciousness.' Lambs should be castrated during the ! liist fortnight after birth. A dill'erenl system must be employed after they are a month old. and the earlier period i* recommended. If frosty weather U prevalent the operation must J>e postponed. A crop of oats just cut into chad' at Carrington averaged 'A I /., tons to the acre. a remarkable yield fo r this season. hi l!)o; Ihe dairying industrv of New South Wale* yielded L:J.IOO.IMiU ; poultry. bees. ;iiirl rabbits. C 1 .545,000j and and ii-h.-nes. c1.500.1iu0. It is estimated that between i>.*>u and iJ'Kj acr<'s will |,c phnited this >eason in the 15iiwen district of (Queensland with vaiietics of tobacco. specially suitable for cigar wrappers.

The pa at autumn has boon one of 10 most oongi'iiial over experienced ill ip Waikato (writes a Hamilton cori^pondcul). which will go very far •wards compensating farmers for the >ng drought experienced early in the ear. The growth of grass lias been henonienal. and are growing plendidly. Nine feet square is the most desirable orm and size for cow box stalls; 10 cot square for horses. 'J in no lunil of farming that >o •diicalos and develops a farmer in his uentalily as a rearing of farm animals, t lias largo possibilities in it. Certain hill glazings of moderate elevation grow sheep with big, .Jrong frames, whilst other grazings on adjoining ranges inane for more compact bodies and liner bone. There is plenty of competition in the market to kei-p down the price of chemical manures, and if buyers will only take the trouble to calculate the value of the manures offered, they can always get good value for their money. The statistics of live stock in Ireland for 11)07 contain some suggestive figures. The number of horses in that year was I 51)0,1 U, or 820 fewer than the number i in I*loo. Asses, too, were fewer in IW7 than in the previous year by 0120. Cattle, on the other hand, showed aw increase of omOH, and sheep over I0(),0illl, I while the stoi'k of pigs had increased by over 72.0110. t.loats, upon which the IrUh peasantrv depend so much lor milk, deceased by 20,000. The must [ remarkable difference wan in the stoek of poultry, which showed an increase in ll«)i of over 5 ! /i millions. This apparent increase is attributed jo some extent to more careful reckoning ol joung birds. The March shipments of frozen meat from all exporting countries to the United Kingdom was as tralia, 10,0U0 carcases mutton, 40,000 , carcases lamb, and 3100 quarters beef; * Xcw Zealand 282,000 carcases mutton, 170 000 lamb, and 15,000 quar- ' tors beef. South America 180,000 ear- ! ) eases of mutton, 24,000 carcases of hunb : *1 and 1.7,000 quarters of beef. Tile Xew Zealand exports are ten per cent, over those of last March, despite the dry season experienced in some parts of the dominion. J* Any farmer who employed labor an l * New Zealand twenty years _a go cannot |

elp bring .struck b,v the diil'erence bcween the t'laris uf men available at that < imi l and those ho would he compelled o nut up with now, says a southern niter. In everv -fanners' meeting ol jiy size Ihe subject of farm labour Tops up and is commented upon, lie-ninisc-ences are exchanged and companions made unfavorable to the presentlay farm servant. Tin: laborers ol the j •urlier (lavs of the settlement appreciited tin 1 fact that 110 progress luvtl even uecii effected without continuous hare I ,nl>or and disregard for stated hour* ol working. What some people regarded as good luck was simply their determination til put their shoulders to tlie wheel, and keep battling, assured that 1... ti,;„ nr. iiliinc' with careful hus-

handing of tlifir resource,, «« follow tlleil' eil'lll'ts 1111(1 seC.ll'o tlll'lll «" independence. -Nor wove they ilisivp:)J rill t.'iU r Jhc slipping in u-nnanv ywtovi Uw weather by observing tlx- wool on tlybacks iif the'"' sheep._ When it is very clirlv line weatln'r will prevail. Til" possibilities <>f sugar lU ' l ' ;! 1 ' trading iUtciiLii.ii iu West Anslraha. Mr (' l'racnkcl. of Kunhury. is visiting knghnid ami the Continent with Hi'-' ol.icct, (if showing tin.' adaptib.lity ot I-, ;u -eas iu the south-western country for" this industry. Kxperiinents have ..ivon satisfactory results. " in tlmsc iliivs, when ellicient labor is „..(tiii" mure difficult to procure. nml wilt prol.al.lv S <-t dearer instead oi illim nor. tin- value of a proiH-rlyim.n-lloek of sheep on a farm cannot bo 100 hi-'i.ly rati-il. Tl.e sheep will repay the t'\peinliti.re involved in stocking a lam. just in proportion to the know - ledge and experience brought to war On their management. WHAT A DAiIiYMAN SiIOUI-D K-NOW. 'the so-called dual purpose eow is slill discard pro and con ill the Caniidian agricultural press. The more the discussion is protracted the clearer it becomes that the protitabk- ani.ua) i„ tin- special-purpose animal, whether for dairy or heeling purposes. " This one tiling 1 do " is not a bad motto for man or beast. If a miln lias u gate leading to his farm off a roadline, and by reason of that roadline being formeil so that the gate is li ft on top of a cutting, tin Comity Council liability, 'fin farmer -n situated must shift I.is gati to suit (lie road. ( ,i.n|ih.'ll Inland, of which Ihe area at a rough cstiu.ale is 17,U1)U acres carrier at present alilHl sheep. Las' yoiu's lan.bing yielded 80 per cent. The summer is reported as having been e.v ceptinnally bad throughout. Tile preceding winter, however, was just the opposite. If is said to have been Ihe best experienced since tlu- sheep station was established. Say.s ''lloosicr'' in t lie .lersey IJul let iu: Kvi.tv dairyman should know— The cost of producing a gallon of milk The cost of producing a pound of butter tat. The cost of feeding a cow one year. The cost of labour ill earing for one cow one year, The number of dollars each cow's mill; brings each year. Which is the most profitable cow in the herd, and why. Which is the poorest, cow in the herd, and why. How- lininv boarders there are in the herd. How ni|ich feed each cow will consume during the feeding period. Which is the best and cheapest feed.