FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 193, 18 September 1909, Page 6

FARM AND DAIRY.

A PROLIFIC EWE. In 1834 Mr. J. Elliot, of Whittimoor, near Whitehaven, had a ewe which (says the termers' Magazine) had proved a great source of profit to him. She was then 17 years old. In her first year she produced twin lambs, and caeii season for the ensuing 10 years she li«;c twins. This ewe is described as "of the fell breed," and the account states that the oldest shepherds in the district could not recollect such a remarkable case of a ewe continuing to produce lambs up to the age stated; "in fact, it is supposed that there is not a single sheep which has attained the age above specified in that part of the country." All the female offspring of this ewe followed their dam's example, and produced twins regularly. PLANT FOOD. Like animals, plants must have food and drink, or they will soon die. Animals can move about at will to secure their foot, but plants must obtain their food and water by sending their roots out into the soil to take up the water from the soil for the use of the stalk and leaves above. This walcr, as it goes into the plant througli the roots, carries with it the plant food which it has dissolved out of the little soil particles. Place a lump of salt in a glass of water and stir for a few minutes. The salt disappears' and you will find that the water has a salty taste. The salt has dissolved in the water and we say that the salt is in solution with the water. All the food which comes from the ".oil must be fti solution before it can b" used by the plant. The water that goes in through the roots passes out through the leaves into the air and leaves the plant food behind to build up the tissues of the plant. If the soil is hard and lumpy the little roota cannot penetrate far into it, but must feed near the surface. If we have a deep, mellow seedbed the roots arc encouraged to go ibep arid gather plant food from a large amount of soil. The plant food in hard, lumpy ground is not easily dissolved. Stirring the soil and breaking up the clods brings water into contact with more soil surface and hastens the solution of the plant food. The depth t.i which the soil should be prepared d ■• pends upon the depth to which the plant's roots will penetrate. Wheat, oats, and other small grains are »hal-low-rooted, and do not need so deep a seed-bed as maize or root crops.

AMERICAN SHORTHORNS. Some important sales of Shorthoris have been held in the United States during the past couple of months. At Nebraska a herd of 57 animals realised £39 a head. The highest price was .£BO, a cow and a bull each realising that figure. At another sale at Minneapolis the highest price paid was £llO for the imported cow Marion VII. and he/ bull calf. At AVisconsin 36 cows sold at an average of £Bl Ids, and 12 bulls at an average of £llO. The highest figure was £SOO. paid for the yearling white bull Sultan. Cows 6ol'd up to £207, which price was paid for the four-year-old Pine Grove Mildred XIII.