FARM AND DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 301, 15 May 1911, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY

NEWS AND NOTES. A Chinese philosopher said "it is' worse to starve the soil than to starve your mother; because the soil can support many more people." The rabbit buyers had intentions of commencing operations in Otago on March 27, but, owing to the peculiar season, postponed the opening until April 3. . The reason assigned was that the mild weather has encouraged the rabbits to continue breeding. As a result the carcases were not in a tit condition for human consumption, and the buyers were holding ofT. The action of the exporters in deferring the opening of the season is, from their point of view, justifiable, but what does it really amount to? That until the rabbits have finished breeding they will not be interfered with! This is hardly the most satisfactory way of getting rid of the infestation. Fowls kept round the dairy will be found to lay well into the winter.

There is no possibility of great profit from the breeding of common cattle.

In the United' States the annual output of goatskins is valued at over £8,000,000. Farms on which stock is bred and fattened invariably present an attractive appearance.

Cream from Guernsey and Jersey cows contains larger fat globules than are in tbe yield of any other breed.

It is unsafe for a stranger to enter the stye of a sow with a young litter, especially a sow of the Tamworth breed. In France some of the dairy farmers feed cocoanut meal to the cows to improve the flavor and texture of the butter.

Agriculture is the root of the tree of well-being of the people; manufacture and commerce are the rootlets and branches.

The cow that is quick to contract bad habits is often the cow which can be taught good manners with the least trouble.

Last August a member of the Australian Butter Committee in London paid a visit to Russia to investigate the supplies of timber suitable for butter boxes. He has a crate of new butter boxes he is sending to Sydney—boxes which contain only half of the usual quantity of timber, with lids that slide on and off in iron grooves, that can be fastened with a leaden seal. This package allows a current of cold air, when in store, to pass completely round each box, and, last, but not least, the box though strong has not sufficient timber in its composition t-j allow of brands being planed off to ;. ■epare the boxes for other than their original, butter. This new box, wiuun is also being sent to Victoria, it is reported, costs about half the price of the ordinary box, and is half the weight. The edges are bound with thin strips of toughened steel, and the patent is held in America.

Bad or needlessly severe bitting often caused a horse to acquire the habit of star-gazing, owing to the discomfort of actual pain inflicted by the bit.. .. Carrots are a most excellent succulent food for any class of live stock, and they are popularly regarded as .the most desirable of all root crops for' horses.

The maize crop in the United States is estimated at about 3,121,381,000 busnels, or an average of 27.4 bushels per acre, as compared with an average of 25.5 bushels per aore. last year. , ; Lil;e many other things which may be good and useful in themselves the bearing rein is capable of being improperly applied, and hence, n,o dqubt., the unpopularity that exists against its use in some cireles.

The English counties growing over a hundred thousand acres of barley are: Lincoln, 208,742; Norfolk/182,596"; Suffolk, 119,783. Yorkshire divides 200,000 acres between its three ridings. • . Farms on which trees shade pleasant pastures and grazing purebred stock in variety, and are. distinguished by good buildings, fences and conveniences, have an adhesive power which keeps the right kind of young man on the land. The value of the pork exported. from .New Zealand during 1910 was £32,892. The quantity sent to the United Kingdom was 10*029 cwt, valued at £20,730. There was sent to Victoria 262 cwt, valued at £917; and to South Wales 685 cwt, valued at £2230.. The following figures show the exports during the various months: February (1910), 1719 carcases; March, 789; April, 627; May, 1293, June, 658; July, 2448; August, 362; September, 255; "October, 56; November, 911; December, 606; and January, 1911, 590.

It is pretty generally understood that straw which is harrestccl wholly in fine weather is eaten with relish by most kinds of stock, whereas that which is exposed to rain for a protracted period is rejected; hence the difference which a.'fine harvest makes'to'the stockkceper. • No horse can be kept in good condition if it bo infected with worms, and all horses are liable to be thiis troubled at some time, both colts and older horses. These worms line the intestinal tract, and sap the energy liberated by the food eaten, so that no amount, of good care and feeding will flcshen a.Tiformy horse. The ideal sheep to bji aimed .at is the one which is the most symmetrical; wellformed and well-deyelopeid, .To breed such sheep as these it js essential that the flockmaster should purchase, none but symmetrical and rams,' and that he should mate theni with! ewes of a similar description. \