FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 13, 10 July 1911, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

NEWS AXI) NOTES. The man who lives for money liven in vain. Inadequate methods of agriculture are fundamentally wasted. The soil and seed is the practical problem of the hour. Time and manure are two things commonly much under-valued. If you want to produce flesh, don't pick out the restless, nervous animal. No one need fear that his rental or physical activity will suffer on the farm. Live stock are the most certain and reliable of all agencies for keeping up the mafiure supply. Scour among pigs may often be avoided by keeping the.trough and swill barrel clean.

Grooming the horse in winter helps the circulation and improves his general condition.

Not "good methods" but "tho very best methods possible," should be every farmer's motto to-day.

It is an admitted fact that the management of the herd has much effect ou th« milking powers of the animals. - One of the best indications ■of a good milk cow is the large and tortuous milk veins.

Records of the performances of dairy cows form the only accurate and safe basis of judging their value. There is no line of general agriculture in which well directed effort will pay so large a profit as in dairy farming. Feed cattle all you can afford, to during the time they are at pasture, as that helps to kefep the pastures in good condition.

Successful dairy expansion involves the intelligent, systematic grading or building up of a nerd, both by selection and breeding. / A poor cow can be made to pay her way at least by liberal feeding. It is equally true that a good cow may be made to lose by stingy treatment. Cows must be kept clean and healthy, and have pure air to breathe, and then they will 'return a volume of rich, nutritions milk in paying quantities Under the influence of lime plants develop more powerful root growth, more solid structure, and grtater capacity to withstand disease.

Many pcftple forget that the hoof horn grows and expands, whilst the iron of the shoe does not, and this is the caise more particularly with young horses. Successful farming calls for continuous and careful consideration of every detail, a thorough, understanding of the laniT fiiTui'ed', and puritkilig ehergy to improve the methods of cultivation. Without reasonably accurate records of each cow in the herd no farmer can ! expect to improve his standard of proeduction. 'there is nothing that helps ! out like figures when it comes to grad- ■ ing up the herd. j In* using a currycomb, see_ that the teeth arp not bent. Sifch a comb is an instrument of torture. Teach the boys to use it gently, as many horses are given ugly tempers by cruel and careless currying. One of the effects of the use of salt on land is to increase the capacity of the soil for retaining moisttfre. About one barrel per acre has been known to benefit grass during periods of drought; the salt being applied in May. Kaittt contains a large proportion of salt, as well as i\bout 12 per cent, of potash, and may be used in preference.

The soil is the raw material out of which the agriculturalist manufactures his crops, and the successful manipulation of this "raw material" is the foundation of all successful agriculture. But the tilling of the soil is, after all. merely elementary agricuture. The growth of crops may be regarded as advanced agriculture, and the raising of good stock as the highest standard of agriculture. Jiut to succeed in the higher branches one must first be master of the elementary stage. The growth of good crops must bo preceded by good cultivation of the land.. The'exercise of common sense is called for in dairying, as it is in every otner department of the business of tiie producer.

Until we recognise agriculture as both a siccnce and an art, we shall go amiss in developing methods for its instruction.

Brush out the heels of a horse at night; if dirt is allowed to cake scratches and greasy heels may result. There is evidence that mankind has made use of horses for more than 5000 years, and we shall not be able to do without them.

It is not enough to know tlmt a cow gives a pailful of milk when she is fresh; we want to know, what she produces in a year.

Keeping a record of the yield of the cow enables you to decide quickly which of the progeny to keep on the place and which to send to the butcher.

When, from bad management, the sole and frog of the horse's hoof becomes dry and contracted no grease or tar should be used; but water should be. used freely, and then the hoof should be dressed with glycerine, which will mix with water, and does not displace it.

Even when a man grows all the feed for his stock and its cost to him is nil, it is not good business to feed it to cows which are not working at a profit. It is a good rule to sell the cow after she dries off from her fourth calf. Unless she is a special favorite with qualities she is better selling than holding then.

If you are breeding to keep the heifers. see to it the cows arc healthy and good milkers. Remember the dani o.mnot give the calf anything she has not herself. . ,

Agriculture is the basic industry of human life. " •

If your cow after calving does not evince any desire for the company of the bull it may be she is in need of food more heating. Sell your bull calves as soon as you have decided on the number of beasts yflu can carry. Always keep a heifer in preference.

Though the rule is that the milkafter the third calf is. the best, many cows give as good a.yield with their first as with later calves.

The milk from a cow which has heen in eight or nine months is stale, and the cre.im from it will affect other cream if they are mixed.

There is no better wav to grind food for the pig, if his nigship's health and longevity are considered, than to make mm grind it himself.

11 is surprising what a change in the appearance of the cows and of the dakrv is presented when the flanks of the milkers are clipped.

Horses to the value of over a million pounds sterling are exported annually from the stud farms by the HungaTian fiovernment.

The importance of the pony as a fa«for in light horse breeding and for purposes of crossing has been much insisted upon in recent years.