FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 178, 27 January 1914, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

- EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS. According to a southern exchange, Mr. It. Hammond, of Te .\loana, who has taken charge of some Government experimental plots on hid farm for the past four years, expresses the opinion that it would be better for the Government, instead of buying one experimental farm in a district, to rent paddocks of say 29 or 30 acres in diircrcnt places, and then sow larger plots. They could arrange for the farmers to do the work uudor their supervision. They should also ■have a small threshing plant to go round these plots and thresh the grain. He also agreed with the Hon. .1. Anstcy's suggestion that the Government should acquire a farm of ,">0 acres for seed testing and growing.

RENOVATING WORN-OUT LANDS. A moderate amount of fertiliser on land that has become poor may, under favorable conditions, produce a fair crop of clover, which may- be made into hay, and the aftermath when in full bloom in the fall may be ploughed under, which contributes to the fertilisation of the soil, and puts it in fair condition for a crop the next year. This process judiciously continued, and all the manure from the stock fed on the farm carefully spread where most needed, will soon effect a decided improvement in tha situation. The writer has known men having but little capital who purchased worn-out farms, and, by their industry and good management, they were able, in a few years, to raise very good crops. All honor to such men. The world may not appreciate them at their full worth, but they are worthy to be classed among the benefactors of mankind.

FERTILISERS ON RICH SOILS. It ia an error shared by many farmers, writes the director of a:i experimental station, that fertile soils do no; require the assistance of artificials, and that the occasional applications of farmyard manure serve to produce abundant crops; whereas, really, as our experiments have demonstrated, it is just (he contrary. It is on rich soils that artificials judiciously used, in conjunction and supplementing farmyard manures, produce the most profitable results.

WHEN TO APPLY POTASH SALTS. Numerous experiments and trials have demonstrated clcurly that kainit gives tho best results when applied in the autumn or winter, except for mangolds, cabbages, and other salt-loving pants. It is important to bear this point in mind, because if the application is put off until tlie spring, the manure does not have a fair chance to do the work expected, and disappointment, for which the potash salts are not responsible, may be the result. Hotli -sulphate of potash and muriate of potash, on the other hand, should, as a rule, be applied in the spring.

NOTES. Tlie best milk obtainable for the manufacture of dairy products is that ■obtained when the cows are feeding oa good grass which is free from obnoxious weeds. When it is not possible to feed cows chiefly on grass, tho foods must be so selected that they will not taint the milk for the production of butter or cheese.

There is a direct relation between the oil in the sheep's wool and the fat on its body. The sheep with most oil is' hardest to fatten. That is why it is not worth while trying to cheat the manufacturers by breeding sheep with extra oily fleeces. One cannot cheat the manufacturer in any event. He has a very exact knowledge of the shrinkage of wools, • I ,

In feeding horses there is no arbitrary rule to be laid down, except i.s to the quality of the food. Mouldy or dusty hay must never be given. Grain must bo clean and sweet. Peas are good for young horses. It grows them better. They should always have plenty of carrots or swede turnips. As horses grow their ration should be increased gradually- ... I *i:Si3

In selecting a brood sow look for an animal broad between the eyes and snout. The ears should be medium in size and line in texture, and the back strong and weil arched. Hoot's should be snort and stand erect, legs fairly long, so that the udder will not drag on the ground. The udder line should be ,ong. hips broad, and tlie body deep. A gentle disposition is important. A nervous, high-strung sow is dear at any ;;ric<..

Hereford brooders will bo gratified by a little item of official intelligence which is just to hand from Brazil. It is to the effect that the Brazil Land, Cattle, ami Packing Company have come to the conclusion, after a. long series J» experiments, that Hurt-ford cattle are best adapted for the the-country, and that they propose to import t'-is vcar from 400 to 301) of this breed.

Milk is a very wholesome article of diet, but its value as a food is often greatly reduced when kept in unclean o>' unsuitable receptacles. KusTy Jron or cracked earthenware vessels often eon taminate. milk with undesirable ferments which soon alter the nature of fresh milk. In warm weather milk sours if not properly treated, but sometimes milk in unsuitable, vessels putrefies slightly, and will not sour with a distinct acid flavor.

This kind of milk is most unsuitaU human consumption.

The shearing .season tnrongnout the Dominion has been one of the wetteM on record. The North Canterbury stations are finding considerable difficulty in getting the work through. Prom November 1 In December 20. writes Mr. Duncan Rutherford, of Leslie Hills to the Cliristchurcli Press, rain has fallen on 32 days. He had been shearing for 31 days, and rain had fallen on 21 days. Dur.ing December tin- rainfalls have been very heavy, and. as he says. "thing 3 in the shearing line arc only middling."

When the Uangataiki (Bay of Plenty) drainage system is completed, the swamp will he completely dry. and, it will, in the opinion of Air. W. (Sillies, of Tfawcni. who has been visiting (lie district there, eventually carry a large population of small farms. This means, of course, that water will be rcnuir d. Ve\v countries are blessed with such abundant natural supplies of wafer as Taranaki en|o\s. The swamp when dry will only have the rivers, and although

.• irrigation cinals might sew; l , it is very plea-dug to know that water is obtainable overywhcie i'ro-.u artesian supplies lit :i ili-j.tl! n]i to 2.")i)fl. I liiin: flV(|Uci:lly I.- i-n asked to compare th'' land with our Taranaki hud. 11. is :i wry di'l'icull. question. Tiio ii'.-st South Taranaki land for da-ii-yin;,' i- probably misurpasseil in tlic world, for it has unique advantage, of .-..51 and climate. The swamp may In- as rich anil ;is good for fattening, 'lint until cow returns have been proved r should hesitate in passing an opinion on its dairying capabilities as compared v, itli our oH'ii laud. I'prt'iit future, is. however, I nm ccilaia. assiirred.