FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1917, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. What is the origin of the rose back in the pig? We have not had a satisfactory explanation of this, but possibly the aversion to it arises from the unsightly arrangement of the hair in show pigs. Not infrequently it is the best pigs which are thus afflicted. As an instance of the difference in price between dairy cows in England and in New Zealand, a recent sale of non-pedigree animals, the property of Mr.W. 'R. Withers, of Long Ashton, may bo quoted. Sixty cows averaged £4B 16s each, and a numbers of others ranged in price from £6O to £77. Tho potato-plough, which is used in lieu of the potato-digger, is designed to break up the earth, allowing the minute portions thereof to fall through and leave on the surface the larger clods and potatoes. It is possible, however, that tubers are often left in a hollow furrow, and the potatoes are. in consequence a little more difficult to pTck. Ringbone is a trouble with which moat horse-breeders are familiar. It is a bony Growth on the crown of the hoof, and may be either high or low, according to the seat of the trouble. The best method of treatment is to give cooling 'medicine, applying cold lotions, and relieving the concussion by shoeing specially, also applying a blister.

After the starch has been extracted from the potato there is a certain amount of potato pulp left. This residue contains about 86 per cent, of water about 11 per cent, of carbohydrates, and a small proportion of starch and crude fibre. This material must foe used rapid<ly, as it is liable to decay, hut it is not equal to the potato for feeding. Owing to the extra labor entailed in bringing cheese, this practice is fast declining; tho salt is added to the broken or milled curd just before vatting it. Only the 'best dairy salt Bhould be employed, otherwise it may be a source of taint to the finished product. The percentage of salt applied varies with the kind of cheese made, but on the average it may be taken at 2y 3 lb of salt to the curd from 100 gallons of milk. Annatto, which is used in the coloring of dairy produce, is derived from the fruit of a small tree grown in South ■Amorica. It closely simulates the appearance of naturally-colored dairy produce. The coloring matter is contained in the pulp surrounding the seeds, and may he extracted by leaving the seeds to ferment in water. In order to get equal mixing or equal distribution in butter or clieeso a solution of annatto is prepared and is readily mixable. A successful Bale of Mr. R. R. Dangar's Shorthorns, at Quirindi, is reported in the Sydney papers. There was a large attendance of buyers from New South Wale? and Queensland, and bidding was spirited. In all 205 head were submitted and a total clearance was effected Stud bulls sold up to 205 guineas, stud cows with calves to 135 guineas, stud cows to 55 guineas, stud heifers to 70 guineas, herd co-ws to 24 % guineas, and herd heifers to 28 guineas. Challenged by the Mayor of Hutt (Mr. H. Baldwin) to produce potatoes grown in Miramar tetter than certain weighty specimens grown in the Hutt Valley, Mr. F. Townsend (Mayor of Miramar) produced three giant tubers, which individually beat Mr. Baldwin's exhibit, but were not shown in quantity, as was the case with the Hutt potatoes. The Miramar potatoes weighed lib 3%0z, 31b 2>/»oz, and 31b 3oz respectively, and were of tho Up-to-Date variety. Machinery does so many things now fur tho farmer that he is saved a great deal of trouble if he cares to keep up to date in tho purchase of tho labor-saving implements. So far as the root crop is concerned —a crop, l)y the way., which needs a3 much cultivation as any—there are thinners of various types, usually hoes on a rotating disc. There are root-lifters and root-washers, root-pulp-ers, root-cleaner!!, and root-slicers. Tho genius of the mechanism is freely employed to relieve the farmer of the simpler forms of hand, labor.