FARM & DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1920, Page 11

FARM & DAIRY

LIMING THE LAND. SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. (By Primrose MeConnell, Director of Dilworth School of Agriculture). The use of burnt lime is as' old as history, and its beneficial effects on the soil too well known to need emphasis. But a great discovery was made, only a few years ago, when it was found that the raw ground limestone had equally as good an effect on the soil, besides being cheaper, easier to handle, and not injurious to the soil, when applied in largo quantities. In the hands of an experienced farmer, raw ground limestone is ths most powerful agent he possesses, not only in the cultivation of crops and pastures, Jmt also as a means, among others, of breeding healthy live stock. THE ORIGIN OF LIME.

• The majority of farmers nowadays know a great deal about lime ana it* origin, but a very considerable number are taking up farming at the present moment who possess little knowledge of the art of agriculture profession generally, and it is for the benefit of those that such articles as'this are written. It is true that "the whole need not a physician," but even they may occasionally receive benefit by exchanging opinionsThe carbonate of lime, which is used for agricultural purposes, is found in enormous masses in the form of limestone, chalk, and marble. These great masses are composed of the remains of sea urchins, shell fish, and other such forms of life, which have accumulated under water through countless ages, and are bound together by chemically deposited calcium carbonate. This solid rock, in the limestone form, simply ground to a fine powder, is what we apply to the land, under the name of carbonate of lime. The burnt lime is the same variety of rock heated in kilns to 1000 degrees centigrade, or nearly so. The heat drives off th ecarbonie" acid gn?, and only the lime remains. When the burnt lime is applied to the so:-, li. again takos in the carbonic acid gas, and returns to its original carbonate form. The heat drives off the carbonic ac,id plied to the soil, is to cjieck the process of nitrification, and it must first be con- ' verted into carbonate before thc;nitrification process can be renewed beneficially. This is why very heavy dressings of burnt lime are so injurious io many soils.

ACTION 1 ON THE SOIL. Although lime is to some cvlent a plant food, its value principally lies in the fact, that it brings into" use elements that would remain 'dormant in its absence. It is also claimed '.hat lime strongly influences the soil toxins, or poisons, and that other constituents are changed to a state in which they become available as plant fond. Lime ir also of importance because of its beneficial effect on the mechanical condition of the soil. It renders clay soils more friable, thus assuring a finer tilth, which provides a greater range for the roots i.f plants. On sandy soils, lime has the effect of binding the particles more closely together, thus making, them more retentive of moisture. When manures, such as sulphate of ammonia, or super-phosphate, are regularly applied, a free use of lime is essential, otherwise the soil becomes acid. The addition of lime to the soil improves Ihe quality and increases the quality of crops. Plants grown on land rich in lime are the means of producing healthy, vigorous stock, because they are, rich in matter than is used in building up bone and muscle, and many injurious parasites are destroyed, which are numerous on land deficient in lime. We may safely conclude that soil devoid of lime is of little use to the farmer, and that no soil can be really fertile which contains less than a half per cent. If a soil contained no lime it would require a dressing of about 27cwt in order to supply one per cent, in the surface nine inches. On cultivated land lime disappears more quickly than on pastures, because it is more easily washed into the subsoil, and for that reason should not be ploughed under, but appl'.ed on the surface and incorporated with the soil by means of cultivators or harrows.

Certain soil conditions are essential before lime is applied, otherwise its application will mean a loss of money. Draining is imperative when the land is not naturally dry, and the soil must receive good cultivation and judicious manuring. • The four, working together, are the foundation of successful farming, but if only one is present, and the oiner three absent, its beneficial action is cancelled. Fertility in the soil is dependent upon the activity of certain soil organisms, or very minute forms of life, which cannot work beneficially in the absence of the above four essentials. The first to be attended to is the draining, followed by good cultivation and manuring. Lime may then be applied with every confidence. Although carbonate of lime may be applied to the land in very large quantities, it is not desirable to apply more than Is necessary to produce maximum cropping results. The old system of applying enormous quantities of burnt lime once in seven years (in some cases as much a3 20 to 25 tons per acre) has hcen entirely discarded as being not only wasteful, but extremely injurious to the soil, and it has been found infinitely better to apply a few hundredweights every second or third year. Such a system keeps the soil in healthy condition. It is true that a dressing of lime will give good results on very poor soil for a short time, without the assistance of manure, but it does not follow that lime alone can be applied continuously to such soils with the same results. It acta beneficially for a time, because it corrects the soil acidity and enables the soil organisms to work and make available the meagre quantity of plant food that is present, but wlien that is exhausted further liming is useless, unless it is accompanied by the application of manure. If the soil has been proved to be very lacking in lime, a heavy initial dose should be applied—say, 20 to .10 cwt. per acre—then follow up, every second or third season, with 5 cwt. per acre. To land that is in need of lime, the application may be made at any time of the year, but to land under cultivation it is better applied just after ploughing, or it may be sown wtih the seed Early spring is considered the best time, for liming pastures, and there is T.nch truth in the old Yorkshiremaivs statement that "only one mistake could be made in liming, and that was the mistake of forgetting it altogether." Generally speaking, lime and manures are better applied separately, and, in <uvy case, lime should not be mixed with nitrogenous manures, as it has the effect of releasing this valuable ingredient, and it is lost in plant food. Nn kind of artificial manure can take th n place nf lime—Dot even basic slhr. The lime in

superphosphate is not in tho carbonate form; it creates acidity instead of correcting it, hence the value of basic superphosphate, which is simply .-iiperpho'sphate mixed with a certain quantity of burnt lime with the object of neutralising the acidity of he superphosphate. The lime in 6lag is not in sufficient quantity—even when the sing is applied in very heavy dressings—to keep the overage soil in sound condition, it must be aided by special applications of lime alone. There are soils that naturally contain a sufficiency of lime, but there are very few that will not respond to an occasional light dressing. In rare cases it may be more economical to apply the ground burnt lime instead of the carbonate, particularly where the freiglit charges are heavy, because a less quantity may be applied per acre. 'Peat swamps that contain a great deal of humic acid are said to respond more quickly to applications of burnt lime. WAIMATE WEST DEMONSTRATION AREA. FARM REPORT FOR JANUARY, 1920. The following was the report for January. . Root Crops.—Mangolds and carrots have made a good growth during the month, and are now looking very well. Some of the sugar and Jersey Queen have, gone up to seed; in the other varieties non? have been seer.. Soft Turnips.—Started feeding these on January 16. At present rate of feeding, one large load daily, they will ■last till about the end of March. Millet—The mower was put over this crop on the 10th and carted off to cows. Since then it has made rapid growth, getting ahead of weeds, excepting the varieties that are too thin. Swedes—This crop has been horse hoed three times, also gone through with the hand hoe, and is not? growing fast. Small Plots—They are looking well. Herd—The supply on January 31 was 11731b, being a reduction of 127 as compared with December 31, which .is very satisfactory. The test is 4.8, and the average butter-fat per cow for the last period was 35,051b against 40.571b for the preceding month. We are now in fifth position in the testing association. Water—The supply is still satisfactory. Buildings—The material for the verandah has now arrived. Pastures—The recent rains have considerably improved these. Farmers' Day—lt has been decided to a farmers' day on the farm on I February 25, and it'is hoped' there will ' bp a good muster.

BUTTER FOR WEALTHY. MARGARINE FOR THE POOR. PHENOMENAL PRICES EXPECTEDPrices to make dairy producers* mouths water are foreshadowed by the Post's London correspondent in a letter dated 22nd December. In order to maintain the purchase and sale of Government cheese on a self-supporting basis, the British Food Controller found it necessary to increase the maximum retail price of Government imported cheese purchased for and distributed through the pool by 2d per lb. The increased price is Is Sd per lb. Government cheese, whether imported or home-made, will be sold at the same retail price. The price is the same as was in force last winter. Speaking to a deputation from .the Agricultural Organisation Society, the President of the Board of Agrieulure indicated his desire to assist the producers and the dairy societies by endeavoring to secure the decontrol of all dairy products, including cream and butter, hut explained that the financial position-of the country would probably preclude the continuance beyond 31st December of the compensation hitherto given by the Ministry of Food in respect of losses incurred in the conversion of surplus milk into cheese. AH agricultural products (with the exception of wheat) will be freed from control during the first six months of 1920. This applies to (writes- the correspondent), meat, bacon, poultry, eggs, milk, butter, cream, and cheese, and a start was to have been mad" early in the New Year with home-produced butter, which will at once rise in price to from 4s (Id to 8s a pound. For some time farmers have asked for the removal of control, or as an alternative the raising of the maximum retail prices of butter to 4s 6d a pound. The present price of 2s iid a pound, they ray, is nnremunerative. With a. free' marketother farmers, who sell milk and at present prices get Rs lid for the 24 gallons required to make one pound of butter, even after deducting the sum they receive for their skim milk, will not be able to sell their butter to advantage at less than 0s a pound. Presumably imported butter will remain controlled; its price at present is 2s 6d a pound." For the poor, in fact, for all who cannot pay ruling and future prices for butter, there is margarine. It is freely advetised by the great Maypole Dairy Co. (a former heavy buyer of New Zealand butter by the way) at Is per pound retail. Margarine may be made palatable enough—it can - also be as nauseous as axle grease. But it is mainly composed of vegetable fats. On the other hand, there is a nutritive property in butterfat, known but undefined, and in but-ter-fat only, that is absolutely essential to healthy ehildhood. A fed, or even a dripping-fed nation cannot hope to rank on terms of equality of physique with one raised on milk and its fats, especially in the case of children. Butter is more than a mere lubricant of dry bread. The British producers may get princely prices for their butter, but at the expense of the national health.

Whether the Holstein hoom is spreading from New Zealand to England, Australia, and South Africa, or vice versa, is undecided, but the last four sales have given people something to talk about- An ased hull livings 4-00 guineas in the Thames Valley: then, Mr Lovelock picks up over £(1000 for his choice little flock, and now Mr. Hunt, down at Invercargill, with his first annual sale realises between £ooofl and £(1000. Heifer calves were making 12" guineas and averaging 70 guineas, while hull calves reached 05 guineas, averaging 47 guineas, Australian buyers forced the bidding, hut the canny Kouthlanders got the bulk of the stuff. Mr. Hunt started his herd with the best, securing the then British Empire clampion cow, Westmere Princess Picture, whose brother is still on the Const, and the old adage proves true—"Mnncy Wool infested with the seeds of the biddy bid or hutiwni. especially lambs, sells at low values, it being recently reported that some was valued at, 4d. Thanks, however, to the energy of Mr. J, C. Cooper (managing director of the

Wellington Farmers' 'Freezing Co.) a machine, the only one in the Dominion, that cleans thle seedy wool, is in operation and another one has been ordered, the charges being ljd per lb. Reliable authorities place biddy bid next to blackberry for a pest, as its burrs adheres to everything that touches it and so spreads it everywhere. Numerous run holders are abandoning sheep-growing and putting on eat t] e) ow j ng to tl ° alarming rapidity with which this curse is sprending_ In discussing permanent road improvements with a deputation of influential ratepayers, the chairman of the Egmont County Council stated that as Napier Harbor Board had set the pace for borrowing at 5% per cent., it was hopeless to expect to get money at Jess. In October last he could have got £<o,ooo at..V/, in Melbourne, but the finance Minister would not consent to this rate. Even Queensland is offering <> per cent., but, thanks to Ryan's Labor government, Queensland is hopelessly bankrupt. As regards tar-sealing, no one who understands the subject talks tar now, as it is t6o dear and too perishable. Over twelve months ago. the chairman added, he saw Shaw, Savill and Albion's people about getthi" a through rate, from Trinidad (via Panama) where there are millions of tons of bitumen. _ If the laborer is worthy of his hire, the fanner is worthy of his living proThe successful breeding animal always possesses something specially noticeable to an observant eye. The pig-keeper who makes the most pront is he who keeps his pigs growing from start to finish. Ploughing matches are being revived m Creat Britain, and additional interest is given to them by motor ploughing competitions. 6 f J™ 6l7^7 is hQ S'mnmg to realise that farmyard manure is an absolute necessity to the man who lays himself out to farm well. Prices for mangolds in Great Britain for cattle feeding are generally reported as tanging from 52s 6d to 60s, while swedes realise about 50s to 67s 6a per ton. Wash and thoroughly oil the harness before the autumn work commences. Be careful, however, not to put the leather into water that is too hot. Grow protein in the form of clover and avoid the necessity of paying out cash for this product, so essential to heavy milk production. Of all farm animals sheep are the most subject to the attacks of parasites, so that every farmer should dip his sheep at least once a year, about a fortnight after being shorn. Persistency in milking, although partly a breed and individual characteristic, may he considerably influenced by the length of the first milking period. Keep the heifer milking nearly tho full vear. Alsike makes the best hay of all the clovers. The fine stalks and'heads, when properly cured, are excellent. Of course this clover is smaller than Red, and thus gives a lighter yield. The mineral and protein content of bran makes it a valuable food for growing animals and for cows. However, pound for pound, oats is generally considered a little more valuable than bran for cows.

Practical efforts are going to be made by the British Board of Agriculture to check the development of potato disease. A farm in Lincolnshire has been taken by the Board for experiments on a large scale. Sterilisation of dairy utensils' is necessary for the production of dairy products of high quality, particularly milk and cream, because the washing of dairy utensils, at least by the process ordinarily used, is not sufficient to insure freedom from infection and contamination. Few forms of agricultural expenditure are more certain in their results than the judicious use of manure on grass land. The meat and milk producing capacity of the country can be largely and rspidly increased, not only with great pecuniary gain to the farmer, but also with Mill greater economic advantage to the ration.

Although bred. in a comparatively small area, the Lincoln breed of sheep has had a greater influence upon the world's production of wool and mutton than any other English breed. Probably more Lincoln sheep have been exported during the last 30 years than all the other breeds of sheep put together. Before the war the milker's wage in many parts of England was about 17s a week, or 2s fid a day. It is now in the neighbourhood of 50s, and, in addition to this, under the new hour limits fixed by the Agricultural Wages Board, the milker must receive overtime every day in the week. The statutory hours of labor do not enable the morning and afternoon milkings to find space within the limit. "In making hay, begin mowing in the morning after the dew is off the lucerne. Cutting with the dew on has an injurious effect upon the next crop. In good weather the hay should lie in the swath until well wilted. Then rake it into windrows, and allow it to dry and cure there. By this method shaking off the leaves is avoided. The length of time it takes to cure lucerne depends upon the weather and the condition of the hay, and whether it, is to be stored in sheds or stacked outside. The quantity of food for the work horse depends on the amount of work done and the speed at which it is performed. It is a good plan to allow 1 l-101b grain and ljlb hay for every 1001b live weight for horses; at moderate work. If the work is severe, however, the quantity of grain should be increased. The horse at hard work requires 11 to l'/jjlb of grain per 1001b live weight. The exact quantity will depend largely on the individuality of each horse.

If the binder or any other machinery that lias only casual use is well cleaned and oiled before it is put away, it would save much trouble. All nutß should be thoroughly gone over, and now is the time to obtain spare parts, for two reasons: —First, any failings of the binder during harvest are now fresh in the memory of the farmer—little things that might easily escape his memory before next harvest time. Secondly, there is not such a rush of spare parts now as there will he before next harvest, and even if there' is a delay in obtaining them now there is no harm done. It looks as if oat crops are going to be both light and short in the .straw this summer. A hundred pigs a day are being converted into pork at the Palmerston North Abattoir."-, and the townspeople are demanding the operations should be carried on at some place beyond the borough borders. The real test of a flock is not the price per pound for wool so much as the i'.vornge cash price per sheep or the total of the wool cheque. Money talks! Similarly with shearing records. The denser the wool the harder it is to shear. Open-woollcd sheep are much easier to shear. So the shearer puts up records o i sheep which don't put urj records in prices.