FARM & DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1920, Page 11

FARM & DAIRY

NOTES. In the United States of America and Eastern Canada it is now an accepted fact that it is impossible to produce milk, beef, or stores at a profit unless silage, and plenty of it, is fed. ■Something of a record for high-priced laniba in January was realised at last Mothven sale, when n line of eighty, by Dorset rams, brought 35s Id. They were a particularly prime lot, and would y.rohably kill out within a pound or two ' of'flOlb. The slaughter of cakes* at Wanganui is causing much concern among pastoralists, and it is held that the country is drifting into a serious position.' It means that stock will be increasingly i difficult' to obtain, and liutchero main- \ tain that in a few years' time meat will be a history. Freezing buyers at the last Addington I sale kept the market at top values for lambs. It is ■understood that Governwent rates are about 8d to BJd, but | many of the pens obviously exceeded this price, in cases to more than a penny. The quality of the yarding generally was scarcely up to *he stand- ' ard of preceding sales, a considerable proportion of the 5000 lambs penned bein? on the smldl side—Chriatehuxeh Presa. Almost throughout Southland the average test of milk received at cheese factories this season is several decimals below the usual. At every factory complaints regarding the tests iiave been made, but on inquiries being made from' a number of managers it appears that the low tests are universal this/season so far. Now at the time of the' season when the yield falls off and the tests rise, it will bo interesting to watch if the average improves with the better feed about. A record price for a hide was paid (says a Sydney paper) at the auction sales on behalf of Mr. Adolf Unger, of Noumea, New Caledonia. It weighed 651b net, was well flayed, and carried exceptional "substance." After snirited competition among the tanners the hide was sold to Messrs. Forsyth, Pizzey, and Gates, Ltd., Sydney, tit the record'flgure of 44»/d per pound, or £ll IDs- 8d for the hide. This price easily eclipses the Australian record of 3H/ B d, obtained in Brisbane some months aso, in the Weekly Press, say*:—a ' '"own broker, referring to the wool situation to-day, said lie expected the season's clip to' be 70,000 or 80,000 bales short of that of last season. The late autumn drv weather arid the consequent shortage o'f feed had affected the growth of wool almost everywhere, but the condition of the clips that had come forward so far was generally good, and the loss would be in weight rather than in quality. The valuations suggested this conclusion, and probably the growers' returns would be as satisfactory as thev were fret season This is how the Sydney Mail discounts a shearing record made in this Dominiou:—"A great story about records comes from New Zealand. One man is alleged to have shorn 302 sheep in the eight hours. Another frhore 278 in the same time. This, of course is marvellous. But the explanation lies in tan fact that a shearer is paid double for shearing rams. In the first instance he shore 151 rams, and was consequently credited in the books with shearing 302 sheep! The same exnlanation applies to the other case. Then, again these 131 rams were probably Lincoln or crossbred ram lambs, open-'woolled fellows, easy to shear. It would take a good shearer to put through 151 densewool New England or Jronaro rams in eight hours."

The following mixture may be used in rough timber, brickwork, or torrugated iron, and will reduce the temperature of houses when applied to the roof, eauallr "u ,«5 th !i bcst reW SWat;n ? paint Sold:-,lf)lb of fresh unslaked ston» lime: lib glue, lib powdered al'.im. Slake the lime with hot water, keeping it well covered during slaking. Dissolve the glue, also the alum, in boiling water, and add to the already slaked liaie, taking care not to mix too thin. Strain the whole as for-paint, and cover for two days or more, when it is ready for we. Apply with an ordinary two-knot whitewash brush, giving the work -.wo coats, the first to be thorough set before the next is applied; and if on roofs or tanks apply in cool weather. Oolorin" matter (ochres) may be added, if necei" sary. A little blue improves at all times.

Waterproofing is easily done. In principle it consists of filling up the fibres of tbo chih, with a soap that will not dissolve in Water. Two solutions are necessary. No. 1 is a solution of lib of best yellow soap, in 1 gallon of water. No 2 is similarly, lib of alum in 1 gallon of water. Yon can the more readilv prepare the two solutions fairlv hot but use No. 1 warm, and No 2 slightly warm. Put the fabric in No. 1., and allow it to stay at least half an hour, so that the soap gets on every of fibre; then remove it, wring it over the vessel, smooth it out, and transfer to No- 2 (alum) solution for a second half-hour's treatment. Again wring out the cloth, rinse it in clean water; again wring out, or. if possible, pass between the rollers of a wringer *nd hang it out to dry in the open air! this is one simple method of waterproofing a canvas tent, and it is equally applicable, no doubt, to a canvas ba*