FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1922, Page 12

FARM AND DAIRY.

WEALTH AT OUR DOORS. THE BLACK WATTLE IN TARANAKI. A HIGHLY PROFITABLE INVESTMENT. . (By F. Cowling, Westown.) In view of the ever pressing need of cheaper timber for posts, rails, poles, and fuel, and the advisability of tree plant- | ing for present and future requirements. ‘ I know of no other exotic tree to equal the black wattle for quick returns.' On most farms wifl be found a certain amount of waste or non-productive land growing weeds or fern. These are the areas the far-seeing settler would be well advised to clean up, fence and plant immediately. La nd values are high, rates are heavy, and will probably increase, and one can turn these waste gullies and creek sidlings into a profitable investment, as all, the grass they produce is practically nil. The black wattle seldom’ exceeds fifty feet in height and could well be grown on town allotments of a quarter acre and upwards, and particularly on our suburban lands. T planted a small plot of blaek wattle two years ago. and they have already attained a height of from ten to twelve feet, and in another eight years will be ready for felling, practically matured trees. After careful experiments, I have found August and September the most suitable months for tree planting. Plant trees from twelve to fifteen inches in height; procure from a reliable nurseryman. Insist upon all trees being thoroughly puddled in a stiff clay or papa to minimise risk in transplanting; this is absolutely necessary, and should be insisted upon by purchasers. The black wattle' will thrive in any soil or any locality, and will not sucker. Posts cut from ten year old trees will last ten years in the ground. Trees should be planted in rows four feet apart, taking 2722 trees to plant one acre, and they can be procured at from £4 to £5 per 1000, and at the end of ten years one acre will produce at least eight thousand posts, worth probably two shillings each, or a total of £BOO per acre. I have allowed an average of about three posts per tree, which is a low estimate. Personally I consider that trees growing under evenly spaced plantation conditions will return the planter double this quantity. I doubt whether such returns can be obtained from our best and most productive lands in so short a period.

Furthermore, ten years hence may see fuel double its present price. Black wattle is splendid fuel, and has a great future for domestic fires. Every land owner would be well advised to plant waste corners and steep sidlings with this valuable tree, and have the assurance of adequate, supply of home grown timber at a reasonable price. On land that ran be ploughed and cultivated the black wattle seed can be sown broadcast, or. better still, can be drilled with any ordinary farm drill. Seed can be purchased locally at eight shillings per lb. The bark is also valuable for tanning purposes, and is worth in the vicinity of £7 per ton. New Zealand imports large quantities from Australia and South Africa, a considerable annual trade being done with these two countries.

The investment of a few pounds in planting the black wattle may be considered a golden investment, an endowment worthy of the most earnest consideration.

AUCKLAND BUTTER OUTPUT. A Is 5d PAY-OUT. Mr. A. J. Sinclair, assistant manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company. Ltd., informed a meeting of (suppliers at Ngatea last week that the output of butter by the amalgamated, company for the season would be 18,000 tons —more than was exported from the whole of New Zealand before the war. Last year the company’s output was 12.600 tons, but the capacity of its factories was but 11,000 tons. They have now been increased to 18.000 tons, at a cost of £<57,5.38. Other milk products were: Cheese 5000 tons, casein 500 tons, milk powder 1900 tons. The approximate value of the company’s output was £3.500.000. The number of suppliers was 7568. an increase of 1300\for the year. Mr. Sinclair estimated that return to suppliers this season would be Is 3d to Is 4d per pound for butterfat. The company had retrenched by the dismissal of 400 men. saving £l6OO per week; overhead and administrative charges were at .23d per pound of but-ter-fat —the lowest in New Zealand. The company was going to pay a better price than any other company operating on the export market. Mr. H. C. Hansen, retiring director, said the companies operating on the local (Auckland) market had obtained unprecedented prices—more than were justified. This was not likely to happen again. Mr. Sinclair, replying to questions, said speculators would try tft force the. price down every .time. It was “a question of brains versus brains.” The £76.000 loss would not he deducted from the pay out of Is sd. The company’s policy would be to consign. A vote of confidence in Mr. W. Goodfellow, manager, was passed.

WHAT DOES THE MANURE Dp? In an article in Farm Economy of < 4*lllllo 2, .under the title of “Wliat Does the Manure Do?” the following is set out: Different manures have different effects upon gT-ass —upon, the quantity of it, and ypon the quality of it. It is important, therefore, for every farmer to have some knowledge of the guiding principles of manures. Practical knowledge is always best—that is, actual recorded experience. An ounce of experience is worth a ton of theory any time. ’ Sixty years’ detailed tests with the same manures on the same plots may fairly be taken as exhaustive and conclusive of effects. These are available from the Rothamstead experiments first laid down by the father of the British fertiliser trade, Sir John La wes: Average weights of hay in 10-year periods (regularly top-dressed each year): Unmanured first decade 22.6 cwt., second decade 20.0 cwt., third decade 17.5 cwt., fourth decade 16.8 cwt., fifth decade 13.2 cwt., sixth decade I<T.9 cwt.; super alone, 24.4 cwt., 21.3 cwt.. 19.1 cwt.. 16.5 cwt., 15.7 cwt.. I-6.S cwt.; super, soda, and magnesia, 33.6 cwt., 2’6.6 cwt.. 21.8 cwt., 16.5 cwt., 21.34 cwt., 19.3 cwt.; same as above with potash, 33.9 cwt., 36.8 cwt., 32.3 cwt., 27.1 cwt., 36.1 cwt., 30.0 cwt.; same as above with potsh and . sul. of ammonia, 53.6 cwt., 48.4 cwt., 50.5 cwt., 39.3 cwt., 44.1 cwt., 36.8 cwt.

' This shows that everyone of the three main elements of fertility—phosphates, potash, and nitrogen—must be present to yield maximum results. Potash increases the yield of the phosphatic manures; that yield is again enlarged by the addition of nitrogen. But quality counts as well as quantity—hence the composition of the grasses on the different plots has been analysed and conclusions drawn as to effects on quality of hay and pasture. Composition of Pasture. —Unmanured, grasses 61.0 per cent., clovers 8.7 per cent., weeds 30.3 per cent.; super alone 19.3, 7.4. 33.3; super, soda and magnesia, 11.0. 9.2, 28.8; same as above, with, potash, 58.8, 24.9, 16.3; same as above, with potash and sulphate of ammonia, 89.9, 0.3, 9.8. On the basis of these two tables im-. portant observations can be made-ob-servations which should be appreciated by all farmers for they comprise the foundation of our practical knowledge of the use of fertiliser. The first outstanding observation is the prominence of weed in the superphosphate plot and the light content, of clover. The official observers, comment: —“The plot now presents a very impoverished appearance, and is giving very little more crop than the unmanured plots. Certain weeds are unusually prominent, and this would seem to indicate that the land is more exhausted here than on the unmanured plot.” Now note the way clovers improve with potash. “The reason that the crop on this plot is maintained,” says the report, “lies in the free growth of leguminous* plants stimulated by the potash. These plants form 24 per cent, of the whol herbage. They are not only themselves independent of nitrogen in soil manures, but by fixing the atmospheric nitrogen and leaving it behind in the residues of their dead roots, they provide a supply for grasses and other plants which cannot of themselves feed on the .nitrogen of the air.” But excessive artificial nitrogen damages clovers, although it stimulates grasses. Note the word “excessive.” On the plot cited 4001 b per acre of sulphate of ammonia was applied—far too much for practical New Zealand conditions. “The effect.” it was stated, “is very great on the production of hay. But it is bv no ' means so good in quality as that grown with mineral manures alone, because the grasses have crowded out the clovers and even the weeds. The vegetation is very rank, and soft, and tends to grow in tufts with 'hare patches between; the smaller grasses are almost crowded out, an £ the coarse vegetation is generally aid and begins 0 r °t at the bottom before the grass is ready to cut.” AGRICULTURAL BREVITIES. A rise of 30 per cent, in the price of crude potash salts took place in Germany at the end of December. The farmer who plants trees leaves a valuable heritage to his sons, and does something that will help to keep the family on the farm. As a plant capable of yielding a large amount of valuable forage under a great variety of soil and climatic conditions, maize.is without equal. Legume, and especially red clover silage. Iras a rank colorf and is not relished bv stock. However, lucerne and cow-peas have been used with good results. in practical agriculture the method of applying chemical fetilisers should vary according to the nature of the soil and the kind of crop. In general the heavier, the soil and the deeper the root system of the plant the earlier the manure should be applied. On stiff soil manure containing much straw is preferred, on account of the good effect of its physical action in the soil. Winter is the best time to put the manure on the land, but if that should have been omitted, the manure can be applied when the potatoes are planted, and put under them. Milk has a maximum viscosity at a temperature of 32 deg. to 50 deg. F. As the temperature of milk rises its viscosity decreases. The viscosity of milk may be demonstrated by taking two pipettes and measuring in one a quantity c-f water, and the other an equal volume of milk. By comparing the time for the pipettes to empty it will be noticed that milk is more viscid than water. A few days ago Mr. F. C. Hansen, of Waitoa. killed a two and a-half-year-old I g+per which, with the caul fat, weighed 110641 b dressed. ! A start ha* been made with the erection at Morrinsyille of a butter factory capable of dealing with the cream of . 6000 cows. ! The new dairying year in the Auck- • land province has opened auspiciously. ; over four times as much butter being i produced last month as in July. 1921. This is attributed in large measure, to the favorable weather conditions experij enced. I An Ayrshire cow. the property of Mr. j A. H. Hansen, of Te Rehunga. Dannei virke. is said to be the champion cow of jher in Now Zealand. Under a : semi official test this year she produced from 10 293.30 lb of milk 510.34 lb of Inittor-fat. I A Levin resklent lost a. valuable Jersey cow some time on Thursday night iu an unusual way (says* the Chronicle). The animal was drinking from the water race and its horns'became entangled in the wires of a fence on the edge of the race. .It was unable to raise its head from the water, and was even{tugJly. drowned.