FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1922, Page 12

FARM AND DAIRY.

JERSEY RECORDS. Mr. L, O’Sullivan, of Tariki, reports:— So far seven Jersey records have gone over the 10001 b fat mark. Perhaps the most remarkable cow of the breed is ‘Vive la trance,” and her records are as follows:—At 2 years, 6381 b fat; at 3 years 60 days, 8931bs fat; at 4 years and 7 months, 103Hbs fat; at 5 years and 11 months, 1039ibs fat; at 6 years and 11 months, SlSlbs fat; or a total of 4414.761bs fat, making an average of 8831bs fat in five years. 'She is the only cow in the world which has twice eclipsed the 10001 b mark. The record of Tilly Alcarta, the champion long distance Friesian, stands at 3,8591bs for the same period of time, or an average of 7721bs fat per year. “Vive la France” is again on the list, and promises to improve her present average. “Fauvic’s Star,” a Jersey of more than 50 per cent. Island blood, has recently completed a record of 20,61 Gibs milk and 10051bs fat in 365 days, calving in the specified time to gain a first-class certificate. The world’s record for a yearling heifer is held by “St. Mawes Lad s Lady,” a Jersey, and it reads: 8291bs fat, 11,7561b.s milk. “St. Mawes Pretty Lady,” with 8241bs fat and 12,5501bs milk, is the world’s senior two-year-old record holder. Poppy’s Cortha, with 9941bs fat and 17,8051bs milk, is the world’s record holder in the junior three-year-olds. ENSILAGE RECOMMENDED.

■Writes our Urenui correspondent: Farmers are now busily engaged in ploughing, etc., in view of usual supply of autu<in feed for their dairy cows. Probably soft turnips, or a mixture of maize and soft turnips, will be the crops most favetred, and good results f r0 W both were obtained in this district last season. Millet, which used to be in great demand some few years ago, does not seem to be so much thought of as formerly, it being claimed by some dairymen that there is not sufficient return for the outlay. Should the season prove dry and unfavorable for the growth of turnips, a good stack of ensilage, made early in December, should, prove most useful, as, if properly cured, it is available for use in seven or eight weeks, and is undeniably a great milk producer, and has the advantage of leaving no taint, such as is noticeable in turnips, without extreme care is exercised in feeding out. TREES FROM THE STATE. A paragraph in the Daily News of Wednesday, 27 th September, wherein remarks of a councillor of the Waitotara County were quoted in praise of trees to be got from the State Forest Departs ment, caught the notice of a well-knowm Inglewood settler, who is a practical

enthusiast on the subject of planting forest trees to overcome the blackberry pest in the rough places on land held by him. He says that the Waitotara cillor must have had very different experience from his own. Early this season he wanted a very considerable number of well-known young pines, some 4000 or 5000 in fact, and instituted enquiries from the State Forest Department as to possibility of getting the trees he wanted. He was informed that the department could not supply the pinus insignis, 3 or 5 years, old, that he wished to get, and after a time he arranged to take the number he wanted, but of another kind. Then a first consignment of 1000 came to hand, when, to his intense disappointment, though described as 3 year old trees, they proved to be small, miserably grown specimens absolutely useless for the kind of plantation he wanted to make, so he cried off the remainder of his order. Since then he has been able to get from a Taranaki Nursery 3 year old Pinus Insignia that range from 3 to 5 feet high, and appear to be thoroughly healthy good trees, so that, though he has not got quite so many as he would have liked, he has been able to do a share of the planting he had planned for the season, but not through the State Department. This is much to be regretted, for had this one settler been satisfied tins year with his experience of the Stake forest’s output, there are many others who would, in future seasons, have followed his example.

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS. /fliere is no way of taking dirt out of milk equal to keeping it out. Do you know which of your cows pay and which do not? Maybe you have some boarders. Horses, having small .stomachs, must cat at short intervals. If they undergo long fasts they have to make up for lost time, and therefore overgorge the stomach and intestines, which cannot do their work, and consequently become deranged. >The United States Department of Agriculture reports that the honey crop, beginning with the crop of 1916, reached 180 000.0001 b.. or 90,000 short tons. The total production for 1917 was estimated at 75.000 short tons; for 191-8, at 90,000 short tons, for 1919, at 105,000 short

tons; and for 1920, at 150,000 short tons. Kohl-rabi is not subject, like most crops, to serious insect depredations, although the turnip flea beetle pays attention to it from time to time. It is good for cow-feeding, and is prized by the flockmaster. It does not impart an unpleasant flavour to the milk. There is very little waste in eating off. It produces from 20 to 25 tons to the acre. Skilful farming means sowing extra good seed on a well-prepared seed-bed, and cultivating thoroughly where cultivation is permitted by the nature of the crop; it means weeding out the unprofitable cows and keeping a herd of real producers; but no “less important (says an English authority) it means a study of the available markets and use of'the best marketing methods. xin English bnorthorn cow, Whitewall Lady Bates LIL. recently dropped four calves at one calving. Her calves have been designated as:— Expectation, Realisation, Astonishment, and Well. Ihn Blest, as was the herdsman’s salutation to the fourth arrival. There are two probably roan, and pure white among them. Only by great carefulness were the calves kept alive. As the name denotes, the American Association of Organisations for the Prevention of Livestock Shipping Losses exists primarily for improving methods of handling livestock. At the convention held in Chicago in December it was shown that losses from bruises have already been reduced to one-sixth of their former volume, but for all that it was decided, to go on trying to get them lower still. Damage to beef for the first eleven months of 1921 was reported, to amount to 2,000,0001 b., as compared with 3,000,0001 b. for all 1919, and for pigs to less than 3,000,000 lb., compared with 15,000,0001 b. in 1919. Milk sugar, known chemically as lactose, is also held in solution in the milk serum. It is not as sweet as ordinary sugar, is decomposed by various ferments, and can be crystalised only with difficulty. In the industrial world milk sugar is used in the manufacture of pentanitrolactose, a substance used in the manufacture of certain high explosives. It is also used in the medical world for purposes such as modifying milk for infants and invalids, as a dilutent for various strong drugs, and in the preparation of medicinal powders. Upon the question or breeding heifers, an experienced correspondent says: "We do not think it necessary to have the heifer calve in spring, when there is plenty of good grass, in order to develop a large udder. The use of mangles, turnips. kale, or any succulent feed will accomplish the same results when rightly combined with other good dairy feed. We prefer to have our cows come in in the autumn. It is better not to breed a heifer too soon after her last calf, but let her milk for 11 or 12 months, and then a rest for at least two or three. The first period of milking should be long, when circumstances will permit of this practice, as it has a tendency to establish the milking habit. The long resting period gives a heifer an opportunity to grow for she grows but little while she is milking.” "The dairy industry is our greatest industry,” said Mr. C. I. Harkness independent Reform candidate for Utaki, in an address to the Ohau electors. He thought however, it was capable of great expansion. One way was to make production even throughout the. year instead of for a period of aoout seven months, as was the case just now. There was* no reason why that could not be done, and he maintained that it would secure a better level of prices and stimulate the industry and return a much larger income to the country. A striking instance of the growing qualities of lucerne, where it receives proper treatment, is afforded by- a three acre stand at Shirley, Canterbury (says an exchange). Ihe area was sown on 24th November, 1921, in 20in rows, after a dressing of burnt lime had been given. On January 19, 1922, exactly eignt weeks after, some stalks were cut an I found to be 22in in length. 'The first cut, a very heavy one, was made ten weeks and four days later. The next matured crop, which was cut at the beginning of last month, was not so good, but it was sold standing for £5 per acre. Suita-lne implements were not available, and the owner paid for all the work by hand, ' thereby enhancing the cost. The total i expenses from the time of commencing to prepare the ground to the second cut were X 26 Is 6a. Preparing int ground absorbed £6 16s, liming and carting £9 13s, and seed £4 4s. Basing the value

oi the first cut on the price’ paiu for the second cut, the farmer estimates the gross value at £35. In effect,, within five months, all expenses had been met, with £9 to the good, and a stand oi lucerne which pro-

mises to oe something beyond the ordinary next spring was established. Tlie heavy draught horse as popular

as ever in England. A London paper says:—"Regent’s Park was looking its best on Whit Monday, and great was the crowd that gathered to greet the heavy cart horse parade. Many of the animals were splendid specimens, and the London public are 1 evidently glad of an opportunity to show ! their appreciation of such horses and their ! drivers. The ’Metro’ railway gained several first class awards. The railway companies and the London County Council know that good heavy horse» atippjy the best means of dealing with loads for short distances. Heavy horse breeders san carry on with confidence —the animals they supply will continue to meet with a good demand.” In Weddel’s annual review of the imported dairy produce trade, the following passage appears:—"From a chroniclers point oi view, the first complete year of trading in butter and cheese since 191" was perhaps the most interesting period in the recent history of the industry; but for produces and. traders, it was a time of worry and anxiety. Events of far-reaching importance followed upon each other with disconcerting swiftness; the markets responded with violent movements to” unusual and diverse influences; and a feeling of nervousness prevailed, even when no apparent cause was discernible. Drought, industrial depression, Continental exchange fluctuations, strife in Ireland, i irresponsible handling of Government I stocks, rapid changes in consumptive l demand, foreign buying, delays in dis- , charge of steamers, attempts at arti- | ficial control by large New Zealand ' holders—all in turn contributed to aggravate the chaotic condition of the markets during the past year. The withdrawal of Government regulation seemed to leave traders with no ordinary standards by which to measure their operations, and the result was what ought to have been ordinary fluctuations on the basis of actual supply and demand were transformed into . ‘booms’ or ‘slumps,’ with, in some cases, disastrous consequences.” The total turnover for the twelve I one creamery in the Pahia- , tua district for the 1921-22 season ! (states the Herald) amounted to over I £175,000. The individual figures were as follow: Rexdale, £26,972; Konini, | £22,160; Pahiatua, £21,706: Mangatainoka, £19,070; Hamua, £14,232; Hukai nui, £12,859; Kohinui, £11,150; Tarai rua, £11.240; Mangahao, £10,327; Bali lance, £8240; Kaitawa, £6845; Marima I £8027; Makomako, £2865; totals, (.£175,703