THE FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 924, 7 March 1882, Page 3

THE FARMERS’ COLUMN.

CLEANING MACHINES. AtiniAy suggestion, on its travels withentered t, is to the effect that before removing a threshing machine to another farm it should be run empty from five to ten minutes at a high rate of speed in order to throw any seeds of cheat, cockle, etc., and to discharge particles of smut that may have adhered to it. In this way the germs of weeds or fungi will be left where raised, and not introduced by this medium as a pest to other fields. PRESERVING EGGS. A new process of preserving eggs for several months has been discovered by Dr Phipson. On taking the eggs from the nest they should be covered over, by means of a bit of wool, with butter in which is two or three per cent of salicylic acid. Each egg after receiving this coat, should then be placed in a box filled with fine and absolutely dry sawdust. If care be taken that the eggs do not touch each oilier, and that they be perfectly covered with the sawdust, tiiey will keep fre»h for several months —perhaps more than a year Dr Phipson states that he has experimented with this process for two years with most excellent results. WHEAT HARVESTING IN CALIFORNIA. In a letter addressed to you by Lieut. Colonel Coxon, dated August 30, a need is expressed for some machine that would clip the heads of standing crops of wheat. Such a machine is largely used in the States and greatly lightens and facilitates harvesting. It is known as the “header,” and cuts a breadth of from 10 to 16 feet, the heads of grain are received on endless travelling aprons, and Ly them passed upon a shoot which conveys them to a specially adapted waggon, driven alongside. The “header” is propelled and operated by horses in the rear of the machine, aud is directed by a steering wheel also in the rear. Probably twothirds of the wheat fields in this State are harvested by heading. Obviously the “ header” is useless where crops are “lodged.” This year wheat harvest on this coast has proved deficient in quantity, but of unusually good quality, the almost entire failure of spring rains accounting therefore. Farming here has once more become remunerative, the demand for cereals, fruits, dairy produce, and fat stock of all kinds being good, at rales which pay something over the cost of production. Our fruit growers have received notable encouragement from the Large export demand for canned fruits, jams, and jellies. Sixty thousand dollars’ worth of apricot marmalade were put up in San Jose alone last year.—-Edward Berwick, Carmel Valley, Monterey, California, in the Times. IMPORTANT TO FARMERS. A singular state of affairs, says the New Zealand Herald, was disclosed in a case brought under the Public Works Act and heard under the Petition of Righls Act yesterday, before Judge Macdonald. The issue is one of importance to every farmer in the country who may have to transmit grain or pro dace by the railway. Mr Elliott, of Onehunga, sent a quantity of wheat by rail consigned to Mr I*. H. McKenzie for sale. There, were certain rail charges on the wheat and these Mr McKenzie at once preferred. Some one in the goods office, however, made a discovery, for which Captain McKenzie was accounted liable. It was found that certain charges had not been paid, and now it was declared that until these had been paid Mr Elliot’s wheat would not be delivered. There was no pretence that Mr Elliott was indebted. Mr McKenzie was surprised at the new demand, and refused to comply with it. Mr ELiott claimed his own wheat, offering to pay the train charges, but could not obtain delivery. The result has been that a valuable lot of grain has been for over a fortnight exposed to (he weather in an open truck, partially protected by a tarpaulin. The wheat is destroyed. Samples exhibited yesterday only represented shells and weavills, the latter being especially lively. This matter of a petition of right in claiming against the railway authorities is a monstrosity. The Railway Department has no claim to be considered other than a common carrier, subject to all the incidents of such a position, but they are not so. The department is sheltered behind an absurd provision. They do not as they ought to, appoint their managers, the men to sue and be sued. The result is that men suffering loss, if the loss is not grievous, will not go through che disagreeable and costly process of presenting a petition of right to Her Majesty, and then going into the Supreme Court. They would much rather pocket (heir losses and guard themselves as best they can in the future.