THE FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 939, 18 April 1882, Page 3

THE FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Mr P. W. Springfield, in the Oamaru district, has ingeniously contrived to make the double-furrow plough perform the work of potato planting, by the simple expedient of attaching a hopper on the framework of the plough, and on one of the wheels fixing a small cog-wheel, by which the motive power is conveyed to carry regularly the sets into the furrows, the covering being done by the two-furrow plough and a single plough following, thus having the rows at a proper width. It is said that by the process, a saving of three men per day is affected ; not a mean consideration in these times, You will have more cream from the deep-setting than from the shallow pan system. Keep the cream where, the temperature will not rise above 50deg, and it will be sweet even if you only churn once a week. Cream that is just on the point of turning sour is claimed by some to make better flavored and sweeter butter than that made from sweet cream.

The thistle, instead of being regarded a nuisance, is now highly spoken of by many stock owners in Victoria as a fodder plant. Mr J. R. Hopkins, President of the Wilchensea Shire Council, stated recently that he would sooner be fined £IOO than he would cut down the thistles on his estate, as he had found his sheep flourish so well on them. A similar experience is being gained in the Hamilton district. On Messrs Christie Bros.’ estate, at Byacluc, an immense crop of thistles has been found on exarnjnatioq to hayo the buds eaten off by cross-bred sheep. Messrs Christie Bros. state that their sheep thrive well on thistles, and much prefer them to the burnt up grass.— Leader.

Many farmers look upon the sunflower as a simply worthless weed, and never dream of the valuable qualities the seeds of t is plant possess. For several years they have been used by breeders of fancy poultry as food for choice birds ; in small quantities, they are mixed with other food, and the peculiar properties of the seed impart a beautiful gloss which no grain will give to the plumage of the adult birds. For those who raise fancy fowl for exhibition, it is essential to perfect success that the plumage should be in perfect condition, and to attain satisfactory results, we can recommend no more valuable aid than judicious feeding of this seed. It has long been known the oil extracted from the sunflower seeds makes a dressing for the hair which is very beneficial, imparting a smoothness and vigor highly appreciated by all who have tried it. It grows very readily, and the poultry man should not forget this cheap and useful assistant.

With reference to the treatment of domestic animals suffering in any way from disease, a good writer on veterinary subjects in the Prairie Farmer remarks : —“ It will require but little observation to convince one that a great proportion of all the diseases to which animals are subject are identical, or nearly so, with those of man, and consequently require the same general treatment; It is true the different animals have diseases peculiar to their class which require special treatment, but we refer to the more general troubles and a ilments. If, for instance, a horse has feverish symptoms, no matter from what cause, his owner should at once consider what would be the proper treatment for such symptoms in a man, and proceed accordingly. The feed should be very light, if not taken away entirely tor a little time. The action of the bowels should be noticed, and if necessary gentle purgatives, or, what is usually better, an enema of tepid water administered. And sweating should be induced if possible. In short, means should be employed to lower the temperature and reduce the pulse.”