FARMING NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10713, 5 September 1912, Page 6

FARMING NOTES

(By "Man on the Land.")

FA TTENIN GLA MBS

At the Moumahaki experimental

farm, Mr T. W. Lonsdale, the manager,' sivvs: —"Since a large proportion of tho sheep aro yearly being fattened on fodder crops, both student and interested in the cultivation of all" crops which aro conducive to rapid fattening. Numerous plants arc adaptable to this purpose, but probably rape has for many years been 'considered preeminent, yet we have 110 authentic evidence on this point. Many trials have been carried out in various parts of the country, but these have chiefly been to Ascertain the yield per aero of reispectivo plants. An interesting experiment in feeding lambs lias rcfcently been conducted 011 this farm, the object of which was to compare, tho feeding qualities of different varieties of fodder, a field of several acres being devoted to rape, silver beet, maize and Buda kale. On March 29th a draft of 182 lambs was apportioned according to tho area occupied by the respective crops. Each lot was weighed and marked, so that in the event of individual lambs straying on to other plots the matter could bo easily rectified. The lambs were then turned on to separato plots, and remained 011 tho crops for a period of eighteen days. To a casual observer the general appearance of the lambs on rape, silver beet, and main© plots was similar through tho trial; but it was evident that those feeding'Buda kalo were not fattening rapidly. At the conclusion of tho trial the lambs wero again weighed, tho average gain per lamb for the period being as follows: Rape, 7.31b; silver beet, G.4lb; maize, 5.91b.; Buda kale, ,2.41b. . KILLING GREEN SCRUB.

The use of arsenic and caustic soda

for killing green scrub timber, the New South. Wales Department of Agriculture points out, has attracted a

I good deal of attention within tho iast year or two, especially in tho Westt ern district;: of tho State, whero sevleral farmers have employed the poisons with success. Tho Government;

botanist lias .suggested (says the Leader) to mix caustic soda arid arsenic, in the proportion of tivo parts of soda to one of Jirsonic, in a paste, and then, having bored a hole in a ■ tree with an anger, fill to about, tiro-thirds with paste, and firmly plug it up again. The size and depth, of the hole v. ill depend on tho size of the tree, the idea being that the poison must bo introduced into the sap system of the tree. If the work is done in tho autumn tho retiring sap will carry the poison into tho roots of the tree, which would show the effects at once, and will probably bo dead in a "feu weeks. Success depends largely upon the "thoroughness with which tho woik is done. For instance, some farmer last year tried to poison hollow trees in this way. with tho result that the paste percolated through the doad centre, and had no effect.