FARMING NOTES

Wairarapa Age, 23 March 1920, Page 7

FARMING NOTES

A cow needs rest before .'calving, else she will begin production at a low level. She should be dry six weeks; if thin, two months.

Soda for Hogs.—Two tablespoonfuls of common baking soda in slop or mash given once or twice a week will keep hogs in a healthy condition.

A county veterinarian for every county would be a boon. The people in several Colorado communities have gotten to gether and hired veterinarians. One community has three.

A saving of 125,000 dollars was effected by co-operative selling of wool in lowa last year. , Growers received from ten to twenty cents a pound more than they would have by selling separately.

Sheep records were broken at the Omaha stock yards last September. A total of 849,811 sheep arrived there — the greatest number for any single month. Seventy-one per cent went back to the country as feeders.

The delegates to the New Zealand Clydesdale Horse Society have decided to 'make an annual distribution of four gold medals for competition by Clydesdales at various agricultural and pastoral shows in the Dominion.

The temperature of milk when being separated will affect the test of the cream. Lowering the temperature will cause a thinner cream than would be skimmed if the milk were warmer. Never attempt to skim milk that is below 76deg k ; better have It 80 or 90deg. J

To hold a sheep, stand at the left of the animal and place the left hand under its jaw. If the 1 animal goes forward, the left hand will check it. If it backs up_, place the right arm around behind it, just below the rump. After a few minutes, the sheep will stand quietly.

The Wairarapa Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association, Stock Department, have received instructions from Mr James Tilyard, Jellicoe street, Martinborough, who is giving up contracting, to hold a clearing sale of carrying and contracting plant. Full particulars later. ■ L '''....

A ride in an aeroplane was offered the exhibitor of the best car of hogs at King county Pork Day, in California, October 15th. N. B. Baikley won first prize, but did not take the ride. Mrs Grace Davidson, clerk of the sale held in connection with Pork Day, went as representative of 1 the winning farm.

Some Canterbury farmers have propounded a scheme to provide a bloctf of land for JJB tubercular soldiers at' present at tne Cashmere Sanatorium. If the Government'approves of the scheme a committee is to be formed to see that the men are well cared for. , v '•■'..

Arrangements have been completed for the shipment of large consignments of fruit for London. The Kaitoa left Nelson on Sunday evening with 6300 cases of apples for transhipment into the Athenic, and it is to bo dispatched this evening for a further cargo. '

Copy of cablegram from the Director of Raw Materials, London, to the Department of Imperial Government Supplies, Wellington, dated March 19, 1920: Series 3 of the sales commenced March 16 with firm tone. Merinos and fine crossbreds are 5 per cent, dearer than at end of February auctions, but position regarding medium and coarse crossbreds is not altered, although tendency of market better. Prices for slipes and scoured crossbreds are practically unchanged."

Rabbitskins at 360 pence per lb (vide the cables) are prompting the town man to arms, and "bunny" is jbeing hunted by quite an army of people who have little experience of firearms. A party of fishermen in a southern district the other day had to "duck" as Francotts bullets whistled about their ears and sprayed the water in front. J"t haß been suggested to the novices that in spite of the land aggregation that is going on the country is not altogether depopulated.

Pig men take too little heed of the breeding value of a good sow. How many keep records? If they did they would get the same sort of surprises that are afforded to dairy men by the statistics of the Herd-testing Association. The records of a New South Wales sow are in point in this con--flection. Following are her performances:—June, 1915, littered seven, sold for £29 10s; December, 1915, lit* tered 11, sold for £44; June, 1916, 12, £52 15s; December, same year, 19, £54; July, 1917, 13, £4B; December, same year, 17, £3B 15s; July 1919, 15, £SO; December, same year, 12, unsold at time of reckoning. In addition she won £6 in show ring prizes. Thus her cash earning were £323, Besides the unsold litter. Just as the object of the dairyman in to breed according to performances, so should the pig breeder.

English Herefords are on the boom in Uruguay. Astonishing figures were realised at Monte Video recently. "The Live Stock Journal" records that the Cardiff Eoyal Show champion bull Goodenough, bred by "Mr W. Griffiths, Aldersend, Tarrington, realised £6587 10s to the bid of Mr Felipe Monters. Another high price made was £3299. Next highest price was £3191 10s. Other bulls realised £2552 15s, £2446 15s, £2340, and £1912 10s. Five others brought over £I4OO, and several others over £IOOO. Nearly 100 Hereford bulls were disposed of at the sale, and only an odd one or two I brought less than £3OO. The majority 'sold at from £4OO to £BOO, so that for numbers and prices the sale mast constitute a record for any country.

The; Minister of Lands, who visited the Urewera Country last week, states that he is now formulating proposals with' a view to the early settlement of the 300,000 acres already purchased by the Government. He proposes that the work of partitioning the native interests and the Government interests shall be taken in hand as soon as possible.