FARM & GARDEN NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 59, 21 November 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

FARM & GARDEN NOTES.

r.vsTEUKlstSO.— Thero is at present not a single well conducted D.itiidi butter factory which docs uot pasteurise, and even in dairies whore the daily quantity of milk treated is under 'iOOgtil is pnsluerisation largely resorted to. It is now no longer u secret that the superiority of Danish butler over all others in the English market is to a very great extent due to the general adoption of pastcurisating i:i the Danish factories. ;.; ;.; X Low-down \Yahi;ons.— The low-down waggon, with wheels carried on craukled axles and the door low down, might be. used with advantage on the farm to a much greater extent than it is. Where roads and paddocks are free from stumps and other obstructions there is no reason for lifting heavy weights into a highlloored waggon. The low-down is much oa-ier to load and discharge, and less in danger of capsizing. They are in common use in Canadr. x x x Fjiozkn Mutton ion Coulisaruik. Yesterday morning the first consignment of frozen mutton, consisting of 700 carcases, was (says the Perth Morning Herald of October llud) scut in the cool trucks to (Joolgardie. The mutton which came from .Melbourne, was in excellent condition. Six trucks were filled with the mutton, which is being scut to the goldfields as an experiment. It is significant that the cards attached to the trucks should have been marked "Consignee unknown." X x :< Tksts of Manure.—As the result of experimental tests made at Ottawa Experimental Farms (Canada) last year it was shown that B,ooolb of cow and horse manure (equal qualities of each) placed under shelter from rain, and turned and weighed once a month, was reduced in weight between March 7th and December 7th to 2,G0001b ; at the end of four months it was in " best condition,'' and weighed 3,4501 b. During eight years of experiments on crops it appears that the action of fresh manure on crops is equal, ton for ton, to that of rotted manure. This bears out the opinion of several farmers that it would be more economical to cast out and plough under lightly all manure as soon made. The objection to this would be that tlu field would he fouled with undigested seeds. x x x Benefits or aSii.o. A clever trader, who i 3 himself an observating farmer, speaking about the silo for small farmers and dairymen, remarked to us last week (American Agriculturist, September 12) : " Why, there are those three farmers [mentioning them by name] who used to pay mo over lOOdol every winter for bought hay. Since they have each put in a small silo and filled it with corn with cars on the stalk they sell me from oOdol to lOOdol worth of "hay every year. In other words, they are getting lOOdol in cash for what tncy used" to have to pay out lOOdol, so that their silo is really putting them 200dol ahead."' Again, a York .State farmer tells us : "I h>»ve got over lOOOdul in solid cash for hay during; the past year that I would liavo had to feed to my own stock bad it not been tor the ensilage.' 1 -1- -i- -!- To Mkasukk "Without tiik Staxdakd. For measuring a horse in the absence of an exact standard, the folio win- mode can be adopted. Take an ordinary measuring tape, and stand just behind the horse's shouldcis. Through the ring at the end of the tain: put a piece of stick, and keen this Hat with your foot. Hold the tape straight with one hand, and with the other place a straight stick level from the top of the withers (.cross the tape. This will give the animal's height in feet and inches. Divide the inches by four, and the product will bo the height in bands. For example, Oft is just fifteen hands. If the. measuring pail of the tape docs not include- the ting, it must be allowed for. When i»- tape is uot at band, a piece of .string can be used, and afterwards measured. An advantage of the above method is that the tape can be carried in the pocket, wherein horsestandards are cumbersome, unless made in the form of walking sticks. Packixis oi-' Api'l.ks. There are a number of eases of apples from San Frailcisco now on view at the stores of Messrs Tonks, Norton and Co., which will fiemi an admirable object lesson to our fruitgrowers as to the export of apples. They are as fresh as the day they were picked from the trees, and of excellent flavour. The description given of the way in which they are prepared for export is as follows :—They are taken from the trees as lato as possible before the steamer sails. Each picker is furnished with a ring giving him the limit of size, and when he comes to an apple which be thinks may be tco snail be endeavours to pass it through the ring. If it goes through the apple is discarded. Subsequently the apples are sorted, and all .showing signs ot codlin moth or any WOlin are discarded. No bruised apples are taken. A second overhaul before shipment is made, when the apples are wrapped, and the result is seen in the shipment referred to.—The Weekly Press. + -r + The Haxdlixo or Fkozkx Mkat at Home.—There is something apparently wrong with the way in which frozen meal is handled after it leaves the ship (says the British Australian). The Medical Officer of Health's report is startling reading. For three months. June, duly, and August •I3ti tons oewt of putrid meat were seized and destroyed : expressed in lb the amount is 977,200. During June a large proportion of this was Home killed ; in August, however, by far the largest quantity dealt with was foreign meat, which to quote the report, "has been landed in sound condition, but has become bad owing to an unusually long detention in the refrigerating chambers, or possibly to undue exposure to the hot weather between the time of its leafing the vessel and it delivery to the cold air stores on shore."' Up to September 10th, lot) tons and over of unsounel meat had been seized this month, and on August •2'2ud, 71)0 outol'SOC frozen sheep ex Celtic King were found to be in a " disgustiug condition,'' and promptly condemned. Cuiiolldy enough, these sheep had been passed by the port sanitary authority as sound. ■I- ■!• -!- Cheap lioieov i- - oii Scaly Umciit.— Mr David Cochrane of Lawrence, has informed us that ho has discovered a cheap and easv means of dealing with the scaly blight and (he olhor pests that so ravage the orchard. His plan is to mix two parts of lime, one of cow-dung, one of cow-wash unel one part of (-lay into a paste, send this he smears all over the tiees. lie showed a representative of this journal all over his orchard, and excepting here arid there —on a twig not easily got at or smeared, there was no scaly blight to be seen. His apple trees are in full bloom and seem to be as healthy as apple trees can be. No traces of the codlin moth can be found on any of the trees. Some of these have teen recommended by a brother oichartlint to rout up. lie instead pasted Ilium over, and now tiny are u latest as healthy in their appearenee as lie.- others around them. It was rather late in the reason when Mr Cochrane hit. upon this simple remedy, and so he was mil, able to paint the trees as well as he might, have done. He says he will start is .May next season and go ove revery twig and branch, having a very firm belief in the c-fiicacy of the preparation he has tried. He showed us apples he had kept during the winter, of the Renuetli du Canada vaiiety, and they were remarkably line, well fluvoured specimens. Mr Cochrane intends to extend his orchard, as he fully believes that he can cope with the pest tfiat now effect that moat elcsiderable of fruits --the i'pplc.—Tuapeka Times.

Tkaixixc! a Colt.—One of my mistakes lately with a young horse (says a farmer) was in working him alongside of a slow-walking old mare too long. The colt had the disposition to be a good walker, but he has been working with the slow-walking mate so long that he has formed iholnbit, It is a mistake to train the colt alongside of the easy-going, slow, old heirs.:. The fast-walking horse should be the valuable horse for the fanner, for it is seldom that he has much use for horses to travel at other than a walk, and when it is necessity to hitch to the carriage the fast walker will trot as well as the slow walker, although the liorsj driven in the trot for the greater portion of his time will naturally develop the habit, of walking slowly when he walks at all, in order to rest himself. The fast-walking howo should bo encouraged. -I- -I- -IDitlvKKs' N'oTi:. —As eliiving a horse is something that almost, everyone has to do, even in this day of electricity and steam and bicycles, the proper way to drive is a matter of universal interest, and the following maxims, which are the work of an old driver, will he found good for men as well as fur animals : The more whip the less horsemanship. 1 lad-tempered driver, bad-tempered team. Axle-grease modifies the corn bill. There are more balky drivers than balkj' horses The golden rule-applies to horses as much as it does to men. Whips, like me 'iciues, are to be used only when necessary. Noisy drivers are like noisy waggons—both empty. A penny invested in sugar is better than a shilling invested in whips. He who cannot govern himself cannot govern horses. A horse's power is proportionate to his food. F.umixc IX ])KU.—Wheat requires a wet winter and spring ; we have a dry one. Maize and other summer-growing crops are indifferent to winter meteorology ; they want a wet summer and autumn, which we have. We trust our farmers will bury their heais between their bands and think out the subject, and if Khcy come to tho conclusion that amendments are wise anel necessary, thee let them carry out those, amendents, not recklessly, but wisely and thoughtfully. A wcll-to-elo farmer" told us that all his most successful agiieulture was done /// hr,l .' By way of explanation, he said that it had been his life-long habit never to plunge into any new industry, nor to carry on his ordinary agriculture without thinking out the pros and com to a finish ; and this he generally did at night after ho had blowu out his light ! (iood man \ Tho blasphemous fallacy that if si boy be a fool tl.e Church or farming should be his vceatio.i shoult' not bo quoted by anybody outside a lunatic asylum, x x x A Ni:w Branding Machink. —The Melbouruo Leader of the 17th. ultimo siys:''A trial of a now branding machine by Mr W 11 Potter which claims to he a cheap, effective, and rapid method of branding without damage to the hide or wool took place at Brtiybrook lust week. Tho machine, which is adaptable to cattle and horses, is simple in mechanism weighs only 'lib. and will work for five hours without being recharged with the small quantity of kerosene, the only fuel IVquiretl for keeping the brands heated. The dies or brands are snspcndeel over two small heaters and by a simple adaptation of the 'ever principle tho brands <■>••, merely one if needed, are pressed on the cheek or neck of the animal, as the case may be by a single squeeze of the hand and on being withdrawn the brand returns to the stove audjis thus kept at uniform beat the greatest desideratum in proper branding. It is claimed that the double brand does -'.way with (he-cruelty of ear-marking sheep, as one check can be branded with the station brand and tho other cheek with ;i distinctive brand, whilst a third or dye brand ein be applied to the bridge of the nose sit the same time. Mr Tetter has left for England to complete. arrangments in connection with tho invention.'' i t.j.vm.i.ls in ]|ni;.si:.s.—Strangles, a specific lever contagious in its nature, is peculiarly liable to attack burses. It ito the equine specirs as mumps is to the human and distemper to the cuiino. It chiefly attacks young anel growing horses, and one attack generally sulliees to secure further immunity- It commences with a swelling between the jaws, which is soft at first, increasing in size and hardness. In a week or ten days a small absoess forms, through which matter is exuded The treatment requires careful nursing. If fever is bad. a dram or t wo of guimt lie with a little .sulphuric ajid should be administered. The swelling should be carefully fomented an J poulticed with bran or linseed poultices. When the swelling comes, as it is called, to '• a head," it should be opened, and a little bit of tow or lint should be inserted, in order to enc'jnrago tho outflow of matter. If, as often happens, the breathing is dillicult let the horse inhale steam from boiling water and hay, on which :2oz or 3oz of turpentine have been poured. Especial care should bo taken in order to prevent the auimal"getting cold in the effected paits. He should be given food capable of being easily masticated, and drenches should only be resorted to in case of very sevcra constipation. -i- I- -iA Cranny's; Ci:i;k for Impaction, —Mr Henry Thompson, the well-known English veterinarian, writes thus to an English agricultural journal :—" A short time ago, on reading some comments on the derangement of the digestive organs of cattle, it struck me that a correspondent poked a little fun at a quotation taken from my book, where I recommended from Jib. to .'j'.lb. of fat bacon. Goz. of salt and a quart of milk boiled, together, and administered with a horn, as a remedy for impaction of tho stomach. Now, was it the boiled bacon or the horn that tickled his fancy ? I may say that it is over :>0 years since I ceased io administer eroton oil and eroton beaus in cattle practice. 1 soon found that neither of these answered iu this district at least, and I can assure you if was very galling to you a fully fledged M.R.'O.V.S., using the remedies rceommendeel at college and iu the works on .Materia Medica, to fiddle on for four or five days with no improvement, and on an olel fanner being called in, tho boik:d bacon and salt mixtures was perscribed with great success. If the ordinary remedies do not answer in the first L!G or IS hours, I turn to the olelfashioncd remedy, and when no organic lesions are present the effect is all that can be desired. If is those who win that laugh. I think the success is due to the bacon (why should it nut. he as good as linseed or castor oil V) being foreign l/i the stomach id' herbivorous animals, setting up an extra peisistaltic action, while the 11 lid which the animal drinks, caused by the thirst-producing action id' the salt, adean out of tho compartments, leaving a tone behind which is dimply astonishing, for ill I"J hours the patient i oiuinences to cat. Now for the horn. If is asked, why should a horn be .-peeially recommended? first, because the small pieces of bacon are liable to slick to the neck of the boliie, and prevent the free administration of the draught. Secondly, because in drenching a cow with a bottle, the Moid is continuously trickling down tho bat); of the mouth, interfering with swallowing, anel some of it, is apt to pass down into the windpipe, so causing u gnat deal of const ilni ion ii disturbance, and may he, death. This 1 have seen oil ► ovend occasions. I bit when the horn is used the eb.se is passed to the back of tho mouth, and jivallowed at once without any danger to the animal. Watch a cow drink wilier, and note what a large quantity the sucks into her mouth before shj ' gluts.' Follow the example, give a good mouthful and it will be swallowed with the uiiniiuuu amount of risk."

Tin-; Futurk or Tin: Fko/.kn Mkat Tkadk.—When shcepfarmora at this end of tho world express surprise at the great differenoa iu the prices for English and for frozen mutton, they iivo told by those engaged in handling the frozen produce at Homo that tho two things have little connection. English-killed mutton has its own class of consumers, who as a rule never think of trying frozen meat, and who do not. trouble much about the price they pay. It is, wo are assured, the price of American beef which centrals the mutton market more than auythitig else. It. is the consumers of American beef who buy frozen mutton, and they gem rally prefer beef, and if it, is low in price tlisy buy it. and leave the mutton alone. Then, to tempt custom, prices must come down. If is fheroforo of importance to shippers here to know, from a reliable source, how long tho Americans can keep up their present shipments of beef. Mr O'l'.ciriie, one of tho olliciiils of the English Embassy at. Washington, has been making an extended inquiry into this question, and his report, though cautious, is reassuring. If is his opin'on that the American cattle breeders will not iu future be able to supply tho markets as thev havo done hitherto, Tho great days of the cattle ranches iu tho West, arc over. In Wyoming, in Montana, and iu North Dakota, it is true, the system still exbts in full vijour. But in Texas it is no longer what it was. In Colorado its profits have departed. In Kansas and Nebraska it has disappeared, 'flic cattle industry is now a diminishing industry in the United States, and with the diminution of its profits the number of cattle has decreased. " Under these circumstances it seems probable that the Americans will no longer be able to furnish the cattle that the world requires, anel that their competitors in other countries may, perhaps, struggle to the ftont again. The importance of the American supply as a factor in governing prices may be gauged by the fact that in 1891 three-fourths of the live and six-sevenths of the fresh beef imported into Crcat Britain came from America, and since then the exports have largely increased. Any check to that supply, therefore, is likely to have an important influence in stimulating the demand for frozen mutton. — Hawkc's Bay Herald. -!- -I- + Attractions at Aoricultukai. Shows. —Should small country agricultural societies be encouraged, or should they be merged into a few large societies :' This question has been frequently asked and fought over. There is no doubt that some of the societies hold a good exhibition, and do go far to encourage agriculture and iho improvement of live stock, while others are apparently formed for the purpose of providing an annual picnic in the district. In discus ing this question the Review mentions that they have before them tho schedule of prizes of an "agricultural " society which one might almost think was intended as a huge joke. Tho stock clisses include seventeen fe.r sheep, thirty for horses (the average prize is sibout 30s), live for cattle, and the sune number for pigs. The principal prize in the) cattle section is for a gue.-sing competition, the visitor guessiug the weight of an exhibited bullojk receiving the award. As an entrance fee of one shilling is charged, and the prize is LI, the cattle should go far to encourage a gambling spirit among tho youth of tho district, Iml should, with luck, pay expense*. Passing over classes fur machinery (total prizes. [A, divided among twelve sections), farm produce, harness, Are , one comes to the general classes, apparently by far the most, important. The single ladies tire tirst of all catered for a prize being awarded to the best-ironed while shirt and collar. Surely there is no necessity to exclude married ladies, as among fanners' wives the irouiug of while shirts is fortunately almost a forgotten art. It is highly probable that the single ladies will get their mothers to wash the shirts before the ironing is commenced. Another interesting class is that for the best-polished pair of boots. l\>v boys, especially, the accoinplishmenl of bootcleaning" might, be ixtremclj useful. Many a country boy earning to the large cities finds that there are no openings for him ill life because he can do no work for which there is a, demand. A good boot-polisher can frqououtly obtain a billet in seme cheap hotel, or failing that, the kerbs are always open. Apparently a sheep or a pig will shortly be a novelty at somo of the '• agricultural " shows, and the place of live stock be peimauenlly occupied by exhibits of pot plants, " biled " s'-;irls anel bouts.

COW PEAS. Among the least grown and yet most valuable crops that can be cultivated iu these colonies is the cow pea. For years past agricultural writers in all parts of the world have been urging their me; its, ami yet 00 per cent, of our farmers have never seen then; growing. My object in writing is to urge all to try a sm.ill plot, aim that there may be no dilliculty in obtaining a. small quantity of seed, 1 will send a packet to anyone applying for it, on iece : pt of "2d. stamp fur peistage. In looks, the vine or bust of the Cow Pea is more like a bean, to which family it really belongs. There are a larcc number of varieties, distinguished mostly by the colour of the seeds ; but our experimental stations have decided that the black is the best. There is one sort called the Wonderful, which, if it could be acclimatised anel induced to ripen its seeel earlier, would, in my opinion, be much bitter still, as its growth with me last year was wonderful. J think J should have ripened a few seeds, but for tei riblc hailstorm that swept over, cutting the vines into chaff. As a fodder plant it is pronounced most nutritious, its feeding ratio being very good. Pigs can be fattened on it without grain, anel cows do splendidly on it. They will cat up even the eleael vines on the ground in preference to good grass. For ensilage it is unsurpassed, or if can be euieel for hay. I tried an experiment in cutting it down just before flowering. It statted up again and made a most vigorous growth before the end of the season, so that in districts where the sea so a is reasonably long it is possible that a crop of hay and one of seed can be obtained, or, at any rale, two crops of hay. The ripened seeds do for tho various uses that, corn is put to, anel are no mean dish for the farmer'd table iu the winter time. But what should recommend them most is the power they possess in common with anel other leguminous plants of enriching the soil by drawing nitrogen from the air, and when the portions under Iho soil decay, leaving it as plant, food for a succeeding crop, and us nitrogen is the most expensive manure to buy, they can be liti rally said "to work lor nothing and boaid themselves." 'This point is one thai should be Well considered, for, as I he fertility of the soil is the farmers' capital, a crop" that will add to if rather lliun deplete it, should find a place iu every rotation. In England and some parts of the States clovers are used feir this purpose, but they do nut thrive with us unit ss ihe Crimson Clover (Trifoliuin Incarniituin) proves to tho contrary. Ami I may say here tlut reports up to the present from all purls of iho colony si tic that it is promising well. My own (rial plots are ju.-t commencing to shoot, and Iho root growth to them i enormous.- 11. T. Uumiiey Agriculturist.