FARM & GARDEN NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 88, 30 January 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

F ARM & GARDEN NOTES.

Meeting the Live Cattle Trade.— Extensive additions have been mado to tho Foreign Cattle Market at Deptford, England, to meet tho increase in tho live cattle aud sheep trade from North aud South America, about £50,000 having been spent by tho London Court of Comniou Council in bringing the market up to moelrrn requirements. About 5000 bullocks are now slaughtered weekly, and thero is lairage accommodation for 7000 bullocks aud-20,000 sheep under cover. + + + Potato Paint.—A now use has been fouud for potatoes. Taint can be mado with them in tho following manner : —A pound of potatoes is boiled in water aud afterwareis mashed ; then, being dilutod with water, they aro passed through a fine sieve, two pounels of Spanish white aud two pounds of water being added. A milky-white colour results. Various other colours can be obtained by the use of ochres and minerals. Tho advantages of tho paint aro cheapness aud durability, as it adheres well to wood or plaster and does not peel. x + + Operation on a Pear Trek— Mr John Rutherford, of Wairere, in tho Masterton district has a pear tree which, although it madi plenty of timber, haa for years stubbornly refused to bear any fruit. Speaking one day to a medical friend he was advised to try tho effects of a ligature. Ths settler accordingly fastened a wire round one of the larger limbs, with tbe result that this yoar, although the limb has been nearly cut through, as the result of its quick growth and the surgical operation, it is bearing a fine crop of fruit, whi'e tho rest of the tree is destitute of pear or blossom. + + + Prize Barley.—The champion prize for tho malting barloy, carrying with it the Mark Lane Express Challenge Cup, has been won this year by a Suffolk farmer with " Wrench's Premier" variety. It also took the prize for the best seed barley. The grower was Mr G. Stedman, of Earl Stonham, Suffolk. The weight and condition, as well as the colour of some ■ of the samples, are reported to have been -wonderful. Some of them turned the beam at nearly GOlb per bushel. The prize lot was sown in February and harvested in July. Soil, heavy clay. Tho crop on the land in the previous year was mangolds, and tho year before that wheat. Fison's manure was used, and tho barley was cleaned (as was the ease with most of tho other samples) with Koby's machine. x x x New Zealand Lamb at Home.—Mr John Cook was favourably impressed during his recent visit to England with tho great development in the use of New Zealand lamb. He says Australia can get a share in this trade when she produces tho article tho British consumer .vauts. Canterbury lamb, he adds, is now appearing in the best shops in England, It is found in leading liotels and on fashionable dinner-tables, and he was rather amused to learn that those great opponents of foreign meat, tho British domestic servants, only hearing of it by the name of " Canterbury," regard it as a choice kind of home-grown, aud its undoubted quality favours the justifiable deception. Wo oan grow splendid lambs in Australia, and wo ought, says Mr Cook, to make a bid for a share of tho trade. Argentina follows the New Zealand lead, which she certainly will overtako before long. What is wanted is a quicklymatured, first-cross lamb, weighing from 3i'Jb to 401 b, and I need not add that thoy ought to be killed straight from their mothers. Lambs weaned for some time, and after being driven considerable distances, will not gain us the reputation we desire to establish. xxx Steam v. Oil.—lt used to be eoromou, a 3 some new passenger took his place iu the train iu tho early days of railways, for bim to remark as tho train began to move, " A wonderful thing is steam, as !" But though wo havo reason to be thankful for what steam has done and is doing, from Stevenson's '• puffing billy" locomotive (which has a truck behind with a horso to draw it home if it broke down) to tho quadruple expansion engines of our ocean liners, still bteam has its rival, and not only eleericity, but simply kerosene oil. At last Melbourne Show Messrs. Hornsby showed oil engines for farm purposes, thrashing, chaff-cutting, etc., with neither fire-box nor boiler, and needing no special driver. Strickly speaking they are gas engines, but make their own gas as they go from common kerosene oil, and no farmer ueed fear for stacks, since there are no sparks, or any possibility of them. A more recent departure is tbe oil traction engine of the sumo makers—a 5-horse nominal (or 10-horse actual) being capable of drawing over 20 tons of loading on a level road. The difficulty of employing steam traction has often been the carriage of fuel and water long distances, but when all U reduced to the oil drum, the oil traction engine should take tho place of the bullock waggon in .ill suitable country. x x x Cows' Milk fob Foals.—The Live Stock Journal has the following remarks on the feeding of foals with cows' milk : Nl When the milk of the dam proves insufficient for the young foal it should be supplemented by cows' milk which may bo freely given to it, in addition to twoor thr<e feeds" of oats daily. Many thoroughbred foals are given cows' milk ' in almost any quantity ' both before and after weaning, and Mr William. Day, the celebrated breeder anel trainer, believes ' without any evil results.' While reeommendiug oats for the young animals in the early stage of existence, when following the dam, tho same authority strongly discountenances the practice of giving them, beans, peas, oilcake, or any kind of condiments or condimental foods. Cows' milk, being considerably poorer in saccharine matter than that of tho mare, should be sweetened by the addition of sugar to make it more palatable to the foal as well as more nutritious, by imitating as closely as possible the natural produce of the mare. It is well not to supply foals with milk from herds known to contain tuberculous subjects, although the horse is not, like cattle and human beings, very susceptible to tuberculosis Still, in valuable studs the chance of infection should be avoided." x x x Training "Vicious Horses.—A new and very simple method of training vicious horses was exhibtod at West Philadelphia recently, aud the manner in which some of the wildest horses were subdued the Philadelphia lieoord calls astonishing. The first trial was that of a kicking or '■ buckiug" mare, which the owner said had allowed no rider on her back tor a period of at least five years. She became tame in a few minutes and allowed herself to be ridden about without a sign of her former wildncss. The result wag accomplished by means of a piece of light rope, which was passed round the front of the jaw of the marc just above the upper teeth, crossed in her mouth, then secured back to hi r neck. It was claimed that no hoi.-e would kick aud jump when thus secured, and that a horcu uff-r

receiving tlic treatment a few times will abandon his vicious ways for ever. A very simple method was also shown by which a kicking horse could bo shod. It consisted in connecting the animal's head and tail by means of a rope fastened V-i the tail and to the bit. and drawn tightly enougli to incline the animal's head to one side. This it is claimed, makes it absolutelv impossible for the horse to kick on the sido of the rope. At, the same exhibition a horse which for many years bad to be bound to the ground to bo shod suffered the blacksmith to operate upon bim without attempting to kick while secured in the manner described. A x x Buttermilk as a Summer Beverage.— Foi a summer beverage there can he nothing more wholesome and strengthening than buttermilk. It is excellent for wenk or delicate stomachs, and far better ns a dinner drink than coffee, tea, or water, and, unlike them, does not retard, but rather aids, digestion. A celebrated physician onco said, that if everyone know the value of buttermilk as a drink it would be more freely partaken of by persons who drink so excessively of other beverages; and further compared its effects upon the the system to the clearing out of a cooking stove, that had been clogged up with ashes that have sificd through, filling up every crevice and eraek, saying that the human system is like the stove, and collects and gathers refuso matter that can in no way be exterminated from the system so effectually us by drinking buttermilk. It is also a specific remedy for indigestion, soothes and quiets the nerves, and is very somnolent to thoso who are troubled with sloeplessness. There is something strange in the fact that persons who are fond of buttermilk never tire of singing its praises, while those who arc not fond of it never weary of wondering how some people can drink it. So far as possible, people should ovcreomo their aversion to it and learn to drink it for health's sake, xxx A Lesson Taught Australian Flockmasters iiy the Drought.—While the reports one hears of the drought are sad enough, tbere arc evidences (observes " Briini ,: in the Australasian) and not a few, that tbe result will not be all bad. Indeed, one may fairly assume that when we have a return to good seasons the drought will bo found to havo had a very beneficial effect on many of our lbcks. The greater number of the sheep that died from drought last year in New South Wales may be set down as old sheep an I weakly young ones. The boiling down establishments claimed their victims bymillions, and these were invariably tho culls from the various flocks in the country. Never since sheep husbandry was established in tho mother colony havo tbe flocks been so closely culled of indifferent sheep. The good effect of this is most remarkable even in the present vear. The last season was a bad one, and yet the yield of wool from a great many flooks is highly satisfactory. It is by no moans an uncommon thing for r. flock to be several thousands of sheep short of last year's number, and yet give a considerably higher return of wool. Never since I first took notice of pastoral mattera (and that is a good many years now) have the evidences of careful and judicious sheenbreedingbeen so frequently brought under my notice ns within the past year. The price realised for rams last season are sufficient proof of a strong determination on the part of the flockmasters to improve their sheep. 4- X + Progressive Dairying.—Tho groat difficulty is not in tho soil, climate, or water, but the lack of intelligent ideas of what modern dairying demands. First, tho kind of cow that is needed ; second, the treatment that should' be accorded her ; third, how to feedhcr ; fourth, bow to produce that feed the most (.erfectly and cheaply ; fifth, a knowledge of creamery work, and the relation that should exist between tho patron and the creamery. As of of those ideas aro vastly different from those which prevailed 50 years ano. When a people will not educate themselves into a sound modern dairy 3judgment they will not prosper to the best profit in doing anything with the modern dairy. Success depends almost wholly upon the amount of dairy intelligence prevailing in tho community. In Wisconsin, great as it is in dairying, wa have many communities where scarcely any profit is mado from the cows. Not 50 miles from there there aro other communities that are rapidly getting rich in the industry. The first will do nothing for their own education or information. Tho latter are striving constantly to make a study of the business. It is a very common thing to see a farmer who will not pay a cent for sound dairy inforreutior, but who yearly loses a hundred times more because of bad judgment that sound knowledge would correct. A community mado up of that kind of farmers cannot make money keeping cows. Dairying is essentially a work of intelligence, and ignorant settled dairy principles is its greatest foe.—Au Exchange. + v- + Sowing Mixed Wheat.—ln connection with the growing of healthy wheat crops thero is (says " Thistledown' iu tho Australasian) one important point often neglectsd, viz., the sowing of mixed seed wheat. This subject is meanwhile occupying a good deal of attention, both iu France and America It has been established by numerous experiments that the so .ving together of two distinct kinds of wheat gives almost invariably a better yield of grain than would hava been obtained from tho same total quantity of either sown separately. M. de Vilmoriu, a very high authority on whoat«srrowing, is stoutly in favour of tbe practice, and, speaking of France, says that skilful cultivators often employ mixtures of seed corn, In support of this custom it is remarked that each variety of wheat differs from all others, not only in external characters, but, to some extent, in tho matter of its nourishment, in its special needs, and in the proportions of the material if draws from the soil. Again, with regard to seeding, it has been observed that the most powerful enemy the wheat plant has to compete with "is the wheat plant itself. This is particularly the case if the plants which fiud themselves in strife belong to tbe same variety, for the roots of each plant are continuously in contact with those of adjacent plants which at the same time and at tho same depth aro seeking in the soil precisely the same food. If however, two different varieties have been sown together, tho competition will bo les.« severe for each. In addition to a larger yield obtained, it is further claimed that the mixed grain is of a higher quality, and brings a better price in the market. + x + Watering Houses.—No careful observer can doubt that the majority of work horses suffer a great deal from thirst during the harvest months. The horse is much like a man in the matter of ilrink —needs water in small quantities and needs it often. His stomach is too small to hold more than a pailful without crowding out tho food ; and this amount is used up in a very short time when the weather is warm and the animal is at work. Horses perspire freely, aud tho demand hero made upon the system is constant and often heavy. If a horse is allowed to become very thirsty and warm, and then permitted to drink all be will, he is vuvy apt to injure himself seriously. This fact is so widely known, aud yet, so imperfectly understood, that it has led to the popular fallacy that ahorse should not bo allowed to drink at all when heated. This widespread error has been productive of a great deal of cruelty in the treatment of horses in the hot summer days. A man can best jud go of his horso'a condition and needs by thinking: of his own. He often gets so heated that he cannot drink very freely with impunity, but he never gets co warm that, he will refuse a mild swallow of cold water, And he may rest assured that his heated horse is in no mute danger of being foundered under the

same treatment. The horse needs refreshment, and appreciates it, just as much as the man. The man generally carries a jug of water into tho field for himself, and it would bo a great thing for the horse if he should be treated with the same consideration. It is too long for a horse to go half a day without water when at work under a hot sun. Every lover of this noblest of our animal servants should lend a hand and a voice in favour of a reform in this matter. Thoso who can be reached in no other way shouM know what the horse well cared for in tho matter of drink, as well as that of food, will pay for the extra care m a better and longer service.—" Thistledown," in Australasian. -)- -i- -r Convektixg Maize into Hay.—With such genial growing weather as we arc now experiencing and the splendid olt'oet it is having on the grass, thoso who have planted maize will hardly require it as green fodder. It is not generally known that if, can be converted into hay, and those who havo moro than they need for green feed can so deal with it, for although a very succulent plant, it can easily "be mndo into hay of the best quality. It not oily makes really splendid hay, which is so appreciated by stock that tho animals will lick up overj particle of tho ration that is given them, but it is just as easily saved as wheat or oats, and needs scarcely any other treatment than is given theso crops, It is ready for cutting after the cobs are formed and whilc'thoy are in the soft, milky stage but before tho steins show any signs of dryness, If the crop is even and not too tall it can be easily cut with a reaper aud binder, and when this harvesting naachiuo is used tho precaution should bo taken of iegul.iting tho binding attachment so as to ensure the formation of small sheaves. Large sheaves of maizo are unwieldly and extremely heavy to lift, while at tho same time the binding together of much material retards the drying process, and may result in badly cured, discolored or heated hay. If the weather is warm the maize will not be harmed by beiug left on tho ground for a day or so, moro particularly if it is turmd over during 1 hat time, but as a rule it is better to slook it shortly after cutting. The stooks should be built in double rows of five each side, the tops being brought together and a space of 2 feet left between the butts, so as to admit a free pasage of air through the stook. The period of curing elepends entirely on the weather, a few days being sufficient if tho temperature is high, while a much longer period is necessary if cold and showery weather is experienced. Any farmer, however, who knows how to save wheaton or oaten hay will not make a mistake in judging tho condition of maize when it is fit to stack. When properly saved it can be stacked without fear, and will then keep an indefinite period if the staok is securely thatched. If given whole to the stock they will eat every bit of it but tho most economical way of using it is to convert it into chaff, when it may be mixed with other fodders, if such are available. SUGAR FROM SUGAR-BEET. A movement is now on foot for the purpose of forming companies to obtain the neccessary capital for the purpose of erecting machinery to crush the beet and convert the juicp into sugar. Oue locality spoken of in which operations will be commenced is the Tumut district, where the sugar beet is successfully grown by a progressive farmer, resident thero. A large quantity of seed has been applied for, for this season's planting, which will afford suffisient material to make a commencement. Sugar making trom beet has attained to great proportions in America and on the Continot of Europe where the industry is highly extolled. In America it has eclipsed cane growing. In that country four factories produced three years ago 28,276,9561 b. of sugar mado from beets. The foliowing_ year the increase of production was 1C,274,1831b. At a still latter dato 27,490 acres were under cultivation in beets, from which it was expected to make 58,300,0001 b. of sugar • it will bo thus seen that the increase in raising sugar beets is very rapid, and the business is profitable. The capital invested in tho seven factories amounts to two and a half millions of dedlars, which, it is estimated, is capable of producing 200,000 tons of sugar annually. The company established furnished seed free, of the best quality to 107 farmers. A factory capable of doaliug with 100 tons of beet a day cost £3,000 ; a larger quantity iu proportion. Farmers realise from 50 to 60 dollars on their own beet crop per acre, tho factory owners contracting for the entire crop at 5 dollars a ton ; at that price yielding a greater profit per ton than seven or eight acres of maize. While the area for growing sugar-cane in this colony is exceedingly limited, and tho risks attending its cultivation very great, that for sugar beet cultivation is almost unlimited, and the risk no greater than in any ordinary crop. Land which has been under crop of maizo is tho most suitable for beet growing. The climate should be cool, such as is obtainable in this colony, unless in the northern parts, in exceptionlly warm seasons. Tho land should be deeply ploughed to allow tho beet to fully develop its normal shape, aud not protrude above ground. Where tho sub-soil is stiff and retentive it is advisable to stir it. That can bo done by first ploughing tho land with an ordinary plough to a depth of 9in., and then, by removinsr tho mouldboard, stir the sub-soil to a further depth of Gin., but not turning it up. It is absolutely necessary that this should be done to allow tho downward growth, as all that pait above ground is useless for sugar-making. After ploughing, the land should be deeply harrowed and drills sown from lift, to 2ft. apart, according to the nature of the soil—rich land tho shorter distance, that of a poorer quality tho wider. The closeness of the rows will prevent the growth of large heels, which contain little sugar. Fifteeu pounds of seed to the aero are sufficient. Plat cultivation, to allow tho weeds to be kept down until tho plants have developed four leaves, is advisable. They should be then thinned out to stand fully 7in. apart in the rows. This work can be effectively performed with a hoe with a blade 4in. wide. After thinning, tbe soil between the rows sboulei be well cultivated with a horse-hoe or scarifier, to keep down weeds, and the soil loose until the leaves of the plaut are large enough to shade the ground. At the last cultivation tho soil should be thrown towards tho roots of the plauts to cover the lops of the roots. When the leaves change in colour from a dark green to a yellowish green, and the outer circle of leaves bend down and form a ring about the cap of the roots, the crop is ready for harvesting ; two methods are pursued in that operation. In one, the crown anil tops aro removed by a sharp hoe, and tbe roots afterwards ploughed out, In the other, the roots are drawn or ploughed out. and tho leaves aud crowns removed by a sharp heavy knife. The leaves and crowns should be carefully collected, as they form excellent food for stock. Tho size of the beets should be kept down by thick planting, and should not exceed 21b. in weight ; larger sized contain 10-s sugar, and a large amount of solnblo matter not sugar. As may be ox petite 3, a supply of beets must bo guaranteed by the farmers before a fcotory can bo erected. In that there should be no difficulty, provided the soil aud climate arc suitable, both of which arc present in many districts. Where the factory is erected there should be a plentiful supply of pure water for the extraction of sugar from the beets and for steam-making puuposos. Limestone and fuel are also required, All the essentials aro abundant in the Tumut district. Such being tho case, a great inducement to capitalists is hold out for entering on a profitable undertaking : also to the farmers who at present hud great difficulty in making the two ends meet, by cultivating ordinary crops. In one SJutu. iu America the ee-tit per acre iu

raising beets was 20 dollars; that including two dollars for irrigation, Tho return was 32 tons per acre, sold at, five dollars n ton. The beets must be washed thoroughly in a long trough by means of a screw through which water flows ; all fragments of soil aud pebbles must be removed, otherwise the beets will bo bruised when passing under the knives. Machinery of the most modern description can be obtained at a cheap rate from America, where the industry has reached a high state of perfection,—Australian Agriculturist.

DAIRY JOTTINGS. Cows should always havo access to salt. Lucerne, sorghum, end millet are all excellent dairy fodeler, either green, as hay, or ensilage. Any farmer with 10 cows would do well to consider tho malting of a. silo. Useful silage can be mado with little expenso, and tho surplus crop saved for a time of scarcity. Do not think that any water is good enough for your cows. None that you can provide is too good. Stagnant or tainted water will mean inferior butter, depend on it. If you aro feeding calves on separated milk mind that, it is swoot. Scald a tablespoonfull of flax seed meal by pouring a pint of boiling water on to it, and add to tho milk.