FARM & GARDEN NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 149, 19 June 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

FARM & GARDEN NOTES.

BROAD BEANS. The brorrd bean is n vegetable which may bo sowed largely at tho present time. Sow the beans in rows about oft. apart, and plant the seeds about flin. from each other. Try ono or two varieties. Broad Windsor, Early Long Pod, and Johnson's Wonderful are good kinds.

The Sydney Stud Sheep Sales.—The Northern sheepbreedcrs of Tasmania met at Launceston last week and considered a circular from Sydney asking concurrence in postponing the annual sheep sales for ouo month. They decided that they could not concur. Ono recent information from agents hero is to to tho effect that under tho present conditions the stud sheep sales of this year must be failures.

* Co-operative Societies Unpalatable to Ordinaky Tbadkks : A Boycott.— The ordinary traders of Britain arc doing all they cm to overcome tho cooperative stons. Mr Roderick Scott, of Glasgow, boldlv advertises that at his sales of States" cattle " no co-operative socioties directtv or indirectly will be allowed to bid." This action is likely to lead to the trial in tho law courts of the question. Can an auctioneer refuse a bid from a solvent person ?

Some New Zealand Butter Equal to Danish.—Mr Clement of the firm of Clement & Son, Glasgow in a recent interview, said : Some of the New Zealand butter as it arrived in the Home market was equal to tho best Danish, but it was the uniformity in quality of the latter which enabled it to command the market. " If you could give us," said Mr Clement, •' such butter as is exhibited in your Winter Show, Danish would have to tako a backseat."

Potato Planting.—Experiments in Ireland have proved that potatoes produced from uncut seed sets are less liable to disease than those grown from cut sets. At the same time uncut sets In Ireland produce more top and fewer large potatoes, just as they do elsewhere. It is stated that this difficulty can be met by planting the sets wider apart, thus giving the plant more air and sun. Good results arc always obtained by taking off the blossoms, the tubers gaining by their removal.

The Price of Horses in England.— The project of exporting horses to England has lately been receiving somo attention in Svdney, and a correspondent supplies a contemporary with the followavcrago quotations atjLincolu Horse Fair, which was held recently :—Matched pair of carriage horses, £ISO to £250 ; high steppers suitable for broughams, £l3O to £IBO ; carriages horses with good action £BO to £l2O ; high-stepping saddle horses £SO to £l2O ; cab horses, £lB to £SG ; van, 'bus, and tram horses, £25 to £lO ; draught horses for town work, C6O to £7O ; good agricultural horses, £3O to £45.

Eggs at £3360 a Dozen.—lt would appear that our poultry breeders arc all astray as to which is the best variety to breed. It is the " Great Auk." Avery fine and perfect specimen of an egg of tho Great Auk was sold by auction at Mr J. C. Steven's room, London recently. This ogg was originally bought with a specimen of tho bird iteolf from a naturalist, Mr Field, and tho bird having boen sold separately the ogg was offered. Bidding begun at 100 guineas, and reaohod 280 guineas, at which price the egg wassecured by Mr T. G. Middlebrook, of the Edinburgh Castle Free Musoum, Mornington-road. Tho record pi ice under tho hammer for an egg of this extinct bird is 300 guineas.

+ + + Cold Frozen Mutton.—The following letter appeared in the issue of the Pall Market Gazette of April 8 :—" Dear Sir,—ln your issue of yesterday's date appear:) the following remarkable statement: " Everyone knows that, excellent as tho best frozen meat, is when hot, it is uneatable when cold." I have used frozen mutton in my house for 15 years, and can assure you, whether hot or cold, it cannot be distinguished from the fresh-killed English meat. When you tako into consideration that since the conraenceinent of the trade 35,000,000 carcases of frozen sheep and lambs have boon consumed in this country, it is fair to assume that a good proportion of this imported meat has been eaten cold.—l am, etc, One Who Knows."

Roms'f.y Wool. —Mr F. Bradey, of Fahautauui, has (according to an cxchango) on view in Wellington two speciments of Romney Marsh wool raised on his farm. The first specimen was clipped from six fleeces 32 years ago, and averaged from Gib to 81b per fleece. Since then Mr T.radey has improved his Romneys to such an extent that the specimens of this year's clip are almost doublo the length of those clipped in 1565, and average from Mlb to 17 lb weight per fleece. Mr Bradey argues that these two specimens of wool are in distinct classes ; no reasonable person would put the two samples together to judge them as one class. Therefor, he contends, as the wool cannot be fairly judged in one class, the sai-. applies to tho sheep themselves. Hence his suggestion that the improved Romneys should be judged as a distinct class from the original Romney.

Rotation of Cnors.—To carry on farming successfully, a slight knowledge of chemistry is necessary. For instance, an acre of rich virgin land may yield ten tons of potatoes the first year, but plant the same acre the next season, andthechanc s are it will not yield five tons. Now, what is the reason of this great falling oil' in the yield ? Simply this : the first crop, being so heavy, extracted all the necessary available elements from the soil, consequently the soil required a change of croD to recuperate its exhausted strength ; .hence it stands to reason that if, instead of cereals, potatoes were again planted tho yield would be very light. On the other hand, if cereals were planted the land would be recuperated, and at tho same time the cereal crop would be heavy, and the following crop of potatoes would be greater than tho first, as not only would the necessary elements bo returned to the soil, but the stubble would act as a manure for tho potato. Rotation of crops is a natural manuring of the soil.

Leguminous Chops.—Sir J. B. Lowes draws the following practical conclusions with regard to the growing of leguminous crops:—That tho direct application of salts of ammonia or nitrato of soda to leguminous crops, and that the amount of nitrogen which they take from the atmostphere, or soil, depends greatly upon the amount of these mineral substances at tho.r disposal. That tho manuring of potash as well as of lime should bo considered to have a certain degree of pcrmanonce. That a soil which his lost the power of growing one description of leguminous crop may be competent to grow a leguminous crcp of another desciption. That whore hay is removed from a permanent pasture, its quality is greatly deteriorated unless the potash it contains is replaced in dung or artifical manure. That in an unmanurod suil kept froo from leguminous growth, food suitable for these crops is accumulated, although we do not know the exact nature of it.; this accumulation takes place to a much larger extent when organic manures, such as dung, are applied to the soil.

Potato Growim; in Caxterisury. — The present season, while unfavourable to the growth of most crops, (says the Press) suited potatoes very well, and the yield in Canterbury at least is well about the average. Eight, nine and ten tons to the ajrc are not uncommon, and Mr J. •Johns, of Belfast, who is one of our largest growers, has twenty acres, which he expects "ill turn out about twelve

and a half tons. A correspondent, Mr Tweutyman YViVn. of ?t afford, a.= ! ;s us if a yield of iwcnty-tivo tons to Hi • acre has ever ben know in Canterbury. We have made enquiries, but cannot hear of a heavier crop than twenty-two tons to the acre, said to have been grown some years r.go by the late Mr W. Wilson near Belfast, Mr R. Rainey, of Tai Tapu. is also reported to hove grown twenty tons to the acre, and Mr Kars, of Marshlands, obtained forty tons from two acres. The land in the latter case was an old camping ground for cattle in Rhodes'.s swamp, and was, therefore, very richly manured. The he iviest crops have generally been produced on virgin soil, but probably the judicious use of manures will result in even better results being obtaiuod.

The Milk Yield of New Zealand Cows. —In tho annual report of the New Zealand Dairy Union, the following appears :—Tho care and feeding of our cattle still demand attention as the avciage annual snpply of milk per cow in New Zealand is set down at 330ga1. Wn have seen returns from two fnrnis near Edendale of 90 and 75 cows, whoso yield averaged 437 and 494 gal respectively, which is nearer what it should be, but not equal to tho average of tho dairying countries of Scotland, which is sot down at 620 gal per annum per cow. This is no doubt attained by the provision of winter feed and shelter, and if we are to hold our own provision must be made generally for winter feeding and carrying the cattle longer in milk, so that they may not each year yield less, as is now the case. It is thought that thore is room for further importations of the best shorthorns of milking strain, and also Holeteins. It is a long time now since we imported, and some new blood of the best in Britain would benefit us. If wc caunot do this, let us make use cf nothing but the best bull obtainable. The 30s bull is not a desirable animal to breed from, nor a likely one to improve our dairy herds.

Miniature Chrysanthemums.—To a late number of tho Revuo Ilorticolo (March Ist) M. Anatole Cordonnicr cantributes the following description of the method employed in raising dwarf Chrysanthemums :—" The miniature Chrysanthemum which I showed last year in Paris at tho Exhibition of tho French National Horticultural Society were grown in pots from 2 to 3 inches in size at most, and bore each a single flowir from 0 to 6 inches across. Thoy wero raised in tho following way:—About August loth, cuttings with a crown-bud "taken" a few days previously from plants in pots or in, the open air were placed in pots of 3 cent, (about 1 in.) across. Tin pots were filled with compost mixed with " Papilion " manure during tho winter, to which a large proportion (about a third) of _ sand was added These pots were sunk in an old hotbed, and kept shaded for threo wesks under a coloured glass. At the cud of the ti jig the little plants showed roots ; and they wore then repotted into 2 to 3-inch pots, and tho plants kept in a cool-house, where tboy flowered naturally. Theso little plants in small ornamental pots, and mixed with ferns, _ make a charming aud lasting decoration, requiring no other care than occasional watering."

Turnipsi-ok Milking Cows : Removing Feed Flavours. —A Southland eorrespondsnt writes:—Tho late Chief Dairy Expert, Mr McEwan, who has lately returned from the round trip, paid a visit to this district a few days ago, and in discussing various matters affecting the dairy industry, ho stated that this colony's butter suffered from " feed flavours " of differ.-nt descriptions ; that these favours constituted commercial drawback?, and they must be got rid of either by giving sweetor fodder to the cows or by pasteurisation. That turnips givo an objectionale flavour to the butter is well known, and more observable in the farm butter than the factory, and I think it was Mr McEwan himself, who suggested some time ago that mangolds should take the place of turnips as feed for dairy stock, but mangolds ar> not grown here except as a garden crop, so it is turnips or nothing. It is impossible to turn aside the staple production of a country or a district, nor is it necessary, in view of the fact, that the objectionable flavour in butter can be avoided by pasteurising the cream. In Denmark and Sweden at the present time nearly all the butter is made from cream fermented with a lactic acid powder, which removes all objectionable flavours. Thus the turnip question is solved, and all the New Zealand butter maker has to do is to avail himsolf of the means that science has placed at his command, and thus produce a butter which will bo a commercial success at Home and abroad, and at the fcarne time enable his constituents toietain their staple product.

Peice Levklh of Commodities Since 1867.—Owing to the price which wheat and oats have been making during the past two years there is a general impression that the tide bus turned from the bottom level and that the improvement will be permanent. For some years after the fall in prices set in in 1875 it was believed that the depression was only temporary, and that third would be a return to old" rates for agricultural products in European markets at least. The tendency, however, continued still downward, as has been also the case with many other leading cotnmoditic. Political economists have dovi-ci as a register of the movements of price levels a system of " index numbers " based on the average wholesale prices of a number of the principal commodities brought to market. Mr Sauerbech. a very high authoiity, bases his index numbers on 45 articles of commerce, including foods. His latest tables published includo last year, and are well worth attention. His starting point is tho average prices of tho 10 years 1867 to 1877. Calling this 100, he then shows Jn each following year the proportion which the price lovel of that year bears to the starting point. The following are the figures :

This is a dismal record of falling prices, and the year ending Deeombor 31, 189 G, is the lowest of thorn all. Tho testimony of these index numbers is that, tho fall in price levels is still progressing. -t- + + Dairtinu in Otaiw : Milk at 4 : ]-d a Gallon.—Dairying in Otago appears to be a most lucrative branch of farming, judging from the remarks make by the Hampden correspondent of the North Otago Times. He says :—" Tho Peninsular and Taieri Dairy Factory Company arc now paying IJd per gallon for a 38 test., and some of tho suppliers arc getting about 6d per gallon for their milk. The milk suppliers" of the district ought *o congratulate themselves on getting the company to take over the creamery from tho New Zealand Dairy Factory Com • pany, in which the latter lost so much money. It was with a great deal of trouble that they could be persuaded to take it over, but through the push and energy of one of our resident) they finally consented ; though there was a rival establishment started, but it had to give up. I believe the company cannot supply the demand for their butter, and have made arrangements for the purchase of Edcudale and Stirling, and the directors contemplate spending more money in the equipment of the factory in Dunedin, which "ill make it second to none in the colony. I would advise anyone who takes an interest in dariying to visit the factory when they are in Dunedin during the winter show, and they will see for themselves tho effects of good management, everything being utilised to

the best advantage. The company has paid 8 per cent, on it capital sine its commune.mo it, ami is on the cooperative system, and all the shareholders suppliers, and therefore they receive all the benefit. The directors intend holding a meeting at Herbert this week at the desire of a number at Otepopo and surrounding district residents, for the purpose of discussing the advisability of erecting a creamery, and I am sure they will never regret the step if they agree to erect one."

An Organising Agency.—The latest idea in England, and ono which is taking a pratical shape, is the formation of an Agricultural Organising Company, the chief object of which is to bring farmers into direct communication with retail traders. For this purpose is it intended to slaughter live stook in different parts of the United Kingdom, and sell tho prime roasting joints to tho butchers, and to prepare the boiling joints, etc., for sale by grocers and at ham and beef shops restaurants, hotels, etc., in forms that command remunerative prices, by which the watte attending tho present system of realisation will bo avoided, and producers will be ablo to compete profitably with their foreign rivals. The efforts of the company will also be particularly directed to bringing tho cattle breeders of remoto districts in Groat Britain and of Ireland and oven of Australia into direct communication w ith farmers in Eug'a id by establishing a system of stall feeding upou the methods carried out abroad, f Giro Irish purpose a portion of the land at Mill wall Dock will be utilised as a receiving depot and abattoir. Tho company's revenne will accrue by commissions on sales and working charges for services rendered. The offer for frozen meat exporters is that the roasting joints of both beef and mutton will bo sold as fresh meats, after being properly thawed ; thoy will be packed and delivered in accordance with tho instructions of local agents, either to their stores or direct to their customers. The boiling joints of both will be prepared ready for consumption by being dressed in the numerous forms in which they command a ready sale at increased values, being made up for display as appetising show goods. Thus briskats and flanks of beef will be converted into corned beef, pressed beef, spiced beef, and sandwich beef ; buttocks to beef hams; neck, legs, and shins to brawns, sausages, and soups ; while tho breasts, necks, and other cours? portions of mutton will be prepared as cutlets, chops, minced collops, nuggets, mutton steaks, colonial dainties, invalid meats, moat cakes, rissoles, croquets, or otherwise dealt with that tbey may readily furnish " bonnic breakfiists,', "luscious luncheons," delightful dinners," "knife and fork teas," or " savoury suppers,', with " tit-bits" for tho entrees, useful in all households. All this is very encouraging. Lot us hope that the company will pass the prospectus stage. Mr. D. Tallcrmau is the managing director.

THE CURRENCY QUESTION: HOW IT EFFECTS AGRICULTURE. Tbc Edinburgh public seem to have boou treated to an exhaustive debate ou tho relative merits of bimetallism and monometallism ou cho 24th of March last. Tho debate was tho result of a callengo by the bimetillic League to the Gold Standard Defence Association. The Hon. Georgo Peep, the secretary of tho Gold Standard Defence Association, attended, and supported tho same for gold, while the speakers for silver were Messrs A. T, Hunter, C A., J. Wilier, G. 11. Dick, Professor Wallace, P. A. Gray, P. H. Lorniand, C. J. Martin, and A. G. Graham. A full report of the proceedings and speeches occurs in tho Dundee Advertiser from which we select the speech of Professor Wallace (Agriculture, Edinburgh University), as having most interest for colonial readers. In dealing with tho question from an agricultural point of view, he said the chief objection which farmers had to the monometallic gold standard and tho consequent limited and contracted basis of the currency was tho virtual raising of rents without their consent. It was true that they dilnot pay a greater number of pounds sterling, bocause of the currency changes of which bimetallists complained, but it was equally true that they were forced to do what was equivalent to it owing to low prices of produce? resulting from currency influences. More produce inust bo sold to get the money to pay rent, or the farmer must take what ought to be his own legitimate profit, and when that was insufficient, even a portion of his private means to help him to do so. Tho amount of the metallic currency basis had a direct and certain influence upon the prices of commodities. When the volume of this basis was increased prices rose, and when it was contracted prices fell. If monometallists could controvert this theory it would be unnecessary for them to follow in dotail the arguments of bimetallists, as bimetallism would then die a natural death. Fanners, among others, were suffering from the working of the inexorable law of 1573, which had lowered tho prices of the pioducs they had to sell, while it had not relieved them of certain monetary engagements which wcro without the sphero of its immediate influences. A strong plea from thi farmers' point of view in favour of bimetallism which would widen the metallic basis of the world's currency was that many of his most important contracts necessarily extended over considerable periods measured by months or ) r ears, and were of such a nature that with an appreciating currency such as had existed since 1873 it was impossible to conduct his business without being unfairly handicapped by a new and additional burden. This position became all the more aggravating when he realised that it was artificially imposed by legislation, and that while he was made to suffer certain of his competitors were given an unfair advantage. In fulfilling the functions of mono}', gold standing alone had failed signally as a standardof value for deferred payments, and it was in this connection that it had hit the farmer vitally. As <i medium of exchango and as a measure of value at any given period serious objection need not be raised to gold, but it was when the element of time came in that the breakdown occuired and the injustice began. Classes like tho farmers, who by necessity could not escape tho influence of time in their contracts, which extended over months or years, might be steadily drifting to ruin. If evil currency influences be permitted to continue they wero not to suppose that agriculture would cease, crops would be grown and stock roared —if not in this country, in otherparts of tho world—to supply tho wants of consumers however unjust tho laws, and however socially low tho position of those employed in the occupation. What they protested against was the tendency to reduce the agriculture of tho country from tho high position it had justly occupied among the arts to a drudgery which would be only half remunerated by driving out the men who had brought both capital and skill to bear in its development, and leaving it to a class—a class greatly reduced iu numbers—which would be little better than the slaves of the other sections of the community. Moreover, the farmers in America had suffered probably even more than themselves, and nil of them had suffered by the lovroring of prices, due to their impecunious position noccc.-sitating the throwing of their produce upon the market at inauspicious times. Again, the present currency gave advantage to wheat-growers in Russia, in India, and in Argentina, where prices had not gone down in terms of their currencies as they had in gold nsing standards. As member.-! of tho community, farmers were not without interest in the general and growing disfavour in which Great Britain wtis held by foreign nations, to a very huge extent duo" to tho unsatisfactory statu of currency, it being generally recognised that Britain alono stoodout against the establishment of international binio-

talliHin. Thoy did not believe that tho prosprrily of the country as a whole, or of the faming class in particular, would ever be placed on a sound and substaitial baiis by a great war, although it might for a time raise tho price of most of their commodities and in tho name of humanity thoy protested against tho policy of the mouometallists which kept alive tho prospeot of war, with its accompanying horrors and, widespread destruction of capital. All they asked was a fair field and freedom from unduo currency influences, and thoy wero quito prepared to meet foreign competition and the improved facilities of transport from abroad. Healthy competition was not an unmixed evil, but wl.on added to the incubus of an appreciating currency the burden became too grievous to be borne—(Loud applause).

FODDER FOR DAIRY CATTLE,

In response to numerous inquiries as to suitable fodder for dairy cattlo in dry districts, Mr Valder, of the Wagpa Farm. N.S.W., states:—lt has been proved at the Wagga Farm that, in cpits of hot, dry weather, it is quite an easy matter to keep up a continuous supply of dairy fodder throughout the year. So far the best results have been obtained from the following crops : For summer feeding—Sown in August: Sugar beet, mangels, lucorne. Sown in September: Maize, sorghum, millet, lucerne, pumpkius, Sown in October : Cow-pea, sorgum, millet, pumpkins. For winter feeding—Sown in February and March: Turnips, rape, barley, and tares, rye and tares, Poland wheat, and Sown iii April and May : Lucerne, barley, oats, and rape. In the intervening months small crops can be sown as the weather permits. Tho thing necessary to carry out the above successfully is to adopt a system of thorough cultivation by growing as much as possibb in drill, and taking care not to sow nntil the soil is properly prepared to receive the seed.

1SG7 to 1S77 100 1881 . . 85 18S9 ., .. 72 1874 102 1882 ., . 81 1S90 ., .. 72 1875 96 1SS3 .. .. 82 1S91 ., .. 72 1S7G 95 1S84 .. . 70 1692 .. , 63 1877 . 94 188-5 . .. 72 1893 .. ,. G8 1S78 , 87 1SS0 . .. 69 1894 . ,. 63 1879 . 83 1887 . .. G8 1895 . .. 62 1880 . 81! 188S . .. 70 1S9G . .. 61