FARM & GARDEN NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 209, 13 November 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

FARM & GARDEN NOTES.

The Weather.—Judg'ng '>y t,ie weather of the past ten days, it would seem as though the ealend ir hr.tl slipped back two months, the weather I ciu« more lik« th.it we expect to get in August than November. H»avy giles hive prevail'<l from South to West, aceompan ed with showers of sleet and cold ruin tli.it have been most dh.igieeable, and that must have had a retarding effect upon vegetation of all descriptions. + + +

Oats and Chaff —Many farmers in the Sou'li who ha I oits in stack for lhre.>hilig are, in c msequence of the depressed market for (jrain, converting them into chaff, for w Inch there U a goo I market in this island, + x +

POTATOKS. — Syd.iny is absorbing a Urge quantity of Canterbury pitatoe*. thus ke-ping the v.vue firm in th it province, 37s 6d being the ruling price at country stations. + + +

The Frozen Lahh Trade —A London meat salesman thus writes to his firm in Christchnrch on the subject ot frozen lamb:—" The position is almost desperate ; 200,000 lambs are in stocit, with the season over and tho weather cold an 1 unseasonable. Holding for rext season means that the trade at the beginning of next season will be spoiled, and shippers will have to expect lo>ver prices than was the case this year. The eo'bip'o commencing in July was made worse, as prices during June were kept at a high level artificilly, and stocks accumulated all the time. * The English trade is not able to absorb a million New Zealand frozen lambs per season at satisfactory prices, Shipments must he made on a more rational basis than they have been."

Cool Storage at the Cape : Frozen Meat Trade.—The Cape Argus of September S contains a full description of the cold storage works of Messrs Corabrinck and Co., at Capetown, a firm with which Australian shippers of frozen moat have already had dealings, The firm receive into their cold stores meat slaughtered in various parts of Capo Colony, and load some of it into refrigerating cars for Pretoria and Johannesburg. The new building is 240 ft long by 137 ft wide, and the refrigerating chambers cover an area cf 31,550 square feet. The New Zealand pumice has beeu adopted, in lieu of charcoal, as an insulator. It is evident that the arrangements for receiving Australian meat at the Cape are now ample. In the Transvaal cold etorago chambers are b ing erected at Johannesburg and Pretoria at a cost of £IOO,OOO. The Transvaal Government has made grants of the necessary grounds, and has guaranteed 1 percent, ou £70,000. When these works are completed cold storage will bo available at Capetown, Durbin, Pretoiia, and Johannesburg. x X x " PrRE Cultures" in the Dairy.— At the meeting of the British Association at Toronto Profess ir Marshall Ward, as president of the botanical section, delivered an address, on the dairy. Referring to the use of " pure cultures " in buttermaking, ho said that, according to a recent publication, a culture which produced the famous " pure flavour " was now in regular use in a hundred or more American dairies. The members of the dairy conference were not at all favourably impressed with the samphs of such cultures which they saw in Denmark, and it is obvious that, however carefully the cultures are prepared, other bacteria than thosa desired can get into the cream in the course of its ripening. In noting the bacteriology of cheese, the professor referred to the reserches of Froudonroioh, Vuclauz, and Wiegman on the continent of Europe, Lloyd in England, and Con in America. The subject, he intimate 1. was much involved in obscurity at present, but he added that there were signs of advance in various directions, and that researches were being iradeby an increasing number of observers.

SOME INFORMATION REGARDING COWS "Worth Remembering.—A batch of replies given by the " Livo Stock Journal" (England) coutaiu replies which may make the mouths of some of our dairymen wuter .—" I. A cow yielding 7-50 gallons per annum is exceptionally good. The average of the United Kingdom is put at. -158 gallons and a herd averaging over GOO gallons is doing very well. 2. Milk is seldom worth Sd per gallon at. home. Creameries are as low as-lid sometimes (with the skim returned) aud" the London market averages about 7d at home. 3. A good cow should yie'd over 2501 b. of butter per annum at lib. per 2?, gallons. The price may be any whero'between lOd and lGd, acuording to the mnrket and the abilities of tho buttermaker. 4. About 3s to os per ton in heap ; that is, from 20s to 33s petannum is the usual value of the manure, but it depends much on tho kind of food used. 5. Separated milk may sometimes be sold at 3d to Id per trillion where there is a market for it, When utilised at homo it is worth lid to 2d per gallon. G. A cow will enst about £IS per annum, or Is per day for keep. This of course varies according to the breed and the food used."

Dehorning at Edendalk. The Wyndham Farmers says that, the dehorning of cittle is now regularly practised on the Edendalo estate, the experience of tho past two years in that direction going to show that the operation is one to be commended. Quite recently over 100 big framed long-horned four-year-old steers raised on an adjoining run were put through the lopping-olf process in tho dehorning yard on one of tho homestcd paddocks at Edeudale, with highly satisfactory results. Indeed, it may bo said that although hundreds of the Edendalo cattle have now been deprived of their weapons of offence it is the boast of Mr Donald McDonal (manager of the estate) that ho has never lost a beast from tho effects of the operation. The way the knife dots its work, once tho animal's head is secured in tho vyce-like grip of tho stout bail erected for the purpose, is expedition itself. Sixty quiet cattle have been dehorned in 10 minutes, which, it will be allcwed, is fast work. In Mr MeDonal's opinion dehorning has a very civilising effect upon cattle, they become quieter aud more easy to handle, and never gore each other as they are prone to do in the horned state. Several dairymen with large herds purpose going in for dehorning now that the seveic frosts are over.

Something About Exoli.su Hkavy Draught Horses.—The United States Consul at Bradford in England, Mr Claude Mocker, Ins been inquiring amongst a number of people who arc both breeders and users of hcivy draught horses what breed is reckoned the beat for heavy work. The result of his inquiries leads to the conclusion that iu England the Shiro horse stands first in general estimation, with the Clydesdale iu almost equal favor. The actual working life of heavy draught horses is apparently nine to twelve years. Tho average height of .Shire and Clydcsd tie stallions in actual service is 10 hands -j inches, and the average weight from I.USO to 2,01 Gibs. As to prices, Mr Meeker ra ports that a sound young horse sold by n breeder or farmer "for draught purposes will fetch from £GO to iSO—that is, one standing about 17 hands high and weighing IGAcwt. Especially largo and heavy animals suitable for brewers' and heavy waggon work are worth as much as each. The average price of mediumsized horses in Bradford is from Coo to COO, and when paittally broken down by work or worn out by age they are worth no more than O.VI. The report scales that the most serious trouble bunders of draught horses have to deal with is the tendency to tho development of side-bono and ring-bone, closing luinoncs3, and it

is considered that care in breeding from only sound house? can alone get. rid of this difficulty.

Shropshire Sukbi' in New Zealand. —.Since the development of the frozen meat trade between this country and New Zo-.iland which w.is inaugurated in IKS2, sheep farnrng in the colony has undergone a radio d ohanire. At one time wool was the chief consideration, the surplus stock finding its way into the boilingdown vat, the tallow and pelts being the only products of value. N'ow a marvellous change has taken place, and sheep raising for mutton is now the most profitable branch of farming in Now Zealand, and flocks of pure and cross-bred sheep are kept on all farms suitable for them, tho objet t being the production of early lambs for freezing. The most profitable sheep is that which combines the best fleece and the most suitable carcn.se for freezing purpose together with early maturity, and it is found by experiment that no sheep meets the requirement of the breeders in these respects so well as the Shropshire, which is already being largely used for crossing, and is therefore destined to have an important, influence in the development of the Canterbury mutton trade, which is so rapidly gaining favour with consumers in tho old country. Same three years ago a shrewd Salopian, Mr Rupert Parry, who has followed farming pursuits in the Canterbury district for several years, imported two Shropshire rams of excellent pedigree, and his subsequent success in the showyaids of New Zosland, where he cairied everything be fore him, and together with tho demand fir their progeny, was not only gratifying, but tho speculation proved so remunerative that he hao commissioned friends in Shropshire to select two more rams for his use. Toeee were oiref.illy chosen from Mr Minton's renowned flock at Montford by Mr Tinimis, of i-'oxton, and a few days ul'o were shipped to Port Lyttelton by the Shaw Savill aad Co. \s, line.—Shrewsbury News.

Co-orEKATiON on Right Links : How the Farmers Help One Another in France.—The advantages of co-opera-tion in agricultural pursuits have been made very manifest in a return recently published from tho rural districts of Franco. In twelve years, says the compiler, Mr Grimm, " a co-operative movement, which formerly had no existence, has overrun the whole of France, and promises to extend to all branches of agriculture." He looks to a more rapid progress of co-operation as likely to result from Mr Moline's proposal to open a credit of forty million francs for the benoof trench agriculturist*. It is-, however, the present aspect which presents points of interest. In Franco there rre close upon half a million members of " Syndicats Agricoles " working mainly under the initiative and leadership of lar.-e land proprietors. Co-operation was first applied to the purchase of manure free from adulteration. This succeeding, tho principle was applied to the purchase of machinery, indispensable for proper cultivation of fields and vineyards or for the manipulation of produce. Then came associations for the protection of crops, and the best method of dealing with parasites and destructive iusectx, in this respect following the lines adopted by tho Tasmanian Fruit Boards. Then cime cooperative dairies, the growth of capers a special industry in Provence —the manufacture of apricot jam, and its export to Continental cities, England, and even Brazil. In the extreme south of Franco the sheep-farming peasantry has also experienc.d tho benefits of co-operation. The wool shorn from their sheep is, by the associated system, turned into manufactured goods, and the net receipts are divided among tho members, occorJing to tho quantity and quality of the wool contributed by each, tho prices realised, so says Mr Grimm, " being from 10 to 70 percent, be'ter than uuder the old system. + x +

The Best Cow.—The best dairy breed is one of the most frequently-discussed questions, and it is notable, says the Leader, tint among the experience of the most circful experimenters in Denmark, Great Britain, and America alike the consensus of opinion is to the effect that the cow giving the best results is the best cow, regardless of her breed. Rather a vague conclusion, this, many will be inclined to siy, ami reasonably eo, aa, of course, a particular record of the breeding of the cows giving the best results would probably point to instructive features in this impoitant connection. Upon this subject Mr Thomas INuttal was selected, as a competent man, to give his views before a large meeting of the Northumberland Farmers' Club in April last. " Tnc only way," remarked Mr Nuttal, " to prove a cow was by the weighing machine. Unless a cow gave over 500 gal of milk in a year she was not worth her keep. A good cow ought to give from SOO to 1000 gallons a year. The cow must be gauged by what she gave. In point of breed ho was in favour of a cross between shorthorn, Ayrshire, and Channel Islands. More depended upon the bull than the cow in breeding, and he would never use a bull unless he knew his mother and grind - mothcr. Cows should be kept quiet and no dogs allowed near tliPin. They should be milked perfectly clean, for all the cream cam", last. Taking the mi k away was like taking away the cow's blood, and they should know how to renovate the system. Some people thought if they did not get the cream one time they would another, but that was a mistake. It had to be regularly and completely taken away, or else the animal put it upon her back. The milk came fiom the cow at a temperature of 95deg. Cows should be milked at stated times with 12 hours betwaen. Care should be tiken to get good ripe ore un and to choose proper churns. Much depended upon the churning. Violent oscillation mined the cream. It should never be more than 4odeg of temperature. Farmers should endeavour to get the beat article. Salt should be used sparingly, and never in a dry state. Salt never yet kept butter, and never would. If salt must be used it should be in the form of brine. Good butter properly made would keep for months. It was an old-fashioned notion that batter required troating like dough to get it into proper consistency and shape. Kither it should be left in tho churn to drain, or u butter drier should bo used. But when all was said, let those make butter who chose ; he would make cheese. If they chose to make cheese which would only fetch 5d per pound, they would not complain of him if he got Is 3d per pound. Let them endeavour to drive the wretched stuff called American cheese out of the market. NineteL'ti out of twenty of these cheeses w«te made of separated milk and cotton seed oil. As to tho mode of getting the milk into the proper state for cheese-making, lie had found sweet milk was invaluable for this purpose."

Milk Haulagu v. Crka.m Cakkiagk. —ln view of tho introduction of the ahar pies separator to this colony the following frwm tho Elgin (IT. S.) Daily report is of interest. In a subsequent issue it is mentioned that Mr W. J. Moody, of Nashua, lowa, had arranged to buy a largo number of the smaller machines from Mr P. M. .Sharpies, to attribute for their own use among the farmers, who will skim their milk at home, and the cream to be taken t<a tho central factoiy and (here made into butter. In an address to the Vermont dairymen, Major Alvord, chief of the dairy bureau, talks of tho cost of hauling, and ttlls some very pertinent truths that are almost, in the nature of prophecy, considering the plan of Mr W. ,1. Moody lately mentioned in tho columns of Ihn Report j—-" 1 want to declare very boldly and most positively that 1 am opposed to all th'suiilk hauling that is going on round the country, because I am satisfied the producer of milk and of the butter that ctmes from it cannot afford it, The cost in the aggregate iu this Statj alone,

to su}' nothing of what it is in the country at large, must be one of tho items of labour of the year. The actual cost, of hauling milk to creamery or station and haul ng the skim milk home airniu e.vury day is somi thing enormous, a burden iipoii the industry it cannot long sustain. It is a proper subject for oon-idera - tion bow this labour can be partially avoided, how this tremendous expense can bo reduced. It certainly is an evil which ought to be done away with or reduced as much as it is possible to do. I claim that this practice of luuling the entire product of milk away from the farm and then hauling the great weight back again every day can be improved upon. It is not good sense, and the man that does that over? day and thinks about it. must, it seems to ine, comes to realise in tho courso of olio days that there must be some other and belter way, and that really he is making a good deal of a fool of himself. It reminds me of the old couplet ;

The Kiug of France, with twenty thousand men, Marched up the hill and then marched down

again You haul to your creamery much that is not wanted there. About four-fifths of the labour is lost. It is the cream only that is wanted for the manufacture of butter. Then let us recognise cream xs the legitimate raw product for the butter producing farmer and as the only raw product or farm produce which ouirht to leave the farm and go to the place of manufacture. If the gathering of cream by the factory is not thobest or most econo mioal method ltt us substitute something else for it. But I certainly believe that ideal of our coopeiativo dairy-farming will not be re iched until cream is raised or separated ir. the most economical method for the farmer, and when it reaches its market is there examined, tested, and graded nt tho place of it* manufacture, and paid for according to its quality or butter value. Until this condition is reached tho creamery system of buttermaking will not satisfy our idea of economical methods (.'ream should become an article of trade, a raw product, and to be disDOscd of upon tho name general principles .is in the West the farmer disposes of his load of grain, and in Vermont in dnys partly (ronu by the farmer »old his wool "