FARM & GARDEN NOTES

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 330, 20 August 1898, Page 6 (Supplement)

FARM & GARDEN NOTES

During the past week the weather has been very mild and pbasaut. the absence of any heavy min enabling farm work to be pushed ahead without delay, and with warm, days and mild nights quite a vigorous and spring-like growth in grass Ins been witnessed. Present appearances point to an early spring, but as dry and cold snaps may be experienced later on, it behoves farmers to get their crops into the ground as speedily as possible, so that they may have them faitlv established in case of any such unfavourable changes, the experience of the past two seasons having taught a sharp, but us ful, lesson in this respect.

In dry and sheltered localities, early potatoes may be planted during Unbalance of the month, high situations, which have a comparative immunity from frost, beimz pieferred ; but it is surprising what protection from frost may be obtained—even on low-lying lands—from a belt of pine*, or other high trees and as potatoes are likely to continue at good prices until well on in the season, the risk is well worth incurring.

August is our principal month for lambing, and with sacb mi'd wtather as that lately experienced, good percentages should be recorded, though doubles are not s-) p'entiful as usual. On well regulated sheep-farms some succulent food is usually grown, or a grass paddock shut up for the ewes and lambs, the drain on the ewes, after the lambs are a week or two old, being very great, and unless the latter are kept growing steadily during the first couple ot months, they never attain even a normal s ; ze ; much less, fatten for sale in the early spring markets, the latter being the most profitable mode of disposing of them. On well-managed farms the lambs arc dropped early, and got away fat in three mouths, and the ewes—aftet being so well treated—are put into marketbefore shearing as mutton — within a month or six weeks after weaning. The. profit upon the ewe and lamb thus treated being very considerable. Nothing on the farm pays so well, and it only requires a little foresight and good management to carry it out.

Phizes for Butter-makinc— With a view to improving the quality of the butter made in New South Wales, the Department of Agriculture of that colony intends to offer State prizes for the industry, it is prot-osed to bold State exhibitions in Sydney about four times a year. The judging will bo by points, and the butter obtaining the highest number will be awarded the first prize and a gold medal, entitling the holder to call his butter the " Gold Medal Brand." Exhibitors will be informed of the faults in their butter, and advised how to remedy tho defects.

Easy Way to Get Rid of Thistles. A. Home paper has the following. It reminds one somewhat of the various infallible recDmmendations to keep flies out of a house, such as hanging mint in the rooms, etc., which look so nice in theory, and never answei in practice '• " Fancy two plants being so unfriendly that the mere neighbourhood of one is death to the other. Yet this is the case with two well-known English plants. These are the thistle and the rape. If a field is infested with thistles, which came up year after year and ruin the crops, all you have to do is to sow it with rape. The thistle will be absolutely annihi lated.

On Drainage.—Drainage mitigates to a great extent the effects of drought by I e milting the roots of plants to penetrate deeper into the soil. As the excess of moisture is carried off and the subsoil dries a large field is open to all roots, and they at once go down as far as possible. During the dry season the plants fiud moisture below, and endure drought much better than those that are growing in an undraiued soil. The soil being warmed as well as disintegrated to a great depth by the action of the air, heat, and frost, it is in finer condition, permits a supply of moisture to the plants by capillary attraction, and the surface is less liable to l«;ome baked and hard. Hence drainage is beneficial both in dry and hot seasons. t X t

On MANURING. Ordinary farm manure has the double advantage of supplying to the soil the fertilising elements which it needs, and also a large amonnt of humus, or decaying vegetable matters, which improves the mechanical condition of the soil; but every man who cultivates tho soil has not a supply of farmyard manure at all in the proportion to the area cultivated, and this humus is most deficient in most Australian soils, except on river flats. We have, however an excellent substitute in cow p6as, or clover grown and ploughed in green. The seed may be sown after the land is cleared of the previous crop, or sown amongst maize just before the.last cultition, and covered by the cultivator. Such a crop adds both nitrogen and organic matter to the soil. Such soil will retain moisture far longer during a dry spell than one devoid of humus.

Sacauxe. —When sacaiine began to be boomed as a fodder plant says an Australian paper we made full enquiry from those who had grown it, and found good reason to caution our readers against it. The American Agriculturist has an article headed "Sacaiine Absolutely Worthless," in this style: None of the recently introduced reputed fodder plants has ever been so highly praised as this. It was asserted that it would thrive in any kind of soil, wet or dry. that once established it was perennial, that it would yield from 90 to 150 tons of green forage per acre, that it was more nutritious than clover, that it would withstand drought, and that it would shade the cows iu summer. 24 farms in Massachusetts tried it, but we have found no one who is pleased with this crop, aud our experience has been such as to condemn it. I believe any further money or time spent in testing this crop will be thrown away." t I t

Tu e Width of Tyres.—That the general adoption of a wider tyre for drays and waggons would to a considerable cxteat, reduce the damage to our road ways, more cspicially in the winter season, has often been claimed; but there are many people who would bo considered good practical men that contend that the broader tyre, whilst increasing the weight of the vehicle, adds to its draught as well. Our American cousins are practical if anything, and judging from American farm journals, many of the roads there arc in a very bad condition, and experiments have been carried out to ascertain the best tyre width, Waggons carrying 20001b5., and drawn by a dynamometer, were used, aud every test was in favour of a Gin, tyre, as against the American standard of 1-J-iri. On clayey roads tho gain was equal to from 50 to GO per cent., in other words, one horse would more than do tho work of two

On the Cost of Weeds.—How many persons havo considered the actual annual cost to them of growing weeds ? In the first place, thero is the room which they take up, and which cannot re occupied by a useless and a useful plant at the same time. Then there is the plant food which they take from the soil, and which in the form of fertilizers has probably cost you hard cash, or which at auy rate, is actual Value whilst it remains in the soil. These weeds are an injury to the growing crop ; they arc in fierce competition with the useful plants for a living, and without your interference the weeds would get the best of the struggle nine times out of ten. Again, weeds use an enormous amount of water, and this at some seasons is as valuable in your noil as fertilising elements. An acre of wild mustard, with ien plants to tho ecrttue yard, have been preyed capable of taking from the soil

and evaporating into ths attnostphcro over 20 tons of writer (more than 4,000 gallons) daily. Lastly, think of the cost of separating- the seeds of noxiou- plants (weeds) from those of utefnl plants, the grain you wish to /row. What is the extra cost of dressing grain in Australia to the tanner, the seedsman, and the miller, caused hy the presence ofwe.d saeds? It is ooit«inly a big figure. The remedy is cultivation. .Stir tbo soil, kill the weeds, and in doim.' so prcs<Tvo the moisture—not only that which the weeds would absorb, but aLo that which would escape by natural evaporation from a hard, sun-baked, unktoken surface. If you must trow weeds, take this advice. Grow thum by themselves, not in competition with the crop on which you depend for your profits ; and remember the old adage. " One year's seeding, seven years weeding." t 1- t

The Cultivation of Ramie.—A representative of the Overland Times of Ceylon has bad an interview with Mr J. M. MacPonald, who has made a special study of ramie cultivation in Jchore, and was then on his way back to thai place with machinery necessary for proper treatment of the fibre. He told his interviewer that be had come to the conclusion that the best way to make ramie cultivation pay is to have the machinery irooted on the estate foi cleaning it and preparing it for the manufacturer ; and that the reason for this was obvious, a* GO per cent, of the raw material was not fibre, and should bo removed by machinery adapted for the purpose befora packed for home. " I have talked about this ramie cultivation and what I expect from it, if worked in this way, beforo," ho said, " but it will be seen I have the courage of my convictions, for I am taking out enough machinery to work the produce of ieoo acres. The Sultan of Johore supplies us with as much ramie fibre ns we went at 15 cents, a pikul, or a.bout bt a ton ; and besides this he lias invested £2COO in the venture. I have already orders for 400 tons a month. We buy the raw material at os a ton. Allowing for the extraction of rubbish and gum, it costs us £l4 a ton to prepare the fibre and deliver it in Liverpool. And we soil it to the manufacturers at i'l'2 a ton. T can tell you there will be a big rush for ramie cultivation when I have shown people what can be- done. I expect to go home next Christmas with 200 tons of ramie." The beauty of the fibre, be said, was that it was so easy to obtain a market for it.

Stadle Vices of the Horse.—There are several troublesome habits, tricks or vices, to which horses are subject, more particularly horses that are constantly stabled when not at work. There is one very bad trick to which horses become addicted whether they are htabled or not, and which is one of tho most annoying This is pulling back whenever tied up or bitche'd by the bridle. It is a dangerous thing also when a horse hangs back hiswhole weight in a stable, for if tho rope or strap gives way the hor.«e falls on his haunches or against a post with such force as sometimes to cause serious injury to himself. Such horses should be tied so securely that there is no chance of breaking loose, as that there is their object, and if they fail to accomplish their purpose a few times they will get tiied of trying, If the horse can be caugh: in the act a good flogging will greatly facilitate a cure. There are ways, too, of tying a horse so that hauging back will put the strain oa some more sensitve part than the neck or head. Horses should never be tried in a stall without a heavy sinker weight to keep the halter or rope from saggiug. A loose, sagging rope is sure to get under a horse's leg and cause abrasons or even dangerous wounds. A horse cannot bite his hind leg or seratch his ear without getting into a mess if there is no sinker attacked to the rope- Pawing is a nervous oi restless habit, aud can be stopped by hobb'.ing the two fore feet together. Crib bitiug aud chewing ropes and bridle reins is a troublesome habit. I have not heard of a complete cure being found for ir, but there are various devices for checking it. As a rule it is only young horte that are prone to do it, aud they lose the habit as they grow older. , Dosing the woodwork of the manger with bitter aloes is. one plan of prevention. An open iron muzzle is sometimes used to keep their teeth from the mischievous habit.—Agricola. t i +

Victorian Wheat Prospects.— According to all accounts from the country the area placed under wheat this season will show a material increase So fir, the young crops are ail that could be desired, though in the Swan Hill and Yarrawonga districts farmers would like a little more rain ; but in others the fall has been not only sufficient to meet all immediate wants, but to eesure that soaking of the subsoil so.necessary to ensure good yields. For instance, the fall at the central point of the Goulbum Valley since April has been 8.92 inches, against 4.27 inches last year, when splendid yields in that district were obtained. The early-sown crops are very forward for the time of the year, but this luxuriance of early growth is not always acharactcristicof biggrain yields. A spell of mild, warm weather is now what appears to lie most desired, which will enable the wheat plant to gain strength and stool out well. The outlook, taken as a whole, is highly satisfactory, and with anything like fair, seasonable weather during the maturing months a bumper harvest may be expected, According to the official returns the area under wheat in 1897-98 was 1,6.37,450 acres, and for 1898-91} it will probably be not less than 1,900,000 acres. A moderate averaSe of, say, only 10 bushels to the acre would give a gross yiel.l of 19,000,000 bushels, which, deducting 8,000,000 bushels lor home requirements and interior wheat. would leave 11,000,000 bushels for export, equivalent to about 280,000 tons, for which tonuige would be required, It will be seen, therefore, that the the freight factor will be one of considerable importance during the nect season. As to the present position of the market, stocks are unusually large for the time of the year, and the only prospect of improvement is to be fouud. in an increase of shipments. Leader.

How to Make Superphosphate.—Mr W. F. Worley, of the General School staff, supplies the Nelson Colonist with the following method of manufacturing superphosphate :—" Get a 40 gallon cask (ono that has been used for oil will Answer well, and can be had cheap), out it in two, and see that half is watertight. Take 2cwt of bone, 4 gallons of water, and one GOlb jar of sulphuric acid. Pass the bono dust through a screen with six or eight lines to the inch, Halve the coarse part, and put jpne half into each tub. Put two gallons of hot water into each tub, and then slowly and cautiously add half the acid to each tub. A good plan U to pour the acid first into a milk jug with a good spout, and then pour from the milk jug into the tub, keeping the hand low and the head turned aside. Stir the mixture with a flat stick till all action has ceased. Weigh oil' 401bs from the remaining fine bonoiust, and put it aside, halve the rest, putting half into each tub, and stirring again till action has ceased, or nearly ceased. A little water may be added if it is too dry to mix easily. Take the -lulus of fine stuff that was set aside and put half of it into each tub, spreading it out on the surface to act as "a cover for keeping in the warmth. Cover up with sicks and allow to stand for three days. At the end of that time dig it, out, and mix with it dry earth, ashes or sawdust -but not lime—until is is in a powdery state suitable for scattering broadcast. The cost is ;—2cwt of bonedust Ms • GOlbs of acid at 2M per lb 12s (id ; Total CI (is 6d. This will make enough for half an aero of laud and shouid be scattered in drills with or close to the seed ; oGlbs of saltpetre and 281bd

of salt added to the superphosphate would greatly improve its value for land is efficient i" potash and soda "

The New Blacksmith : Klkctricty. Few operations look more like a miracle than heating a piece of iron to a cheery hue, or even a more dazzling incandescence by thiiistinsr it' into a tank of cold water. Hitherto tbo blacksmith has plungod a horse-show or other product of his arc into a bath beside bis forge to lower the temperature of a piece of metal which has been heated in the fire. It is now proposed to r?o away with the broad hearth, the coals, the blaze, and the hello wp, but to retain tho tank and its contents. The other day (says an English contemporary) when tests of the device wire being made it was found that a railway spike fully an inch in diameter acquired a chenytint fifty seconds after it was dipped into the cold bath, while a half-inch screw-bolt, ciuiie to a white heat in eighteen seconds. The water tank stands on four legs. It is a portable affair. Two carefully insulated wires proceeding from a. dynamo are led into the room. Tho "positive'* wire is connected with tho metal lining of the rc.-ervior. The other wire is secured by weiding or solder or otherwise to a pair of tongs, whose bandies are covered with insulating material. 'the negative wire is long enough to allow considerable movement by the workman. The latter merelv tii'aps with these insulated tongs the spike, bolt, horsebore or other object which is to be he.ited and dips it into the liquid. That's all. When it is hot enough he turns to the anvil and hammers the thing. t J t

Corn and Catch Crops.—The Americans have not secured all the records, even on paper. Some New South Wales fanners can boast that their land has carried over a score of crops of corn in succession without rest, rotation, or manure. But the Amcricui paper proudly displays the fact that an Ohio man has raised corn on a piece of land for 14 years with what are called catch crops in between, and there was no material diminution in the yield. Doubtless the continual production of heavy crops of corn without feeding or resting the land is highly creditable to the land, but it does not, exalt the judgment of the farmer. Tne Ohio record sinks into insignificance when it is stated that some light dressings of stable manure have b:eu applied from time to time. Despite all this, the catch-crop system may be worth following. Tho toil of the field reterred to is a heavy vellow clay with inclinations to a. sandy subsoil at a depth of 4ft. The plan followed has been to sow a catch-crop of oats and peas or other suitable fodder as soon as possible, sowing a bushel of each to the 'acre. When good growth has been made this is rolled down and afterwards ploughed in, thus providing iu the first place a fine mulch and afterwards a great supply of humus for the soil. The system of cultivating the land and planting the corn is to first plough Gin. deep then harrow and roll till the soil is we 1 worked and the humus properly disposed of. The corn is planted in drills o.jft apart, the kernels (Jin. apart in the diilJs. The field is harrowed lightly before the corn comes and twice afterwards, the harrow travelling lengthwise with the rows. These harrowings dispose of the surface-germinating weeds. Later the cultivator, sat to an inch, is run over the land three times, thus providing a kind of dust or fine earth mulch and again dealing with the weeds. Where good rich soil is worked the catch crops will give sufficient assistance without manure, and the com crops will be largely increased each year. Where a large growth is desired the Ohio people always use white Virginia corn.

The Merits or Pea Cultore.—Professor Lowrie, of the Roseworthy Agricultural College, South Australia, in writing to the local press on the merits of pea culture, says : —" Under any circumstances, there is much to recommend us to feed all peas grown in the yards on the farm. It is a practice which helps very appreciably to maintain the fertility of the laud. To feed part peas to draught horses lessens the grain bill ; no money, at any rate, goes out for this, and draught horses do well when part of their dietary consists of a food stuff so highly myogenous as peas Dairy cattle respond well also when peas ate added to their rations, and for pigs evoryone knows it to be foodstuff well suited, and likely to srive that firmness of flesh aud condition with ths curcr so much appreciated. 1 do not forget that peas as a foodstuff for dairycattle are discounted by some authorities, but others —and, I think, the majority—find no fault with it, but rather much to recommend it. The farmyard maauro from stock fed partly with peas has a high value relatively. Again, it lias been common experience for centuries that wheat likes to follow such crops as peas, beans and clover. The explanation of this oxperieiiC3 is found in the symbiasis or association of microb'c life with the roots of these plants. Tho numerous colonics of microbes forming the tubercles found in the roots of the pea under the nitrogen of the air available to the plant, and the -result is that the pea crop does not impoverish tho soil of nitrogen—the most expensivo manurial element. The pea crop, owing to this influence, is described as a nitrogen collector, while a cereal such as wheat is a nitrogen consumer. To grow peas, and more especially to feed them on the farm, is, therefore, a direct means of maintaining fertility on the farm, and as things are, there seems good reason for suggesting that more attention be given to the crop."

The Wukat Chop,—News from all the principal wheat districts in the colony tells of largely increase'! areas everywhere. Last year production in New South Wales overtook consumption This yeat's crop promises to exceed that by millions of bushels, and thus give a considerable surplus for export. It is never safe to prophesy about the wheat crop, because a dry spring followed by a week of scorching winds just as the ears are beginning to fill may reduce the yield enormously. All that can be said at present is that the crops are going into the land under much more favourable circumstances than prevailed during the sowing season of 1897. Where the most forward of the wheat in the end of June was just peeping through the surface in the begiuning of July last year, this week the early sown cropj are inches out of the around. All through the latter part of May and June it was possible to keep the ploughs going in many large districts, and of late new land has been well soaked, so that the increases contemplated at the biginning of the season have been rendered possible nearly everywhere. A large wheat' grower at Berrigan, who had seen most of the Murray wheat country of late anticipates a 10 per cent increase all over that southern portion which Inn swelled the big crop so intensively in recent years, lint Kiverina as a whole is to be outrival'cd this yea- by the West and North-west. We have a reliable report from a man who recently saw most of the western country, (laving been Parkes, Forbes, Narromine, Dubbo, Wellington, and further out, He states that in some of the districts the increase will run to 100 per cent., but there are so many large single holders going in extensively that it is impossible to arrive at a definite estimate. From the Northwest out as far as More;?, and from the North we hear of I ii'gj increases also. Probably a 20 per cent, addition to the area under wheat last year would be well wi'lnn the mark as a forecast. In 1807 1,'206,13!) acres was returned. Of this average 10U bushels of wheat, yielding 10,548,288 bushels. Say the increase is 230,000 acres this year, and it will be seen that if the season fulfils the anticipations a favourable June has brought into existence there will be a lot of wheat to liantllo. Seeing that the out-

10-'k is for still greater increases in futuie years it is time that the Had way Department began to consider the matter of providing facilities for handling these great crops. Elevators ir. co neotiou with the railways should be a leading project by thi.-i time, ami if the authorities do not recognis-- the i ccessity for providing tor the faro ••«' wants there will he a lot of trim It- iu the futui e