FARM & GARDEN NOTES

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 360, 29 October 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

FARM & GARDEN NOTES

Milk Fever.—To guard asrainst milk fever watch the udder during the time the cow is dry, if limp feed generously, but if it swelis'and gives indications of being feverish, reduce the feed. t X t

Doesn't Know Everything.—Eveni judge, wise as he may think himself docs not know everything. It, is told of ono now on the Supreme Court bench, of an adjoining colony, that he bought a oow, which he sent back to the vendor on the ground that she was too old—having no teeth in the upper jaw. t X t

A Coop Cow. —One or two signs will denote a good cow, as well as twenty. In a poor cow the thigh runs down straight, no space between the thigh and the udder on one side, and the tail on the other. There should be plenty of daylight be tween the udder and the tail. One of the best ways to tell what kind of a cow you have is her temperament. A good dairy type has a sharp spine, strongly developed nervous syrntem, and sharp hip bones. A good cow has a large, wedgesbaped stomach, for she must have a large and powerful digestive system to use up her food quijkly, and make the best returns for it.

A Useful Hint.—Some time ago (writes a correspondent of the Melbeurne Leader) " I purchased a highly-mettled Jersey heifer. She was sent from her former owner by train, and when she arrived at our station she was so wild and excited that we could not untie her in the truck. In fact, we knew that if we did turn her lose she would bolt. So wc tbrew a blanket over her head and untied her, then tied an old sack over her eyes so that she sould not see. This eo completely subdued her that she walked home some four miles tied behind a waggon, as quietly as any one could wish. In a few years, the cow was again sold, and her purchaser, although confident he could lead any cow, could not get her home until he had taken my advice in blindfolding her with an old sack, when she was again led away quite peaceably." t t t

Spreaders or the Tick.—-The following—to some—will read very much like a romance, but the narrator (says the Queenslander) is well known, and his veracity is beyond suspicion. Mr W. H. L. Thornton, of Tower Hill happened to bo in Rockhampton when Mr Pound stated in public that he had shot duck and ibis, and found number of larval ticks on them. This was at a time when a severe drought was on. It occurred to Mr Thornton at tbe time that before leaving the station he had noticed ibis and duck on the lagoons on Tower Hill, and he posted back as fast as possible. On his arrival he found what he half suspected would be the case—a number of cattle around the lagoons actually tickinfested. This seems pretty conclusive evidence that thene pests are carried by the birds, and yet there are those who believe that the ticks can be kept down by the ibis and other insectivorous birds.

Irish Dairying.— A notable departure in Irish dairying was inaugurated at Limerick the other day, where a show of butter was held in connection with the introducing of the Danish system of butter-testing vice the Irish. The latter method of showing butter has been to pay special attention to the quality aud preparation of butter intended for exhibition whereas the essence of the Danish system is to send in for testing the ordinary every-day make; no notice is given on the show, and farmers are bound to supply simples of their butter on receipt of a telegram from the official. This is the way the testing of the Irish co-opera-tive butter will be conducted in future. The Limerick trail was a great success, and may be the means of tho Irish butter getting back a share of tho export business which it formerly enjoyed. But many faults were found in matters of detail, showing how uneducated is the Irish dairyman in all the niceties which are looked after so carefully by the foreigner who exports to the Homo markets. t X t

Soesoiling.—lt is a lamentable condition of things, says a southern paper, yet nevertheless true, that subsjiling in New Zealand is almost utterly neglected. We have an undeniable proof of this, if we look round the implement yard at any agricultural show. Any amount of new implements jare on view for harrowing, scarifying, or scratching the surface, but few, if any, for the purpose of opening up the lower surfuce of the soil. Deep tillage is the sheet anohor of the agricuturist if he only knew it. Anything new or anything that is considered to save time or money, is readily patronised by tho colonial farmer. Our farmers are educated to go too far ahead and remain in ignorance of old established facts relative to their calling. Subsoiling breaks the crust that has been formed hy years of ploughing and cultivation, It allows, in a great measure, the surface water to escape more readily, which in itself is of vital importance, Subsoiling allows tho roots of plants to penetrate more easily to a greater depth in search of food. Jn fact, a farmer increases the arear of his holding when he uses the sub-soiler.

Inflammation of the Uddee Contagious.—There is little doubt that there is a contagious f< rm of inflammation of the udder, or mamoiitis. Mr Sidney Villar, F.R.C, V.S., in the course of an interesting and useful paper on " .Some of the Diseases of the Udder and Teats of Cows," read at the recent annual meeting of the National Veterinary Association, held at Leeds, said that twenty years ago Professor Axe, in his lecturer, tauuht that mammitis "Was at times of a contagious character. Until recently Mr Villar had been sceptical as to its ever being contagious, but an outbreak, the details of which ho gave occurred in his practice this summer, which led him to alter his opinion. One of his clients bad sixty ciws on his premises, all kept in sheds, fed alike, and having recently had no change of diet In one shed there were twenty cows, four of which became aflected with mammitis within fifty-eight consecutive hours. The twenty cows were all milked by one and the same mau. One of them—a recently-purchsed animal —had calved about two months previously. She was the first attacked. Two other affected animals in the same shed had calved over three months, and the fourth had been in milk over twelve months. Two of the cows had two quarters diseased, and the other two three of their quarters. At Mr Villar's suggestion the stricken animals were removed to a dh-tant shed already containing only an aged cow with a three-days-old calt. At his next visit, within a week, this latter cow had mammitis in two quarters, andjthe characteristic lameness and swollen condition of the hucks was very marked .

HOW TO PRODUCE GOOD VEGE TABLES. The secret of success in growing good vegetables is good culture. All, or nearly all, depends upon this, but strange as it may seem, failure of crop, or lack of quality, is almost iinariably attributed to some other cause, usually to the seedsman. One man will take a given vaiiety and produce from it a crop absolutely perfect in every respect ; another will take seed from the same package and not produce a plant worthy the name, while both are grown in close proximity and under the same climatic conditions and on soil of the same geueral character. The first and all-important step is putting tht soil in proper condition before the seed is planted, and the next is to see that the seed is properly sown, or the plants are properly tt. Let us take up the cauliflower sau example. This vegetable, which is

generally considered very difficult to produce, can be grown as eaMly and as profitably as any other, and under as many different conditions cf soil and climate. The soil sh"iild be workel as deep as possible. If it is 12m. deep work to its In 1 depth, and let it lm as rich nt Mm bottom as oi the surface. The manure, which slioul I be la •»• iy from the stable, should • e r. orongh'y incorporated, and the soil made as riue as it is possible to make it with the plough and the harrow, and this when it is neither too wet nor too dry. The toocommon practice of ploughing one day, harrowing the next, and putting in the plants on the third i< about, cs bad as it is possible to work the soil. The correct method is to work it until it is as tin*• as it is possible to make i', then ses the plants, after wlvch never let the plough touch it and the cultivator should only disturb the surface, but as often us necessary, which is after every showpr, in order to have the .surf ce fine and loose to prevent evaporation.

Of no less im, or ance is the condition of the soil of the teed bed, which should be light, fine, and fibrous, but not particularly rich. !:'ow the s<ed thinly, and cover but lightly, one-eigtii of an inch being sufficient ; sow when the soil is dry, press it firmly over the seed, then water through a fine rose, shade from the midday sun, and leave the bed uncovered at all other tunes As soon as the seed leaves are full size, prick out into a bed prepared in the suite way, agaiu water and shade from the midday sun. When the plants are lin high, prick them out again, this time setting an iuch apart each way, then grow on until they are ready lor the field or garden. The plants will then have formed a solid mass of roots and tlr y can be transferred to the place where they are to grow, and, if properly set, they will not be checked in growth a particle. This is all the secret chore is in growing cauliflowers, and what is true with cauliflowers is equally as important with cabbages and with all other vegetables that aro transplanted. Although this method may be considered an innovation on the old custom, it is the only way to insure success. As to its beiug practical, I may state that I know of one farmer who annually grows GO acres of cauliflower, about 20 of cabbage, and the same of tomatoes aud every plant is grown and set in this manner. This fanner could not be induced to grow in any other manner for the reason he is always success ul, arid gets his 60 of cauliflower all marketed in the early summer months, when the greut body of cauliflowergrowers do not attempt a summer crop, because of its uncertainty, when, in realitv, there is no uncertainty in the matter if the successful man's methods are adapted. This method makes it possible to get 1100 heads of Wakefield cabbage and 800 bushels of tomatoes from each acre planted. THE ORCHARD AND GARDEN". WORK FOR NOVEMBER. The Okcharli. —Examine wall trees. Pinch out' useless wood, and stop shoots tending to over luxuriance. Look over newly planted trees; stir surface, and give fresh mulching, Attend to vines, tying in the bearing shoots, stopping them ono or two joints above the fruit. Is 1 ever leave more than one bunch to spnr, and, in the case of young vines, to every alternate spur will be ample ; nor allow the leading shoot of a young vine to carry its own fruit—it, must be cutoff, although in all probability it will appear the finest! Very great care must be taking in handling" the shoots, as they are easily broken off. Look over the grafts, loosening the ties and rubbing off wild growth below graft. Thin gross shouts from goose berries, to allow sun and air to the fruit.

The Gardkn. —Keep the hoe constantly at work ; allow no weed* to run to seed. Thin out beet, turnip, parsnip, carrot; plant out leeks, either in trenches or in rjws twelve inches apart, iu good aeop rich soil. Plant out lettuce and endive. Thin out onions and all advancing crops. Keep bsparagus-beds clean, a sprinkling of salt may be given. Sow broad beans, and top those coming into bioom. Plant out tomatoes, and examine those already planted, tying neatly to sticks already placed for their surport. Sow dwarf kidney and runner beans. Sow savoy cabbage, walcheren brocoli, turnip, radish, lettuce, endive, mustard and cress. Attend to cucumbers in frames by drawing the earth around the stems and pinching out superfluous shoots. Give sufficiency of air, and syringe well overhead in the evening ; in ridges in the open air by drawing the earth up to them, and pegging down the shoots to prevent breakage by the wind, they will require a liberal supply of water. Water occasionally with liquid manure. Earth up potatoes as they advance.