FARM & GARDEN NOTES

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 375, 3 December 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

FARM & GARDEN NOTES

The weather has continued fine during the week, with an absence of high winds that is much appreciated after the heavy westerly gales experienced for some time post. Farm work, now chiefly confined to ploughing and harrowing for turnips, is being pushed on at a satisfactory rate, tho land working up in fine condition for the purpose. Shearing is still progressing but by the end of the present week, most flocks will have the wool off, the later shearing being principally confined to the big stations where lack of shearers, combined with showery weather, has delayed operations somewhat. With the increased warmth, < some of the early wheat crops are coming into ear, the crops generally being of good growth and promise fair yields. Oats are somewhat backward, but are of good height aud colour, and would be benefited by an occasional shower to keep the land cool and moist. Potatoes, where planted early on dry land, bid fair to be a record crop, the haulms showing a phenominal growth ; but on low-lying heavy, land the seed has rotted in places, leaving the rows rather gappy. With the absence of high winds fruit trees are having a better time of it, and, as the season advances, a more reliable' estimate can be made of the prospects of the fruit harvest. In most orchards—fairly sheltered—apples are a good crop ; also plums. Peaches are very poor, as regards yield of fruit; but with the improvement in the weather, the trees are becoming clothed with more healthy looking foliage, and may yet recover the withering effects of the cold winds in the early Spring, though they have spoilt the crop for this season. Pears are better than for some years past; while, of the smaller fruits, gooseberries are yielding fairly, though we have seen heavier crops. Taken all round, the prospects for a good yield of fruit are decidedly favourable, much more so than was anticipated only a few weeks ago, and with the probability of somewhat better prices than have ruled during the past year or two, our orchardists are likely to have a profitable season. The markets for stock are brisk, beef and mutton being in good demand, and not the least hopeful sign of the times is the presence in Waikato of a buyer _of fat sheep and lambs for the English market. The importance of establishing a local trade of this kind cannot be overestimated, and our settlers will be studying their own interest in doing all they can to encourage and support it. It is a well known fact that the enhanced prices received for fat sheep and lambs in the Southern markets, as compared with those obtained in Waikato and Aucklard, are almost wholly due to the preaenw at the former of buyers for the export trade, and we look forward to witnessing something of the kind in our own centres. Farm produce is selling well, butter being about the only line at bedrock prices, but this is chiefly due to the want of a proper system of keeping and storing until the glut is over. The time will yet come when farmers will be able—for a small charge per lb—to store their butter in cool chambers for a few months, and then obtain some of the benefit of the higher prices ruling in winter and spring, and not see the whole of it monopolised by a few wealthy dairy companies. Eggs and poultry are in brisk demand, at better prices than have ruled for some time.

Maori Girls in the Shearing Shed. —On a number of stations in the Hawke's Bay district the fleece-picking and woolrolling is being done by Maori girls, who are said to be experts at the business. They are more particular in their work than boys, besides being much quicker.

Dirty Grass Seed.—Mr T. W. Kirk, in a paper read beforo a Wairarapa farmers' olub said that the farmers were being robbed wholesale in the purchase of grass seed. From experiments he had made with parcels obtained from supposed reliable seedsman he had reduced the parcel by cleaning it of dirt and foreign seed to less than half its original weight,

A Wonderful Lambing —Mr W. Ackroyd hns a flock of 90 ewes runninjr on bin farm fronting the north town belt Arowhenua, and these have given birth to no less than 174 lambs, the percentage being almost 200. The highestpercentage Mr Ackroyd has had before this is 135, and we believe the present percentage a record. It will take a lot of beating, anynow. The ewes and lambs may be seen by anyone who doubts the accuracy of the figues given.—Temuka Leader. t t t

Bots in a Sheep's Head.—One day recently a Wanganui settler discovered some bots in the head of a sheep. The sheep, a six-tooth, wether, was in good condition, and was killed for mutton. The settler informed tbe Chronicle that, while dressing the head, a sort of maggot dropped out, -which, on closer examination, he found to be a bot fly. On examining the head he found that the bots were in the nose, from which he traoed them up over tha eyes and close to the brain. A very thin bone separated the bots from the brain, and a similar obstruction was between them and the eye. t t t

Pkopkr Milking.—" I do not think," writes a correspondent of the Melbourne Leader, " that the average of those engaged in this work of dairying fully appreciate the important part of the work the milking is. Except where a family is independent of outside labour, a difficulty is always experienced in securing competent and careful hands for milking. Very frequently they arc rough and cruel with'the cows, and they do the work of milking in a slovenly and often a dirty manner, audit is no unusual thing for the. cows to be let out of the yard with the richest of the milk still in their udders. It is easier nnd more humane to treat the cows with kindness ani give them as little pain as possible while the operation of extracting the milk is going on. Cows are singularly susceptible to kindness, and soon learn to know those who treat them with consideration. They should not be dogged or driven rapidly to the milking yard ; the most careful and experienced dairy farmers will not allow the use of dogs at all. When the milking of a cow is once begun it should be done ' full handed,' and as quickly as possible—that is, a teat should be grabbed by each hand, and no pause made till the milk is extracted. If the cow is light in one or two quarters these should be milked first. When the milker stands up from a cow the milking should be finished for the time being ; there should be no goiug back some time afterwards to get the strippmgs. It is true that if the latter practice is followed up soni". milk will be got each time, but this is because cows come to expect the second visit, and prepare for it by reserving a very small quantity of the lacteal fluid. It is of greit imporoance to milk the cow clean, as if milk is left in the udder it has a tendeney to dry the auitnal off. Cleanliness should be strictly observed, and if the mud or dirt of any kind is present the udder and teats shoull be washed, and the milking should be done as nearly as possible at the same hours every day. Practice alone can make a man a good milker, but it is within the power of eycryone to control his temper and treat the auimals under his care with kindness and consideration."

Cow-Pea.—The cow pea is becoming a popular fodder crop in New South Wales, writes the Sydney correspondent of the Australian, and it appear? to ''e a plant which should be more extensively cultivated, especially by dairy Farmers. The seed is sown during October as a rule, but it may be put in Liter if the weather prove showery. The cow-pea is well adapted for dry districts, and f given a fair chance will produce a larger amount of fodder to the acra than any other plant excepting maize and sorghum ; but it will sometimes grow where these will not succeed at all, A farmer near Goulbum—Mr P. C. Dyer, of Jerrara—had an interesting experience with the crop last season. The land selected for trial was stiff, black river flat, that had not been cultivated for seven or eight years. The seed was planted 3ft apnt in drills, and 2ft between the seeds. Dry weathersetin.andthegroundwas too dry toreplant. This time only odd seedsof white and clay varieties grew. The black nearly all grew. The cultivator was kept going still the growth was very alow. At the end of December the peas were only 3in to 4in high. In the bediming- of January rain came, and they started to grow rapidly. On February 15th heavy rain fell, and resulted in a flood, covering the cow-peas to a depth of 3ft in the water.' When it subsiJed they were covered in mud. Mr Dyer gave up all hopes of the peas then ; but in a few days they sent forth shoots and grew most luxuriantly, covering the ground in one mass of succulent growth, many pods reaching 12in aud 13in long but they were too late. Frost set in, and only 361 b of prime seed was obtained. The rest was ruined. Mr Dyer believes that but for the frost he would have harvested 36 bushels to the acre. He never saw anything grow like them. The cows were turned into the peas, and ate them with avidity. Mr Dyer was unfortunate with the crop owiusr to the drying weather, but neverthelels he is going to put in a much larger area this season. I have seen splendid crops of cow-pea grown at the Wagga Experimental Farm. t t t

Green- Manuring.—Green manuring is not so much in vogue in this colony as it is at Home; yet for some classes of light soil no better method could be adopted for adding to the fertility of the soil. The practice of green manuring was largely followed in England before the use of artificial manures became so general. While highly concentrated manures stimulate plant growth for a season, then aod little or nothing to the reserve fertility of the soil. Green manuring, on tho other hand, stores up a good reserve of plant food for future use. The term " green manure" is given to crops which are grown for the purpose of being ploughed down where they grow to enrich the soil. The plants best adapted for green manuring are those that derive the most of their food from the air—nitrogenloving plants. And amongst those such plants as cover the ground well and root deeply are the best. Not only do they store up a lsrge quantity of nitrogen from the air, but they also bring up from the subsoil a quantity of mineral plant food, all of which is returned ts the soil when the green crop is ploughed under. In England, tbe principal crops grown for green manure are white mustard, rye, rape, vetches, and crisom clover (trifolium incarnatum). These crops when ploughed in are, weight for weight, about as valuable as farmyard manure, containing as they do large quantities of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. When.it is considered that from eight to ten tons of any of tho crops named obove can be grown to every aore by the aid 'of artificial manure, some idea of the value of this system of manuring may be gleaned. White mustard comes to maturity in from six to eight weeks, and two or three crops may be grown on the game land during a single season, or a couple of crops might be grown after a crop of early potatoes. The large quantity of manure that can thereby be aided to the soil would more than repay the labour and loss of the land for a season, as thei'd would be stored up a reserve of fertility that would enrich the land for a good many years to come. Green crop for ploughing down is first heavily rolled, and then turned down; but not too deeply. The proper time to plough the crop down is just before it comes into flower, when its manurial value is at its highest. A selection of the green crop must be made, according to the crop to f.illow. If turnips are to be grown, then rapo is the best green manure ; for wheat, rye is the best; and for p»as or beans, vetches should be grown for green munu - ring. To the farmer possessing a light soil, and not favourably circumstanced in the way of producing farmyard manure, the system of green manuring ought to recommend itself. By that means he can periodically improve the value of his land and produce better crops than he was previously able to do.

RULES FOR DAIRYMEN. The Minnesota State Diiry and Food Commission has issued some very excellent rules which it has distributed to dairymen throughout that State with an injunction to post in a conspicuous place. They cover points essential to success whether viewed from the stand-point of the private dairy or from that of a creamery patron, und they are as follows : Read current dairy literature and keep posted on new ideas. Observe and enforce the utmost cleanliness about the cattle, their attsndants, the stable, the dairy, and all utensils. A person suffering from any dinease, or who has been exposed to a contagious disease, most remain from the cows and the milk. Ui-e no dry, dusty feed just previous to milking; if fodder is dusty, sprinkle it before it is fed. Promptly remove from the herd any animal suspected of being in bad health, and reject her milk. Never add an animal to the herd ;until certain it is free fro.n disease, especially tuberculosis. Do not move cows faster than a comfortable walk while on the way to place of milking or feeding. No savage dogs. Never allow the cows to be excited by hard driving, abuse, loud talking or unnecessary disturbance; do not expose them to cold or storms any length of time. Do not oh&nge the feed suddenly. Feed.liberally and use only frtsh, palatable feed stuffs ; in no case should decomposed or moudy material be used. Provide water in abnndance, easy of access, and always pure ; fresh, but not toe cold. Do not use impure pond water. Salt should always be accessible. Do not allow any strong flavoured food, like garlic, cabbage and turnip?, to be eaten. Clean the entire body of the cow daily. If hair in tho region of the udder is not easily kept clean it should be clipped. Do not use the milk within 20 days before calving, nor for three to five days afterwards. The milker should be clean in all respects ; he should not use tobacco when milking; ho should wa?h any dry his hands just before milking. The milker should wear a clean overgarment, used only when milking, and kept in a clean place at. other times. Brush the udder and surrounding parts just before milking, and wipe tbom with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Milk quietlv. quickly, cleanly and thoroughly. Cows do not like unnecessary noise or delay. Commence milking at exactly the same hour every morning and evening, and milk the cows in the same order. Throw away (but not on the floor ; better in the gutter) the first few streams from each teat ; this milk is very watery and of little value, but it may injure the rest. II in any milking a part of the milk is bloody or stringy or unnatural in appearance, the whole mess should be rejected. Milk with dry hands ; never allow the hands to come in contact with the milk.

Do not allow dogs, cats, or loafers to be around at milking time. If any accident occurs by which a pail full or panly full of milk becomes dirty, do not tiv to lvrnody this by straining, but reject all this milk and rince the pail. AH persms who milk the cows should have their linger nails cut closoly. R'lmovo the milk of every cow at once from tho stable to a clean, dry room, where the air is pure and sweet. Do not allow cans to remain in stables whilo they are being rilled. Never keep milk in your stables or near bad odours. strain the milk through a metal gauze and a flannel cloth or layer of cotton as soon as it is drawn. /Erate and cool the milk as soon as strained. If an apparatus for airiug and cooling at tho same tune is not at hand, the milk should be aired first. This must bu done in pure air, and it should then be cooled to 45deg.; 60deg. if for homo use or delivery to a factory, or delivery for domestic use. Bold by pint or by quart. Never close a can containing warm milk which hns not been aired and cooled by turning from ono can to the other, stirred or dipped, until animal heat it out.

If the cover is left off a can, a piece of cloth or mosquito netting should bo used to keep out insects. If milk is stored it should be held in tanks of fresh cold water (renewed daily), in a olean, dry cold room. Unless it is desired 'to remove cream, it should be stirred with a tin stirrer often enough to prevent forming a thick cream layer. Keep? the night's milk under shelter so rain cannot get into the cans. In warm weather hold it in a can of fresh, cold water. Never mix fresh warm milk with that which has been cooled. Under no circumstances should anything be added to milk to prevent its souring. Cleanliness and cold are the only preventives needed. When cans are hauled far they shoHld be full, amd carried in a spring waggon. In hot weather cover the cans when moved in a waggon, with a ol.ean wet blanket or oanvas, or covered waggon, or covered milk box. Milk utensils for farm or dairy use should be made of metal, and have all joints smoothly soldered. Never allow them to become rusty or rough inside. Do not haul waste products baok to the farm or dairy in the same cans used for delivering milk. When this is unavoidable, insist that the skim milk or whey tank be kept clean. Cane used for the return of skim milk or whey should be emptied or cleansed as soon as they arrive at the farm. Clean all dairy utensils by first thoroughly rinsing them in warm water ; then clean inside and out with a brush and hot water in wkich a cleaning material is dissolved; then rince, and, lastly, sterilise by boiling water or steam. Use pure water only. After cleaning, keep utensils inverted, in pure air, and sun if possible, until wanted for use. It is the duty of all producer? of milk to produce a geod, clean, healthful and lawful article. In doing so you will increase the standard of tho article you produce and keep out of tho courts. THE ORCHARD AND GARDEN. ■WORK I'OR DECEMBER. The Orchard. —Remove suckers from Raspberry beds. Strawberries will require frequent watering. Thin out overluxuriant growth in gooseberries. Look over grafts, and loosen ties, putting stakes to them to keep them from being broken by the wind. Pinch laterals from vines carefully; tie in bearing shoots, and comraencfl thining berries. The vine border will require liberal supplies of water, The Kitchen.—Plant out brocoli, cauliflower, brusseln sprouts, and cabbage. Plant out main crop of celery. In planting, the young plants should be taken up with a trowel, with a smill ball of earth to each ; shade till they are established. Plant out leeks. Top broad beans. Sow french beans, some early sort of peas, turnip, radish, lettuce, and spinach, and mustard and cress. Cut herds for drying.