FARM & GARDEN NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 437, 20 May 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

FARM & GARDEN NOTES.

A Second Ckov of Wheat. The Australai inn has received a very remarkable simple, of self-sown wheat taken from a paddock in the Wimmera district The field, 110 acres in extent, was .stripped last December, giving a yield of 20 bushels per acre, and now the selfsown crop is nearly aft. in height, and out in car, the heads being remarkably well developed, though the grain is merely in the embryo stage, and is not likely to come to maturity. Such a growth_ is marvellous for the timo of year, and is a true indication of the favourable character of the season that is now boiDg experienced in the district. Mani-kino Apple Tkees.—A skilful grower of apples is of opinion that in ordinary sails an acre planted with this fruit should receive 20 tons of farmyard manure every third year. If this cannot bo obtained, the necessary ingredients contained therein would be supplied by the yearly use of 5001 b of kainit (containing 13J per cent, of potash), 12Clb of superphosphate (containing 16 per cent, of soluble phosphoric oxide), and 3901 b of nitrate of soda, or total for the three years of 26 cwt. of material. From those data it is evident that in certainty of effect, in convenience of handling, and in distribution over the soil, chemical manures possese distinct advantage.

How the Feeding Value of Oilcake was Discovered.— The value of linseed cake as a food for farm stock is said to havo been discovered iu a very curious manner. A kentish farmer who was in the habit of feeding a large_ stock of sheep aunually applied to his land a dressing of oil-mill refuse as a manure. On one occasion he noticed that the sheep in addition to eating the grass very close, also licked up the material applied as a fertiliser, and did so well on it that they increased in flesh at a much more rapid rats than a number of others kept on a field to which the dressing was not applied. Experiments subsequently made showed that the cake possessed considerable feeding vilue, and hence it was that it first came to bo used as a feed for stock, instead of being employed, as was up to then the fashion, in the form of manure. Clover V Rape eor Pigs.—An experiment in pig-feeding, designed to test the relative merits of clover and rape for the purpose, has been carried out at the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, and is reported upon in the fifteonth annual report recently issued. One set of pigs was pastured on clover and the other hurdled on rape, both receiving similar treatmont and feeding in every other way. The result points to rape as being the superior feed, although it is explained that tho dryness of the season and consequent want of succulence in the clover may have contributed in some degeee to this result. The rapa lot in nine weeks gained 54 891 b per head as against 49.521 bby the clover lot, or S7lb per head daily against 78lb. The pigs were about six months old, and the additional focd consisted of a mixture of Indiau corn meal and shorts, iu the proportion of two parts of the former to oiio of the latter.

The Milk of the Domestic Animals. —The milk of the sheep is far the richest of that of the domestic animals, It contains considerably less water, and very much more fat and albuminoids th*n that of any of the other animals of the farm. As against t..c 12i per cent of the " total solids " found iu the milk of. the cow, that of the ewo contained over 18 per cent of solids. The milk of the ewo also contains practically double the amount of fat and albuminoids that is found iu the milk of the cow. The milk of the mare is known to bo by far the " thinnest " of that of any of our domestic animals. It contains on an av-rage about 90 per cent, of water and less than 10 por cent, of solids. It consequently presents a striking contrast to the milk of the sheep, which contains only a little over 80 per cent of water, and yields on an average over 18 per cent of total solids. The milk of the mare bears a clos-r relationship in regard to its chemical composition to that o/the huEan being than that of any of our farm animals. It is very rich in milk-sugar of which it contains about G| per cent., as against tho 4£ per cent found in tho milk of the cow. Human milk contains about 7 per cant of milk sugar.

A City Milkman's AdVjCE. -A oorres pondent of Hoard's Dairymen writes; I live in a town of 15,060 inhabitants, and when I start-d to peddle milk, there were thirteen milk waggons running every day. My friend* said I was foolish to start in a crowded field like thin, but I told them I would hare plenty of opposition but no competition. So I started by selling milk from cows that would tact not hss than 5 per cent, butter fat by Babcook test. Then I reratod all the milk a* soon as drawn from the cows, and then cooled it to nearly 40 deg. F. and bottled it with all the cream in it, which showed up well in the bottles. After my milk is all «old for the day, my bottles ara washed iu very hot water with a powder brunh ; then thoroughly sterilized" beforo refilling. I started in September, 1898, and am now selling 800 quarts a week, at 6 cents, a quart, while the other milk dealers have cut down to -5 cents, and I am gaining trade every week. I simply claim that I have the cleanest, purest and richest milk in town, and when a lady once tries it, she will not alone continue to use it, but tells her neighbours and friends and they come for it. The only trouble i«, I have no cream to sell, nor can I make butter as others, but my cream goes with the milk.' SinpriNO Live Cattle.— The shipping of live cattle to Cuba during the war munt have beeD a ghastly business at first. The first steamer sent across loso from ten to thirty-eight head during the short voyniro from the American coast. This lo«s, it is snid, was caused almcst entirely by the loading of cattle into the steamers by hoisting th3m with rope aud puiley, the pulley being hooked into a rope about tho base of "the horns of the animals, allowing tho whole weight to bo hold up by the horns. This barbarous practice has since been abandoned, and all the steamers in the trade are provided with ports largo enough to allow of driving the cattle through them. After tho loading by hoisting was discontinued tho loss of cattle in transit was very small. The accommodation made for cattle on board a modern cattle ship are luxurious in contrast with the cruelty aud suffering attendant on their shipment in the early days of the trade, Their fodder is of the fiuest quality, their stalls arc as comfortable as they can brf made, and are lighted by electric light. With this greater care for tho comfort of tho beasis has come, a largely reduced loss in transit.

Potato G kowivg Ex pekim f.nt.s. The lessons to bo gathered from the potatogrowing experiments, conducted at Calne, under the auspices of the Wilts County Couucil, are briefly set forth in the annual report just issued. It litis been shown that good crops of potatoes may be grown at a profit for four years at leas-t, on the same land, with artificial manures alone, provided iheso contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash, in suiUblo form and proportion. It is essential for the best result* that all the three chief ingredients should bo included in an artificial manure. Of the threo potash is the least important, but the omission of this substance was marked by a reduction of yield and profit in the Wiltshire trials While potatoes may be grown successfully with artificials alone, however, hotter results followed the uso of sttblo manure alone, and the best results of all wero obtained from a judicious combination of farmyard and artificial manures. The most profitable qmntity of artifieials alone was SJnwt equal parts nitrate of soda, superphosphate, and kainit, per acre ; of ►table manure alone 10 tons per acre ; and of the two combined. 8 tous stable mature and ucvt

nitrato of soda, or its equivalent of ammonium sulphate. Equal weights of whole and cut seed yielded about the same weight of crop, a result not altogether in agreement with general experience.

Shires and Clydesdales.—ln comparison with Shires, Clydesdale horses nowadays realise small prices in England and Scotch markets. A three-figured price for mares of tho Clydesdale breod is not exactly uncommon, but only an animal of exceptional moiit and r-pute can bo trusted to reach the standard, while many a valuable prize-winner fulls considerably short of it. At a bale hold at Glasgow on the eve of the last stallion show, for example, only ono mare attained tho distinction referred to, and this was a first-prize Highland and Agricultural Sooicty winner, which fetched 200sjs. The other lots, and there were a number of really high-class mares and fillies offered, realised up to SOgs. The reason for the striking disparity in the pedigree market valao of Miires and Clydesdales is not vevy far to seek. The uxteusive support which tho Shire is fortunate enough to receive from noblemen and gentlemen of independent moans cxplaius much, as a careful scrutiny of a season's sale lists will prove. In one respect, however, there h little or no difference in the current money rates. Tho service fees charged for the most noted sires of the one breed are as high charged for the leading stallions of the other; while, on the whole, Clydesdale biriug rates probably run to a higher level than those obtaining for Shires.

Pigs on Small Farms. There is hardly a farm so diminutive in size (says an exchange) that pigs cannot be mado of use in consuming products that would otherwiso be wasted. They take a place that poultry cannot fill, and consume products that other live stock on the farm will not touoh. Some men will not keep pigs because they cannot grow all the food necessary for them, allowing more food to go waste than would buy the feed required to make a finished product. There is seldom a timo when feod oosts so much and pork sells for so little that pui chased feod consumed by a healthy pig cannot be made to yield a good profit, and leaving out of count entirely the fertilising properties of such foods left upon the farm. We can find small farmers who look upon the pig as their chief money maker, who lose a second profit upon him equal to tho first, because they think it suioidal to purchase food. At the same time their land is hungry for manure. The mannrs made by the pig is rich if made from rich food. Asa manure-maker, compared with the sheep, the latter must tako a back seat, becnuso the pig can make so much more of it When the small farmer undertakes to grow pigs ho should keep only such nwrrbers as he can keep proper!/—not have the farm look as though completely overrun with pigs on short rations. One point that should not be lost sight of in considering this matter is that a few pigi kept on a small farm aro lejs liable to disease than when kept in large numbers.

The Value of Sheep Mancre.—ln connection with the question of the commercial value of sheop manure, some interesting figures are given by Professor Henry summarising the results of certain experiments conducted at Cornell University. A number of sheep were put up in pens, th 3 floors of which wero covered with gaWanised irun, so that all excrement could be collected. They were given different r.:tions, comprising hay, maizo, oats, wheat bran, cottou-ecod meal, and oil-meal, and bedding was supplied in sufficient quantities to keep them dry and comfortable. Tho manure was weighed and valued, and the conclusions arrived at were that it ranged from 10s 8d to 16s 8d per ton when the bedding was included, and from 12s to 26s 7d per ton far excrement only. Theso values, of course, assumed that the manure was in a fresh state, and that none of its valuable constitutents were wasted in any way. The method of valuation employed was interesting. Over £8,000,000 worth of commercial fertilisers are stated to bo sold annually in tho United States, and "each valuable constituent of commercial fertilisers comes to have a definite value in tho markets the same as common commodities." It was reckoned that nitrogen in fertilisers is worth 7£d per lb phosphoric acid and potash 2]-d> theso being wholesale selling prices. vVhuthor the farmer or gardener buying them gets this value is —as is remarked "another ouestion" depending on how much he needs them. But, it is what use he makes of them. But, it is added, that no one can buy (hem at a lower valuation, and "often much higher prices are paid, especially by those who purchase small quantities or are deceived by dealers." Of course the variation in the value put upon the sheep manure was according to the food, but this roduc'ion to a commercial basil of a fertilising material which does not oome on to the market is noteworthy. The high value of sheep manure is a sort of tradition among farmers ; but it would probably occur to fow that it can be measured in the soales. And no doubt the manurial value of folding sheep on the land oould not be entirely weighed and priced by auy method adopted from the experimental pon.

A DISEASE AFFECTING WHEAT. Mr J. W. W. Mellor, Lecturer on Natural Science at Lincoln College, writes to the Christohurch Press as follows : I desire to draw your attention to tho presence of a most serious disease attacking wheat, noted by a Waimate farmer some six years ago, and which, in his words to me now, ' is increasing every year.' I also had a specimen forward d to me from a Canterbury farmer some twelve months ago. I am not aware of its having previously been recorded in New Zealand, but once here I would point cut the urgent necessity for such steps being taken as will hasten its eradication. A diseased sample was forwarded to Mr M'Alpine, of Victoria, for identification. It is tho ' ear cockle,' also called 'purples' or 'peppercorns' of wheat, oats, rye or other grasses; the Tylenchus tritici of Bastian, '1 he life history ot the pest is somewhat as follows :—A small, threai-liko female worm, about one-sixth of an inch long, crawls up the stalk, and reaches the flowering head of, say, wheat. There it puniures the central part of the flower. This eo irritates the plant that an uuusml flow of sap results', which finally gives rise to tlie development of gall, enclosing the tiny worm. As a consequence wa fin I the grain of wheat replaced by a blackish-coloured 'gall,' a little over half the size of a healthy grain. Sometimes an cur will contain half of these galls and half good wheat grain. In this gall the female lays her eggs. Tliry hatch in about fourteen days, and the resulting worms are so crowded together aa to fill the in'.orio'r of each black gall with a cotton-looking mass of male and female worms in all stages of growth. Here also pairing takes place, for the sexes are quit-- distinct. If, now, one of these galls be sown along with a healthy grain the black wall of the gall softens and decays, suiting free thousands of young, each one (excluding males) ready to produce little galls containing more thousands of young. The little worms have been known to live afcer a death like sleep of twenty seven years inside the gall. If a bit of the white mass inside be placed in a drop of slightly warmed water and examined with a good magnifying glass, a tangled, seething mass of worms can be seen gradually wriggling themselves free. It i.s hardly pleasant to contemplate these objects ground up with Hour ; especially is tills so when one considers how horribly like unto flour does the contents of each gall appear lo the naked eye. The following is from the ' Australasian,' April 29th, 1899: —From the nature of the disease preventive measuies tvlouc can be attempted, 'l. The

palls should be separated from the seed wheat, as it has been proved that tho galls can effect sound grain. 2. All galls should be carefully gathered and burnt, for the worms may revive even after lying dormant fur over a quarter of a century. 3. The ear cockles are often blown over with the clnff so tint it should be bum'; as well. 4. Top-dress-ing of the hud with a mixed manure, such as kainit, nitrate of so h>, superphosphate of lime and salt, has been f)Und beneficial in infected soil. 5. As moisture is necessary for the activity of tbeso thread worms, the land should be well-drained.' The 1 fe history of the worm requires to be further invested, but a good account will be found in Smith: 'Diseases, Field and Garden Crops,' and of closely i elated varieties by Cob in the 'Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W.' vol. 1. DISEASED CATTLE. STATEMENT BY MR GILItUTII. Mr Gilruth, the Clref Government Veterinarian, has addressed a letter to the Mnyor of Wellington, with a view to show the necessity for scientific treatment of diseased cattle or eheep. Mr Gilruth states:—"l. I attended both meetings of the Dairy Regulatiou3 Committee iu response to a written invitation from the town clerk. 2. At th« first meeting I expressly stipulated that no reporter should be present, as I was desirous of preventing the creation of anything approaching a ' scare ;' but before the sicoud meeting the matter was already public. 3. I mentioned three badly tuberculous cows, belonging to Ihree different dairy farmers in the vicinity of Wellington, iu each instance my examinatiou being made at the special request ol the owner. 4. I mentioned only one case of cancer. The animal was in an advanced stage of tuberculosis, and besides suffered from a large granulating bleeding tumor, about Gin. square and 4in. deep. Microscopical examination proved this to be composed of malignant cancerous tissue. 5. Whatever may have been attributed to me, I have never said that ' there was no cancer amongst the cattle in New Zealand.' No scientist with a regard for his reputation would make such a statement, i.e., unless he had previously examined all the cattle personally. 6. The following is the report of Mr Reakes, Government Veterinarian, contained in the annual report of last year : —' Absolutely the worst case I met was that of a dairy cow near Wellington, in which extensive generalised tuberculosis was present, every organ of the body beiug involved. Two quarters of the udder were bad'y diseased, and a calf, six months old, which had been fed ou the cow's milk, was also, on post-mortem, found to be tubercular.' And in reference to this animal he reports the owner possessed only five milking cows, of which three proved to be tubercu'ar. Again, "in connection

with this, I would add the condition of the majority of the yards and milkingsheds around Wellington is extremely insanitary, and badly in need of improvement." 7. Tho above conditions are, in spite of the fact tint Wellington is one of tho few cities which employs a special inspector of dairies. 8. 1 mentioned a case reported to me by two medical men, of four children iu a family, in the town, three of whom became infected with tuberculosis (consumption) about the same time, while the other remained (aud remains) healthy. There was no family history "of tuberculosis. The healthy ono was the child, which, under no circumstances, could be induced to drink milk. The medical attendants were of opinion that tubercular milk was the direct cause of the malady. I endeavoured to trace the milk, but without success. 9. The above is an epitome of my statements before the Dairy Regulations Committee, and I may add that they were made deliberately, and after consideration, and that no impression of looseness would have arisen from my remarks in the iniud of any unbiassed person. I even left the obvious deductions, in many cases, to be drawn by others Unfortunately, my appointment bebars me from newspaper correspondence, or I would not have troubled you with this statement."