FARM NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1940, Page 3

FARM NOTES

ITEMS FROM FAR & NEAR. Though New Zealand sheep flocks could produce some remarkable wool, a striking fact was its variation, states Mr R. Waters, who is in charge of the wool-testing department at Massey College—a department that has extended its ramifications throughout the Dominion. "If we could only make our wool more even, we would get better price? fdr it,” he said. That could only be brought about by the use of better rams —if better rams were used there would be better halfbred flocks. High-class dress materials were now being produced from wool, and some beautiful felts were being made, but high-class material was required for this improved fabric. If New Zealand did not provide the raw material she would be overlooked. The following simple tests for fowl feeds, given in "Poultry" (Eng.) do not tell anything about the chemical analysis but give a strong indication regarding their quality and freedom from impurities.—Pollard: Place a little on warmed white absorbent paper: a poor sample will leave an oily stain; a good sample, only the slightest trace of a greasy mark. Maizemeal: Damp a piece of blue litmus paper—a chemist may supply—and cover it with the maizemeal to bo tested; if the maizemeal is stale or acid, the paper will turn bright red. and the sample should not be used.

Wheatmeal: To test mix with a little water; a good sample will form into a sticky mass. Bran: If a little heap is made of this and the finger is plunged into it, a considerable amount of floury particles will stick to the skin, if the bran is a first-class sample: when worked between the linger and thumb bran should feel soft and smooth, never woody or crisp.