FACTS FOR FARMERS.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 124, 20 February 1873, Page 2

FACTS FOR FARMERS.

Wool-WASIIINO — Tlio " Anglo-Saxon in London" writing lo the European Mall, of November 29, says: — Any information on the subject of washing wool is sure to be acceptable ta the squatter. lam not aware whether soluble glass lias yet been usod as an agent for tins purpose, but I am told that the treatment is so simple and so economic that it is only necessary to majce an experiment to recoguise its advantages Here is the process : — Take 40 parts of water, at the temperature of 50 ° to 57 ° centigrade, and ono part*<^ soluble glass ; plunge the'wool into the mixture, stirring \tp about for a few minutes by hand, then nnse in cold o/ tepid water, and it will be found completely white and void of smell. The wool after the operation remnins perfectly soft, and loses none of its qualities, even when left for several days in the solution of silicate, and being washed in hot water. Sheep may also no niched with the same preparation, care being taken to cover the eyes of the animal w ith a bandage, to perform the washing w ith the solution instantaneously, and to reemove the surplus with tepid w liter. In the case of oombed wool, the wool buouM be first steeped in the solution above givon, and afterwards in another bath composed of 80 parts of water at 37° cent , and 1 part of soluble glass. In this way the effect is excellent and economic, without the employment of soap or soda, and the wool is rendered at; least equally white, clean, and soft, as by other methods. I may add that in tho United States petroleum is now largely used for ridding sheep and other animals of the vermin which infest their fleeces Price of Sjgleep, in England — Sheep sales and fairs have bpen numerous of late in Engfnnd, and the prices realised at the more important ones will be liitecebtnig At the Lincolnshire ram sale the celebrated Biacathorpe flock was brought to tho hammer for the first time. The tlock has existed for above 100 years, and is very hijhjy esteemed. Sixty-eight of th^ shearlings leahscd 1,772 guineas, giving an avcrago of ovef £27, each. Sixteen 2 shear sheep, £53 3s Gd each ; and among other lots 220 sheej) wero knocked down for £3,068 12s (3d, giving a general, average of £25 ijLs 6d, At Oxford stock ewes brought 60s to 75s each ; lambs, 40s to 50s j and fat ewes, 70 to 80s. Cots wolds realised as much a3 31 guineas each. An Illsloy sheep fair, one of tbo last in tho kingdom, about 50,000 sheep were passed, the best bringing 67a to 71s each, prime better realising 52b to 72s per head.

Most people, but especially those'who lire in the country/? are at one time- ar another annoyed by rats and mice. Iho destruction caused by these animals amounts annually to a large sum in the aggregate The garret/the cellar, the Ftoreroom, and all sheds and out-buildings, bpjongmg to the house, are liable to be infested by them, as are burns, granaries, poultry-houses, and other farm buildiags. Poisoning is often attended by such unpleasant results that it is not to be commended, and trapping is the most satisfactory manner of extermination. Much may be clone in the way of keeping rats and mice out of an apartment or a building. If a cellar is well cemented, the only chance a rat Las to" enter a house is thiougii an open door or window. All rat and mouse holes in store-rooms sholud be closed. Strips of tin or zinc tacked over the holes will be of service. When the way of ingress and egress is slopped the animal must hide Bomcnhere in the room. Hence no unnecessary lumber or rubbish that will afford a harbour should be allowed to remain. If we did less to make our buildings attractive to rats we sliouJd have fewer cf them, Tiaps of various kinds are sold at tho 4ores t some of which answer a good purpose. Almost any kind of trap will catch a mouse, and the foolish. ; little fellows are not deterred by the fate of a comrade from seeking a similar one. With the rat it is quite different, and it takes considerable cunning and patience to circumvent an old ra,t that knows trans and avoids them. The best / way to manage these old stagers is to patiently bait them at ' tlie traps, which should be so arranged as not to spring. When the rats have ceased to be suspicious of the trap, and will come to take their food there, then is the time to , catch them unawares. If a steel trap, or any of the ordinary wire traps are used, they should be thoroughly washed after a eaptur". A gentleman w',lo is very expert at rat-catching informed us that he considered this important, as rats will , rarely go into a tr,r,n in which one has been caught unless it is well washed. A farmer friend, who has given considerable attention to the vtjrmin" question, give 3 us the following : — "Have traps everywhere. I give some illustrations of Jiandy traps, which can be made in odd hours, and which might be placed where the vermin are expected Varieties of the same plan of traps will suggest themselves. Triangular pieces of tin fastened about three feet above the floor at the corners of sheds, stable, and barns, will prevent rats climbing up, while they will not prevent them coming down. To make the traps, take a barrel and support the head on pivots ; a weight is fixed on one pivot to keep the head in position ; a few grains of corn are glued on to the head. When a rat or mouse steps On the head it turns, and the animal drops into the barrel j tho weight immediately brings the.head into position again. The mouse trap is smaller, made of wood or tin, on the same principle. These traps should for a few days be scf; in the haunts of the vermin, fixed 80 as not to work, so that they will become 'accustomed to tlie.m. Then set for u*<e. One of oiir best and most accurate farmers informs us that when a boy, as soon as heiiad learned book-keeping at school, his father employed him, to keep thefarm accounts — the cost of labour, tho amount of work expended on each field, time of performing operations, ploughing, sowing, cultivating, and harvesting, amounts of crops, price at which sales were made, Ac. He soon became, interested in faim operations, and thoroughly acquainted w it h all the details of work, in r»jnore complete manner than he ever could have been m any other way, and was early placed on the track of funning rogukrlj s.^il systematically. Let other farmers follow 'this example with their sons, and we shall have less of random hipskip husbandry, and more of order and success.- — American paper.