FACTS FOR FARMERS.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 342, 23 July 1874, Page 2

FACTS FOR FARMERS.

A brisk trade in dried potatoes has lately sprung up in America! They are sliced up and dried in much the same way as dried apples. One firm in Rochester has an order on hand now for 50,0001b5. of these dried potatoes^ as well as for IJSOO bushels of onions, which are dried in much the same manner. They are intended for the navy. A bushel of potatoes dries away to about 101b, and a bushel of onions to about Gib. When ready they are put into large tin cans,, holding ,about 401b each, and sealed up the same as oysters. The Ayrshire cow is bred, and has been bred- for milk ; her inheritance is all in the line of ■ milk producing. Her form indicates it : her records prove it. When aged and diy, the same functions which ordinarily fill the udder fill her muscles with fat ; but while milking, inheritance, intensified yearly by selection, turns the energies of her system towards extracting materials from her food, and BecveUxvg the , arger and richer part in the udder. As the Bhorthom stands with the grazier, who has tried their quality, so does the Ayrshire stand with the dairyman. By seeking improved breeds, the farmer is adding materially to the profits of his farm, for tie is utilising' the great power and unerring certainly of inheritance, — Dr. Sturtevant. > For the preservation of grain from insects, M. Louvel has brought before the French Academy a plan of storing wheat in sneet iron tanks in which a vacuum is maintained, this being found sufficient to destroy all insect life, and to ensure the evaporation of any moisture in the grain. The apparatus is of cylindrical form, placed vertically, and with convex top , and bottom. The top is provided with an opening through which the inlet of the grain is had, with a valvedpipe through which the air is exhausted, and with a gage by which the degree of exhaustion is indicated. The grain is removed through an opening (provided with a suitable closing device) in the bottom. ,The pump, which can be used for any number of the grain receivers costs about £35. In one experiment, where living insects were introduced' in. large quantities with the grain, it was found that they were all killed before doing mischief," and at the end of six months the* wheat was found to be in as fine condition as ftt the outset. The Alexandra (Victoria) Times, of Saturday, reports :—": — " Five tons of dried leaf tobacco passed through Alexandra on Thursday, en route for Melbourne. This tobacco was grown on the Goulburn, near Darlingford/by a 1 Chinaman, Ah Chee, and is all of first-rate qualify. This was the opinion .of several good judges who examined the article while the drays were standing in Alexandra. A few leaves taken from one <jf the carts were speedily converted into cigars^which were pronounced equal to the imported 5 arable, .and- certainly* seemed fca smoke quite as well. That tobacco can be grown oa the Goulburn to advantage is now clearly established. Coraini, a Frenchman, at Gobur, sold a few days •ago a' small quantity he grew during the past seasoa on Godfrey's Creejj:, for. £60, at the rate of Is per lb. Comini supplies the blacksmiths in his neighbourhood with charcoal, and had sufficient time to attend to his tobkccb as well. Our numerous selectors should turn their attention to growing tobacco^ There is no great, mystery, about it. A well-pre-pared half acre 6f land, good seed)' and a little, attention to keeping the ground clear'' from weeds ana shrubs, are the principal requisites. With anything like a favorable • season, this should produce from £50 to £60 worth of leaf tobacco, and thisVill pay better than a dozen times the same quantity of land under oats or wheat." The Swiss Mountain Union, which has for many years, been interested in the milk business, has issued a circular in. which it' claims that milk production and the- care- of the mountain pastures are the inseparable factors of the nation's wealth. The only article of export ( is cheese, which was exported in 1868 to the, value of 18,674,832 francs, and in 1869, to 21,453,796 francs. < The increases of milk products in other parts of the world is' alluded to. American factory cheese, an imitation of the English Cheshire', is rivalling its prototype in its home market. Sweden and Denmark have established extensive dailies, while Holland,, wjhich controls thecheese trade of the world, has established at Utrecht a perpetual exhibition of dairy utensils, <fee. for the instruction of dairymen. The Austrian Minister of Agriculture has given two annual prizes for the benefit of cheese factory associations, wMIe in Vbraiiburg, Tyrol, Bavaria, Italy and Prussia, the latest facts, principles, and improvements are disseminated by means of itinerant lecturers, fairs, exhibitions, and publications. It is proposed in Switzerland to adopt this policy in the organization of a school of theoretical and practical instruction in milk- production and management. For this purpose funds are to be raised from' the cantons, agricultural societies, and , individuals. Great results are anticipated from this enterprise. Oil of cloves is effectual in protecting animals against flies and mosquitoes. Great Britain planted in 1873, 49,000 acres of potatoes less ,than, in the previous year, and the decrease in Ireland was 88,000 acres — the direct consequence of the failure of the crop of 1872. , Coffee grounds, which are said to be very rich in nitx-ogen/are said to form an excellent manure foxmelons. In order, to produce the best effect, they should be mixed with the earth which forms the bed, so that they should be well decayed by the time the roots begin to develop.

Ingiobious Ease.— A senator, belated recentlj in hi» traveli, stopped at a substantial nnd comfortable farm-house, nncl was entertained nnd hospitably invited to moke himself comfortable for the night. Ho observed in the morning th» comfort and substantial thrift and prosprrity of everything around, and could not but congratulate hit host on his lot* , His fields were well fenced, his barns were filled, nnd hi» crops most promising. Besides, too, the farmer had an industrious and amiable wife nnd sevoral bright and healthy children. "A farmer's life," remarked the guest, "iicertainlylthe happiest, of all* human lots, nnd I mutt coy, my friend, thnt you are »s happily fixed •• any former I ©ver_ knew." " Wall," remarked hit 'host, " thnt'i your notion, • but 'taint mine. I intend to eel) out and move next v>eek." " Whither are you goinp ?" inquired the inquisitive Yankee. " Down into Texas. 5 ' " What ! into that wild and disturbed country, menaced by the whole Mexican army and by roving bands of Comancbes and marauding Greasers; leave this peaceful nnd happy home for such a savage country, where you would have to bleep every night on your arms, and carry ronr rifle across your shoulder whilo plcqghing.in the field P" ''Yass, sir-ree," was" the enpor reply; "who would giyo a'ouss to live in a country where ho coulan't fight, for his liberty. — Nev) Orleans Picayune. An -American writer mourns over the autumnal feoson in the following strain — " The melancholy days have romr — - the Faddcst of the year; it's a little too \\aim for whitlcey hoi , nnd a little too. cold for bed.