FACTS FOR FARMERS.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 366, 17 September 1874, Page 2

FACTS FOR FARMERS.

The Austi alasian lias the following on nrboriculturo :—": — " Our attention lias again been directed to this eul by the failure of several cypi esses planted from four to seven years ago. It is well known that the Monetray cypress possesses a reputation for the reverse of longevity. It is said to die out quickly in every part of Australia within thirty miles of the coast ; but there is some reason for believing that its early decease is not always attributable to the locality. This species is but one of sevei'al which have died prematurely. The others that have been brought under our notice are Govcrniana, Lamberiiana, horizonialis, and Uheana. Examination of the roots reveals the fact of death having in every' instance been occasioned by root coiling. It may be necessary to oxplain that the coiling of the roots is occasioned by growing the young plants in pots, in which condition the roots grow round and round, and unless care be taken when planting o\it to open up the roots and cause them to radiate from the centre of the stem they continue their spiral course. It -will bo easily understood that when these cork-screw roots swell off, they form a solid rope. A a each strand increases in diameter it presses upon its neighbour so that in the end the circulation of the sap is altogether stopped, 'and the death of the treo ensues. It is worth notice that this effect is not experienced in the case of all kinds of cotuferoe\ home of them appear to have tho faculty for throwing out roots from the collar of tho plant, and of thus rendering it independent of the coiled roots. There have been probably more pot-grown specimens of pinus insigiius planted out than of all the above cypresses ' put together ; and yet hardly a complaint has ever leached us of losses of these by rookcoiling. Many specimens of choicer pines, such as fih/olur and Ca/taricifse, deodars, and other cedars, have been lost through this cause, &o that it will be well for planters to note carefully the species which are liable to suffer and those which are not. The great lesson to be

J lemiei 11 oa'itijii in buyi.ig. WJiou selecting conijcroe ai a mii.vry, do not uliovj tlio Inmost plants but piol'er those which have betM the shortest tin c in pot, and which are also making free and healthy growth. Not only is no time lost by making usj of Hid youngvst plants, but the ultimate stature of of the tree will Ua far greater than it ever can be from .1 root-coiloti subject, If it Avere possible to obUiin them, \\ r e would always choose conifers which have never been hi a pot. It will be remembered that last season a description was given in the Australasian of a forest nursery at Dean, near the residence of Mr David Anderson, of the firm of Anderson Brothers, of the Bullerook saw mills. Impressed with the evil of root-coiling, Mr Anderson sowed the whole of his tree seeds in the open ground, and in that manner raised a large stock of trees for planting out in the vicinity upon the firm's property. Trees thus raised Anil grow into timber", although they would do better if left to attain perfection where they Avere sown. It is permissible to raise in pots, and to transplant from the open, grown trees intended merely for garden ornamentation ; but when timber is the object the seedling should remain where it first saw the light." \ ,\ Many of the flockowners in the Mortlake 'district (says the Despatch) are frequently losing sheep, the loss of Avhich they attribute to a poisonous weed prevailing among the grass. Mr W. Brumley lately lost twelve from this cause in the course of not more than a week. The weed is said to grow very much like trefoil, and to bear a small blue bell-shaped flower. The consumption of this weed is stated to prove most fatal Avhen the sheep are the subjects of excitement from having been pursued by dogs or any other cause, which is to be attributed to the more rapid' diffusion of the poison through the system, the reasonable inference being that were no such excitement to occur, they would possibly recover, even after having eaten of the noxious Aveed. The NeAv York Tribune describes an improved method of removing burs from avool, which its inventor, MrThos Crossley, claims to be very serviceable for manipulating this staple. Not only, it is said, " is the wool made perfectly clem by the process, but it is also bleached perfectly Avhite, however yellow may haA r e been its previous condition ; and thus prepared it Anil receive any desired color in a shorter time and at less expense than usual, in consequence of the uniform condition in which it is left by the treatment, By Mr Crossley's process, the wool is first simply scoured and washed clean in the ordinary manner, and, after removing the Avater by means of the hydrolic-extractor, it is .spread upon racks, to a thickness of -lin to Gin, and submitted to a gas generated from a combination of materials, which serves to decompose thoroughly the claAv or beard off the bun 1 , or other A'egetable matter, or scurf, mixed with the avool ; so that all the burrs, grass seeds, and other foreign substances, Avhcn submitted to the action of the burr-picker, are at once removed, and the wool is. left in a soft and elastic condition. The labour and material required to produce this result is trifling, the spreading of the avool to receive the gas being about the only addition to that usually required." The Gcelong Advertiser says : — Despite the numerous cold frosty nights experienced of late the crops of the district continue to have a generally healthy appearance. About the Moorabool the oats sowed on loav Avet clayey land have suffered. The early sowed crops are looking much better than those which have been put in at a later period. We learn that some of the farmers along the valley and surrounding table lands of the Moorabool have laid down their paddocks with Cape, Oregon, and English barley, and should the season prove favorable an unusually large quantity of that grain may be expected from that neighborhood. The land, whore good, is found to be avcll adapted for grpAving barley, and OAving to the jgood c 1c 1 em and for 'sound grain for malting, it has been found as profitable and safe a crop as can be cultivated. The want of rain continues to mako the pastures baie, and stock are suffering in ninny parts of the district for want of feed. Such signs as these show conclusively the impolicy of our stockoAvners allowing tho meat preserving Avorks on the Barwon to be wound up. Should the drought continue, a glut in the live stock markets may be anticipated, and the absence of the useful means of disposing of surplus stock Avhich such an establishment afforded Avill perhaps bo regretted. There has been a slight mortality of late among the cattle on the South Geclong common, but Avhether resulting from the poisonous weed which made its appearance on our commons last spring, or from some other causes, is not kuoAvn. In the elevated districts beyond Ballarat the crops as Avell as the groAvth of grass have suffered from the cold and frosts. In Gipps Land the progress of the cereals has also been retarded in consequence of the same cause. Preparations are being geneially made on the stations for shearing, and from the appearance of the sheep it is very evident that the approaching clip will be an unusually heavy one. Mr E. Dwight, of Hudson, says :—": — " It has long been knoAvn to milkmen that Avheat middlings and bran are about the best of any feed to make a cow givo milk ; Avhy not the best, then, to make the hens lay eggs 1 I tried it, and since then havo had no trouble. My mode in preparing the feed is to mix five paits of bran Avith one of middlings. In the morning I wet up Avith Avater about four quarts of the mixture in a large tin pan, taking pains to have it rather dry though all damp. This I set in a AVium Mirny spot, south of their shed, and they Avalk up, take a feAv dips, dont seem to fancy it like corn, and start off on a shoit hunt for something better, but always coming round in a short time for a feAv moie dips from the dish of bran. There is little time during the day but what one or more are standing by the pan and helping themselves. I am careful to mix for them just as much aS they will consume during the day. At night just before they repair to roost, I usually throw them about a pint of shelled com, Avell scattered so that each one can get a few kernels, If your hens don't incline to eat this food at first, sprinkle a little India meal on it. I Avould like all avlio complain of not getting eggs to tiy my plan and I think they Avill nover be •sorry.