CAMBRIDGE FARMERS CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 822, 22 September 1877, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE FARMERS CLUB.

Meeting held at the National Hotel, Tuesday, September 18th, 1877, at 7 p.m. Present: Messrs E. Maclean ( President m the Chah), Henry Reynolds, E. B. Walker, John Fisher, F. J. Brooks, Richard Parker, James Itunciinan, Johu ttuncitua.ii, Major Wilson, Wi Ham Marty n, A A. Fautluun, John Martyu,

F. Hicks, Captain Owed/Jv All.will J. Hunt, Geo. Glark, Hy. Buttle (Eon. riec), C. W^ergusson; . ■:■'•■' , |l'he minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, also those of "the special meeting, held on. September Ist. /X The folowing gentletrief* |Were :balldted for and duly electeSf— Major Clare, Captain McPheWon, Messrs C. C. Wood and Win. Mucgregor Hay. MR CLARK'S ESSAY ON MANURES. Mr Clark read a paper on manutes, whicli appeared m our issue of Thursday last. Mr James Runciman said, he would have like I io"h'*ve hear*! Mr Clark make a comparison between farmyard manures arid art.ficial manure. What quantity of the former would be equal to a certain quantity of the latter ?, and wr.ioh was the. best for the various crops. Mr Fantham did uot ag*ee with Mr Clark, with regard to : keepin^ their manures under coyer. The Government Annlysist, at C interbury, had tested farm yard manure, saved m different ways, and recommended that it be stacked and exposed to the rain, but whore the water could not get- away ; to put on a layer of clay ; to have a pump m the middle, aud constantly to pump the water from the bottom ;tnd let it run through the manure again. On no acoaut to turn it, for, if turued, it loses its potash, which is a very valuable property m the manure. Mr John Fisher would have liked Mr Ciark to tell them whether it would piy to save the farm yar i manure, and weaihar thestraw should be consumed oi' laid down m an open yard. Mr Cark had made no suggestions as to what was the beat, method of saving and applying farm yard manure. In mentioning artificial manures, Mr Clark had 'said nothing about nitrate of soda. He ha-1 heard a great deal about the value of ie as a nxiuure, and shoal l like to hear the result of a trial with it. ;. Mr John Runciraan wanted to know if AJr Clark approve! of no other guano but the Peruviau. Tiere weie several osher kinds. He had t.-ied Peruvian, Maldou Islaud, Chesuey Island, Jersey Is and and Coral Island. Taking into consideration the prices,, he iL<ed Coral Island the best. Mr Walker asked if the manure lost so much of its fertilising properties by being left exposed to the rain, would it not be better to put it into the ground m its first state, without leaving the straw to rot m heaps. Mr Hicks thought the on!y manure that could be relied oh for this colony, was artificial manure. Labour was too' dear to allow farmers to go m for saving and spreading farm yard manure. He believed a £1 an acre spent extra on manure, would make the crop much heavier, and pay better. The Chairman said, farm yar i manure should not be applied at ouce, m its 'first state, but should be, if possible, kept under cover till all the seeds were rotten. Horse manure should be ap lied at nee, as it heats very much. If stackeu, it should be mixed with other manure. .Nitrate of soda was a very valuable manure, bat was very expensive, so that it would not be very generally used.' In England, it was applied chiefly m planting wheat. Mr Clark, m reply, stated that, as to the cost of applying farm yard manure, m England farmers paid five shillings for twenty loads, or 2s 3d per acre. If these figures were multiplied by three, uhe exact cost of applying the manure would be obtaiued. Some men wouid spread a very large quantity m a >ay, double as much as others. Wii.h regard to Mr Runci man's question as to the quantity of farm >ard manure that would be equivalent to a stated quantity of artificial manure, he believed six good dray loads of the former to the acre, would be equal to three cwt of b me dust, and three cwt of salt. He could not agree with Mr Fantham, with regard to leaviug the manure, m the open air, exposed to the rain. It should be covered over, if possible, by sheJs, if not, put a layer of earth on top. He believed m leaving the manure to accumulate, the deeper it was the richer it would be. Farmers should be very careful m saving their manure, uot throw it into the nearest hole out of the way, but consider the best way to keep it, so that it will retain its fertilizing properties. One gentleman had asked the question, whether lih approved of other kinds of guauo besider the Peruvian. He had tried several other kinds, and thought the Peruvian tho only one to be depended upon. It was very dear, )ut was far better ttun the others. In stacking farm yard manure, if alternate layers of bog pc tt, from the swamp, were pat. the peat would absorb the moisture, and double the quantity of excellent manure would be saved. Mr William Martyn moved a vote of thanks to Air Clark, for his valuable paper. Mr Fantham seconded ARTESIAN WELLS. Mr John Runciman, m accordance wi'.h a notice of motion given by him three meetings ago, and renewed at two successive meetings, from which he was unavoidably absent, moved, " This Club take steps to try whether it is possible to obtain artesian water m this district." He was not prepared to make a long speech, but would read

Sme*"^ fV ° m ' the " eanterbat y ■ u^^ eh ia the Ckuterbury "TimeS^hea'ded* Animal Parasiteß. 1 If youmsh to keep your live stock free, from disease, look to your water the necessity which exists for the observance of this rule l^befo^our graaiers daily, who have opportunities te inspect their stock and ascertain the effect of parasites which infect the intestines of doinestic.anim>ils, more particularly the horse. How these parishes increase and spread was very ably shown some months back to the members of the ithal Farmers' Club by Professor Law. This skilful vefrinary's remarks were illustrated by largely magnified representations of parasites and their structure, and their mode of attacking the internal tissue of horses, these creatures known as pin worms (solerostorhum airunm and s telracanthum oxyuns curvula and o vivjpr*) and which are only an inch or two m length, attack the mucus membrane, and bore their way into it, obstruccing circulation, causing iuflamation, and mdi icing cramp, colic, and indigestion, other species attack swine, sheep, and poultry, largly maguifiad representations of their eggs were also represented by charts, those egi>s are swallowed by the animals m drinking impure water, and hence the importance of. providing that w:iich is pnre and free from them. The eggs wiil remain uninju ed for a year, and may be carried miles m su-eams, and then swallowed and hatched m the stomach and iutestines of animals. The eggs will remain unharmed m ice even at the temperature of zero and are unaffected by the heat of the snn's rays. They may be conveyed from the manure wnich contains them )>y subterranean streams into adjacent wells. In some places sheep have perished m large numbers ti'om attacks of these aui<nals, and their presence m swine is well known, but horses suffer most. The first thing to be done is to preveuc iheir propagation, hence pure water should be supplied for drink, ram water is safest, as it cannot contain them. Springs and wells may be selected, if situated whore there can be no infiltration, porous soil near manure heaps may readily convey the eggs. Professor Law pointed out m detail the treatment of animals which contain rh«*n, an I the use of medicines. The indication of those worms m horses are a gene ral unthrifty appearance, irregularity with looseness or costiveness from internal deransjraent, rabbing of the tail, &o. The pas-tage of worms and eggs is shown by examination of the manure unifier the microscope. The importance of good drainage andannnstiited water supply is also ably illustrated by recant reports on the so-called new diseases m Victorian sheep. Mr R, W Emerson Mclvor,in his report, says. I am of opinion that clean water supply and drainage const fcute >.he best practical means of erudic itiug the disease ; an extensive s;ockowner m the Western district informed me that he had uO diseased >heep on his run, as he had drained iha land and always supplied the auimiU with clean water. When we picture the numerous unhealthy 1 iokin'4 water holes a id creeks we have seen m various par s of the Cjl ny, we can bur. wonder at our stouk's freedom from disease. We hivesem cattle, horses and sheep, watered fro.-n stagnant pools that, were loidad with solvable portions of «xa -at.-i ; and how many neglect so re-nove -lecaying carcases of ani'nals from direot coo. act with perhaps the only water supply for their stock.—,. (Sydney Mtil.) Mr Fanthara m rising- to second \Tr Hunciraan's proposition, said it *vas a manner of great imp .rtance f-hat cattle should have pure water. Water was the next thin* to the stiff of life. If we consider the number of mud holes and pools where cattle got water noc fit for •hem to drink, we should see the necestity of trying to get pure water for them. One artesian welt would supply about four hundrel acres. He thought that the matter would be better taken up by a few individuals who would subscribe together for the purpose, but heihoug'it that it would have been better for the trial to be made under the auspices of the Farmers' Club. It wo aid enhance the vtlue of land m the Waikato more thin £1 an acre. Several men outside the flub had promised to subscribe for the purpose. Of course it was of the greatest importance to farmers, as they wanted good water for th ;ir catc c. TII3 surest way to keep away disease was to have pure water and keep the . cattle ,clean. Mr Clark, while acknowledging that making the trial was most desirable, thought the Club had enough on its hands at present. The most important thing now before them was the Agricultural Show, the members of the Club must put all their energies into that to make it as great a success as possible. He would therefore move as an amendment, that tho motion stand over until the Club be m a better nosition to pay proper attention to ifc. Mr Henry fteyuolds thought that if the undertaking was successful it would be a permanent benefit to the district. But considering the amount of business m which the Club was now engaged, he thought it would be better to postpose carrying out the motion till after the show. He would therefore second Mr Clark's amendment. Mr Hunt said that on his farm,

.. there waa a spring whioh ■ bubble up about tour feet above tli£ level ;o the creek* The water is q ult e diffei enfc to tha^ of the creeks which flo« i round it about fou^yarjjs off. Puna ice also beta's found in* it and then is none anywhere else near. \ Mr Alwill suggested tl: at the; send to A f uokl^n^<fojLa,vX nan ! Te l& the boring, .and t^here^would 'be n( fnrVKer,- difficulty m niakyig th( •llaii..':':' ' : "'.::"" '".: „ . i>lr . William^ Maityni thoughi they had .enough itfons itf the fire it would be advisable to postpont ...- ■ ihe uridertaking 1 tiirafter.the show; Mr John FisheV thought the preiminary trial shQuld be, wade cjn the ground, by thi?' P)u^ Hous^ thej : wpuid.,w,anti water, at the show, and it would bey a -great! boon to the township. ••' He bad. seen' water caiv ted a few dnys ago; Many would subscribe if the trial was made m thesettlernehU Ag^i 11 ; ifit would add a an acre to^tp^yMue of land m the district, if saccCTsful, why should there be any delay. Mr James; RnncimanJ thought they had their hands full at present. He would Kupport the matter w.hei> it comes on again, but thought it better to postpone it now. Mr Hicks was of , opinion that it should be left till after the shpw. He had. not mwch^fajih a m the success oi art esittn wells m this district? Nevertheless, , be., would.; contribute something towards the trial. Bui thought it would ? be ,an enormous expense. In Napier soine dwells had coat£2ojO, :;; } -k ,j /.:-.;> ';'. Mr VValker said Ihe apparatus he had was for driving. The principle thing was to. drive the rods straight Mr Fantham said he thought tbe first well might'eoßtab'out J£j|O. Ithat money was. spent and no water' was found, be had no doubt that gentUmen would another .£2O to try further. He thoughY they ebould avail themselves of Mr Morrins off r of the'pipiifgi pay fro it if succeshful, and if* not he would not r charge. Wheri m Can-, terbuty, he bad a -well sunk on his farm. He paid 'the wan about £5. He commenced '-work about ten m the momiug,' and about three m the ' altermon he went to see him, and bad a beautiful flow of water. Mr C'lark's amendment was then put and carried. „ ; . TRKIOHT. : = i i ■ . Mr Fantham ! in ' rising •' to' move the resolution aboiit freight^ of which he gave notice at last meeting said tbat the r.ate. of -charges for. freight to and; from,Auckiand was ridicniously high. It was uttetly impossible to send any quantity of produce toj Aupki^nd wji%ith| present rate of charge. The distance was only iohe; hurid^ed j miles, and this district ought to.snpply Auck§]aiid with all the produce she requires. — potatoes, wheat, carrots, but before that could be done, all most acknowledge the necessity of a reduoiion m the rate for freight. A short time ago he brought up a little corn from Canterbury. From Lyttleton to Auckland the freight charged was £2 10*. The diKtatice is mote than 500 miles, JFor the same goods (wilh addition certainly of two small ii corn chrushers, but this added very li'.tle to the carriage) he was charged Jt9 13s from A ckl»nd to Cambriclgjß,. only a fifth of the distaiice o( tfie former journey; A gfiin, they have no facilities ior landing. . A. steam crane ought to be set at , Ngaruawahia ; so that, the loading ' could' be' don* quickley. Shceji f ougKt; al^ayjs to be sent by the, steamer but np^at the cost a short jtime; {ago, 1,104;- i \ They should go for 8d or 9d > a head. > Tbe Government should be asked to ■build yards for std(k at Ngaruayabia. The steamer Company, he thought, xnight be reßSpnabjy, asked, fo reduce their freight !i% ,per; cent. Suppose he want* d to ; sehd» down 1000 tons of potatoes, they had no place to store them. If a hundred bales of wool were^sentjuthey had no room for them. "With the. present state of thingsit is time something was done. He wonld there- f fore propose that Messrs E Maclean, E B Walker, James JUuiciu)an ? J P Campbell*- and, the tnoyer, >with power to add to their number, be constituted a committee to arrange , for tbe;Teduction of j fretght^to land from Auckland. Mr HA C Ferguson seconded. A cot siderable, amount ofi discussion then ensued, but • only- one opinion existed on the sujbgeot; viz : that the subject was one of the most important yet brought, before the Club, and that it- was.! absolutely necessary that something'should be done at once to reduce the r freight. -The Government was condemned*for not allowing more discretion to the .local cfficiaJs. They (the Government)^ complained' that the traffic was not what i^buglitjjtQjbe. Jind . by their high charges |aftd ; red-tapeism, m allowingtbe officials to Have no discretion m any matter whatever, shnt out a considerable amount of traffic that they J wbuld otherwise have. Instances were given of the absurdity of some of the regulations and the charges, and the mortifying effect of their result. The settlers experience a great disadvantage m consequence of the high charges for carriage. The motion was then put to the meeting- and carried unanim. ously. THE AGRICULTURAL SHOW. The proceedings of the Show Committee were then read and passed. Several notices of new members, to be balloted for next day of meetjng concluded tbe business'