CORRESPONDENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1317, 7 December 1880, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Our correspondence columns arc impartialy open to ill, hut \\i> do not in anyway identify ourselves with opinions expressed therein.]

TO TIIE EDITOR. Snt,— ln reply to your note, calling my attention to the notices in the Eerald re the bad lambing of my pure Lincoln sheep, I see that it is attributed to shear* ing the imported Kirk ham ram. Ido not consider that the cause, but have no wish to enter into a paper controversy on the subject. Paper is very useful for many purposes, but I never heard of paper getting lambs. I have twentyseven lambs by the imported Kirk ham ram— one out of one of the pedigree ewes (Maclean's breeding), and the rest out of my best grade Lincoln flock. — I am, &c, J. A. Douglas. Bruntwood, December 6, 1880.

New South Wales exported last year £10, 381,805 of her produce, Victoria only £8, 069,000. It is a remarkable fact that the postal card has already cansed a decreaf-e of from 12 to 15 million dollars every year in the business of writing-paper trades in the United State?. Another earthquake occurred at Manilla on Saturday evening-, July 24th, doing much damage. Manilla has about 50,000 inhabitants. The total loss of life is put down ai 320. St. Steven's Green, which has been laid out aa a public park for the citizens of Dublin by Lord Ardilaun at a coot «f £20,000, was, on July 27th, thrown open without ceremony. There are in Paris about 20 public weighing offices, where persons may have the weight of articles verified without charge. A Kicking Cow. — How to prevent a I cow from kicking is a question frequently asked by subscribers. In the fust place, avoid all harsh measures and exercise tact, gentleness and patience. The trouble, in a majority of cases, has been caused by indiscreet handling-. Many cows that are naturally gentle in disposition have been ruined by being excited, pounded, kicked, and abused because they could not endure pressure upon distended or inflamed udders. Uniform kindness, soothing tones of voice, rubbing the head, brushing the coat of the animal, and careful handling of the teats in milking, will, in a majority of oases, overcome the kicking habit of a cow. Some cows, however, seem to be so refractory that these methods are useless. In such cases force is necessary, bnt it should not be resorted to, until all other means have been exhausted. Various methods are employed, among which are (says the Prairie Farmer : — 1. The cow's nose may be held by an assistant while she is being milked. 2. The head may be raised and tied to a beam overhead, either by a ring in the nose or by a rope passed round the horns. She will not kick while the head is well raised. 3. The hind-legs may be strapped firmly together by a leathern band or rope just above the hocks. 4. The " anti-kicker " may be applied. This consists of a straight wooden bar extending far below the middle of the shank-bono to above the middle of the space between the hock and stifle. Near each end is a flat smooth iron bow made to pass around the front of the leg and clasp it. Finally, from the middle is a leather with a small opening in the medium part to fit on the front of the hook. When applied this is passed round the leg at tho point of the hock, and by means of one of a series of holes near its fore-end, is fixed on an iron button on the middjo of the wooden tor.