FARM, GARDEN, AND ORCHARD NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2453, 31 March 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

FARM, GARDEN, AND ORCHARD NOTES.

Indian* Wiikat, — Duspite the bounty of 25 per cent. which the Indian wheat {{rower is said to reccivc through the depreciation of the rupee, it appears from the Hoard of Trade returns that the supplies of wheat from India in 18S7 were 1 1*21),000 tons less than those received in ' 1885. On the other hand, the supplies J from Canada, the United States; and Chili ' show an increase of nearly 500,000 tons " on the two years, the figures being an increase of 203,500 tons as compared with ' ISSO, and an increase of 250,400 tons as j compared with 1885. From other countries the supplies are either stationary or declining. Four-Bushel Bags.—lt seems a pity 7 that the advocate of 4 bushel bags for grain cannot be obliged to spend a day at the work. According to Sydney Smith, the sacrilicc of a bishop is required in order that certain dangers may be abated, and the same may bo said of other grie--1 vances, but the killing of a lumper is not ' considered of any consequence by those who derive the benefit of his labours. ' This actually happened a few days ago at 3 the Tarraugintiie Station, a wheat luin--3 per having lost his life through injuries J sustained at the work, but no record is ' kept of the numbers who are more or less 1 injured by the labour. 1 A Splendid Collection ok Farm Produce.— Tho collection of farm pro- ■ duce for which Messrs Hart Bros., of Beefacres, South Australia, took the [ Centennial Champion prize of £100 at ■ Sydney, consisted of: —On the upper 1 shelves of the exhibit were 60 varieties of wheat, 5 of oats, and 5 of barley, neatly " done up in small sheaves, alongside of 1 which were placed small bags containing ' the grain of each variety. On the lower 5 shelves were arranged 21 varieties of potatoes in small bankets, mangel wurzel, ' drumhead cabbages, marrows, pumpkins, ; carrots, onions, parsnips, beet, prickly : comfrey, chicory, and many ' varieties of seeds. There was also on a ' separate stand a display of bacon, hams, butter, cheese, lard, honey, "Trusses, hay, ' chnff, maize, sorghum, and five sort" of 1 ensilage. In all no less than 201 diffcr--1 out varieties of farm produce were ex- ' hibited in the collection. Not only did this exhibit tako the Centennial prize, hut, it also secured the £50 prize for the best collodion from any ether colony than New South Wales. So successful were ! Messrs Hart Bros, at this show that they i took seven first and three second prizes in ! other departments, besides several certifi- • oatcs of merit. Indeed, out of all tlio exhibits shown by them only ouo failed to receive either a prize or a certificate. New Fruits. —A new cherry, called Kmperor Francis, is a distinct and fine variety, which is likely to prove a good market kind ; it belongs to the late Rigarreau section, and has large scarlet fruit, blotched with a purplish colour of verygood quality. In pears Mile. de Soulaugeis a small early table variety, likely to prove useful on account of its eai'lincss ; it is juicy v.--I! flavoured, rich green in colour uul resemlilinu Doyenne d'ete in shape, ilemity of Bath is a dessert apple of remarkably pretty appearance; the fruits, or medium size and regular ionn, roundish and flattened, bright red on the sunny side, yellowish green on the other parts; are juicy and well flavoured, (!ascoigne's .Scarlet Seedling Apple is another new kind, useful either for dessert or kitchen; it is a pyramidal, large-sized fruit, light green on the shaded side, and bright crimson on that exposed to the the flesh is white, firm, sweet and juicy, with a pleasant aroma, like a Ribston Pippin, Rvnoiiino in" Canada.—The Pall Mall Commissioner lias telegraphed from Canmore, North-we.it Province of the Dominion, as to the prospects of the; ranching industry, that the winters of ISB6 and 1887 were the severest ever known there, even to the oldest Indians. The loss generally is estimated at 25 per cent of cattle, but as it is only now that they have made an accurate count, the whole loss discovered is put down to this year, whereas it should have been spread j over several preceding years, The loss j consisted almost entirely of animals j under one year, and of cows which calved ! in the severe winter. Inexperience and turning common domestic cattle loose for true ranehc cattle were chiefly to blame. Nevertheless the whole cattle industry shows 20 per ecnt. increase, and many ranches have done excellently. Horses have done splendidly, the loss having been absolutely nothing. This industry received a great impetus from the large importation of English stallions and American marcs. Leading stockmen say, indeed, that speaking generally the prospects of the ranche industry here were never brighter, and that it is now abundantly proved that nothing but ordinary prudence is necessary to make stock raising successful and profitable in the Canadian North-west* The Depression Lifting, — Farms, says the Newcastle Courant, are easier to let than they were this time last year. This is evidence of returning confidence among our agricultural population. There are not so many farms advertised as there were two or three years airo ; asrents say that there is more enquiry for land ; and landowners—in fact everybody interested in tho soil—are more hopeful, the past twelve months having, on the whole, been less depressing than the preceding twelve months Prices for all snrts of agricultural products are still exceedingly low, hut so are tho expenses incurred for its production compared with what they used to be, and should trade contiuue to improve there ia every re ison to believe that its effects will soon ho apparent in an improvement iu the agricultural pros peer. It is true that this improvement is most manifest at present in shipbuilding, but this does not neee— sarily mean incroaMuir competition in the carrying l of farm prod nop, and consequent lower prices. More work in the shipvards meams more work in almost everything' else, which is saying' that there will be a great demand for beef and mutton, and better prices may therefore be expected. How Deep Should Treks Bk Planted ?—lll answer to this question, it might be considered sufficient by all who know anything practically about planting to say, never bury the stem of any tree or shrub deeper than it has been before. The answer would apply v.-ell in a general way to trees and shrubs usually obtained from nurseries, because such stock is usually planted with great care, and with the view to prevent deep planting. And when lifted, tho merest tj-ro may easily determine, by a glance at the lower part of the stem, how deep any particular plant may have been in the ground before. The bark that has been buried will always indicate by its lighter colour the point of safety in replanting almost any kind of tree, and it should never bo placed deeper than the point of union of the earth-blanched bark and that which has been formed under full exposure to the weather. It may in certain cases, where there is a considerable length of stem between the point whore the bark 1 changes colour and tho junction of the uppermost roots with the stem, bo desir- ! able to plant even less deeply than the 1 tree appears to have been before. An ' inch and u-half of earth will be quite < sufficient covering to tho uppermost roots * of any tree or shrub in well-drained lands, 1 and in that which is inclined to bo wet s even less will do with advantage. Many failures occur in consequence of too deep planting, especially on wet land, but it is { so easily avoided by observing the rule , indicated above, that there is really no J excuse for it- ever occurring. Inexperienced workmen should bo carofully instructed as to the importanoo of avoiding it.—N.B. Agriculturist. ,