FARM, GARDEN, AND ORCHARD NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2665, 10 August 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

FARM, GARDEN, AND ORCHARD NOTES.

Bari.ky Arriiii TnENirs. —In the Norfolk experiment* Isi-t year on barley after swedes it was fnund thnt whore mineral manures, superphosphate nnd potash, were applied alone, nothing whs added to the yield over that of the uumanured plots ; but the use of 1 Jowt. of nitrato of soda gave, five bufhela extra per acre, at a cost of about 3s Gd ror bii-hcl. Muriate, of potash with lowr.. of nitrato of soda also gave five, bushels extra per acre, at a cost of about 4s per bu-ihei. Superphosphate with nitmt.o of soda gave nine bushels extra per aero, at the low cost of about 2s per bushel. The highest iucreitso was obtaiued fey tho use per acre of 2cwt. of nitrate of soda, Uowt. of superphosphate, and lewt. of nitrato of potash, which gave fourteen bushel* more barley per acre than the unmnnurod plots. Dkau Mutton.—Tho recent destruction of a valuable ewe, which cost 300 guineas, is reported from Deniliquin. The owner of the ewe had purchased her in Melbourne, for tho amount named, for breeding purposes on his station in New South " Wales. The ewe was duly " trained" to Deniiiquiii, /ind located on the night of its arrival in a small paddock, in which was a shepherd's hut. A station hand was to arrive on the following flay to take delivery. It is supposed that some traveller, determined on accepting bush hospitality, put up with little ceromouy at tho hut for the night. The shepherd was absent when he arrived, and failing to find any aisns about of a meat supply for supper, determined on acting for the nonce as the shepherd's butcher. Accordingly he seized tho prize owe, cut her throat, and in a short spaco of .time had skinned, dressed, and transformed the 300 guineas' worth into common eating muttoD.

" Lickbd" Beef. —Miss E. A. Omerod, the entomologist, writes iu reference to the altered condition of the tissues which occur more or less boueath badly warbled hide, and which is pouplarly known as " licked" beef. This state of things (as is well known to butchers) causes loss by reason of the discoloured yellowish or greenish, and moist or rnnuing surface, of tissues immediately beneath tho hide, which requires scraping of the surface lo make tho meat saleable. Tho cause of this altered condition is considered to be from the warbled auimal "licking" the surface with its tongue to allay irritation but really occurs, says Mr. Henry Thomp son, M.R.C.V.S.. of Aspatria, Cumber caud (who has given especial attention to warble attack), " in consequence of tho chronic inflammation set up by tho warbles in tho skin extending to tho couneotive tiesuls.beneath, and .theuce to tho flesh," thus producing the well known alterations. In order to ascertain, if possible, tho exact nature of the changes produced in this way, aud to what extent they aro prejudicial to the health of Mm animals affected, Mies Omerod requests persons who are ablo to send portions of the discoloured rinds of carcases for examination, to address them to Professor Penberthy, at the Royal Veterinary Collego, Camden Town, London, W., with notes mentioning the extent of warble attack upon the unimals from which the specimens aro taken. House-breaking. —Some exporiments in horse-breaking wore recently made in tho Scono (New South Wales) district. An account of them may prove interesting to horse breeders and others. A circular yard, about 30 feet iu diameter, was erected, with a feuce G fe.nt or " feet high. This fence was enclosed with bags, or coarse calico, or other material, so as to prevent the horae from seeicg through. Tho colt was run in; and tho brealter went into the yard with a light bamboo or sapling polo 10 feet long. Tho polo had a bit of rag tied to the end, and the breaker ran the horse round, and touched him gently with tho rag at tho end of the pole, takiug care, however, not to hit the horse. After a few minutes' lunging over with a rag, and at length gnt so used to it that he stood still. Then the breaker approached gently, and touched him with his band instead of the pole, and gradually put a brittle on. Then a surcingle was put on, and a strap from the mouth of the horse to a ring on the surcingle was buckled on, and drawn up hole by hole gradually until tho horse's head was braced well up. A flat web or cauvas strap, say 12 fort long, was next buckled to tho ring in the surciugle, aud passed round the horse's hind leg, just abovo the hoof, and this was taken round the animal's chest and gradually tightened until the leg was raised from the ground. The horse was so fixed up that he could not kick, buck or do anything, and could bo gently rubbed down, saddled and mounted. In this way a horse very soon gets used to being handled, and may generally be ridden round tho yard by any ordinary horseman in half iin hour after being run in. Several horse breeders have expressed much sati»f > oli m at this method of treating young horses.