FARM, GARDEN, AND ORCHARD NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2707, 16 November 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

FARM, GARDEN, AND ORCHARD NOTES.

The New Fodder. Plant : Latjiykus Silvestris. —We learn that Professor Wagner has sold during a visit to Hungary, within the hist three weeks over

5,000,000 plants of a new fodder plant, the Lathyrus Silvestris, to the Hungarian noble landlords, who evidently intend giving it an extensive trial, The right Hon, Henry Chaplin, M.P., who is at present in Hungary, intends, we believe, to visit one estate where it has been tried with great success, for the purpose of reporting on the merits of the Flat Fez. We understand that Messrs Roughhead and Park, the well-known firm of seedsmen at Baddington, Scotland, have also secured a number of plants. Manures yon Grass Land.—Experiments in the application of different manures to grass land, in connection with the Cirencester Agricultural College, have been continued this year. As elsewhere, the use of nitrogencous manures has diminished the growth of the Ictjuminosrr., while greatly increasing the bulk of tho crops. Kaiuit alone did not appreciably increase the yield. Superphosphate gave a substantial increase, guano only a little more than phosphate, sulphate of ammonia more still, and nitrate of soda more than any other single manure. The greatest yields, however, were those obtained on plots dressed with farmyard manure, and

on other plots to which a mixture of nitrate of soda, kiiuit and phosphates had been applied.

Cateupillaks ox Cabbages. — The acting entomologist, U.S., America, gives the following recipe :—The best method

of destroying cabbage worms is to spray them thoroughly with an emulsion made of kerosene and soap, according to the following formula :—Kerosene, 2 gallons, equal to 67 per cent. ; common soap or whale oil soap, -Alb. ; water 1 gallon, equal to 33 per cent. Heat the solution of soap and add it boiling hot to the kerosene. Chnrn the mixture by means of a force pump or spray nozzle for five or ten minutes. The emulsion, if perfect, forms a cream which thickens upon cooling, and should adhere without oiliness to the surface of glass. Dilute, before using, one part of the emulsion with nine parts of cold water, The above formula makes 3 gallons of emulsion, and when diluted 30 gallons of wash.

A Preservative kor Egos and Meat :—Mr Ed. Hancomo, a resident of Hawthorn, has forwarded to tho Secretary for Agriculture tho recipe for a compound for tho preservation of eggs. It is as follows :—Lactic acid syrup, 1 part, acetic acid pure, 10 parts, liquid glucose or artificial grape sugar, 2-3 parts. Those are mixed, and after the eggs have been immersed in the solution about live minutes and theu drained perfectly dry, they can bo placed in any paoknge. Meat can either be brushed over with tho solution or dipped in. Mr Hancomo states he has used tho preparation for tho last year with great success at tho trifling cost of about fourpence per gross. It ean also bo beneficially applied to moat, especially in hot weather. It is perfectly harmless and free from any chemical flavour. Mr Pearson, the departmental chemist, states that the preparation would impart no poisonous property to goods or meat treated by it, and he thinks it would operate as a useful preservative.

Clydesdales in - Germany.—Clydes-

dales are coming to the front in a very marked degree in various parts of Ger-

many, where they are now being oxtei

sively bred. No fewer than 03 pure-bred animals of this breed were shown at the Sohmolii show held recently, and they formed one of the best classes in the whole show. The last year's importation did very well in Silesia, and the first section of a large draft which is being exported this season left Leith the other day. At the last meeting of the Carman Clydesdales Hotse Society it. was agreed to brand with a "C ' under a crown (as is done in the royal studs of Germany), every registered Clydesdale. This is being done to prevent fraud in horse dealing, as it has been found that animals of other breeds and crossbred animals are sometimes sold to unwary customers as pure-bred Clydesdales. A Singular Phenomenon'.—News has been received of au extraordinary phenomenon which occurred at Villafrancu, in Piedmont. The peasants were

engaged in the fields in taking in the harvest, when suddenly a dull rolling sound was heard, and the sky became as blank as ink. There was no thunder or lightning, hut a few hailstones nf an enormous size fell, some penetrating into tbe ground and others rebounding to a distance of several yards. This preliminary shower ceased for .several minutes, during which the peasant* crept under the cart and hayricks in their neighbourhood. Some, however, were unable to find any shelter, and when the storm was over they were iu a pitiable condition, with the blood flowing from their numerous wounds. A boy of 15 and a gill of 11 had their skulls fractured

and expired a few hours afterwards. More than 100 persons were badly hurt. The weight of some of these monster hailstones is estimated in the reports at 21b. The crops havo been totally destroyed ; many of the trees have been wrecked, and the roofs of houses and cottages considerably damaged.

When" isGkain Fjt for Cutting P— Messrs Carter and Co., the well known seedsmen, High Holboru, writing last week to tho Times say :—Tho rccornondu-

tion of your correspondent, Mr Livermore, that the farmer should not let his wheat become dead ripe before cuHinir, is important, and we would add it is quite safe to cut any crop of corn when the pait of the straw just below the ear gives indication of being ripo, although the lower part of the stem may be more or less green ; it is the more necessary at this period of the } r ear. when the days are becoming rapidly shorter, and oven, when favored with an abundance of sunshine, the day is of limited duration, and the nights are corresponding long and accompanied by increasing moisture. There is another reason in the interest of tho farmers why the crop should be cut early, that is tho berry will bo better appreciated for milling purposes than (hat of the dead ripo crop. On the other hand reproductive requirements, i.e. for sowing the corn cannot be too ripe, inasmuch as during the full process of maturing the berry assumes a thicker coat of bran, which serves it in good stead to protect the germ through the ordeal of an English winter. Perhaps the most important of all is the necessity for sowing varieties that mature early.

Best Potatoes i'Ou Plaxting.—Professor A Girard has recently conducted a series of investigations which go to show that although small potatoes may havo

great reproductive power, yet the weight of the total yield when ripe is cnrnprn-n. tively small. Medium sized tubers, when used for bobC, gave practkully tbo 8»iao

final result per aero as tho largest tubers, and are therefore stated to be the most economical for seeding purposes. It is well also to select tho seed from vigorous growing plants, as even large tubers from small and meagre plants generally give inferior crops. Several years ago it was found by Franz th:it tubers divided in their length yielded 5 tons: whole tubers planted yielded 7.V tons ; crownhalf of tubers planted yielded 9} tons; and whole tubers eyes other than crown removed, gave Hi- tons. These results show that the increase of crop more than repays the increased weight of seed employed. The reason of this superioty of luge seed is easy of explanation. During the period of early growth tho plant derives its nourishment entirely from tho seed potato, and its vigor will depend on tho amount of nutritive matter placed at its disposal. If the early growth is vigorous, a hold is sooner obtained on the soil, and a larger and better matured crop is the result.