FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2967, 21 July 1891, Page 4

FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD NOTES.

I'IIOZI.N Mt'TTON* KKOM I'ATAIiOM-V.— Patagonia is the most, recent addition to the ranks of the frozen incut exporting countries—.l result of cnur-o attributable to the employment of the IlriUsli capital. The country should bo well adapted to the breeding of the hardier descriptions of Fnirli-h mutton sheep, Sicilian Pork : Not Ai.tocktnk.k a Lu.M'KY. —A not very pleasant sto'-y on jilt's of Sicily has been told by our e instil there. These animals .'ire u-ed as the HoaveniiorH of the towns, where they eat the filthiest of iitreet refuse, over which a little bran has been spread. " The colour ot' pork in town-," we arc told, "is quit/dark." Sicily oii«ht to be held up as the "awful example'' to pig feeders. Dr.ot'cirr in tiik Aii<;kntink. —The Ilea! in liio. uos Ayros is described a.exceeding any which has been known for many \earn. The country, especially cattle, have suffered from want, of water About. -10,000 animals (sheep, cows, and horses) have' perished in the Provionce of Buenos Ayres alone, at Sant.a Fe one cittl" breeder has lost, SOOO sheep. In linen's Ayres three persons recently died of sunstroke. Amkiucas Wool,.—The Nation (New York) says :—One of the reasons why the prices of domestic wool have declined is that tho wool growers, putting their dependence on the tariff to keep out foreign wool and ward off competition, liave allowod their own product to deteriorate in quality. The sheep are now imperfectly fed and eared for, and much oxtraneous matter is allowed to mingle with tho fleece. The result is that a large amount of Australian wool has beeu iinportod to tako tho place of this deteriorated domestic product. Eaktiiworms.—Tho valuo of the earthworm as ft nutual tiller of tho coil has been reoognisedsinco Darwin demonstrated it thoroughly in his book on earthworms, and the evidencoof tho Inter investigators biifj tended only to increase the reputation of the worm as an ally to the farmer. The latest estimate of tho work done by the worms in the country about tin; Niger in Africa is that each year they work up from beneath «i layer of soil lin thick which of course gives tho soil great staying power in spite ot crops taken off it. Where tho worm is not at work the natives do not try farming, as they oxlniu-1 the noil so soon. It would appear thou that a largo tract of Africa is dependent for its food supply on tho number and activity of its earthworms. ('llNTAlillll'S AIiORTION IN* f'oWS.— Writing on the subject of Contagious Abortion in Cows, a contributor of the Live Slock Journal says " The Americans have certainly got this plague, however it may have reached thein ; and they sucm, as ho often they do, to bo dealing with it in an intelligent way. They evirlontly rely upon vaginal injections ; and we fancy that this must he tho light treatment for the cows. Hardly an American farm journal reaches us which does not contain some inquiries on this head ; and the same advico appears always to be given. It seems that a wise and understanding people, believe that contagious abortion in cows is to bo grappled with by the injection treatment ; coupled with isolation of sufferers ; and as much as possible prevention of contact. Whether this be. or not, tho right course to follow must bo determined by a series of ob-ervalions ; and, so far as wo know, no institution in this country is at present busying itsolf continuously in taking any. Net a long and widely spread system of observation is absolutely necessary if ever we are to attain to sound knowledge." Kur.nv ('attm; as Dairy Cows.—The Plymouth show was taken advantage of he hre.'diTH of Kerry cattle in order to make tho merits of tho Iri-li blaekslcins better known in tho West of England. In the Kerry classes 30 entries were made by Irish exhibitors, and 11 by English ; iu the Dexter classes 28 entries were by Irish exhibitor.", and 2,'! by English. Tho subjoined ozonations of the judges nro of interest, as desuriptivo of v.iluablo breeds of small dairy cattle rapidly coming into favour : " There scorns to bo some misapprehension as to particular points of the Kerry nnd the Dexter Kerry. There is no reason why this should bo so, for the Kerry and the Dexter Kerry are totally different, in points and shapes. The for-ner is well known by its light, deer-like head and horn, light limbs, with ribs, hips, and shoulders well set, Ihio skin, straight back, light. welKset tail w illl long lnu-li, an.l its predominant colour black. The Dexter Kerry, on tie.' other hand, takes very much of' the character of a diininu live shorthorn ; short, strong l''gs, square body, flat back, thick .shoulder, short neck, and well set, head and horn. A cross between these two bivds must produce an animal which is neither a Kerry nor a l.lexter Kerry. We are convinced from the groat, progress made in so short a. time iu bringing these useful breeds into such prominence, that by careful selection and breeding from the best specimens, the Kerry especially will iu a very short period become a very valuable and profitable breed of cattle in our islands. Both breedi are highly calculated to add eventually a valuable item to the dairy industry "f the country. These nro the only purely Irish breeds of stock, and Irishmen should feel gratilied to seo that English noblemen and gentlemen are studying tho development of a long neglected Kerry nee of cattle." Di'HTßt'CTtiix - 01 Wi;:n;r,v (Ikmwinc Foiuikii Pi.ants. —Is it- possible to get rid of weed pests, such as tlii.«tl»rs, sorrel, &.C., by the. cultiv.it.ion of particular fodder plants, the growth of which is inimical to the weeds » This question has I'■ " ii raised reociiMv by a correspondent i.l one of the Californian journals, who says thai "if a field is infested by thistles give it a turn of rape seed, and this plant will altogether starve, sull'ocate and chill the thistle out of existence." This asser tion is founded on the results of a trial made with diU'erent varictiesof rape seed ina number of plots that were so completely overrun with thistles that it was hardly expected tho rape would be üble to make headway. Contrary to e;..pi i ta.t'ous, however, the crop grew freely, and as it spread the thirties began to fade, and finally they dried up, being apparently killed by the touch of the rape leaves. Other trials were subsequently made in garden beds and flower pots, and no mat - ter at what stage of development the thistle had arrived, whether young or old, the rape effectually killed it. This opens up an interesting question, and investigation and experiment may well be carried out with a view to eliciting furl her information on the subject. If tlie thistle has in the lape plant so deadly an enemy, it may bo possible that other weed pests have also foes sullicicntly strong to overcome t hem. The knowledge gained would he invaluable if it can be shown that these foes are included an ongst fodder plants of known value. If the star thistle of the. northern districts could lie replaced by some nutritious plants the gain would be enormous. There ' are weeds, such as sorrel for instance, that arc almost inoraitieablo hy ordinary 1 cll'ort, yet. it may bo possible to disco *er a plant of_ some useful order that can 1 overcome it. The subject is worthy of ' investigation, —Leader. :

WKINKIA .KII SMOOTH MI uinos.—The dillcrt.nee of 0| nil ion tlx- relative merits of thu wrinkly ami tin: smooth types of merino:, "ivra 1 i.;<■ to eonniderable uiticiistion in \i o> ri>^,i. The percentage of WOul to live Weight of tin. iviiiilcly sheep is admittedly greater than the smooth merino, hut it is contended, •mil thu contention ic. hacked up by a rcny evidence that the development of tiie wiinUly ha I >i t of hody is at the • ■prn i' of constitution. The climatic ol . .Vermont, whore sliorp breeding rustic's so iniieli attention, is a i ic"'! i.'is me, ond atrilline increase in the greasy weight of wool can arnrwly be considered as an equivalent. for a tion in the natural strrn .'tli of the animal find its ability to withstand climate ciianye" of a Hidden and severe order. A wrinkle may be a eo-elheient of the wool pnji'.uning power, but it is possible to carry the development of this power to

such .-.si «-xt.«*nt th.it tli(! bodily strength of the animal becomes unequal to the. strain iin]ioi<"il upon it and constitutional weakness follows as a natural sequence. The matter in of some iinportancc to Australian breeders,us the Vermont Aus~ trali-m merino lias now an established plane ill our Hocks, and further importations from Ameiica will, no doubt, bo made from time to time. In blending tlio strains, however, it is more than probable the Australian merino will be equal to supplying the lack of vigor in the constitution of the imported animals, if such exist, and the dancer from weakness of thin kind will be reduced to a minimum. .Judging by show ring experiences, the Vermont Australian sheep exhibit characteristics which commend them to a considerable feet ion of our breeder.'. What the ultimate ellccts upon flocks will be, reinabis to be proved, but vigor of constitution is such ail important, point in sheep breedini.', th'it the. closest observation should bo exerei-ed to mark the effect of the imported strain, so that it tnay be bred out as quickly as possible if it is found not to answer during a trying season.