RURAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3103, 4 June 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

RURAL NOTES.

Peasant Proj'kiktors.—Reference hns hcin made to Mr. Warbnrtou's roport on thi! iiwt.iM" condition of the peasant '> j pr.ipri' r.,r-. in tW- Vhavv.i,- lui' :uu:v. _ i On rliin siiiti of die Clii'in. 1 w> , h-ivc no n-,-.v.;, f,.; IfJiMnlil.U ti.i/ !■....!),•( ..} ill liriii.-h Vicc-C ".iMil as nc.L-v.-.1. i,;, i.m ihut, is how soiiik French writers look "I , ' ll if- Moiin. J. Lnvcrriere, wririni; from Paris to ,: Lo Mouvement I- eonoinique at rlrussels. spotiks vnry sharp!? on this mutter, mill rem-.uks tint if in -neh men as our Yii'v Consul who nrvau- unfriendly tVi-liiiL'S I'orwfif'ii nuiions ; but. lie adds that fortnurtcly for Knjj-bind nil it- • rmsuhir agents do-iml. re.M:mbb this one. Although Mons. Laverriere says that he ha- had on »evcru.l occasions to remark on extract.* from Mr. Warburton's reports he doc.H not precisi-ly htate in what manner the Untish represent ttive has mis-describjd tliu coudition of the peiisant proprietary of France. A bare as.-urtion that the report is incorrect in not quite enough to upset our faith in the rectitude of our official, und until Mr. Warburton's critic gives us more substantial ground to go upon we must continue to believe that the report h right, fis thr> views contained therein are in accordance with the belief wbioh prevails amongst careful observers of the land question at home and abroad. Wiikn to Dry Cows.—There is a, difference of opinion in regard to the time cows should become dry before calving, some contending that they may be milked almost to the time of their dropping the calf without injury, while others maintain that it is almost absolutely necessary they should be dried off at least three months before calving. This no doubt depends upon the season of the year the cows " come in," and also upon the manner in which they are kept. As a rule, the cow that is maintained in profit for a long period one year will give a reduced quantity of milk the following season. If the animals are in high condition it will probably pay them up to within a month of calving ; but when they are only in moderate form and feed scarce, they should have at least threo months in which to recruit their strength. The ideal dairy cow should not only milk well after calving, but should continue to do bo for seven or eight months, after which she should run | down in her milk pretty quickly, until at tho end of the ninth month she should bo dry, or nearty so, if she is to calve within thu year. It is a fact well enough known to all dairymen that .nany cows which give a large quantity of milk immediately after calvinir often full off very soon, so that when the season's produce is totalled up, it does anything but show the good results which first appearances indicate. It is also pretty well known that there are very many cows which never give an extra noticeable quantity, but which maintain their supply steadily for most of the milking period. Cows of this claee often continue milking to within a fey weeks—sometimes even a few days—of their giving: biith to a calf— without any apparent injury to their future usefulness. Of couirte the manner in which Ibe cows are fed the year throughout has everything to do with the total quantity of milk, l»ut assuming that they are suitably provided for the whole time, an average milking , period of nine months will give the best results. Thomas' Phosphate Powder. This new manure, which is used in enormous quautities in all European countries, with the most satisfactory results,is at present the cheapest source of available phosphoric acid. It analyses 17 to 29 per cent of phosphoric acid, and 45 to 52 per cent of lime, both in a very soluble form. It is best applied by bringing 6 to 12 cwt per aero on the land every four years. For all corn crops, &c, 4 to 5 cwt per acre are necessary. Phosphoric acid in the Thomas' Phosphate Powder forms the foundation of the principal food for all plants, without which no healthy growth is possible Potash and nitrogen must then be added afterwards in the iorra of nitrate of potash. Land which is exhausted and cannot grow any more crops, or grows sickly, or diseased plants as sugar cane, coffee trees, tobacco.tea shrubs. &e, ought to bo brought into good cultivation by a liberal application of Thomas' Phosphate Powder, and afterwards top dressed with nitrate of potash to complete the necessary plant food. The small fungi which in tropical climates so often attack and destroy so many plantations, will be quickly removed by the Thoaia.i 1 Phosphate which must be dug deeply in tho soil. The presence of fungi is mostly traced to an unsafßcient supply of phosphoric acid, or to an application of too acid a manure. With these highly concentrated pure manurps, the glower is enabled to give to the crops all the soluble nutritious matter

required, ant' to ensure a very large and certain harvest without failure in a dry season. The full action of artificial manures is certain when the three ingredients most necPßsafy to tho growth of plants, viz.,phosphate of lime, potash aud ammonia, are contained iu a fertilizer in a , pure easily soluble form. It is not a difficult matter to draw conclusions from the action of these manures as to quantity to be most advantageously applied, and which of the above ehnnld be given. It in known that leguminous as well as those belonging to the papille'niun group ean do without iiniinoniucal manuring, and require phosphate of lime and potash only. In hoil* c.oiit.'iitiing , si quantity of humic acid, aunnonia is not of the greatest importance in manuring , . The calculation of the prices will show that these pure manures aro not more expensive than those containing only 15 to 20 per cent of nutritious matters ; even if there is a slight difference in price, the results in the increased production will more than equalise matters, in fuct will show a greater profit. We recommend these manures for use in all soils and for any kind of plant, and are perfectly sure they will produce results at present unheard of. Messrs W. S. Laurie and Co., of Auckland, are the agents.