Pasture Notes.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 20, 30 July 1920, Page 13

Pasture Notes.

WHAT CROPS TAKE FROM THE SOIL. According to W. R. Liston, in the "English Agricultural Gazette," a crop of 30 bushels of wheat removes from the acre on which it is grown 331b of nitrogen, 141b of phosphoric acid, and 9£lb of potash, whilst a crop of "22 tons of mangolds removes 871b of nitrogen, 341b of phosphoric acid, and 2231b of potash. If then, mangolds were sold, what a huge loss in fertility the farm in general would sustain. Potatoes, again, are a crop that are invariably sold off the farm. Now, 6 tons of potatoes, an average yield of an acre, remove 471b of nitrogen, 21J)lb of phosphoric acid, and 761,-lb of jfotash. 'llie.se examples show plainly enough that a crop is exhaustive or not, according as it is or is not sold off the farm. MEAT FOR AMERICA . It is gratifying to observe that New Zealand frozen meat is being consigned to the ports of the eastern coast of the United States. It does not app,ear to have been appreciated by those who are interested in the production of meat or to those who are chiefly concerned in its transportation to market, its distribution and sale, that there are in the United States 111,000,000 people ; that two-thirds of that huge population are east of Chicago and within reach of the Atlantic ports ; that the great majority are engaged in manufactures and city pursuits; and that this community is today the richest on earth. SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE It is unfortunate that the practical work-a-day farmer in the past has been too sceptical of the scientist in agricul ture, and too reluctant to listen to any of his theories. This has led to a certain arvtagonistic feeling hetween the purely practical and the scientific agriculturists, which has prompted the one to distrust the other. All the same, the scientist'^ has gone on, ploughing what has often •been a loneiy furrow, and when he has brought out qj>mething of real value to the farmer, he has in many cases got very little credit for it, What the, farmer has to realise is that the scientist is an investigatoi', a seeker. after knowledge, and if he fails to draw a prize his efforts are none the less creditable. The scientist may, or may not, discover something of commercial value in agriculture, but we commend the reseach.es of scientiists to our readers as a subject for c arete! thought and reading. When fiying was mere theory only a few years ago, no'one ever dreamt of the development in aviation which we have all witnessed, and science has many secrets yet to give to us that a-e associated with the soil and live stock. WART DISEASE. IMM.UNE VARIETIES OF POTATOES. Many experiments with fungicides of all kinds have been tried both in England and in Germariy with the object of controlling this disease. Lime and sulphur, either separately or mixed in various proportions, ccpper nitrate, formalin, soot, copper sulphate, copp,er arsenate, potassium permanganate, ammonium sulpho-cy-anide, calcium hypochlorite, and many other fungicides, including proprietar^ articles, have been us 1. None of them was found capa.ble of protecting susceptible varieties plani d in infected soil, or of appreciahly decreasing in intensity of infection. It is, therefore, all the more fortunate that experiments carried out by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have demonstraitecLaJjeyond all doubt, for the time being at any rate, the absolute immunity to disease of certain varieties of potato, many of which both crop and cook welli £>ome of the hest are Early Varieties. — Snowdrop, Dargill Early, Edzell Blue. Second Early Varieties. — King George, Great Scot, Ally, Arran Comrade. Late or Maincrop Varieties. — Tinwald Perfection, Kerr's Pink, Majestic, Golden Wonder, and Abundance types. Growers "should endeavour to become familiar with the suitability of these varieties to local conditions, even if they are not yet troubled with this serious disease of the potato. SUNSHINE FOR YOUNG PIGS. Sunlight is indispensable for the health and vigour of newly born pigs, except in extremely hot weather. The sooner they get the sunshine the better it is for them, and farrowing-houses fitted with windows and doors to let in the sunshine are decidely advantageous. As soon as the little pigs are strong enough to run around and fol-

low the sow they may be let outdoors into the sunshine, provided the weather is favourahle. They should be able to do this within three days to a week. Sunlight and .exercise ma-ke strong pigs in the early stages of their life. — k. w. Gorringe, Instructor in Swine Husbandry. QUALITIES OF A HERD BOAR. The qualities and characteristics of a herd boar are matters of the greatest importajic.e. Every pig-breeder should know and have fixed in his mind just what qualifications to require in the animal that is to head his herd. A sow directly affects only the pigs she farrows, while the boar afi'ects every litter in the herd. The most important qualities require d in a boar are : Good, big bone ; well grown ; a long, wide, deep body ; a level back, with short neck and head ; a wide, deep, roomy chest, low hams, short legs, and'standing well on his feet, fa-irly large ears, wide hetween eyes, good colour, fine hair, good action, gentle disposition, yet showing strong masculine qualities and vigour; from a good family which is prepotent, prolific, and has quick feeding qualities. If the sows are weak in certain qualities it is well that the boar be strong in those qualities. The breeder should always keep in mind an ideal of the best- type of conformation, and try to improve his herd by mating such animals as will come nearest to bringing about that ideal. Remember that it is the hest cuts and the highest quality of dressed pork or bacon that is the ultimate object, a-nd not points of the show-ring. — K. W. Gorringe, Instructor in Swine Husbandry.