On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 4 June 1914, Page 53

On the Land

The Mataura Dairy Factory is at present'receiving a good supply of milk considering the lateness of the season (says the Ensign). The daily intake is 1500 gallons, and half the suppliers bring in milk on alternate days. The cold snap of the last few days will probably have the effect of putting the supply back, but when the season closes at the end of next month a highly satisfactory result should be reported. The British live-stock breeder has for long been searching to discover a ‘ feed ’ combining a high percentage of flesh-making properties with a uniform quality and a moderate cost. In this respect, until quite recently, he was not as fortunate as his American cousin or as stock-breeders on the Continent, for it was in America and on the Continent that alfalfa (lucerne) was first tested and appreciated as an animal ration. To-day this same ‘ feed ’ is claimed to be the best stockraising medium on the market.

x Some interesting figures are given in the New South Wales Agricultural Gazette as to the cost of growing various crops at the different experiment farms. Thus at Grafton maize for grain is estimated to cost £3 15s per acre; potatoes, £lO 6s 9d per acre; wheat for hay, ££ 6s 8d; cow-peas for seed, £3 5s per acre. The rest of the land is put at 30s per acre per annum. The seed and seeding operations alone in the ease of potatoes are put at nearly £6 per acre. At Cowra the cost of growing cereals is estimated at nearly £2 9s per acre, allowing 8s per acre for rent. At Glen Innes, oaten hay is estimated to cost £2 13s per acre to produce; wheaten hay, £2 Bs, the rent being again put at 8s per acre.

The Acting-Director of' the Fields and Experimental Farms Division, writing in the Journal of Agriculture, says With regard to lucerne, special stress is always laid on the fact that, soil from an established lucerne-field is necessary to secure good results. For my part, I consider that any soil that grows red clover well, and where nodules are abundantly produced, is suitable for lucerne without any soil-inocula-tion being undertaken, and I rank thorough cultivation and weed-control as far more important factors in the successful establishment of lucerne. The whole of the lucerne fields of Marlborough have been established without any soil-inoculation, and the same can be said of nearly all the lucerne in New Zealand. It is probable that the bacteria, after they have entered the host, become specialised, and when afterwards in a free condition in the soil can infect any leguminous plant. Otherwise, it seems peculiar that an ordinary new vegetable-garden should contain all the special bacteria that are said to Be necessarry to infect the various leguminous crops which are grown under such a condition.

At Addington last week there -were large entries of fat cattle, sheep, and lambs, but a small entry of store sheep, and average offerings in the other departments. Fat cattle opened at easier rates. Fat lambs sold well, and though there was a heavy yarding prices firmed towards the close of the sale. Fat sheep were also firmer. Store sheep sold without change, though the demand showed some improvement. Fat pigs also sold at last week’s rates. Fat Lambs.Tegs, 20s .to 23s 6d; extra prime tegs, to 25s lOd ; average weights, 18s to 19s 6d; light and unfinished, 14s to 17s 6d. Fat Sheep. ; Extra prime wethers, to 28s; prime do, 21s 6d to 265; other do, 15s 5d to 21s; extra prime ewes, to 31s 9d; prime ewes, 18s 6d to 23s 6d ; medium ewes, 15s to 18s; aged and light, 11s to 14s 6d ; merino wethers, 21s 3d; merino ewes, 11s to 12s. Fat Cattle.— Steers, £7?l7s 6d to £ll ss; extra, to £l6 17s 6d ; heifers, £6 5s to £8 ss; extra, to £l2 2s 6d; cows, £5 15s to £9 ss; extra, to £lO ss. Fat Choppers, £3 to £5. 10s; heavy baconers, £3 ,to £3 ss;' extra heavy baconers, to £3 10s; ordinary, baconers, ,£2 7s to £2 15s (price per lb, s£d) ; heavy porkers, £2 2s to £2 ss; light .porkers, £1 16s to £2 (price ' per lb, 6d). - •

There were large yardings of cattle, sheep, and lambs at Burnside last week, and competition was keen at late rates. Fat Cattle.36o yarded, consisting chiefly of good quality bullocks, with a few pens of medium to good heifers and cows. Competition was keen throughout, with prices firm at late rates, and some cases showing an advance of 7s 6d per head. Quotations: Best bullocks, £ll 10s to £l3 10s; extra, to £lB 10s; medium, £lO to £11; others, £9 to £10; best cows and heifers, £7 10s to £8 10s; extra, to £11; others, £5 10s to £6 10s. Fat Sheep.—7soo penned.. The greater proportion of the yarding consisted of ewes, with a few. pens of prime wethers. The sale opened with prices firm at late rates, but as it progressed a rise of from Is to Is 6d per head was realised. Export buyers operated freely for both wethers and ewes, although towards the end of the sale values for the latter class receded somewhat. Quotations; Prime wethers, 23s to 255; extra, to £3; medium and unfinished, 17s to 19s ; best ewes, 19s to 22s 6d; extra, to 325; others, 15s 6d to 17s 6d. Fat Lambs.—A large yarding, 2300 being forward, consisting chiefly of good lambs. There was a full muster of export buyers. Competition was keen throughout, with prices slightly in advance of last week’s rates. Quotations: Best lambs, 19s 6d to 21s 6d; extra prime, to 30s; medium to good, 16s to 18s; unfinished, 12s 6d to 14s 6d. Pigs. The yarding»comprised 106 fat pigs and 71 stores. There was the usual attendance of- buyers, and prices realised were on about a par with late rates.

THE FOOD OF PLANTS. In its early life, a plant draws its nourishment from the seed, tuber, or other food-storing organs from which it springs. As soon as the young plant is equipped with roots and green leaves, it is in a position to forage for itself. The raw material used by the plant in making its food are carbon-dioxide (derived from the air) and water, with certain substances therein dissolved, which are assimilated by the plant through the root-hairs and rise, up in the leaves. More than 95 per -cent. of the weight of green plant is derived from the carbon dioxide and water.The other 5 per cent, of food is derived from the soil. But this small quantity is of the utmost importance. It consists of nitrate, phosphates, potash, lime, magnesia, etc. In order to be absorbed, all these substances must be present in an ‘ available ’ form—is, they must be soluble in the soil-water.

SAVING CATTLE FROM CHOKING. The danger of cattle being choked is referred to by a correspondent of the Leader, who writes: My confidence in the probang, even when used by experts, was shaken by losing several valuable animals through rupture of the gullet. A whip stick is worse, and liquids poured over the throat when the gullet is obstructed are apt to cause suffocation. My experience is to procure a piece of hard wood, turned round, 12 inches long, f inch in diameter. Two inches from eachend pierce a hole half an inch in diameter. Into each of these holes fix a piece of ordinary plough line about 2 feet in length. One inch from the holes, or 3 inches from each end, pierce another two holes of the. same diameter at right angles to the holes already made for the strings. Into each of these two holes drive a piece of wood about 6 inches in length, so as to leave about 2 inches projecting on each side of the stick. As soon as an animal is noticed to be in danger of choking, put this stick in its mouth, just like the bit in the mouth of a horse. Fix it in by tying the string at the back of its ears. 1 The pieces of stick projecting from the centre piece prevent the wood from slipping from its place in its mouth. This cure is not only useful for choking animals, but in cases of ordinary hoven, if taken in time, is just as effectual. After the'stick is put in the mouth the animal • immediately stops swelling. v _• ■ , /