On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 3 June 1915, Page 59

On the Land

f- '> GENERAL. The United States Department of Agriculture, after careful experiments, states that rape is unrivalled as a pasture for sheep in autumn, where it can be successfully grown. As a fattening feed in the field it is without a rival in point of cheapness or effectiveness. In an experiment which was conducted throughout Ontario for five years the mangel crop was increased six tons per acre by an application of 1601 b of nitrate of soda when the plants were Sin tall. The same quantity of nitrate of soda applied at the time that the seed was sown increased the yield of mangels 5.6 tons per acre. We take off our hat—metaphorically to the good work of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland (says Farm, Field, and Fireside). To its credit, it is said that Ireland is now the most difficult country in which to dispose of inferior manure. As a result, the output of genuine manures lias been trebled, and manufacturers attribute this great increase to the action of the Department in suppressing fraudulent manures. There are 11,846 females engaged in agricultural labor in England, according to a return given in Parliament by Sir Harry Verney. Of these, 3906 are in charge of cattle. The percentage of females to the grand total is 1.98. Northumberland heads the list with 22.07 per cent, of women, and Bedfordshire is lowest with .19. In Wales 1368 women are .so employed, a percentage of 3.71, and in Scotland 14,997, or 17.32 per cent . If the Government were to pass a law that all milk was to be bought, by the factories by bulk, regardless of quality, what a rumpus -there would be (remarks the Sew Zen/and Dairi/man). Yet such a proposal is not worse, nor more absurd than that of a cheese factory selling its output, at a fixed uniform price for the whole season. Cheese that is worth 70- for October make is worth easily 80s in March, because of the fact that the raw material of which it is made—that, is, the milkis 25 per cent, richer than in October. This important factor is always borne in mind in Canada, and is just as religiously overlooked in New Zealand. At Addington last week there were smaller entries of fat stock than at previous sale, especially of fat sheep and fat lambs. There was a fair attendance. Fat cattle, except prime heavy steers, were easier. There was an improvement in fat lambs and fat sheep, of which there was a better class offering. Fat Lambs.— Prime lambs, 16s to 20s lOd : others, 10s 6d to 15s 6d. Fat Sheep.—Prime wethers, 20s to 24s 4d; others, 15s 5d to 19s 6d ; merino wethers, 12s 6d to 15s; extra prime ewes, to 25s 6d : prime ewes, 16s 6d to 20s: medium ewes, 13s 6d to 16s; inferior ewes, 10s to 13s. Fat Cattle.—Extra, up to £2O 15s: prime steers, £7 15s to .£10: heifers, £5 5s to £lO 17s 6d : cows, £1 7s 6d to £lO. Beef prices were: 23s to 37s 6d per 1001 b: extra prime, to 40s per 1001 b. Pigs.—Choppers, £2 to £5 10s: heavy baconers, £3 2s 6d to £3 12s; light baconers, £2 10s to £2 17s 6dequal to 5.',d to per lb; large porkers, 35s to £2 ; light porkers, 28s to 32sequal to 5J,d to sf-d per lb ; small stores, 12s to TBs 7d ; very small weaners, 3s 3d : good weaners, up to Bs. There were large yardings of fat sheep and lambs at Burnside last week, there being good competition for all prime wethers. Fat Cattle.—l6B penned. The yarding consisted chiefly of good quality bullocks and heifers. Competition was keen, and prices showed an advance of about 15s on previous rates. Quotations: Best bullocks, £l4 to £ls 10s; extra, to £18; medium, £l2 to £l3; others, £8 10s to £10; best cows and heifers, to £l2; medium, £8 to £9; others, £6 to £7. Fat Sheep.—6sll penned. A large yarding, comprised mostly of medium to good ewes and wethers, very few pens of really prime heavy sheep being forward. Freezing buyers had only a limited amount of space at their disposal, and were not operating to any great extent. Heavy ewes met a fair sale, although prices were about

Is to Is 6d below previous week's prices. The market was over-supplied with medium to good ewes arid wethers, and they were hard .to place even at very reduced figures. Quotations: Prime wethers, at 26s 6d to 30s; extra heavy, to 355; medium, 22s to 235; others, 18s to 20s; prime ewes, 21s to 235; extra heavy, to 26s 6d; medium, 15s to 17s. Fat Lambs.3o2o penned; a large yarding comprised of some very prime lambs. Prime lambs showed a drop of about 2s to 2s 6d per head, while others were hard to sell at prices about 3s below late rates. Quotations: Prime lambs, to 20s 6d ; good, 15s to 16s; others, lis to 14s. The supply of pigs was about equal to the demand, and prices showed little change from those ruling at late sales. RHEUMATISM IN PIGS. This is a very common complaint with pigs, and is due to the housing accommodation or the food, and may be more easily induced by these causes because of an hereditary predisposition (says the Australasian). Stiffness, which generally comes on suddenly, is an ordinary symptom, and may lead to a pig going down on his fore legs or hind legs, and sometimes the back is affected. If the rheumatism is in the muscles, they become hard and painful. ■ If in the joints they may crack when moved, and swell rapidly. A rise in temperature and quick pulse accompany an attack, which may last for a long time, or only for a few days. The most frequent cause is damp floors' or damp straw. In the sty a wooden sleeping floor will always be provided : but this should be frequently exposed to the sun and air, and dry litter put in frequently. If the food is too rich, and not enough exercise permitted, it often leads to rheumatic attacks. The best plan is to get the bowels to act as soon as possible. For this a dose of ?,oz Epsom salts, Joz flowers of sulphur, mixed in some warm milk and treacle, will be found effective. Then local applications of a good liniment may be given. Alcohol 50 parts to 1 part oil of mustard and spirit of camphor are both good liniments. When the medicine ceases to act, a tablespoonful of a mixture of loz salicylate of soda, nitrate of potash, Boz water ma}- be given twice daily in food or water. Some veterinarians recommend 4 to 16 grains salol, according to size, together with the local applications. Rich foods like bran, fat meat, etc., should be discontinued, and boiled potatoes, roots, greenstuffs like cabbages made part of the ration. To administer liquids to a pig, a good plan is to cut the toe off a boot, and push it into the mouth toe first. LOOKING AFTER HORSES' FEET. Horses' feet require to be kept clean, also kept the proper shape, and not allowed to get too dry (remarks an exchange). Permanent injury, from the neglect of these rules, not uncommonly takes place, therefore the feet need to be regularly examined, and, when necessary, trimmed with a shoeing smith's knife and rasp. When a colt has reached the age at which he has to go to work, and when not working is kept in the stable, the danger of ill-effects from want of attention increases. The advisability of having horses shod depends upon the circumstances. When horses are required to work on hard roads, of course shoeing is necessary ; but when used only for work on the farm, it is better to allow them to go without shoes, except in very slippery weather. When horses become accustomed to go without shoes, it is surprising the amount of travelling, even on moderately hard roads, their feet will stand.