On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 22 July 1915, Page 59

On the Land

1 '>. ' GENERAL, "^A : -%' 1 Plenty of superphosphate supplied to the cultivated crops enables them to suppress the weeds. Dirt and grease are quickly removed from the varnished .bodywork of buggies and motor cars if borax is dissolved in the water. --?~ . r -„ ; Good animals, kept clean, comfortable,- and free from excitement, will yield the best possible results in milk. On the other hand, where cows are in ill-health, or l unduly excited, the milk is immediately affected. Especially is this noticeable in the case of cows taken long distances to shows, and in such cases the" fat percentage may fall as low as 2 per cent., or even less, whereas at home it would be normal in quality. vfe.-It-- is a well-known fact that certain combinations of feed give better results than others (remarks Hoard's, Dairyman). It is not well to feed a cow entirely upon dry feed or upon concentrates. Although concentrates may be far more valuable than a roughage, yet to have a cow do her best work, two-thirds of the ration should be supplied in roughage. Succulent feed is not as valuable, pound for pound, as dry feed, but the influence it has upon the animals is such that some value may be attached to its succulence. In other words, it is plain that the physical condition of a feed, regardless of the nutrients it contains, has value. As showing what can be taker; out of land by intense cultivation, the experience during the past year of Mr. Samuel Sparks, of Cashmere, is worth giving (says the Nelson Mail). His land is, without question, of a high class, having cost £6O an acre ; but in this respect it is not markedly distinguished from the whole area in the same neighborhood. Mr. Sparks is an old settler, and, consequently, knows the capacity of the land, and works it to the best advantage. . This year, from a single acre, he secured 100 tons of mangels, and these he sold for 27s per toncertainly an excellent return, since, as Mr. Sparks states, the cost of production, including interest on the capital invested in the land, would not amount to more than £lO. From an area of 52 acres Mr. Sparks sold 100 tons of hay at £4 10s and from two acres of potatoes lie sold 30 tons' of eating tubers at £4 5s 5d per ton. There were' average entries in all departments at Burnside last week, and prices on the whole were firmer than those ruling at the previous sale. Fat Cattle.l62 yarded. A small yarding of fairly good quality. Competition was keen and prices showed an advance of from 10s to 15s per head on previous week's rates. Quotations? Best bullocks, £l4 10s to £l6; extra, to £18; medium to good, £l2 to £l3 10s; others, £lO 10s to £ll 10s; best cows and heifers, £lO 10s to £l2 10s; extra, to £l6 12s 6d; medium to good, £8 10s to £9 10s; others, £7 to £B. Fat Sheep.— 2332 penned. With the exception of a few pens of really prime ewes and wethers the yarding was made up of medium quality. There was a good demand for all classes of sheep; unfinished wethers were, eagerly picked up by the graziers. Prices as compared with previous week showed an advance of from Is to Is 9d per head. Quotations: Best wethers, 28s 6d to 30s; extra, to 32s 9d; good, 25s to 275; others, 22s to 245; best ewes, 25s to 275; extra, to 345; good, 20s to 225; others, 15s to 19s. Fat Lambs.—l 800 penned. There was good competition between graziers and exporters, and prices were firm at previous week's rates. Quotations: Best lambs, 19s 6d to 21s; extra prime, to 28s 6d; medium to good, 17s to 18s; others, 14s to 16s. There was a fair offering of pigs, and prices were about on a par with those ruling lately. . At Addington last week there were moderate yardings of stock and a good attendance. Fat Cattle showed an improvement, and fat lambs were firmer. Store sheep sold at about previous week's prices, and fat pigs sold better, while fat sheep were irregular.

Fat Lambs.—Extra prime, to 26s 3d; prime, 19s to 23sft medium, 16s to .18s 6d; light and unfinished, 13s to 15s 6d. Fat Sheep. Extra prime wethers, to 355; prime, to 28s;; others, 18s to 225; merino wethers- 15s 9d to 19s; extra ? prime ewes, to 29s Id-prime ewes, 20s to 27a; 6d; medium ewes, 16s 6d to 19s 6d; inferior ewes, lis 9d to 16s; merino ewes, 12s 4d. Fat Cattle. Extra steers, to £l7 17s 6d; ordinary steers, £7 to £ll. 15s; extra heifers, to £l4 15s; ordinary heifers, £5 17s 6d to £9 ss; extra cows,- £l2 2s Gd; ordinary cows, £5 2s 6d to! £9 10s (price of beef per 1001 b, 26s'to 39s 6d; extra, to 425). Pigs. Choppers; 60s to 90s; extra heavy baconers, to 82s 6d; heavy baconers, 60s to 725; light: baconers, 50s to 58s 6d (price per lb, 6d) ; heavy ' orkers," 37s to 455; light porkers, 35s to 36s (price per 'b, fully; 6d); medium stores, 22s to 28s; small stores, 15s 6d to* 21s; weaners, to 12s. * | . SEAWEED AS A MANURE. • The Irish Department of Agriculture has issued a leaflet dealing with the use of seaweed as a manure. Fresh seaweed contains about the same quantity of nitrogen as well-rotted farmyard manure, considerably? more potash, but less phosphates. It can be profitably used for every crop to which farmyard manure is applied, and is especially suitable for growing potatoes, though with the use of large quantities of seaweed it has been noticed that the tubers, if dug up in the green stage, are inclined to be more waxy. If superphosphate is used with the seaweed no such tendency is' noticed. The best plan is to plough in the seaweed before seed-time, and apply superphosphate at the time - of sowing. j SCALDED SHOULDERS. ■*****&. Some horses have tender skins, and, when this is known, scalding should be guarded against by applying astringent lotions, such as salt-water, permanganate of potash, or a mixture of powdered alum, loz; sulphuric acid, 1 drachm water H pints (says the Cliristchurch Sun). Lining the collar with oil-cloth has proved a preventive. In most cases, scalds are caused by carelessness. Every farmer will see that the collars fit, but not many clean and scrape them regularly. The shoulders, too, should be sponged with cold water every day after work. At periodical stops the collars should; be lifted forward to cool the shoulders; at meal limes .the collars should be removed ; and when putting on the harness the mane should not be allowed to work between collar and shoulder. The hames should be evenly and tightly buckled on ; traces of equal length, and tugs properly placed, high or low, to suit the horse and the line of draught. The line of draught is usually too low, which throws the pressure on to the point -of the shoulder. Some owners clip the shoulders, as long hair, when wet with perspiration, will mat together, and create an uneven surface. When a scald has developed, careful attention will soon heal it, especially if the horse can be rested. If work is continued, a cloth-pad about sin square and lin thick should be tied on the; collar above or below the sore. Washing with boracic acid, dusting with boracic powder, bathing with a lotion of loz sulphate of zinc, loz acetate of lead, and ,lv pint water applying oxide zinc ointment are -all, good remedies. This and other troubles should drive home to owners the necessity for possessing a medicine chest. Every veterinary firm advertise them, and the remedies are safe and efficacious. With means ready to hand a scald can be arrested at once. -'.*••■■■ - :..%#.-