ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2431, 20 February 1909, Page 2

ON THE LAND.

SHEEP FOR FARMERS

THE BEST CItOSSES

HOW TO MANAGE THE FLOCK

The following are some interesting notes by It. H. Glennys, of the Glen limes Experiment Farm, as printed in the “Agricultural Gazette” of New South Wales. They arc not written entirely from the New Zealand point of view, but they touch many questions of great importance to farmers.

“Farmers who combine other industries, such as the growing of cereal crops, with, sheep-breeding, should secure a Hock that will give them the best net return annually .--per sheep. Having blit very limited' areas, as a rule, the increase must be got. rid oi quickly, so that early maturity is r very important feature, and lamb and teg* mutton raising is chiefly aimed at this is quite in agreement with tin meat export trade, which always prefers the early-maturing carcass. Wen is a secondary-consideration, but mus not bo overlooked in the mothers o the lambs, which may bo shorn fee several seasons. “What the lamb and mutton trad requires as well as early maturity i: quality of meat more than quautitv The weights required in lambs bein', from 281 b to 401 b., not more, anythin}; beyond this is too heavy, and woulc probably bo termed teg or we ante mutton; for real lambs should be suckers up to the time of being slaughtered, and should bo taken from then mothers at about four months old, in order to give the.latter time to properly recuperate before being mated again. SELECTION OF SIRES.

“As the British breeds point to tin earliest maturity, they should be used principally as the sires oi the lambs, and /of whatever breed should always be a pure-bred of the best description and constitution, as he will then be likely to impress his qualities on his offspring. For lamb and mat ton raising he should have the mutton points well developed, some important ones being: Good shoulders and broad withers, deep, full chest and brisket, good girth measurement, wide hack with well-sprung ribs with good loins, broad dock, and deep iml twist; with the other male attributes that should be possessed by all sires--such as masculine heads, wide nostrils, good scrags, and wool of stronger tvpe generally than ewes of the some breed. THE POINTS OF A EWE.

“The ewes should possess a good carcass, but effeminate in character, with good digestive organs, well-de-veloped hindquarters, and good udders, obvious points necessary for producing a good supply of milk ior the speedv development of the lambs. In all cases the ewes should he bred in the district or a similar one, so as to thrive well under all local cor,notions, as the way they thrive must in a great measure be reflected^ in thoiv offspring. Young ewes should be breo from in preference to older sheep, but in a well-developed crossbred should have two teeth up before being mated. In merinoes generally it is advisable that the four teeth should be up before breeding from them. When bigheaded British rams are used with merino ewes, attention must ho given at lambing to assist any ewes requiring aid, and in any case it pays to btvepy watchful of the flocks at tniseason. for the percentage of lamb: may be increased considerably thereby. LAMBING TIME. “It is generally admitted that eves in rapidly-increasing condition, but not too fat, are likely to be most prolific. Under average conditions a ram should bo mated with not more than 60 ewes; lie should he in strong condition, but not too fat. If nr should he very fat and lazy a hen convenient vard the sheep at ,night ror a week or “so. At lambing time the ewes‘should be in good condition, but not too fat. They should, be on good pasture from the time of lambing until lambs arc weaned or sold. The lambs must be well supplied with milk all the time or early maturity cannot result. Lambs should be ear-marked, de-tailed, and castrated at from ten to twenty days old, as they recover much quicker from operations than when older. BEST TAILING METHODS.

“The latest method is to sear off the tails with a- red-hot iron, instead of cutting them off with a knife. Hie former method saves much loss of blood, and consequently little or no check is received from the operation. •Lambs do not appear to sulk after searing as they do after cutting off the tails; the cut dries and heals quickly and is less likely (being drier) to be attacked by flies. If a disinfectant is used; s'uch as Stockholm tar or a sheep-dip, do not put it on the seared part, but smear it on tbe wool adjacent thereto. One of the objects of searing is to dry up tlio wound; that of tar, etc., to keep flies away by the smell near it. When searing, make tho iron very hot, but do not press too heavily. A moderate time in taking tho tail off makes the operation more complete.. .The principal advantage in searing is claimed to be that it checks loss of blood and consequently prevents any check in development, which is such an important point. Castrate lambs with care, and at an early age. Avoid frosty or very hot weather if possible. Be careful to use a clean knife. Do not use a knife for other purposes before 'thoroughly cleansing it. A clean wound in the scrotum heals quickly. Use Stockholm tar or other disinfectant on the

Farm and Station.

cur/.- If any dirt is introduced on tinblade' suppuration may supervene and -delay healing, and may check growth. BREEDS, LAMBING, RATES,' AND FEED. Taking for example the pure-bred merino ewes producing 75 per cent, of Jambs, the average British ram on merino ewes would give about 5 per cent more, or SO per cent. The British ram on a crossbred (British ram on merino ewe) would be about lu per cent, more, or 90 per cent., while several of the .pure British breeds would go 100 to 130 per cent. “It is most important that the ewes and lambs should have good feed continuously that no cheek may occur which would nib re or less defeat the object of early maturity in lambraising. Something more than natural herbage is generally required. Good introduced .grasses, such as perennial. and Italian rye, prairie, Kentucky blue, timothy, and the like "should bo provided. Lucerne for spring and summer topping, and rape and red clover' for the winter and early spring, are hard to beat. Care must be taken, however, in putting sheep or cattle with empty stomachs on the three latter fodder plants for the first time, or hoven may result. Neither should they be put on on windy and wet days at first. Get them gradually accustomed to the change by putting them on with fairly full stomachs for a few hours a day; they will then be fairly safe. Lucerne, clover, and rape are all good preparations for wheat, and the droppings of the sheep provide valuable manures and greatly help to keep up the_ fertility of the land. Rape is a capital crop for topping stock and improving tho quality of the meat. MANURE THE CROPS.

It has been found that from 60 to 1001 bol superphosphate will about double the yield of green fodder of rape, and much of the manure can be returned through ploughing in tho later growth organic matter to tho soil. Land that has been heavily stocked, no matter how rich at first, must become gradually depleted of phosphates on account of stock, and especially young stock, appropriating so much in .the composition of their carcases, which is not returned again to the land in their manure. The phosphates, then, must be returned to the pastures by top dressing occasionally with phosphatic fiianures if their fertility is to be kept lip. The clovers which may bo sown with all pastures will probably keep the land well supplied with nitrogen. “Burning pastures, as a rule, is to be discouraged, as this gradually depletes the soil of organic matter, and makes the grasses sour ; the sweeteV and shallower-rooted grasses will also have their roots destroyed, and the grass seeds that would have renewed them will be lost; it will also be found in wheat paddocks that continuous burning -of .stubble will gradually lessen the nitrogenous contents. Stocking heavily for rank, sour grasses is preferable to burning off. “Change of food is very valuable to ewes and lambs, and keeps them in health. The point is to keep thorn improving from their birth until they are weaned, for thou both the weight and quality will be there at an early age. For stock grazing on succulent growths, like rape, lucerne, turnips, etc., access to a convenient paddock with dry grasses is advisable. The drier foods help to make a bet-ter-balanced ration, and to a great extent belli to prevent hoven and scours. SOME GOOD CROSSES. “Tho Lincoln has'proved an excellent sheep for crossing with the merino. The wool on the crossbred is excellent; its weight, length of staple, and lustre giving it great value, it is unlikely that any crossbred will surpass it. The mutton, somewhat coarse and tallowy in "the Lincoln, is improved in the cross with the merino. The shape of.the carcass, when slaughtered is not all that can be desired, though generally weighty. They are not exempt- from fluke or footrot.

“Tho purebred English Leicester is one of the oldest breeds, and has been used with great effect m tli improvement of several -other breeds. The cross with tho merino is much fancied. They require abundance of succulent feed. Rough pasture would nob suit them. They possess a shapely carcass, with mutton of very good color, with a fleece of fair Aveight and fine lustrous avool. They are not exempt from fluke or foot-rot. Their small heads are an advantage Avlien crossing Avith merino eAves, and there are feAV deaths in consequence during parturition. “The pure Border Leicester is a bigger and heavier sheep as a rule than the English -Leicester —more leggy, Aid tli a lighter middle piece, which indicates that the proportion of offal to dressed carcass will be light. They have a good carriage, are active and hardy, being able to thrive much better than the English Leicesters on rough or scant pastures. Their heads are long and narrow, nose aquiline. The sharp protuberances of the eye cape are apt to do damage to the uterus in lambing. Tho avool in the cross is of good length and quality, though rather light. .Lambs in the cross mature quickly, have good backs, and are generall yof very desirable shape. They are likely to take a, prominent plaee in lam.b-breeding. PRAISE FOR ROMNEY.

“Tho pure Itomney is- a large, heavy sheep, with avool of demi-lus-t-re, which, Avhen crossed Avitli a fair-

]y fine yolky merino, produces a woo. of much value; also makes a line heavy wether' at an early age and produces good marketable lambs in the cross with the merino; but they are rather lacking in tho shape desired by tho trade. No country except the desert should be without the Romney Marsh, for it thrives where others cannot do well, viz., in tho low, swampy, coastal regions, as well as in poor hilly country where fluke and foot-rot abound. The constitution that enables this breed to resist these terrible scourges will make the Romney breed desirable wherever these diseases are found. Like other sheep, however, they suffer from worms. THE BLACK FACES. “The Shropshire is a mutton sheep well known to fat lamb-raisers. As a shapely sheep with .good mutton and early maturing qualities he is to be reckoned with. The wool of the purebred is much improved by crossing with the merino. Tho rams, if allowed to get too fat, are very lazy and slow at mating-time, and a good deal of difficulty is experienced with tho ewes —especially merinoes when crossed with them—as their heads, are large. The Shropshire belongs to tho Downs or black-faced breeds. “The Southdown is a true mutton sheep, not so heavy as the Shropshire or Suffolk, hut a better shape in the hind parts than either; it is unsurpassed for tho quality and flavor of its mutton; the cross with the merino is compact and shapely, though small, and much sought after by butchers. The wool of the pure-bred is somewhat harsh, short, and fleece is light, but becomes softer and better when crossed with the merino. The breed is hardy and sprightly, but not exempt from foot-rot. The head is small, and the progeny of the cross with the merino gives little trouble during parturition. WHERE THE SUFFOLK EXCELS. “Last, but perhaps by no means least, is the Suffolk sheep for crossing. The lambs from this cross are among the heaviest of all tho halfbreeds. The Suffolk- is not a handsome sheep, neither does the quality of the mutton come near the Southdown, but it does weigh. The wethers from this cross also attain a great weight and size. Tho fleece of tho pure-bred is of fair quality only, but in the cross with a fairly fine merino the improvement is '"wonderful, and experts pronounce it to bo one of tinbest of the Downs half-bred wools yetproduced. The Suffolk (pure) is a big. long sheep, with large black bare head and legs. The mutton is fair, fat and lean, being well mixed. Tho ewes aro prolific and good milkers, therefore first-rate mothers.” NEW SYSTEM OF CULTIVATION. Mr Peacock, the inventor of the new system of cultivation (writes the New South Wales correspondent of •the “Australasian”), has given a highly interesting description of his methods, albeit it is sure to be subjected to severe criticism on the ground of impracticability. Tbe central idea is that- the fine tilth should be at tile bottom, and the rough cultivation on the surface. The author endeavors to discredit the dust mulch by pointing out- that this drains moisture to the surface too quickly, while it acts as a result of a smart downpour of rain. One of Mr Peacock’s illustrations is that, when a man desires to make a plaster from soil, he breaks the particles down very finely, and mixes them with water, to ensure adhesion, and tbe contention is, that by working the surface continually, the same effect is brought about. It is difficult to see how an operation on tho surface, except rolling, could h-re a compressing effect, and Mr Peacock apparently overlooked the fact that the man who makes the plaster breaks the soil down in the -first place to cause it to absorb moisture. However, tho most interesting part of the theory is the proposed revolution in accepted methods. Mr Peacock works the soil so as to break up the lower part of the loosened or cultivated por tion, and bring the clods and smaller lumps to the surface. This and also tlio seeding operations require spec-ially-constructed implements. The moisture received is supposed to be stored underneath, while the rough surface forms a natural self-acting mulch, which conveys 'it to the surface in a properly regulated manner. It is admitted that the seed should be packed in at a proper depth, and the author has invented a special drill and sub-surface compressor for this purpose. If the theory finds followers, we shall presently have a fine controversy going forward between tho advocates of the Campbell dry-farming system and the Peacock dust sub-soil theory. Doubtless, most hard-headed farmers will take it for granted that the same degree of thorough cultivation on good, sound, simple lines, as is involved in each process, will produce as good results as either. ERADICATING FERN. ... Upon the eradication of bracken fern, there is no doubt, writes a- correspondent of tlio “New Zealand Times’.’ that a roller with bars running lengthwise is an effective eradicator used at the proper times, as the 'bruising of tbe stems causes a “bleeding,” which has a most weakening effect on the underground roots or nzhomes. I find by experience that this bleeding is freer during very frosty weather, and also during very hot weather, therefore, -I had my ferns cut in June and July. This cutting also destroyed the cover for the young ferns coming up in August and September. As a consequence, the late frosts nearly - always kills the first crop of sprouts. The next cutting I do in the end of December and in January, but not later._ At this period it .will bo found that if the weather is at all warm the bleeding will be very free, with the result that the autumn crop will be a stunted and thin one, showing every sign of weakness. Any treatment adopted must be followed up. To cut once a year or so is simply labor wasted. Where the ferns are very thick they should be burnt standing during-the summer, and tho resulting heavy growth .out in June or July following. Then when the time for the second cutting arrives in January it will be seen that this crop is less than, half of that cut m June. I. and many of 'my neighbors have proved the above system to -he most successful.