FARM NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2736, 15 February 1910, Page 2

FARM NOTES.

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS IX CANADA. The Canadian Government have decided to further increase the number of experimental farm stations in Central Canada, in order that the settlers pouring into these newlv-opened districts may have from the outset the benefit of the work carried on at these institutions, and thus he enabled to become efficient producers with as little loss of time or of expense as possible. The experimental farm system of Canada has rendered services of incalculable value to Canadian agriculture. There is no public expenditure —federal or provincial—-which has been more directly reproductive in the widest sense than the money annually devoted to that object. Agriculture requires a comprehensiveness and a high standard oT production, while the original fertility of the land is retained unimpaired, great profits secured, and a high standard of intelligence and of citizenship is evolved. This result it is the ultimate function.of the experimental farm and their correlated services to secure, and the Canadian farmer responds freely to their influence.

ARGENTINE AND ENGLAND. From the Argentine has for a number or years gene to the British breeder the largest and most profitable orders for pedigree cattle and sheep, which circumstance has brought, and kept, the Argentine under the eye of the Britisher. But it is only recently the Britisher has begun to realise that in the South American country there is 'building up one of England’s keenest possible competitors, at present in the production of corn, and possibly in the future in the production of stock. In the last 13 years tlie area under cultivation has more than trebled, the wheatarea showing an increase of 19-3 per cent, and maize of 135 per cent. Lucerne, which is one of the substantial fodder plants of the country, is produced, in six times the quantity grown a dozen years ago.

A POTATO ROMANCE. Notwithstanding the inferiority of the soil and climate of Germany for potato-growing, the industry there has boon increasing by leaps and bounds. This is due, not to the fact that the Germans are larger eaters of the potato than other nations, but to the subsidiary industries which have been developed in connection with it. These industries include tile making of potatospirit, motor-spirit, starch., potato Hour, dextrose, glucose, and artificial sago. The potato crop, from first to last, gives employment in Germany to over g,000,000 persons. Although some of these by-products of the potato arc consumed by the Germans themselves, they are also largely exported. England receives, it need hardly be said, more than her fair share of them. Dextrose, which is used by English brewers instead of barley, is obtained iV'om Germany. Over aiid over again farmers in England have been urged to take up the question of the production of potato-spirit. It has been found so profitable by our German competitors that they have erected over GSOO distilleries for this purpose. At the present time Germany produces one-fourth of the total potato crop of Europe and the United States of America. Tins is a great achievement. The interesting part of it to the English farmer is that it has only been brought about by the careful study of liis own methods of potato-growing.

POULTRY HOUSE ROOFS. Damp is much more injurious to fowls in winter than low temperatures. All are sprightly and industrious in bracing weather, no matter liow cold it is,' but when humid they mope and sicken, give up laying, and acquire diseases which upset them for a long time. It is, therefore, most desirable that means be taken to avert sufferings from damp throughout the winter, and amongst important items in this respect is to he certain the houses are absolutely rainproof. The fowls enjoy dryness in the house in all ways. It brightens them up and assures robustness and laying, as well as assisting in their development towards perfection on the table. But iiO matter howwell they are fed and eared, for in every other respect, if kept in damp houses they will afford no pleasure and no profit. Make good the roofs at once with boards, zinc sheets, felt, and tar. Put all the sides in order, arid keep an open drain round the outside foundation that the water may run off and never lodge. Convey the roof watei right away, and do not let it penetrate in the runs.