ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3121, 18 January 1911, Page 2

ON THE LAND.

Decline of the Sheen Industry in Russia

A decreasing supply of Russian tallow is attributed by an authority at Odessa to tiie curtailed sheep husbandry in that country, in the list of Russian exports tallow once figured as a staple, if not one of the leading articles. It has now dwindled, the cause being that a growing population has claimed more land for agriculture at increased rates. A corresponding deficiency in grazing lands has resulted, only that land lacing left which is not fit for planting. An additional result is that the valuable fattailed sheep of Russia are degenerating. This is regretted for the reason that their fat has been found t« be one of the best food fats known. Accounts from the abattoirs in south-eastern Russia, where, these sheep are killed for their fat and the balance of their carcases salted, are to the effect that the amount of -fat derived from each sheep has decreased to the extent of from eight to eighteen per cent. Although 1908 was considered a poor year, the number of sheep sent to the abattoirs last year was even notably less, and this tendency seems to continue

Pig Fattening. An authority m connection with the pig industry says that fie looks upon the pig as a 'miniature factory for converting grain and by-products into pork. Under fair conditions, and being properly handled it will turn: out IOOIbs. of pork for every. 400ibs. 'of grain or_grain equivalent given to it. It takes 7b per cent, of the food given to the pig to provide animal, heat, and sustain the vital functions. The other 2b per cent, goes to make pork. (Suppose that a pig of j.OOlbs. live-weight could eat four lbs. of grain or its equivalent per day, and it was given only three lbs., the result,, would be that nothing‘would be gained, because at the end of the month the pig would be only IOOIbs. weight, as the three lbs. per day was used up before reaching the pork-making stage. On the other hand', if it had been given one lb. more per day, it would have put on one lb. of pork pet- day. This is bow a greatdeal of money is lost by giving the pig less than enough, and so losing all we give him. This is often done- when the farmer runs short of feed on the I arm and says it does not pay .to buy food for pigs. Ail his experience goes to prove that the only way that money can no lost on pig-feeding is by trying to save the food!* He has never known a time when it would not pay to buy food for pigs.