ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3129, 27 January 1911, Page 2

ON THE LAND.

Tha Sheep Market. Things are rather dead in the sheep market at the present time, says the ‘‘New Zealand Times.” Dry weather in many quarters has stunted the rape crons, which are giving certain indication in their blue tinge of going off, and providing little feed unless they make a good recovery by reason of good rains. The value of rape lambs has fallen in consequence. Store lambs, which should be worth at least 9s, are not realising more than 7s or Bs, and in some cases it is hard to find buyers at these figures. The turnip crops are citing much better. Disease lias not made its appearance and generally the crops are looking well. Providing decent rains are experienced from now on these should be no reason to fear a shortage of winter feed. The Codltn Moth. A suggestion was lately made that plantin'- geraniums would keep away the cedi in,- tmotli. One horticultist, referring to the idea, remarks that the only one objection he could see is that the geraniums would keep the fruiting roots of the trees too dry. He gives, says the "Manawatu Standard,” another remedy for a similar pest. Some years ago lie sowed common garden cress under two nectarines and one peach tree, growing on the sunny side of a cottage, where each year nreviouslv they had been infected with black anhis. That year, however, they were (doi" and the fruit was abundant- and good. The following year the cottage tenant, rooted o’ut all the cress plants, and grew flowers on the border. Result, blight in all the trees. It looks as if the cress was of some utility. A Strange Freak of Breeding. Dr. Yvilmot, M.R.CV.S., Government Veterinary Surgeon of Tasmania, who is conducting laboratory investigations at Campbell Town in regard to some obscure disease of stock, reports a strange freak in breeding. He says:— ‘‘The following is an authentic curious fact, which is well worth making public. Mr. Clarke, of Quorn Hall, bought a cow some time ago. branded with swallow-tail earmarkings in both ears. She was a half-bred Alderney. The cow had three calves (one every year), and each calf was horn with swallow-tail earmarks in both ears. The first of the three calves, a heifer, gryw up. and lias now a calf to a Hereford bull, and this calf has also swallow-tail earmarks in both ears. This proves how artistically acquired abnormality may be continued for at least three generations, and probably permanent—a question about the possibility of which breeders and others differ. It should be of interest in connection with the subject of dehorning cattle, as it opens un a large question of the "ossible heredity of acquired abnormalities. Mr. W. R. Dawson. Inspector of Stock, had an experience of a cow having several calves born ear-mai'ked as she was, and coincidentall v the mark was a “swallowtail” in one ear. The Patagonian Flocks. Owing to severe snowstorms in winter, losses among Patagonian flocks are recently terrible. It is recorded in the instance that a sheen-owner at the end of a severe winter had but 1000 head left out of an original 30.000. The constitution of a well-fed sheep is proverbialh- strong and. able to withstand heat or cold but when the herbage is wanting the poor animals must lie down and give up tlm gliost. The grasses found m Patagonia in summer are sweet and succulent, and stock thrive remarkably well, but the Antarctic severity of a Patagonian winter is nuite another stoi— and is dreaded both by man and beast. A sheep lying in the snow, however, is not altogether a dead less, as the cold preserves the ca lease, and at the end of. the winter every shepherd goes out wool-gathering. He skins the carcase and brings in the fleece, baling it with the rest until the sum total compensates in some degree for the loss of the stock in winter. "Miracles in Agriculture.” The letters which are being received from persons inquiring into Victorian land settlement! conditions come from all parts of the world. Recently there was one from Chili and another from the Argentine. Yesterday, says the "Argus” Mr McKenzie, the Minister for Lands, received the following communication from Sansevro, Italy "I had occasion to read in an Italian paper a correspondence under the title of ‘Conspicuous Australian Personages in Naples, 5 in which it is noted the purpose for which Your Excellency has been pleased to accept .a commission and visit our city of Naples. You are seeking that intelligent and willing Italian agriculturists may travel to your State of Victoria, in order to colonise it. You may rest assured that it is impossible to find a more willing, practical, hardworking, and intelligent individual that the agriculturists of Puglieze. From this land therefore, a nucleus of excellent 3‘oung men (of whom I am one) are favorable disposed to come out and do miracles in agriculture in your State, but before disarranging our affairs here, eon- : sidering the long journey, we beg your Excellency to have the kindness to set ; out in detail all the conditions to which .intending colonists must submit, and the facilities they may expect to enjoy. Ex- , pressing the sense of my highest regard, and awaiting a reply. I am, yours devoutly, Ernest Russi.” Give Your Hens'Mustard. A most important experiment has been made with results that should bo highly satisfactory to all interested in egg-production—an experiment which proves that mustard, judiciously given, has a wonderful effect in inducing the liens to lay. The use of spices and drugs' to induce egg production is usually pernicious, but! it has been proved that mustard is freedom any objection as an aid to winter production. The experiment was carried out by Mr Ralph R. Allen, vice-president of "Monthly Hints on Paultry.” His report is published as a pamphlet. Tlic experiment was made on a mountain farm in Wales, e.xposed to every wind, and was carried on for one year. _ Buff Orpington pullets were experimented on, birds that had never laid, and were as nearly alike as possible. Food was served plain •to six birds in one pen, and with the addition of one teaspdonful of mustard to six in another pen. The experiment began on October Ist, 1909. At the end of six months the birds fed with ordinary food had laid 369 eggs* valued at 48s lOd, whereas the, birds fed with the mustard addition do their food had laid 532 eggs, valued at 71s od. xVt the end of the year the birds fed on the ordinary food lnd laid 914 eggs, valued at 97s 6d, as against 1023 eggs, valued at 11 os 2d. laid by the mustardfed birds. The cost of mustard worked out at 7ld per bird for the year; the extra profit gained by mustard feeding equals