ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3598, 10 August 1912, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

farm AND STATION.

The fact that the percentage of lime did not alter is not remarkable, ior the cow (or any other animal giving milk) is known to draw lime from her own skeleton if necessary, and this may even go so far as to cause the bones to become brittle.—Orla Jensen, Copenhagen. « * He who has ever .experienced tnv. satisfaction, the joy, and the exaltation arising from independent thought, independent action, and independent work, and who bias understood his calling aright, will refuse to leave to others the most important work, and will decline to make himself dependent upon outsiders- —(Benno Martiny speaking in support of the farmer testing his own herd as against joining a herd-testing association.) * * * The “Field’ reports that milk-test-ing has resulted in the south-western counties of Scotland in an average production of 700 gallons per annum, whereas formerly farmers were satisfied with 500 gallons. * * * It seems that 1912 will rival 1910 as a year of comparatively high prices. In the United States Bradstreet’s index number, based on the prices of ninety-six commodities, is only 1.4 per cent below tho highest recorded during the long life of the compilation, reached on January 1, 1910. The current index number, moreover, has been exceeded only on five previous occasions, three of which occurred in 1910. The high prices of most kinds of meat and dairy produce have had a considerable influence upon tho average, while cereals have also helped, as well as t-lie results of labor troubles. —“Live Stock Journal.” * * * The interim return of sheep shows that on April 30 the number of sheep in New Zealand was 531,99-1 less than on the. same date last year. The decrease, was attributed to the shortage cf nearly 200,000 breeding ewes last season, as compared with the previous year, with its corresponding decrease in the number of lambs produced, which was furthest accentuated by a smaller lambing average than in the previous year. The only districts in which there have been increases are Auckland (13.557) and Otago (19,090). Tho total decrease in the .south Island was 335,730 and in the North Island 190.264. Tho flocks of the Dominion now total 23,464,132. The export ot mutton during the twelve months was 1.918,119 mutton carcases (decrease 01,415). legs and pieces (decrease 7557 c.wt), and lamb carcases 3,035,783 (decrease 672,685).

RELATION OF POTASH TO POTATO BLIGHT.

The requirement of the potato crop for a liberal supply of available potash is well known, and is acted upon by the most successful growers. It has been proved that it enables the tuber to resist the attacks of blight- This is shown by the following experiment:

The potatoes in an experimental field in England were carefully spravoo with Bordeaux mixture, the dates of tho successive applications being June 27, July 7, August 2, and August 10.

Early in August it was noticed that the leaves of all the no-potasli plants were beginning to bo blighted-, whilo the foliage on all the plots to which potash had been applied still appeared to he practically unaffected. The blight made rapid pre-ress on each of the five no-potash plots, while the foliage of the plants in the potash plots for tho most part ripened normally. Practically all the leaves on the no-potash plots were dead by the end of August, at which date there was -still considerable living foliage on tho potash plots. Tho marked inferiority in yield of no-potash plots was, no doubt, in considerable measure duo to the relatively early death of the foliage. * * * Other observers, among them Dr Ooessmann and Professor Maynard, have also held that a liboral supply -of potash exercised a marked influence is enabling tho foliage of fruits to resist fungous diseases.

looked like the- first day of a new mining town, save that men and women were patiently waiting in line for the opening of the office three or four weeks hence. On April 10, however, the Mayor intervened, and issued to each applicant a deed of one square foot on the public roadway on which they were -standing, the -/deeds expiring on May 2. The land-seekers went away contented with/ having secured the right to stand in line “on their own ground” on the opening day, and consequently to a share of the Mclntyre- Ranch. A similar secno was enacted in 190 S, when four men died from pneumonia due to exposure. The scene typifies more than anything else tho dogged tenacity ®f those who are building up the Canadian West.