INTERIOR OF DAIRY, HAWKESBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, showing Separator, Pasteuriser, and Cooler, at work.

Experiments at the Richmond River Experiment Farm.

By G. M. MCKEOWN.

Potatoes.

THE land, which was first broken to the depth of a foot by means of a subsoiler, was placed under crops, which were either ploughed in or harvested, as shown in the annexed table.

For six months previous to planting the weather proved very dry, sufficient rain to saturate the subsoil not having fallen during that period, and the surface soil under the action of strong westerly winds rapidly lost the moisture supplied by such light rains as fell.

At the time of digging the potatoes much of the roots of the clover, which had been ploughed under in plot 3, remained intact, although sufficient time had elapsed to allow of their complete decomposition if a fair supply of moisture had been available.

The potatoes were planted 6 inches deep in drills 3 feet apart, the sets being placed 1 foot apart in the rows. Whole tubers were used in most cases. All were lightly hilled, this mode of cultivation being necessary in the light red soil of this locality, a previous trial having shown that under the "flat" system many of the tubers were injured by heat when the haulms were light.

The whole of the plots suffered from the attacks of insects, this being especially the case in plots 2 and 3, the more luxuriant growth of haulms probably proving a greater attraction to them, while it rendered effective spraying more difficult. The pests by which they were attacked were two varieties of beetles (Epilachna viginti-octo-punctata and E. guttato pustulata) common in this district, “ green fly" and grasshoppers, the tubers of Early Puritan and Schoolmaster being affected by nematodes.

The remedies used were dusting with lime in the earlier stages of the growth of the plants, and as they grew older spraying with Paris Green and resin and soda, the latter proving very effectual in killing the beetles and destroying their eggs.

Frequent operations, however, were necessary, in order to prevent the destruction of the crop.

The land was broken to the depth of 12 inches previous to sowing the seed in drills, which were placed 3 feet apart. The Swedes were thinned to 15 inches apart, the other varieties being left at 8 to 12 inches apart in the

rows.

When the Swedes had reached about 3 inches in height Colonial Sugar Company's No. 4 manure was applied to them at the rate of 3 cwt. per acre, resulting in an increased yield of Anderson's Imperial of 4 tons 17 cwt., and of Sutton's Champion of 1 ton 7 cwt. per acre.

The cost of the application of manure was £1 2s. 6d. per acre, and, as at the time of harvesting the crop the lowest quotation in the Sydney market was £5 per ton, the profit accruing from the use of manure was, in the case of the first-named variety, £23 2s. 6d. per acre, and in the second £5 12s. 6d.

Poultry Notes.

BY S. GRAY.

I HAVE been recently asked by a farmer how to mate his birds so as to secure more pullets than cockerels. He had been breeding different varieties, and gained an impression that some showed more pullets than others. This, however, is not the case. The question of sex is governed by a natural law which applies alike to animals and birds. Put in plain language, this law keeps the proper proportion between males and females. It will be found that if a male bird is allowed to run with an unreasonable number of hens, a larger proportion of males will result, this being nature's method of equalising matters. If, on the other hand, there are several males and few females running together, females will predominate as a result. Of course, there are other conditions which cause variations, but the main law is as stated. In order, therefore, to keep up the proportion of pullets, which are of most value to the farmer, I would recommend that in the case of the large breeds one male to not more than four females be used in the breeding-pens, and in the case of the small breeds, one male to not more than six females. If the male is a cockerel he should be mated with hens, and if a cock, with strong, healthy pullets. Furthermore, I think that two months is ample time to keep the birds penned off.

Be sure that the hens used for breeding are not too fat. They must be in strong, healthy condition to lay many and fertile eggs, so as to produce healthy chicks. When penned off for the breeding season there is always a tendency to fatten, owing to limited range. Under these circumstances the liberal feeding of maize is not advisable, about three feeds per week, in the evening, being ample.

Early hatched chicks are liable to contract cramp through being allowed to run on damp ground. This is a matter which should be anticipated by the breeder, and steps taken to provide a dry shed, where they can be confined until the grass has dried off and on wet days. If this complaint should be contracted the sufferers should be moved immediately to a warm shelter, and their feet and legs bathed three or four times a day with warm water, the toes being gently straightened out and rubbed if contracted. They should then be placed in a basket lined with cotton wool until the mother hen retires for the night, when they must be placed under her. If there is no improvement in the morning this process must be repeated. With perseverance this will usually relieve the worst cases.