Vol. IX. No. 226. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



415 



A SIMPLE METHOD OF DESTROYING 



DISEASED CARCASSES. 



If a liorse or bullock ha.s to be cremated, we cannot do 

 better than follow the plan recommended by General Fred 

 Smith, who.se retirement from the post of Director-General of 

 the Army Veterinary Corps has just been noted. In India 

 and in South Africa (where the writer served under him), 

 a great many animals had to be burned. A trench is dug in 

 the ground in the form of a cross, 7 feet each way, 15 inches 

 wide, and 18 inches deep in the centre, but shelving upwards 

 to the field level. The earth taken out of the trench is 

 shovelled between the angles, and upon this mound two bars 

 of iron are rested. An iron hurdle does well, as the weight is 

 better distributed. Two lengths of railway iron are very good, 

 and less disposed to bend with the heat, but we have, of course, 

 to use what we can get, whether it is an old hi\rrow or other 

 implement, so long as it will give the support. The advan- 

 tage of this cross trench is that a draught is gained, no 

 matter in what direction the wind may be blowing. The 

 thick wood we have gathered is first placed on the structure, 

 and on this the eviscerated and dismembered trunk is placed; 

 then more wood, upon which the limbs are put; a further 

 layer of wood on the top of the limbs serves to receive the 

 viscera Straw or shavings with some paraffin will start the 

 fire if the wood is not sufficiently dry, but a fat animal soon 

 contributes something to his own cremation. By this method 

 a beast may be consumed in five or si.\ hours, with a little 

 stoking, of course, and raking out of the ashes to ensure the 

 draught in the trench. As blood or liquids may have been 

 spilled around the funeral pyre, it is well to spread the hot 

 ashes over the place. (From the Furnier and SVicL- Bneder, 

 November 14, 1910 ) 



tion of the field is fini.shed. The inventors of the system, Messrs. 

 .John Fowler i Co., of LeeJ.s, show a compound engine, 

 working at a steam pressure of 1 80 lb. per square inch, which 

 is suitable for u.se in connexion with it. In the other or 'one 

 engine' system, the engine travels over the ground, hauling the 

 plough after it. The cost of the plant for this method is less 

 than for the other, but its application is restricted Viy the 

 fact that the ground must be sufficiently hard and firm to 

 prevent the engine from sinking in. The engine shown by 

 Messrs. .J. and H. McLaren, Limited, of Leeds, for employ- 

 ment in this way, is a compound working at 200 lb. pressure, 

 and a special widening ring can be attached to the wheels to 

 enable it to work over land into which it would otherwise 

 sink. The same firm shows its patent steam plough for 

 direct traction. There are four furrows, but while one is of 

 the standard pattern, the other has patent subsoilers, which 

 enable the ground underneath the ploughing to be stirred 

 without bringing the subsoil to the surface. (From the 

 Xatal Aiirimltural .lournal. Vol. XV, No. 4.) 



SOME AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AT 



THE BRUSSELS EXHIBITION. 



The Acting Under Secretary for Agriculture for Natal 

 has received from the Assistant Secretary to the High Com- 

 missioner for the Union in London a cutting from Tlw Times 

 Engineering Supplement for August 24, referring to British 

 machinery e.xhibits at the Brussels Exhibition. Mention is 

 made of oil tractors, steam ploughs, and threshing machines, 

 among others; and as the description of the exhibits under 

 these heads given by The Timex will probably prove interesting 

 to many of our readers, we reproduce the notes below; - 



on. TRACTORS. An agricultural tractor, with two cylin- 

 ders, capable of giving 35 b h.p. and l)uniing paraffin, is to be 

 seen on Messrs. Marshall's stand It is fitted with three 

 speeds, of 2, 4, and 6 miles an hour, with rever.^e on the 

 lowest. A still more powerful tractor by the .same makers, 

 suitable for heavy haulage and military purposes, was with- 

 drawn from the Exhibition at the urgent request of the Natal 

 Government. It had a four cylinder engine developing 60 b.h.p. 

 at 750 r.p.m. It carried 115 gallons of parattin in two tanks 

 under the frame, and could haul 7 or 8 tons on good average 

 roads for 80 or 100 miles, without the fuel or water tanks 

 being replenished. 



STEAM I'LOUiiHs. There are two exhibits of steam plough- 

 ing engines, representing respectively, the 'two engine' 

 and the 'one engine' systems. In the former the plough or other 

 cultivating implement is hauled backwards and forwards by 

 wire ropes between two engines, which are stationary while the 

 hauling is in progress, but move forward as each successive por- 



POULTRY NOTES. 



INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS. 



We have recently had a number of enquiries as to 

 whether the statements made by advertisers as to the laying 

 proclivity of this breed of ducks are correct, and supported 

 Ijy satisfactory evidence. We have looked into this matter 

 for our own information, as, never having kept this breed, we 

 had no personal knowledge of it. We find that the Rose- 

 worthy Agricultural College of New South Wales, whore egg- 

 laying contests have been carried on for eight years without 

 a break, have this to say about the breed. In the contest 

 going on during 1909, there were fifteen pens of ducks (six 

 in a pen) all Indian linnners but one pen. For the five 

 months ending September last, the records made run from 

 399 to 631 eggs. These were all from young ducks, and it 

 should be remembered that this period is the winter season 

 in New South Wales. ,Two years ago, the annual competitions 

 were supplemented by two-year competitions, part of the 

 birds in the annual competition lieing held over for a second 

 year. There were five pens of ducks in this two-j'ear contest, 

 all Indian Runners but one. For the five months of the 

 second year, these five pens made records of from 430 to 582 

 eggs, the records for the seventeen months running from 

 1,454 to 1,802. Professor Thompson, who has charge 

 of these competitions, says; 'Whatever the question is in 

 regard to hens versus duck.s, it appears as though second year 

 Indian Runners can beat any other variety of poultry.' (The 

 Southern Planter, December, 1910.) 



Points of Plymouth Rocks.— The chief points 

 in a Plymouth Rock cockerel are as follows: — Comb: single, 

 bright-red; body: large, deep, sciuare and medium size, perfectly 

 straight: face; smooth, bright-red; body: large, deep, square 

 and compact, with l)reast broad and deep; thighs: wide apart; 

 .shanks: medium length, stout and strong, free from feathers; 

 colour; uniform and even throughout; size; large. The weight 

 of a cockerel fully matured should be 8 It), to 1 1 Bi. {Farm 

 Liff, November 26, 1910.) 



