234 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



[April 3, 1920. 



Working the Land Pays. 



The rainfall for the three months previous to sowing on Mr. Griffiths' plot 

 was : — February, 125 points; March, 5^ ; April, 11 (total, 191 points) ; and 

 on Mr. O'Neil's plot — February, 46 points ; March, 45 ; April, 20 (total, 

 111 points). The rainfall on the growing crop was as follows: — 



The rainfall was fairly even for the two plots, but the heavy soil on Mr. 

 O'Neil's property will not hold moisture in a dry period like a sandy loam, 

 and Mr. Griffiths worked his soil much earlier than Mr. O'Neil, creating a 

 mulch which retained much moisture that would otherwise have evaporated. 

 A small shower of rain (even if only 20 points) can do a lot of harm by 

 forming a soil crust which, if not broken, means much loss of moisture by 

 evaporation. While such loss does not matter so much in a good season, 

 neglect to repair the leakage is a serious matter in a dry one. 



Consider Your Working Horses. 



While travelling on the Northern Rivers recently, I several times saw horses 

 with bags over their noses to prevent them from biting at the corn while they 

 were working in the cultivator. This practice seems unnecessary and a little 

 inhvimane. Even if the bag has holes cut in the bottom it is drawn up 

 against the )iostrils and prevents proper respiration. The distress thus 

 caused must be very great when the animal is doing heavy work, especially 

 in the sweltering heat — as everyone who had experience of the masking 

 regulations dui'ing the influenza epidemic will speedily realise ! It is 

 admitted that some means must be employed to prevent horses from 

 " snapping " at the crop, and the Department has for years past in its 

 orchards used muzzle? made from a piece of fencing wire, twisted into a ring 

 to fit easily over the horse's nose and covered with wire netting. This is 

 held in position by a strap or a piece of plough line looped over the head at 

 the back of the ears. These muzzles cause no discomfort to the horse, and 

 have proved quite effective in preventing them from snapping at the trees. — 

 W. LE Gay Brereton, Assistant Fruit Expert. 



The Effect of Cross-pollination. 



Reporting the results of a study during three years of the effect of 

 cross-pollination on apples, Mr. W. H. Wicks, in Arkansas Agricultural 

 Station Bulletin 143, states that he could detect no influence of any 

 variety used as a cross-pollinizer on the size, colour, shape and (luality of 

 the fruit of the female parent. He concluded that ajjple-growers are 

 justified in planting varieties piimai'ily foi- the benefit of cross-pollination 

 to secure the normal development of the apple. 



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