750 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 Dec, 1916. 



the protective forces. In the Scientific Australian for December, 1915, 

 Professor W. A. Osborne, D.Sc, states: — 



" Protective substances exist in various grains, and if animals are 

 fed on food deprived of such substances, polyneuritis develops." Skim 

 milk is good for " cripples," and I heard the late Dr. K,othera give an 

 address on the importance of the Yitammes in milk, but as milk contains 

 lime and phosphorus the good results may be due to the minerals. 

 Potatoes and ajDples also give good results, and plainly, good succulent 

 food is essential to the maintenance of the protective forces of the cow's 

 system. Rickets is undoubtedly a " deficiency disease," and in other 

 cases the depletion of the nerves, causes a lowered vitality, and this in 

 conjunction with harsh indigestible fodder, and reluctance to drink foul 

 water, may cause impaction, pure and simple, which leads to fermenta- 

 tion and auto-intoxication that causes paralysis, but such is not always 

 the cause of paralysis. Infection, or poisoning, inducing paralysis, may 

 often be the cause of the impaction, and in many cases there is no im- 

 2>action at all, but just paralysis of a vital part caused by the infection. 



Cattle in this district are always chewing bones, and thus indicate 

 their craving for phosphate of lime. They will lick up mortar made 

 with lime, and they lick up the phosphatic manures if they can reach 

 the bags. Sometimes they have favorite earth licks, and thereby are 

 more liable to infection by organisms in the soil, and the earthy matter 

 ingested may form hard insoluble balls of considerable size in the 

 stomach. The habit of chewing bones involves the risk of sharp-pointed 

 pieces being sw^allowed, and all sorts of rubbish is also chewed when 

 they have such cravings, and the danger from sharp-pointed objects is 

 increased, as such objects may pierce the stomach and penetrate the 

 heart. 



The great essential is the improvement of the pastures. Lime and 

 phosphorus must be applied. It is a sound business proposition from 

 every point of view. It means greater carrying capacity and prolonged 

 seasons of growth. Through the increased vigour and vitality of the 

 grass roots, the spring will be earlier, and it will stand the dry weather 

 better, which means a longer milking season. Every form of stock 

 farming depletes the soil of minerals, and this must be balanced by 

 artificial manures or by feeding the cattle with purchased foods, that 

 are rich in phosphates such as bran, if we are to maintain the fertility 

 of the soil. MilF contains .7 per cent, of minerals, and if the herbage 

 is deficient, then the cow's system is depleted of essential elements, and 

 she goes down. Some of the Strathkellar paddocks were never any 

 good for cows, and very plainly the whole countryside is badly in need 

 of phosphorus and lime. Very good ground limestone is obtained at 

 Heywood, 36 miles from Hamilton, and there are deposits of lime, a 

 few miles down the Grange Creek from Hamilton, that should be well 

 worth opening up. The depletion of the dairy herds and the losses of 

 other cattle have become very serious matters indeed. The prevention 

 of the slaughter- of the female stock may be a contentious matter, but 

 there can be no doubt as to the wisdom of any steps that will increase 

 the supply of fodder or improve its quality, at a reasonable cost. It is 

 obvious enough that much can be done in the way of conserving spring 

 growths that now go to waste, and the silo, and the meadow haystacks 

 are conspicuous by their absence; But, above all, I strenuously advocate 

 the improvement of the pasture by top-dressings of lime and phosphates. 



