51)", 



THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



Cattle Faceting and Calf Rearing by Handm 



ON the evening of the 22nd inst, under 

 the auspices of the Farmers' Confer- 

 ence, Mr. G. D. Alexander delivered a 

 highly interesting lecture on the feeding 

 of cattle and the rearing of calves by 

 hand. 



Regarding the feeding of cattle, and 

 more especially cows in milk, the lecturer 

 impressed upon his hearers the necessity 

 of providing the classes of food which 

 nature demands. 



By copious references to recognised 

 authorities he showed what were the de- 

 mands of nature, and how it was the 

 essence of good farming to provide those 

 demands, and, of course, at the lowest ex- 

 penditure. He dwelt at length upon the 

 futility and the evil consequeLces of sup- 

 plying food deficient in what nature calls 

 for, and clearly demonstrated the neces- 

 sity of the- food being " well-balanced," 

 that is to say, having the proportions of 

 protein, carbo-hydrates, ether extract, and 

 ash requisite for phj^sical development 

 and the production of milk. 



His remai'ks upon calf rearing by 

 hand, bused upon practical experience as 



well as by reference to what is almost the 

 universal practice of the whole world, 

 were of special interest. Of the various 

 artificial calf foods he had tried he found 

 Bibby's to be decidedly the best. Cotton 

 seed cake he discovered at great copt to be 

 absolutely fatal. He assertedthat the esti- 

 mated cost of feeding a calf from the cow 

 — taking milk at 6d. per gallon — was £6 

 lis. 3d. for six months, whilst by separated 

 milk, and what was known as cream 

 equivalent, the cost was £1 19s., taking 

 the cost of separated milk at Id. per gallon. 

 Several portraits of two months' calves 

 entirely hand fed were exhibited, and 

 they were in every respect pictures of 

 what calves should be. All the work con- 

 nected with the feeding is done by kafirs. 

 Hand rearing, for a long time, has been 

 recognised by many farmers as certain to 

 become general in the Colony sooner or 

 later, and Mr. Alexander ably made it 

 clear that it is unattended by the host of 

 difficulties and drawbacks too commonly 

 advanced by those opposed to a change 

 from the present system. 



District Reports, 



BULWER, 18th October.— During the last 

 fortnight heavy nins have fallen throughout the 

 Division accompanied by very cold weather. We 

 had f re sts for two mornings, in some localities 

 very severe, cutting ofE the kitchen garden plants 

 and vegetables to a serious extent. I have no 

 doubt the young fruit just formed on the fruit 

 trets has suffered too, though not perceptible at 

 present. The D/aker.sberg has hardly been free 

 from snow for the last ten days, which fully ac- 

 counts for the excessive cold winds we are ex- 

 perienci g. All kinds of stock as far as I know are 

 free from disease in the District. Stock owners 

 have suffered losses during the last cold rains, 

 but I have heard of none serious, 



H. W. Boast, Magistrate. 



INGW VUMA, .30th September.-Heavy 

 rains have fallen throughout the District. '» he 

 total reiiifall registered was HAC) inches. The 

 maxunum temperature was registered on the 

 loth Sc. tember, viz., 79 deg., and the minimum 

 on the 18ih September, viz., 4G deg. In conse- 



sequence of the early spring natives are 

 now busy planting, and in many gardens the 

 mealies sown are already commencing to sprout 

 out of the ground. The outbreaks of lungsick- 

 ness in the District do not appear to be spread- 

 ing, and the disease seems to be dying out. No 

 fresh outbreaks were reported during the month 



R. GOLENBRANDER, Magistrate. 



NEW HANOVER, 21st October. — The 

 weather, from an «gricultural point of view, has 

 been all that could be desired. The soil, after 

 the copious rains, is well fit for the plough. Stock 

 is in excellent condition and, as far as I am 

 aware, healthy. 



A. RiTTER, Magistrate. 



UBOMBO, 4th October.— Some very cold 

 « eather was experienced during the past month. 

 On fourteen out of the thirty days rain fell, yet 

 the q uantioy registered was only 471 inch s, 

 'I'he minimum temperature was 48 deg. and 89 

 the maximum. No sickness among stock was re- 



