188 



GENEEAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES, 



[Sept. 1895. 



of maize and bean husks mixed with water into a stiff paste. In 

 about eight weeks, the animals have become so accustomed to 

 this food that their removal from the sow is said to have no 

 effect ill interrupting their development. 



Another advantage which is claimed for this method of 

 rearing young swine is the fact that there is no fear of tuber- 

 culosis being introduced amongst the animals by milk taken 

 from infected cows. At this station, the swine are not prevented 

 from wallowing in the earth, as is done at other stations. 

 During the winter months earth is placed in the sties, and it has 

 been found that the eating of earth by the young pigs has 

 proved an invaluable remedy against scouring. Coal or broken 

 cinder is also given to the animals once a week, and lime, which 

 is so necessary as a bone-forming food, is given to the animals 

 in the form of equal quantities of slaked lime and sand. 



To this lational method of rearing, and also to the great 

 attention which is paid to the cleanliness of the sties, ma}" be 

 attributed the fact that the herd at this station has never been 

 visited by any infectious disease. The sties are cleaned out 

 daily, even on Sundays when necessary, and the troughs, buckets, 

 a.nd other utensils are washed dail}^. 



As regards early breeding, it is recognised by farmers in 

 Hanover tliat the more rational system is to use for breeding 

 animals which are nearly fully developed. Sows are seldom 

 put to the boar at 6 months, as a rule they are kept till they are 

 9 months and even 12 months old before being mated. 



Manufacture of Butter in Argentina. 



According to the Buenos Ay res Standard, if there is one 

 industry m.ore than another that has taken root in the Argentine 

 Kepublic of late years and escaped general observation, it is the 

 maimfacture of butter and cheese, which is now so extensive 

 that not only is the local consumption amply supplied, but even 

 foreign markets have been tried with a view to ascertaining 

 vfhat acceptance these products would find. Last year several 

 consignments shipped to Eio Janeiro were snapped up imme- 

 diately. Manufacturers are preparing to push on the enterprise, 

 and it is felt that the export of butter on a very large scale 

 is only a question of time. One of the most important butter 

 manufactories is " La Escandinavia," in Jeppener. In this 

 establishment only the most modern and approved machinery 

 is used, and branches have been established at Gandara and 

 Altamirano. 



It may be noted here that 138 cwts. of Argentine butter were 

 imported into the United Kingdom in the six months ended 

 June last. 



