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- RURAL LIFE.

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RURAL LIFE. BY A SON OF THE SOIL. THE PONY AS A FOUNDATION OF HUNTEB BREEDING. Some years ago the Earl of Harrington wrote some letters in which he drew attention to the value of the pony cross as hunters, says a writer in the Mark Lane Express. He pointed out that the pony is an "enduring" breed that can stay for ever, and that has the pluck of the thoroughbred joined to his own courage. I think also Lord Harrington might have added, without fear of contradiction, that the pony is the most sagacious of the equine race, and this is no small matter in Hunter breeding. Lord Harrington instanced several horses he had known that strained back to ponies, and at least two good hunters that I have possessed or had to do with had ponies for their dams. The former of these was a curiously bred one. Her dam was nearly if not quite thoroughbred. She was by Lucy Cropper dam by Dr. Syntax, the fam- ous gold cup winner, and there were other tboroughbred crosses, and it is quite likely that she was descended from those Dales ponies of which I have been speaking, for she came from the Etherley district. Her sire was a light active cart horse called Short Legs. A funnier bred one for a hunter I never came across, but she knew her business, and managed to get through. She was not very fast, and did not shew to advantage in a quick ten minutes. But she was the soundest mare in the world. She could go the nearest way, and at her pace she could stay first, and when she died of heart failure at the age of nineteen—she dropped down dead as she was being ridden along the road-she was as clean on her legs as a four- year-old. ON BONE CUTTERS. There can be no doubt about green or fresh bones, easily obtainable at any butcher's shop, or in large quantities from bacon and sausage factories, being invaluable for all kinds of poul- try, and, providing one has a good and reliable BONE-CUTTEB. cutter, the best results can be obtained. Dried bone and bonedust—sold as bonemeal, and usually the refuse of the knife factory—are worse than useless, and few of the meat mix- tures can be recommended; but a machine of the stamp of that ivhich is illuri-»• d will be found to be cf t'vp, greatest possible ao. It is fitted with a cran k handle instead of a balance- wheel, and is only recommended where the strictest economy is practised. The ease of operation is remarkable. A HE'S BEST YEABS. It is difficult to say which is the most prolific year of a domestic hen's life; some hens lay bet- ter in their first year (reckoning the year from the time the pullet commences to lay) than in their second, while some hens' records have been made in their third and fourth years. A French scientist has said that a hen is capable of pro- £ 00 eggs, the ovarium being composed of bOO ovules, and in a natural course these are dis- tributed over nine years in the following pro- portions: First year after hatching 15 to 20 eggs. Sfuc.°nd 100 to 120 £ hinL » 120 to 135 „ Fourth „ „ 100 to 115 „ » >. 60 to 80 „ §lxlh > 50 to 60 „ Seventh „ 35 to 40 „ fl, £ h1th » > 15 to 20 „ ^inth » 1 to 10 „ There can be no doubt, however, that with special selection, care, and feeding the fore- gomg figuræ can be greatly increased during the nrst two or three laying seasons. If pullets are forced to lay at "top speed" during their nrst season it generally results in comparatively r totals during the following laying season, ^ithoug-h the third will doubtless "shew a vast improvement. On the other hand, birds that hav<- been poor layers as pullets have developed into remarkably good ocrg-producing hens. Most poiutrjr-k^&pers agr.e that hens, as layers, cease zo be profitable after their second season. HOW TO GRIND AN AXE. -An American agricultural paper gives quite an interesting article upon the grinding of axes, and it need hardly be said that there is a. right and a wrong way of preparing an axe for use. The two illustrations which are given shew those ways, and it may be said at once that when an HOW TO GRIND AN AXE. I axe is held in the wrong position the middle of 1 the grindstone is hollowed, and thus spoilt for future use while the axe is certainly not ground so rapidly as when it is held in the proper way. < The sketches require very little explanation, for the right and the wrong way are shewn quite clearly. PROFITABLE POULTRY. A remarkable instance of the profitable nature of the poultry industry was brought under the notice of the poultry expert (Mr. D. Laurie) during a trip to Mannum and the surrounding district, in Australia. It is also an example ot the way storekeepers in the oountry have in thousands of cases helped producers to tide over bad times. A German farmer had run up a debt of L19 at the establishment of the storekeeper in one of the towns. Being honest and anxious to do what he could to reduce his liability, the far- mer put the only twelve bags of wheat he had reaped from his fields into his waggon and drove nto the township. He went straight to the store- keeper and tendered the wheat towards payment of the debt, saying at the same time he was sorry to have to bring it because it was all he had and therefore he would have to sell his fowls as he had nothing left to feed them with. The fowls were the only source of revenue left to the farmer, and the position was critical. Rea- lising the true state of affairs, the storekeeper promptly said to his honest customer Take the wheat back and feed your fowls with it. Bring the eggs to me. I will supply you with all the necessaries of life." The farmer did &>, and was riven a new start. In twenty months the account was balanced. The fowls had laid sufficient eggs in that period to wipe out the <tebt and provide enough to keep the family- There are many families on the Flats who derive their principal income from their poultry-yards. SCARCITY OF PIGS. A reader who is greatly concerned about the decline in the number of pigs reared m bng > kindly sends me a copy of a circular winch has been issued by the Birmingham and Lf Butchers' and Pork Butchers' Trade Associaaon. From it'l learn that the agricultural returns for the United Kingdom, for the year ending June, 1905, shewed a decrease on the pre- vious year of 590,050. Again, for the year priding June, 1906, another decrease o. 20 576. The latter figure would have been a much greater decrease but for Ire!an<. a increasing 80,220. England's decrease for Ui- vear ending June, 1905, was 393.129, and for tt>?. IIZ endinf June, 1906, it was 99.624. The appeal Continues: "We, the Birmingham and Dismct 3ut^hers' and Pork Butchers Trade Association, the Pork Butchers' Associations of ixmclon, Liverpool. Manchester, Sheffield. and Bristol, have been greatly concerned at this re mark abi« ind unsatisfactory state of things. We are very 000a, entering on the thUd year 9f scarce piga, We have at certain times found the greatest difficulty in getting supplies to carry on our nor. mal trade, and that at little or no profit. We feel sure that if you will kindly interest yourself by addressing the farmers of Great Britain through your valuable articles, discussing, suggesting, and advising the matter of pig producing, the result would be a great benefit not only to the farmer but to the public and the trade of pork I butchers and ham and bacon evirers. In oui I opinion, we fear that the restrictions of the Board of Agriculture have greatly tended to the I decrease, which has aleo induced neglect and apathy on the part of farmers. We might men- tion that the recent disclosures as to Chicago methods turned the public taste towards home products, but thia great opportunity was missed for want of larger supplies. Sixteen million pounds a year are going out of the country for bacon and hams, E3,250,000 for lard. and close on £ 2,000,000 for pork. In our opinion, at least £ 10,000,000 of this money might go into the British farmers' pockets. We may look in the future for some assistance from our Government in this matter; so far, their action has been only one of instituting restrictions for the removal of swine in the endeavour to stamp out swine fever. We hope example may be taken from the Gov- ernments of Canada, United States, and Den- mark, who conduct experiments, give data, and sent expert advice to all those interested. We earnestly hope that you may advise your writers on agricultural subjects to give the matter of pig-rearing and feeding prominence in their valuable articles from the present time onward. In conclusion, we may say that this appeal has the approval and support of the National Fede- ration of Meat Traders of Great Britain." MORE ABOUT SHEEP. I continue to have inquiries about the Dorset horned sheep, respecting which I gave a note some weeks ago, and, in answer to a Midland correspondent, I give a sketch of a typical Ex- I AN EXMOOS SAM.. I I moor ram. The breed is not known very well ,¡- outside of its own district; but I do not see why farmers wishing for a change of blood in their flocks should not introduce that of the hardy Exmoor, and anyone thinking of doing that will be interested in the illustration I give this week. The sheep sales which are now on prove that there is an enormous demand for breeding stock, and I am glad to notice that many of the sires which have reached high prices have been bought by home breeders. Some, of course, have been secured for export—for only the best are suitable for that purpose—and it is pleasant knowledge that all the leading floekmasters in the Colonies are constantly on the lookout for stock likely to improve their particular breeds for either rauitcn or wool.

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