FARMING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 170, 20 October 1941, Page 2

FARMING NOTES

THE HAY CROP

CULTIVATION OF PASTURES

AGIUCIJLTUR.A L SUC C ESTTONS

With the advent of spring seme attention will be given now to the saving of hay and ensilage to meet next winter's requirements, writes C. Walker, Instructor in Agriculture at Thames. Undoubtedly the great weakness in dairj- cattle nutrition lies in the fact that far too little provision is made for the period from May to September. During these months, pasture production is dciwn to one-third of the requirements of stock. Consequently, unless adequate hay or ensilage is saved, stock will winter badly and return to profit in no tit condition for the job of producing butterfat or cheese in the ensuing year. Needs of the Dairy Cow In New Zealand we find that the average hay production per cow is only oewt, or barely enough to supply more than owe month's adequate feeding. Furthermore, much of this hajr is of low quality, thus making the position still more unsatisfactory. To meet the_ position satisfactorily, the average quantity saved should be raised to at least 15c.wt or one ton of hay; or, where ensilage is made, to at least three tons per cow-

To provide such quantities, good pastures should be selected, grazed down evenly, harrowed to spread droppings, top-dressed if manure is available, and closed up within the next fortnight or so. For every two cows milked, at least one acrc should be provided. In fact, a little more will not go amiss. Control of Weeds During the week I received an inquiry as to whether it was advisable to treat ragwort with sodium chlor' ate at the present time. In my opinion there arc several very- definite advantages in doing so, and I enumerate 1 them for the benefit of others: — (1) Ragwort plants just now are fairly conspicuous owing to> the fact that there is little grass growth. Consequentljr few plants would be missed. (2) Individual plants are shiall. so that less material is required to cover them. (3) The surrounding pasture is very vigorous, so that recovery from spraying or dusting that affects the surrounding sward will be rapid, (4) Just now there is mere opportunity of pushing such work ward than there is in the late spring and summer, when harvesting in all important. As Spray or Dust Referring to materials for weed control, sodium chlorate and atlacide are still the most efficient for general purposes. The latter is safei to use, as it does not become combustible, whereas sodium chlorate i.l highly dangerous in this respeet. Application to weeds may be made either as a spray or as a dusting. Both are efficient, although the latter is preferred on high country where water cartage presents difficulties. Where dusting is practised, It is helpful to the operator if the weed-killer is mixed with lime, as this ingredient shows up well and obviates a tendency to miss c.r double treat areas.

BACON FOR BRITAIN

FILLING OF ORDER

A cable from London announces that Canada has agreed to supply Britain with 600,000,0001b of bacon in the next year. What an enormons quantity this is may be appreciated when the figure is converted to tons. It equals 209,000 tons, or, to 4,000,000 baconers averaging 150 lb. By contrast New Zealand's J. 1,000-ton order equals just a fortnight's shipments from Canada.

At the last meeting of the Wellington District Pig Council concern was expressed at the improbability of the Dominion fulfilling its 11,000-ton order. The chairman, Mr B. E. Keiller, instanced his own district, where, he said, of 23 farmers who had changed from butter to

cheese, only three were keeping to pigs. .The other 20 were dropping them. Another member suggested that the schedule for baeoners was reducing the supply, while pork was worth 7d a lb. Various other views were expressed. Professor Riddet cautioned against campaigning to promote any considerable expansion of bacoaier production under present circumstances.

Britain lias given us the baconer order not particularly from the viewpoint of her own requirement but to assist the New Zealand producer. The little bit of bacon she is getting from us does not count so much in her food supply. The order does, however, mean quite a lot to the industry here. It is desirable that it should be completely filled. By so doing we would maintain our standing as a supplier in i>ost~war market negotiations.

MAURING OF MAIZE Although much valuable information comes from research work, and of that the most valuable probably from the work carried out by the instructor himself in his own dis-7 trict, there is another method from which the Fields Division obtains information. '

There is no doubt that field" officers are indebted to the farmers in a very large measure for their agricultural outlook and knowledge. As they travel from farm to farm this knowledge is modified and increased as more and more evidence is gained on the numerous diverse matters on which it is necessary for them to have some information.

We know that in even the most carefully carried out trial, some small but important factor may escape notice, which, if recognised and noted, would show that the results are not accurate, and the investigator must be continually on guard against errors which will upset the judgment. This applies more so to trials conducted in a rough manner, as they must be by the farmer. The results, however, are always noted and a watch is kept for correcticai which may be shown to be necessary from evidence gleaned on the same or on other farms.

In the manuring of maize for greenfeed the usual practice in my district is to plough the land, sowing the seed and fertiliser in the furrow. One farmer in the Ararimu district began in this manner for p few yards: and then decided to sow the fertilised broadcast at the same rate. In the foreground the maize £rew at only half the rate of the maize in the background. On the land in the foreground the fertiliser was sown broadcast, while in the background the fertiliser was sown in the furrow. Thus, the general practice is vindicated. The fertiliser was applied at the rate of about 3% cwt per acre.

IT PAYS TO HOUSE IMPLEMENTS

It has been said—and with a great deal of truth —that the average farm implement rusts away far more rapidly than it wears away. Strange as it may seem, the average farmer will freely spend quite considerable sums on expensive, farm machinery, use this equipment for the seasonal work on hand, and then leave it in U state of neglect until required again. A mower and ha3 T rake were boughs Cor last season's harvesting, and, Since then, haye stood in a yard, where they have become partly overgrown by weeds. In this instance perhaps the worst feature was that within a few yards a perfectly sound shed was available and empty, while these valuable implements were needlessly exposed to the weather..

Implements are expensive enough hi normal times—quite sufficiently so, at any rate, to warrant great care of them being taken. At present, the probability is that they will become more costly, and, perhaps, con* Mderably more difficult to procure. Hence, it is very desirable that every effort should be made to prolong their life, and this can be achieved by housing them more efficiently.