GREEN FODDER FOR COWS,

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1374, 27 February 1912, Page 8

GREEN FODDER FOR COWS,

KITE, BARLEY, OR- OATS WITH TARES. There is no more simply grown or move useful fodder for the dairy cow, says Mr. T. W. Lonsdale, in the Agricultural Department's "Journal," than combinations such as barley and tares, rye and tares, or oats and tares. In view of the experience in such a season as the present, when maize for feeding in the green stage has generally proved unsatisfactory, the crops in question should specially appeal to the milk-producer. They can be grown at any season of the year, ami thus can bo planted at the dairy farmer's convenience. Such combinations are not only valuable milk-producing foods, but tho tares being legumes those crops do lipt leave the soil m the same state of plantfood exhaustion as do many other plants. The manuring required is very light in. proportion to that demanded by other crops, the tares and grain responding to a light dressing of a pliosphatic manure. Not only aro they to a certain extent soil renovators, but they servo the excellent purpose of cleaning tho laud, and thus save much subsequent work in preparing the land for following crops. Areas ,of such combined fodders may be planted in succession, thus providing a constant supply of ideal fodder for the herd. An example of this is demonstrated at Mouniahaki this season. To maintain the milk flow of the Ayrshire herd at a maximum standard, ryo and tares wero planted in October last, and barley and tares in November. Tho method of -production adopted at .Moumahaki is very simple. The soil has carried a variety of crops for some seasons, and was in fairly good condition when cultivation was commenced. Rolling, to consolidate the light soil, followed the ploughing. The tine harrows were used twice, when the seed (U bushels of tares and 1 bushel of barley) was drilled with the ordinary grain drill, lJcwt. of superphosphate to the acre being applied with the seed. The land was then rolled. When the crop was showing above the ground the tine harrows were again used, a twofold advantage being thus gained—the weeds being controlled and the moisture conserved. This was all the treatment the crop received, and notwithstanding tlie exceptionally adverse weather experi- • enced, the result was effective. Both of the Moumahaki crops should give over 20 tons of green feed per acre. Last April a small area of barley and tares was planted at Moumahaki. This gave excellent feed in the very early spring; and, favoured by the spring influence, a capital second growth was produced, which was ploughed under to provide the light soil of the farm with the. desired humus. This second growth would also, of course, have furnished gQod feeding in the hot weather.