SILVER BEET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1815, 30 July 1913, Page 8

SILVER BEET.

CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT.

The failures that havo attended tho growing 'of rapo in recent years for lamb fattening purposes liavo caused farmers to turn their attention to other fodder plaut9 to take its place. It is genorally recognised that rape, when it can bo 1 successfully grown, is tho best feed that can bo produced for early feeding, but unfortunately, tho prevalence of aphis blight makes it a very unsafe crop to rely upon throughout tho season. Silver . beet, as a substitute crop, has been under observation for {hp past two seasons ami so far tho results shown on experiment ■plots Lave proved that it has a high valuo as a sheep. fodder, but has this disadvantage, that it docs not. coino to maturity quite so early as rape. In answer to an inquirer At Miiungatoro who ho>3 written'for information regarding tho proper methods to be observed ■in the cultivation and 'management of silver beet, wo quote tho opinion of Mr. wl. Macpherson, the Departmental officer vho supervised tho experiment plots at -(ho Belfast freezing works in Canterbury : — • "Silver beet appreciates a deep loam, ,<vell cultivated and free from other plantirrowth. It should bo sown in spring, when tho ground is warm, Bind again in lutumn. From filb. to 81b. of seed per ■•acre, sown in drills 21in. apart, should' _ So employed. Tho seeds shonld be steep--ed for twenty hours in cold and clean water prior to sowing. Experiments havo indicated that it is dosirabie to sow tho seed on tho flat— this in order to prevent stock from eating' tho plants too •deeply down, which is always a danger jwith tho plants sown in raised rows, .When through the tramping of tho stoclf much ot tho root portion of tho plant .is exposed and eaten. Tho plants should 'bo thinned out to about 12in. in the row. If there are blanks iii the tows the plants will stand transplanting; but thif should be done immediately before, during, or after rain. ''Mangel-manure is a suitable fertiliser. - ond should bo applied ot. tho rato of about 3cw{. to tho acre. As' it is impossible to definitely state what manure is necessary for the crop in all soils and situations, tho fanner niu.'t decide this . .matter for himself by discovering the 'manurial requirements of his particular Boil. iTo Secure the Best Crop. • "To secure a goodi crop, inter-cultiva-tion should be given until tho plant is ■well established, as silver beet will stand eating oil several times. It is desirablo 'immediately after each feeding is completed to nm a cultivator between the rows, provided tho land is in a fit condition to do this. After the first feeding it is advisable, judging from observations made, to slightly cover the stem of tho ■plant with soil to a depth of lin. to 2in. !In tho winter this will give the necessary protection to the roots and to the young springing shoots. Of course, after the colder weather is over this protection is not necessary." Mr. Macpherson adds: "It should bo clearly understood that, whilst splendid results can be obtained from tho plant in tho feeding of stock, silvw beet is a crop that demands very careful treatment—indeed more careful than any other crop of a similar nature. "While silver beet Ims done very well on rather unpromising soils «nd in favourable locations, the .best results will only bo obtained where tho soil is good and is well prepared for the crop. Then, when the crop is developed, inter-cultivation is imperative, for it must bo remembered that it is not tho value of tho first year's crop which determines the economical im•porUnco of silver beet, but rather tho many subsequent crops which well-nour-ished. plants carefully managed afford at ; lub-.equent seasons of the year." The Trials at Belfast. The Belfast experiment plot, covering a qunrtej' .of an acre, was sown on October 9, 1911, and was ready to l'eed-oft' in tho last week ,of February, 1812. Owing, however, to a flush of other feed,, the silver beet was not stocked until March 32 of the same year, from which dnt£ until March 1, 1913, it was stocked .at intervals with sheep, and fed off six times. The result from this,' quarteracre shows that one. acre woulll approximately carry 1014 sheep for eighty-four days. The weight of stems and leaves was 21S tons per acre, this" weight of'forage being produced within twelve months from the date of first stocking. ]t is ' further explained that tho plants were by no means exhausted after tho sixth feeding, .and would have continued to give further feedings but for. the fact that too long a period bad been allowed to elapse between one or two of the foldings, with tile result that, some of the • .plants had thrown out seed-stalks, conse- ' quently the feeding value of subsequent , growths was impaired. It was therefore , •decided not to keep further records. A Manawatu Farmer's Experience, ' A Mauawatu farmer who tried an eightacre plot last season is well pleased with the result so far, although ho admits •that tho crop did not get tho required treatment to ensure a largo yield. In the first placo he used every coulter of tho •drill when sowing, consequently the plants 'came too close together to permit of in-ter-cultivation, Again, he was unfortunate in getting seed of poor germinating power, and guaranteed quality. Wlien tho crop came up he found that the field contained several different varieties, and from his observations he-selects the variety knoiVn as Swiss Chard (plain leaf) to be an easy first feeding value. This farmer is so pleased with the venture, even though it was only a partial success, that lin intends planting a further area this coming season. Tho ground for the next sowing is now receiving its preliminary preparation, and when sow- ' ing takes placo care will bo taken to ' avoid the former mislako of planting tlio ' teed in lows too close together. Tho manure used last stuson was a mixture made up by one of the local firms, but i the ingredients wore not noted. The teed—sown out of every coulter—cost about twenty-five shillings an acre, but this year's outlay will not bo <-o great beeamso of tho lesser quantity that will be required where the drills are wider apart. Seeing that silver beet is more in tho nature of a new plant, that is, for extensive farm use, seed merchants are not altogether familiar with the varieties, therefore care must be exercissd to ensure that only seed of known terminating value which is true fo name Js obtained. It is possible that tho Department of Agriculture has small stocks ')f seed, and if it is intended to experiment with a small plot only it would be tfiso to get the State to co-operate. Of the four varieties that have been used in the South Island tests, it has been found that Swiss Chard (plain) has given by far tho best all-round results and may bo relied upon to givo tho greatest number of feedings.