FORAGE CROPS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 779, 27 October 1922, Page 5

FORAGE CROPS.

SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY. (By W Dibble, Fields Instructor. Auckland, in NjZ, Journal of Agriculture). X. SUMMER FORAGES. An old worn out pasture that reEuire renewing may with advan_ age be devoted to the production of a course <*f summer forage crops. For this purpose the land should be ploughed in the late autumn, aiid permitted to lie exposed to Ah®, lain and atmosphere during the’ winter months. In the spring cross-plough and subsoil as deeply as the land will allow, and later, when the time for sowing is near, work down with <disc and harrows until the seed-bed is made as fine and friable as possible The extent to which the roller can be used at that period of the year can only be decided at the time and on, the spot. The sim. plit way to determine whether it is advisable to roll cloddjy ground is to kick some of the clods. If the cfacls fall apart the roller may be »y&d, but if they are difficult to break and the ground is at all moist the roller should' not be employed. Rolling is not satisfactory if the clods are merely .forced into the soil without being broken up, for this only results in a hard crust being formed on the surface. .Depth of cultivation, thorough preparation of the land, and a fine mellow seedbed are all-important. If after a few days there appears to be a superfluity of water in the soil it is an indication that the land requires draining. Water-logged land when it does dry loses nearly the Whole cjf its moisture by evaporation. On the other hand, the Kil particles in a friable soil k capillary aotion, andj thereby ent undue evaporation, the soil . remaining moisit long after soddfen parks of the field have become as hard as a brick. If drainage is required it should be done, as it pays and pays handsomely. Drainage has an intimate relation to sonmdistare. By drainage is meant the means employed for the removal of the surplus free water. Surface or open ditches may serve to carry off surface waten, but as soil drainers they function imperfectly. Jlhe correct; method for removing the surpius water of rainfall* is to cause it to sink into the soil and be removed by under drains. The following course of summer forages will be found of valuable assistance to farmers, and' especially dairymen who desire to keep up a good steady supply of milk during *the season, when the grass pastures may be dried .up or lack succulence. For a dairy herd of from 60 to 70 in number sow 5 acres of oats and grey spring tares about the second week in October, at the rate of 2 buishels of oats and 1 bushel tares to the acre. These should be ready for feeding in January, and if not required can be utilised for hay or ensilage. In ' the first week: in November sow 4 acres with soft tur_ nips, purple-top Mammoth, Imperial Green Globe, or Lincolnshire Red. These should serve for February and March, feeding. In addition ito the foregoing, sow rbetween the third week of November and the second week of December from 5 acres to 8 acres of any of the forages on the list which follows. These crops, which are all worthy of a trial subject to district conditions, will come in for April and May feeding, and any surplus that may not be required can be made into ensiiage. (The seeding specified is per acre. ,• Japanese millet, 71b, and grey i spring tares 451 b, in 7 in. dribs. Brown barley, 761b* andj _ grey .spring tares, 60lb in 7iq. drills. * Japanese millet, 151 b, in 7in. drills. Sorghum early amber canq, 251bs, in 28in drills. Maize Red Hogan, 901 b, with grey spring tares, 751 b, tin 14in drills Maize' 90-day or Hickory King, 60lb with grey spring fares, 301 b, in 28in p Maize, Clarence Wonder or lellow ” Dent, 1201 b in 14in drills Sorghum Saccharatum, 251 b in 28in drills. . Sorghum Imphee, 251 b, in 28in. drills. Manure consisting of super, 2cwt, and bone, meal lcwt, per acre can be mixed with the seed and sown through the drill or sown separately With those crops that are drilled at. 28in.. apart it will bs beneficial to the plants and assist in keeping weeds in check if; in the early stages of growth the soil between the drills is kept well stirred by the cultivator. 1 The varieties of maize mentioned, having plenty of flag, will yield from 2a tons to 45 tons of green forage per . acre. The time to use maize is when the cobs are well formed and are becoming glazed. It is neXfcessary that the drills should 1 not be l<*ss than 28in. apart, so as to admit the necessary sunshine <to properly .develop the crop. Froni experience I can fully recommend the varieties of sorghum mentioned —Early Amber Cane, Imphee, and' Saccharatum. Sorghum should be sown about the third week in November at a depth of 14i> in. to 2 inches. It is necessary to <flve on.e stroke with the tine harrows after drilling, and if the land is very dry and of rough surface it should be" rolled After 'the crop is 4in. high, and if the weather is favour, able draw the tine harrows across ±be drtiils once weekly until the crop 4 ets too high for tnis to be done. The, time to harvest is, when the crop is in full bloom the average yield is from 20 tons to 30 tons per acre. * ' ■ Of the millet's I have found Japanese, W'hite French and Pearl to be the beat. Sow 151bs of seed to the acre, mixed with manure,, through the ordinary seed drill, in drills 7in. apart. The land should be harrowed across the drills and the crop ( treated tin the same way as Sorgkhum Harvest when the crop is in ■LVii bloom,. Do nott delay, as the e d soon forms and the crop ripens Millet can generally be Hut with, an ordinary reaper and Kinder The average crop yields Ffrom it tons to 20 tons per acre.

Japanese millet is also an excellent crop for grazing, especially with dairy cows. The usual plan is no divide the’ area into breaks v4ilth temporary fencing, in order to provide fresh feed according to the size of the herd and area. The herd is allowed; to graze on the millet for about two hours morning and evening. Maize, sorghum and millet are all susceptible to frost. If a frost should come out of season and turn the crops white in the leaf put the binder in at once and make the material into ensilage. WINTER FORAGES. For winter forage crops the land may be ploughed during December, and a thorough cultivation should be given during February and March with the disc ,cultivator, harrows and roller. The land should be worked until ‘in fine tilth and really good order for sowing the seed Under ordinary conditions this‘will be about the first week in April; or as soon as there is sufficient moisture in the land to ensure a good germination. Among winter forages that have been proved suitable for average conditions, and that are practically free from disease are the following the combinations and seedings per acre given being recommended: — John Brown wheat, 90lb, and Scotch tares 601 b. Purple straw Tuscan wheat. 90lb, and Scotch tares 601 b. Emerald rye-corn, 551 b, and Marquis wheat 581 b. Emerald rye-corn, 871 b, and Scotch tares 601 b. Algerian oats, 451 b, and Emerald rye-corn 551 b. Algerian oats 451 b, and brown bar. ley 401 h. . 6 Algerian oats 451 b. and Major wheat 581 b. Algerian oats 551 b, and Scotch tares 601 b. . , For manure use from 2cwt to 3 cwt of superphosphate or basic superphosphate per acre. .These <:forages can be grazed, or they may remain to be cut and carted out to stock as required. Any balance of the crops not required for feeding during the winder months can be utilised for ensilage, chaff, «pr hay and win be found equally valuable for feeding to stock during the month of January following, or at any time when required. An exception must be made in the case of rye-corn, which when, approaching maturity becomes too tough for ‘"’haying purposes. LUCERNE. The writer would like to see a lucerne field established) ion every suitable farm to the extent af a tenth of its area, for garzing, making hay, “or, when the weather is unfavourable for haymaking, for ensilage. Lucerne in either form fed to stock wfith an abundant supply of mangolds will enable the farmer to tide over many difficulties. This practice should appeal to the small farmer especially. Trussed lucerne hay generally realises from £7 to £lO a ton in the open market. • (At the present time there is an abundance of feed throughout the district and .farmers are inclined to be somewhat careless, not realising there will be a shortage in a few months ’time. The foregoing article should be of invaluable assistance, especially for the dry season, when the yield .from* the dairy herds is beginning to drop. By following the advice of a qualified man they should Ipe able to retain a high milk vie Id from their heds.)