THE FARM.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 785, 17 November 1922, Page 6

THE FARM.

FIELD CROPS AN DPASTURES. (From N.Z. Journal of Agriculture ) Grass should now be plentiful, and the matter of pasture management wifi .demand special attention. One of the greatest difficulties, particularly on cow country, is to control the growth and keep pastures in a succulent condition. Every endeavoupr should be made to have fields evenly grazed, as rough pasture is inieihor for either milk production or fattening. Green Crops,—November is a good period for sowing rape and kale. Maize and millet may be sown early in he month m the northern and east coast districts, but on the west coast, except in very warm situations, the sowing is better deferred until the last week. Maize for green feeding may be sown at the rate of 2 bushels per acre, andi a . suitable manuring for average conditions is a mixture of half super and half blood and bone, at from 2cwt to 3cwt per acre Hickory King is a proved variety of maize for green feed, while Ninety Day is good for both grain and green feeding. Many dairy farmers do not Jfavour maize on account of the expense of handling when feeding out, but where turnip feeding is not allowed by the dairy factory, or where this is to be a Esky crop, maize should have a place. I,t makes good silage. in which form it can be conserved for use when required. It is also quite a good crop for lamb fattening, and for this purpose it is best fed just at the flowering stage. Millet is a crop that is growing m favour, especially with dairy farmers. Cattle and sheep like it, and dairy cows milk well on it. The crop can be fed’ off or cut and fed out, Under favourable conditions stock can be turned on to millet when Din to 12in high,,, about ten weeks after it is sown. It is best fed off in breaks, and! it comes away again after being eaten down Japanese millet is to berecommendecl in preference to other varieties. Front lolb to 20lb will sow an acre if broadcasted, while about 151 b will do if drilled through every coulter The same manure as for maize can be used* or superphosphate applied alone at the rate of 2cwt to 2V 2 cwt per acre. If the crop is not required for grazing it may be left until the flowering stage and cut for hay or ensilage. Sorghum requires less moisture than maize, and can be grown under drier soil and weather conditions. It is a warm climate crop, best suited to North Auckland, and elsewhere should be grown only in fields which are well sheltered. Owing to toxic properties, this crop should not be fed to stock until it comes into flower,, unless it is made into ensilage, in which case it i ssafe. Rape is generally sown with the ordinary drill at the rate of 31b seed! per acre, Feezing works manures, at 2cwt to 3cwt per acre, usually give satisfactory results, but in situations where the rape is inclined to grow tall better fattening crops will be obtained by the use of basic super dr mixtures of half super and half Nauru or Ephos phosphate. Expeoienced farmers will understand that) a heavy leafy crop which is produced by an excess of nitrogen will not fatten like a firm but fighter crop grown with phosphates The heavy leafy crop is all right for dairy cows, but generally for this purpose .the genuine green Buda kale gives better results. Of the kales, both for lamb fattening and cow feeding, the Buda is the best It can be sown at the same rate as rape, and the same manures used. Kale has an advantage over rape in that it gives a second feeding- quicker, and is not so heating for dairy cows on the other l hand# rape is better for fattening lambs. Further sowings of soft turnips may be made during November. Cereals will now mostly have been sown and making good growtn, but in late districts barley, particularly Black Skinless, may still be sown for a grain crop ; also oats „of which Green’s Ruakura will be preferable, as it comes to maturity very quickly. Either this oat or Black Skinless barley, sown in November should be ready for harvesting in three months. Both may be sown at the rate of 3. bushels vvith INcwt of superphosphate per acre, Intercultivation. —Crops sown in wide drills, such as mangolds, carrots, and early crops of maize, should be cultivated between the rows to keep down weecl-growth and check the loss of moisture by keeping a loose mulch on the surface. Care should be taken to ensure that the surface is not made too fine A tine cultivator wMI break up the soil* allow the finer material to drop below, and leave the surface somewhat cloddy. (This will prevent the soil running together after rain and later setting hard.. The good done by frequently stirring the soil between the rows cannot be over-estimated, particularly ’n ■ the warmer and drier districts. Lucerne.—On most stands the first cut will be ready for removal in November, and |is best either fed out to cows or made into ensilage, the weather at this time of the year usually not being favourable for haymaking If removed at this period it should be ready for cutting again in six weeks. In some cases farmers will not be ready to cut in November, although their lucerne is ready, and in such cases it may be ieft without any danger of hurting the stand, The new growth will come up through it, and muen of the earlier growth leaves will fall. The subsequent cutting will contain a fair amount of stalk, but tne stand will not be injured Land intended to be sown in lucerne this season should have frequent cultivation to germinate and destroy weeds. In dry, warm situtions the seed* may be sown early in November ,but generally the first week in December is early enough. About 151 b of seed drilled through every coulter of the drill on a firm, well-prepared seed bed will give best results. Inoculated soil, from 2cwt to 3cwt per acre, or one one of the preparations such as Farmogerm, should be applied. If the land has been limed ..manuring with superphosphate, at the rate . of 2cwt tp 3cwt per acre, is recommended. If no lime has been applied it is better to use basic super or basic slag

at the same rate. The main essential in getting a good stand of lucerne is clean land and a well-prepared, firm seed bed; while sowing should be deferred until warm weather is assured. Small areas of lucerne, up to a few acres, on dairy farms, es- 1 pecially, are to be advised, where, conditions favour its establishment, Farmers intending to sow an area and who are not familiar with lucerne growing should' seek further advice.