AGRCULTURAL NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2421, 9 January 1882, Page 3

AGRCULTURAL NOTES.

[From the "Weekly Preen."] Another year has passed and gone, and taking everything into consideration it has not been a very bed year agriculturally speaking. Most bona fide farmers, we imagine, find themselves in a somewhat better position than at the beginning of the past year. Many of the mortgagee which were taken up upon land at high interest during the crisis of '79 are now falling In, and those farmers who have to renew them will find their burden muoh easier at the present rate of interest. When we oome to consider what a combination of untoward circumstances caused the panic, it is a matter for wonder that we hare so noon recovered from its crushing effects. Scarcity of money through mad speculations; a dry summer [causing light crops and light fleeces; low prioes for all kinds of grain and farm produce, were calamities sufficient to give a severe check to any country. In fact the wonder is it was not swamped altogether, and the twhole country thrown out of cultivation Although there are hundreds of hard-working farmers ruined by the pressure of hard times, and who doubtless will have good cause to remember them for many years to, come, yet its is a proof of the wonderful capabilities of the colony that the majority of farmers have been able to pay the high interest on borrowed money and make a living as well. Tati prospects of farmers are not very bright at present, but there is every chance of improvement ere the year is out. Neither dairying nor grain growing are very profitable just now, but while there is a fair demand for fat sheep and cattle there is something to be made out.of farming. She comparatively high price of grass seeds will, no doubt, induce many farmers to save as much as possible for seed. Xhe bulk of this crop should be ripe during the early part of this month. It is important that the seed should be reaped at the proper time, and that is generally aboct twenty-five days after flowering, more or less, according to tbe state of the weather. If it is reaped too green it will not germinate readily, and is also liable to heat and take fire if large quantities are put together, and if left until dead ripe a great deal will be lost in moving it about. A good thick upstanding orop of grass can be tied and stacked without much being lost, but if the crop is light and short, the better way is to put it into small heaps until thoroughly dry, and then thresh it by hand on sheets in the field. Two good men can knock the seed out with flails on a large sheet as fast as two others can draw it to them along the ground on smaller sheets. When a certain area around the threshers is oleared the threshing sheet is moved into the middle of another block, the seed being bagged in the rough and cleaned at leisure. In this wy a medium crop can be secured cheaply and expeditiously, end without much waste. Of course there is a risk of it being damaged if wet weather occurs while it is on the ground, as there is with any orop that is harvested without binding. Grass seed strippers, similar to the Australian grain strippers,, have lately come into nse, and are a great saving of labor, but there is the drawback to these as there is to the cornstrippers —the seed must be very ripe for them to do their work properly, and in this land of nor'-westers every farmer knows that to leave the seed to get dead-ripe is to run & greatj[ risk of losing the whole crop by a sudden and violent wind. It is useless to endeavour to use the stripper when the seed is; barely ripe, for the drum tears off a great deal of the stems, whioh will heat in a very short time, and unless frequently turned and exposed to the air is very soon spoiled. The natural habit of rye-grass is to produce much and comparatively heavy seed, and, for that reason, it is a very exhaustive crop, almost as muoh so as wheat, only taking different ingredients from the Boil. A good crop of rye-grass leaves a very poor pasture, unless tho seed shaken out germinates and makes a new sole of grass. If there is a good plant of olover in the bottom it will rapidly thioten up and form a good bit of autumn feed, if the season is moist. In the old country rye-graM is only regarded as an annual, and generally in a rotation, comes before wheat. It Is said that the seed of the first year is of no nee in forming a permanent pasture, ao it then takes the oharaoter and habits of an annual. Whether this is true or not it certainly is not good management to reap the seed the same yea; it is sown, as the weight and quantity of the seed .is not more than half that of the succeeding year. The plant should only be fed lightly the first year, and during dry weather, to consolidate the earth about the roots, and when laid up for seed no stock should be allowed upon it after the. Ist of October ; after that time - the Beed stalks beijin to rise, and if eaten off will not spring again with any strength or vitality. Bye grass, like cocksfoot, and every other of the best grasses, swill not, when sown alone, form a close sward, but beeorues tufty. For pastures it should be sown in certain proportions, acoording to tbe soil, in combination with others,