FIELD COMPETITIONS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 148, 10 July 1937, Page 17

FIELD COMPETITIONS

■ ■ Dry Rot in Early-Sown Swedes

ADVICE 0F MR. PALMER

Lator so wn. swedes were. found to b© much more free of dry rot than the early sown crops in the annual rootgrowing coinpetitions couducted by the Norsewood and Otawhao branches uf the New Zealand Farmers' TJnion which were judged by Mr. J. W. Palmer, Government Jnstruetor in Agriculture. The competition was confined to swedes and carrots owing to the sea- . sonal conditions not being favourable i'or ' roots generally. more especially mangels which- were very disappointing. Chou Moellier varied considerably. There were a few good crops where the rainfall had been higher than in other localitiea. In his report Mr. Palmer states that the yields of carrots and swedes were quite satisfactory. The number of entries in the swede competition was cwelve and, in the carrots, eix. The winnlng crop in swedes was that of Mr. A. W. Montgomerie, which yielded 51 tons 2 QWt. and gained a total of 56J points. The crop of Mr., G. Kells, although a heavier crop weighing 55 tons lS .cwt., was placed second with a total of 56 points. Mr. Kells 's crop was much more affected with dry rot and lost points for quality. However qll the crops were very useful. Another particularly good crop was that of Mr. H. Mercer 's, woiglring 51 tons 8 cwt. It is interesting to note that, as far as the swede crops are concerned, the early sown crops were affected with dry rot wbi)e thoae crops sown in the latter part of December were rnuph more disease free and certainly were well grown. In the carrot class the crop of Mr. H. Mercer took ' first place— thia was a'crop of Guerande plhnted in 14-inch rows, yielding 65 tons 14 cwt., gaining a total of 612 points. The next crop was that of Mr. R. Andereon's with a crop of Red Intermediate, which yielded 47 tons 10 cwt., with a total number of points. 55J. The other crops were of average nature but would prove quite useful to any farm, particularly in a season such as this. Sowing of Carrots. "Sometimes a little controversy oc- . . eurs as to the best distance to plant carrots," states Mr. Palmer. "From^ experience 14-inch rows are much bet- * ter than sowing in seven-inch rows, Seven-inch dtills do not permit intorow cultivation and results in weed invasion. There is no ground aetualiy weed-free. Probably though, where fallowing and cultivation had been carried out over a period of years to ensure all germinated weed seeds being destroyed, close drilling could be carried out. The crop of Mr. H. Mercer 's, which produced 65 tons, received the maximum of cultivation, and it will produce a very useful crop iu its highyield. "Farmers are well advised to turn Qver early the piece of ground intended for a crop. Farmyard manure or other composite heaps mhy be spread over this fallowed ground and finally worked in. By this one can be assured of a good crop. The ploUghing of lea ground and working down to what is presumed a good • ^eed-bed is quite an imsatisfactory method for growing ropt-crops, particularly mangels and carrpts. "Liberal topdressing is at all tames required for good results. All root crops are heavy feeders and, where soil fertility is not at all high, a good application of fertiiiser drilled in or broadcast over the ground before the final working is beneficial, wliile a little manure could be sown at the time of drilling the seed. Mangels require anything from five to eight cwt. per acre, vrhile carrots need about five cwt. per acre; swedes can do with a lower quantity and chou moellier will respond to heavy topdressing and will particularly respond to a little nitrogeneous manure." • v •