The Chronicle LEVIN. MONDAY. MARCH 6. 1916. AN ARTICLE FOR DAIRY FARMERS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 March 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. MONDAY. MARCH 6. 1916. AN ARTICLE FOR DAIRY FARMERS.

h.ipiul articio ou 'vjoiliug Crops.'' woi liiv oi special study by all da'ryuicii \\ Uo o U) ht' e.ssi vo, wa.s jyiiic time ay;— 111 the Jourlial ol Agriculture--J 10111 the pen of .Mr .Jaaie.s Drysdale, manager of tile Woraroa ."suite Farui. For benelit ol our 1 armor readers wo reprint portion u; Mr l/rysiialc re-marks. The objoct, lie saxii, ol' soiling ciops i><3 to keep the am-a-juuuaatly supplied with green muruious leed alter tile pastures liart> lost uiiicli ot their succulence, even altliougii the herbage should still b« abundant. litis is the most important where milk production is the chief object. inquiries have been received as to wiuix acreage would be necessary lor a given number of cows under ijii- pai tial-;soiling system. A lmrd ami ruiij cannot be laid ikmvn regarding urea, m;. inucli will depend upLii the climate and conuiivious. «ne)I in' iroiii prevailing winds, quality of soli, and its suitability for growing crops that would produce the largestamount ol leeu per acre, .such as maize, luctfrjie, rye-grass, Western Woltlw, and mangels, also upon the condition of the held pasture, whether young or old. Oldi pasture on aj'abie land is neither profitable nor desirable; the better grasses disappear, or at leastdo not give the early spring growth which is moat important and necessary, uo matter wliat top-dressing may hare been carried out. In many casea top-dressing still further increases tlie life ot undesirable grasses, besides which the grass becomes dartv, particularly if harrows have not been' made use oi every winter to spread the droppings. Another objection and a. serious danger connected with old pasture is that it becomes a hotbed for germs ol diseases that all dairy herds are subject to —«icli as abortion, mamm'tis, tuberculosis, etc. Ploughing and renewing the grasses lessens the evil in this direction. The question of cost no doubt will be the first consideration and rightly, too; but what about, the profit? The question as to whether the operation will warrant the expenditure has been answered in the affirmative by those who have undertaken the expense of providing "meals at all hours" for their stock. I would suggest the following cropping scheme for twenty cows One acre maize: sow beginning November, feed from January to April; eight aores white Russian .barley and Italian

rye-giius or \\ t_'.sL cm \\ oitlis : sow l'curuary, leed ill April. One acre niungeis: sow in Ocfoijcr, iced with hay from June to Septum tier. tour acres rcsoi veil l'or cutting fur iiuy; ten acres held pasture one year oiu, or not more than fcu o year old, reserved liuin ail stuck grazing, aL leant during July and Augutii. Pasture oi this description would be sullicicn Liy ior.ward in August, or sx?pi.entber, at Die latest, to carry the herd alter mangel ieeding was finished. The area under barley audi Italian rye-grass alter uemg spelled during June «nd July wouid be sufficiently recovered to produce a very large amount of valuable lodder. The eight acres would oe lor grazing, to be fed off in suitable breaks to iillow a- continuous recovery and feeding. If cutting and carting to istock is preferred to grazing, two acres would be sufficient. If the soil is suitable l'or the growing of lucerne, one acre should be sown in November, which", alter becoming established, on Id be a valuable 1 ■ ddvr to siipoYluent all other lodders il' desired. Kollowing are tiie variety of crops, quantities of seed and manure to sow pe;acre:—.Maize : If broadcast", not to exceed '2{ bushels; in lows 30in. apart. 1 hiisiicl per acre. 3ln«iir<> 4cwt superphosphate per acrc.. Barley, 2J busj '-'is; Jtolian rye-grass, 1 bushel; or We.si.ern Woltlis 101 bs per acre. Manure. 2c.vt superphosphate and 2ewt. blood and bone. Mangels (ridged): •)!bs per acre. .Maun re 2cwt basic -log and "2ewt. superphosphate. It should always be the aim in growing a fO'ling crop in produce the largest ipinntity per acre possible. as with a siuvosslul crop for feeding purposes. | :> lilile cxira manure, seed and labour is well repaid.