Farm Notes.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 16 April 1915, Page 3

Farm Notes.

In some localities of the North Island, oat-sowing is done in April, but as a rule May is ea.rly enough. The seed should be the best procurable, and should be free from seed-weeds. It should also receive a dressing.of formalin as a smut preventive. The solution should he at the rate of lib of formalin to 40 gallons of water, or 1 in 400. The seed should be spread on a clean floor, and thoroughly sprinkled with the solution (a knapsack spray-pump is excellent for the purpose), and repeatedly turned over until it, is thoroughly wet. It may then be heaped up and covered with clean sacks until the following morning, when it will be in condition for sowing. The germination is slightly injured if the sowing is delay,ed for some' days after the solution is applied. The seedbed for oats and all other cereals should be deep and fine, but to prevent the seed from being c vered too deeply it is well to roll in front ot the drill, because it has been abundantly proved I hat too deep drilling results in a comparatively inferior crop. Ex cept on rich soils it is a good policy to apply about lewt basic superphosphate per acre, and on light soils add 101 b sulphate of potash. This inexpensive dressing will improve the .quality of the grain and ensurtT ah earlier harvest.