THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 474, 15 June 1912, Page 7

THE RURAL WORLD.

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING

A Wairarapa farmer, who is not content to remain in old-established ruts, but desires to benefit himself and others by intelligently carried out experiments, last season sowed a crop of dwarf maize recommended by an Agricultural Department official as a fodder for sheep. The crop has been a decided success, carrying 65 lambs to the acre during a period of three weeks, there still being a good crop left. At another Wairarapa sheep station, maize and thousand-headed kale have been grown together for fodder, and have given excellent results. Other prorgessive breeders are also growing rape and maize together for sheep fodder. One grazier expresses his firm conviction that kale and maize, and maize, grown together, will take the place of turnips as feed for sheep, it having been ascertained that the former crops resist the ravages of diseases to which the latter are prone. PLANTING FRUIT TREES. Among other work claiming attention during the resting season is that of planting fruit trees and bushes. No fruits are sweeter or more luscious than those gathered from our own trees. The soil should be trenched two spits deep as leaving the bottom soil still below and the top soil above. On no account bring the lower soil to the top. Good garden soil that will grow potatoes well will also grow fruit trees satisfactorily. To clay soil add lightening materials, such as road grit, old plaster or mortar rubbish or wood ashes. Very light sandy or gravely soils should have clay mixed with them. Pears prefer lighter, well drained soil, and plums and cherries that containing lime in some form. No manure should be added to the soil when planting. Avoid burying the roots deeply. The "earthmark" on the stem can be taken as a guide, but in heavy soils shallow planting is decidedly advantageous; in light soils a greater depth has its merits. Shallow planting, however, does not mean shallow tillage; it is necessary to break the soil up to the depth of two feet to assist drainage. Make a hole three feet in diameter and six to nine inches deep in the previously dug soil. Place the tree in the centre and spread out the roots evenly and flatly to their full length. Work in some fine soil amongst them with the hand until all are covered. It the upper roots are almost ori the surface the covering soil may take the from of a mound. Make the whole moderately firm by treading. Planting is best done when the soil is moderately dry ; if it clogs the boots and quickly treads up into a pasty mass it is too wet. If under such conditions planting cannot be delayed, have sufficient friable soil in a barrow or box to cover the roots with, and avoid all unnecessary treading. Tall trees that require staking should have the stake driven in prior to planting or covering of the roots, to avoid damaging the latter. Cut off any broken or bruised roots cleanly, with a sharp knife. With plums any suggestion of sucker shoots should be cleanly cut away. Planting may be undertaken any time between now and August, but the sooner the better, when the ground is in a suitable condition. After planting spread a mulch of dry litter over the ground as far aa the roots spread. THE AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT. The Sydney Evening News publishes a letter from Mr A. H. Burgmann, of Boggabri, containing a distressing account of the drought in the north-west. Mr Burgmann writes: — "The Boggabri district at the present time is undergoing a most trying experience. The drought, which holds sway upon this fertile land, is being keenly felt upon us the present >nutloo.k appears very gloomy. Not a blade of green grass or a vestige of anything is to be seen. "The rich black soil country now has the appearance of a vast ploughed paddock. People living on the coast and places where drought do not affect, cannot realise the awfulness of this country in a dorught. Wells that never failed in the 1902 drought are now giving out, and people have to cart water many miles for 3tock and domestic purposes. Stock that have not been removed to more favoured places have a bad time ahead. If rain does fall now, large numbers would die. Already scores are dying from starvation. "At the present price of fodder, those people who are feeding stock are being put to a great amount of expense. Last month was the driest on record in the Boggabri district, and during the month of May only eight points of rain fell. For the last fourteen months only 11 inches have been recorded." MR WRAGGE'S FORECAST. Mr Clement Wragge supplies the following: "Calculations indicate that temporary breaks in the Australian drought will occur between the middle of August and October. This by no means indicates that the drought will alogether break at that time it simply implies intervening rains due to lunar tides as already predicted. Most urgently do I again advise pastoralists to dam creeks and gullies without any delay whatever. Therein lies their salvation. To allow intervening rain at this juncture to run to waste woulj be almost criminal. Owing to the numerous local climates prevailing in Australia - a iact that I have always insisted upon the conditions forecasted will be modified or intensified owing to local physiographical features."