ROTATION OF CROPS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 827, 7 December 1878, Page 2

ROTATION OF CROPS.

We present our readers with another of the essays which competed for the Hon. M. Holmes' prize of LlO 10s. : Farming "being an employment which is carried on vei-y extensively in the Waitaki district, it is very necessary for the farmer to have a thorough knowledge of the best and most efficient method of cultivating the soil in this district. No doubt there are different opinions on tins subject entertained by farmers, but Inexperience and by paying proper attention to cultivate the ground thoroughly and in the proper seasons the farmer will soon overcome most of his difficulties. There are many farmers who pay dearly for their experience before they get a moderate knowledge of farming in this district. Having had experience in farming in Ne/w Zealand for thirteen years, and being in the Waitaki district for six years and having watched minutely from year to year the different systems of farming in S& this district, I have come to the conclusion that the best and most profitable, and at the same time the easiest way to enrich' the land, is as follows : In the first place we must take the land in its natural state, and which is generally ploughed for wheat ; if the farmer intends to plough twice, as is generally done, first furrow three to four inches in depth by ten to eleven in width. All ploughing of fallow land should, if possible, be finished about the middle of May, and the sowing of wheat commenced. If the farmer intend only to plough once out of tussock land, he should not commence sooner than the middle of November and finish not later than the middle of January ; the depth of furrow should be six inches by nine inches in width, and should be sown from the middle of June to middle of July. In hilly lands all ground that lies off the sun should be sown first, if possible, for if a heavy frost come it often happens that it is difficult to get the ground properly harrowed. Wheat should be pickled before sowing. One pound of bluestone is sufficient for four bushels. Land that is rough should get a harrowing before the wheat is sown, which causes the wheat to braird more evenly ; in the month of September it should be rolled, but in cases where the land has been soddened together it should get a stroke with the harrows before being rolled, but roll immediately after harrowing.

Second crop—oats or barley. If for barley, the land should be ploughed twice. The furrow should be sis inches in depth by ten inches in width. Barley should be pickled the same as wheat, and should be sown early in October. The land should be harrowed before sowing, and roll it immediately after sowing. Oats should be sown early in. September.

Third crop should be a green crop" of rape or turnips, and fed off with sheep, as it pays better to feed off with sheep than cattle, and there is a better chance of enriching the land than with cattle, and the farmer is also surer of a better crop of wheat. Before sowing the wheat a limited number of sheep should be allowed to run over the ground to eat the roots of the rape or turnips Fourth cropi—Oats or barley. ia is the last ploughing, and should, be ploughed a little deeper than m former occasions, and early, and also dry sow to grasses in September if with a crop, and if not let it remain to December. If it ia ploughed early it will require to be ploughed again. My mixture of grasses is 151bs. perennial rye grass, 71bs. Italian, 21bs. timothy, 21bs. red clover, 21ba. white clover, lib. cow grass, lib. Alsyke ; total, 281bs. to the acre. Land should be harrowed three times before sowing. Harrow after sowing with grass harrow, and roll immediately after with a heavyroller. Let the land remain in grass for at least three years before cropping again. This system, if followed, would be veryremunerative for this district. V Try Agaik.