FARM NOTES.

Otaki Mail, 6 September 1922, Page 4

FARM NOTES.

FIELD NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER

(Supplied by' Field's Instruction

Brand}—Agricultural Department.) The mild moist weather during August has given grass a good start bm. has delayed general farm work to some extent.

'lop-dressing of Pastures.—This should have been completed before September, but where ibis has not been possible it may still be done, but quick acting manures like superphosphate and basic super should be used. The harrows should be kept going on an pastures so as to distrioute manures;

Green Crops.—Where- there are Algerian oats in tended ior hay, the feeding off should be done by the end of the month unless on very rich land. As a general principle crops that have provided several feedings should be shut up by the middle of September, for ii led too iaie in the spring the hay crop will be light. II not already done, the sowing of green cereal crops ior chaff, hay or ensilage should be pushed on, par- j ticularly in the,drier'situations near 'ln: '•oast; further inland October will i be early enough. !

Good mixtures ior hay and ensilage me Algerian outs and peas or tare.- at toe rate of two bushels of oats to one ol peas or tares per acre. Good varieties of peas are Grey Partridge and Early Minto; Golden tares are best lor spring- sowing, but they are practically unprocurable and ordinary grey will have to be used. Superphosphate, basic super, or similar manures at the rate ol' from I to 2cwt per acre will be found suitable.

liooi Crops.—Ploughing for these should be pushed on so as to give time for working and sweetening the land in preparation lor sowing mangold-, carrots and turnips about the end of Oetober; suitable varieties and manures will be dealt with next month.

Lucerne.—This should be cut or red" off towards the end ol the month and ; if the land is dry, given the necessary ■ cultivation. If it has been properly j worked in the autumn and has no! been grazed heavily it should re-j quire very little work in the spring; \ "iie or two strokes of the tine har-1 rows is siil'lii ient in most case li'jj on the other hand autumn cultivation I has been neglected and the area con-J solidated by heavy grazing the work J will require to be more thorough and j the cultivator or disc used. The cul-i J.,-,t"i ;- the better implement, and! this should be fitted with .-pedal lu-j i-eine teeili. Where the disc has to be used cue should be taken not to put much cut. on; run the disc as straight as possible otherwise a number ol plants will be destroyed. The disc should be used lo cut the hard surface and subsequent cultivation done with the line burrows. The eullivatoi should ;ds" be followed by harrows to shake up the grass and weeds .and leave a level surface for

j the mower. Never cultivate lucerne S when the laud is wet, and remember thai spring cultivation is intended to , open up the surface of the laud and bring aboti! a rapid, vigorous growth ol lucerne so as to smother weeds rather than destroy them by cultivation, therefore it should be delayed until the weather is warm enough tu allow the lucerne to grow rapidly. Generally these conditions exist about Ihe eniT "i September. 1! the land is in good hear! and the crop doing we!! ii" manure is required, but it the land is poor or ihe crop hanging fir*- it will be greatly benefited by a "topdressing oi manure. I! plenty ol lime has been applied there is nothing bet..' than uperpji, sphate, \,u\ il ihe liming has nol been heavy or heavy growth is not desired until the autumn, heuer results will be obtained lrom basic super, basic .-lag. or similar mixtures. Apply at 'lie rate ,4 [ruin ~ to llcwt pet acre and harrow in. li any green crops are. bein-' grown in preparation for lucerne these should lie turned under during September. ■ . .'.—-• 1