autuhn feed

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 6

autuhn feed

The fields are being rapidly cleared of the grain crops, and farrilers who have flocks of .sheep will at once set about utilising those stubbles which are not laid down to grass for the nurpose of providing at the earliest possible date a supply of green feed for the autumn, to supplement in dry districts the scanty grass and poor rape crop which has struggled through the drought. Further sowings of rape and soft turnips are generally had-recourse to ai this time, and given a shower just after sowing and. it intervals subsequently these crops generally 1 give good results. An excellent turnip for the purpose is-ttie Six Weeks. Last year in Canterbury it was ready for feeding in little more than the time expressed! by its name, and resisted the attack" . of the fly much better than other varieties grown beside it. It would probably do well in any warm district on a free soil. A light application of superphosphate would be necessary -where the grain crop .

* had Jiot received -a . fertiliser, .and wauH be beneficial in any case; but an excess would- be detrimental. In tthis .hot year good results will- T>e -obtained Ifrom Italian' ryegrass and crimson clover. ' These maka very rapid growlh,\if they get a start, ana provide a very laxge quantity, of ieefl., A firm seed bed is essential.. The ,seefi-> ing is rather expensive, fout autumn feecl to finisli off lambs js very -vafraabls — oftea in a dry season its value can scarcely be estimated. The sprosißion .of feed £o« stock in late summer of early autumn' and early spring is one of the greatest difficulties of .many farmers, and 4he .carryi ing capacity of their .farms is to sttef 1 gauged by the supply of fodder "at thßS'a , two trying periods, when it is often as question of having feed at ,-aU { rather than of what it cost. Ths ; Italian ryegrass and crimson clover has the Tecommendation .that^fter being fedß not ioo severely in 'the autumn it wil* afford a good bite in the spring. Kale) has the -same recommendation; its value ■ as fodder for" lambs {particularly is welll *knownj but the dreaS <oi sa" heavy cos& iov, 'labour deters many from" 1 growing it., The labour - "bogie, however, should -be* ■scotched,, Af not killed, by the Canterbury inquiry/ v which shows that goqd! I farmers are -already paying good nienj practically rwhat tbjs ainion. is .demanding, while i the evidence against the nractic*. ..ability of the conditions which *are He-* manded is very strong, even when given by -witnesses called by the union. JBtrfc, to return -to Tcale : it is, -of course, -rather late now to sow, ibut -it may fbe noted Sor future fuat tine crop amay iba grown and fed .off ;just as rape, the seed in such case ■ being thicker than for a hoed crop, and €k& grazing being in small breaks. Sheep an&» lambs fatten quickly on all .the '.crops mentioned, which is .an important bonsi* deration, often -enabling the farmer to fatten a~bought-in lot of lambs or sheep after his own .have gone to the market) or freezing works. "The great ivakie c oi crops which, Bown after harvest, produced! good feed in — the autumn was seen last -year in Canterbury and Otago, when, despite the severe brought of the 'preceding spring and summer, the supply of foti stock was kept up in an unprecedented manner, large exports -of frozen meat being continued" until September. Hhe •production of food to supply -stock at all seasons ie, despite rthe sometimes high cost of labour, the most profitable of farm, operations.