A Valuable Soiling-Crop.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 21, 16 March 1915, Page 4

A Valuable Soiling-Crop.

Succulent green feed is a vaiui able ! >ssa to the dairy farmer ir | the autumn, winter and earlj j spring. There is ..cthing bettei i for this purpose than a mixture ol 1 Azof barley (1 bushel), tares (j ! bushel), Italian rye-grass (20lb) arc I beans (151b). As rapid maturity and a heavy growth are desired the i crop should be stimulated by apply- | ing with tne seed ljcwt of boneI meal and lAcwt uf superphosphate | per acre. Sown early in March the I crop may be used to furnish a rice ! bite when pastures are probablv failing at the end of the milking season, after which it could be allowed to develop into a crop foi ■ carting out to the cows in the late spring. The better method ot utilising tbe crop is to allow it tc mature, which it should Co, giver fair growing conditions, in July oi August, when it could be cut anc fed out to the cows just when the> j are in the greatest need of gooc | food, having just g"ce through an : exhat-sticg milking season and about Ito hear a calf, thcugh this need i would be generally overlooked and j the feed kept till the co*vs have i calved Un light land the crop may j be fed til v.itn advantage, though on j heavier land the soilug method is | preferable. The rye-grsss will come f away again and give, if desired, I fair feeding in the spring months. j 1 wculd prefer however, to leave it and utilise, the dense matted ; growth as gretn manure preparatory to establishing lueern? or for making a fine feed b.d for any other crop. Un light land deficient in hunui3 this procedure would he moat advisbalc, as the crop furnishes a great body of humusforrning material.— W. DlriBLE. W —— IM—————————i