AUGUST ON THE FARM.

Shannon News, 7 August 1923, Page 4

AUGUST ON THE FARM.

MONTH’S WORK OUTLINED. [The following valtiaible information is being' supplied monthly, by special arrangement with the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, which is under the able supervision of Mr i. W. Deem.] August is a busy month on the farm cows are coming into profit, ewes are lambing, and land has to be got ready for spring sown crops. TOP-DRESSING OF PASTURES. This should have been completed in August but where this was not possible, (he work may still be carried out. Where quick results are desired, the top-dressing should consist of superphosphate, basic super, or lime and super. Where there is plenty of moisture basic slag may still be applied with fairly satisfactory results. If on the other hand your conditions are dry, de’pendance should be placed on one of the first two manures. On most dhiry farms hay and roots will still be being fed out and dropping will accumulate. It is therefore necessary to keep the tripod or chain harrow going to keep these droppings distributed. GREEN CROPS. In many instancies cows as they come into profit will be given from 20 minutes to half an hour, or more, on green oats or similar cereal crops. Care should be taken to see that they are not; too long for the first few days, particularly if the weather is wet and cold, for if allowed to eat too much under these conditions there is considerable danger of redwater. With judicious feeding and plenty of good hay there is no danger. Where it is intended to carry the crop on for the chaff or hay, the final feeding should in most cases be done by the end of August, the exceptions being very strong land where there is no danger of the crop growing too much straw and lodging. In such situations feeding off may be profitably carried on until the end of September or even later. After the final feeding give the field one or two strokes of tine harrows. This will open the land and grfeatly hasten subsequent growth. If the ! crop has not been previously manurfed and appears - a bit thin or weak, 1 cwt. of superphosphate per acte applied before or during the harrowing Will greatly benefit it and often means the di&erence between a profitable crop ahd a failure. ROOT CROPS.

The ; swede crop will be getting past its best and where mangolds have been pVovided a start will be nia.de to feed them. For ewes either before or after lambing they are excellent. The ewes may be turned on to breaks that have been previously pulled or harrowed but, but it is better for the ewes and thfe mangolds will go a great deal further if they are carted out on to a nice : clean grass paddock. Under these conditions there is no danger of the ewe eating too much. There are not many crops that ewes will milk better bn than properly ripened mangolds. In feeding mangolds to dairy cows tlie feeding should be fairly light for the first few days. Start with 20 lbs per cow per day, increasing to 50 or 60 at the end of the week, for cows in profit. Cows that have not yet come into profit should not receive more than 40 lbs per day. Always provide a liberal supply of hay and feed this before the roots. GREEN CROPS FOR HAY OR ENSILAGE.

In dry situations these may be sown ! towards the end of August, but gen- » erally September is early enough. | Mixtures of oats and tares, oats and ' peas, or wheat and tares or peas are ! the mdst suitable. Where wheat is used instead of oats the tares seem to do better. As a general rule sow at the rate of two bushels of the cereal to one of tares or peas. Golden tares are the best for spring sowing, but the ordinary grey does quite as well. Grey Cartridge or Early Minto are good varieties. Suitable manures are basic super, super, or mixtures of half super and Nauru, ephos or basic slag, one to three cwt according to the quality of the land. Except in the case of very light land manures containing, nitrogen are not recommended. PLOUGHING. The ploughing of land for spring crops should be pushed along. For | root ci'ops such as carrots and man- ' golds the ploughing should be. as deep as the nature of the land will permit, it being good practice to try and go, just a _ little deeper every time, provided dlways that the sod can be properly turned under. Virgin land, such as newly stumped areas, intended for swedes or turnips, should also be ploughed as early as possible. Early ploughing -allows the turned under material plenty of time to rot and form a union with the subsoil, which insures a good supply of moisture during the hot summer months by what is known as clapillary attraction. GENERAL. Durfng the month a large percent--1 age of dairy cows will come into profit, and ewes lamb, and if care is taken to see that their bowels are in good working order a great many of the troubles that both cows and ewes are subject to at this period will be obviated. Judicious feeding with roots, ensilage or a week on green succulent food is the best, and in the case of sheep, the only practicable method In the case of cows a good dose of opening medicine 24 to 48 hours before calving will greatl|y assist. The cow should also be kept in a shelter spot for a few days until she has got over her calving troubles. Cases of inflamimatio.ii of the udder,retention of afterbirth, should get immediate attention.