FIELD NOTES FOR FEBRUARY, 1924.

Shannon News, 1 February 1924, Page 3

FIELD NOTES FOR FEBRUARY, 1924.

(By W. J. McCulloch, Fields Division.) CEREALS. The continued dry weather lias been ideal for harvesting tne grain crops, most of which wiii now be safely stacked. As mentioned last month siacKS intenued to stand for some tune should be lightly raked and, alter a few weeks of settling, carefully thatched and made secure from the weather. Grain for threshing should be stacked for some time, especially wheat, as a certain amount of sweating takes place which improves the sample.

SUPPLEMENTARY CATCH CROPS

If the weather is sufficiently promis-

ing with a fair amount oi moisture present, early cleared stubbles may be sown in a catch crop and in localities where there is a risk of the root crop 'having suffered through abnormally dry weather, advantage should be taken to sow. quick growing soft turnips, mustard, or a cereal for green feeding, any of which would be acceptable lor autumn, winter or spring feed. Do not plough stubble; land—<rather disk and harrow, as deep cultivation at this time tends to dry out the soil too much, and the risk' of obtaining a reasonable germination is greater if worked deeply. Among the cereals, Cape Barley or Black Hulless Barley are both very quick growers, but neither should be allowed to make too much growth between feedings, as they are inclined to run quickly to ear in the autumn. Oats will serve the' same purpose, and if available an addition of vetches or peas are valuable, seeded at the rate of about half vetches or peas to oats, and sow the mixture at from 2-J

to 3 bushels per acre whh 2 to 2J cwt. super.. Any of the common varieties of oats may be grown for green, feed, but Algerian is to be preferred, being more palatable, and quicker to recover from the effects of feeding down. It was the writer's experience at : tho Central Development Farm to feed down with sheep a field, half the area of which was in Gartons, and half in Algerian, the result being that the stock in showing a marked preference fed the 'Algerian dangerously close before attempting to touch the Gartons. Palatability of a fodder is of extreme importance. Italian ryegrass or Westernwolths can also be sown for quick feed if desired, at the rate of 301bs per acre, with 1J to 2 cwt. super, and the addition of 4 or 5 lbs of cowgrass would greatly enhance the value of either especially if the area is to be retained for - feeding through the following summer. The writer's experience (has been that although Westernwolths may give heavier yields at certain periods, Italian rye yields a higher total for the full season. Dairy cows do well on either, and where rape may have failed, both fatten lambs exceedingly well. The aftermath of the hay paddocks which should now naturally be showing a fair clover growth, will provide a nice change for the dairy in era or the lambs, likewise the fresh pickings round the) stubbles. SUPPLEMENTARY CROPS.

such as green maize and soft turnips are expected to keep up the milk yield at present, but neither of these can so well assist the failing grass pasture at this- season of the year and give as nutritious and well-balanced a ration as lucerne which should undoubtedly be the sheet anchor of the dairy farmer. During the present dry spell the farmer who has the provision of. a good lucerne stand and perhaps a stack oi good ensilage will no. doubt be envied by his less fortunate neighbours who. will make many fresh resolutions which are only too soon forgotten until nature again rebels.

ROOT CROPS. The scarifier or cultivator should be kept going between the rows until the tops meet in the drills, in the endeavour to keep weeds well in check and retain all the moisture possible, and more especially after rain to prevent crusting of the surface soil. PREPARATION FOR AUTUMN SOWN CROPS. As the flush of the milking season with its may anxieties, and the harvesting of crops is practically over,, more attention should now be given to the programme of autumn work, the most important of which is the sowing down of grass pasture. m the bush country this means taking advantage of suitable weather to get a successful burn, whilst on arable land it means the thorough cultivation and preparation of a fine, firm, seed bed, and later in both cases the careful se-

lection of suitable mixtures. The importance of purchasing only the best and cleanest seed cannot be too often repeated, and as there is a great variation of soil and climate in different localities the selection of varieties and proportion of each to sow is of extreme importance. Every opportunity should be taken, to work up and clean land for autfcimn sowing grass. AUTUMN SOWING LUCERNE. Where conditions are suitable land intended for autumn sowing lucerne should be kept well stirred meantime to .Terminate weed seeds and kill counh trasses, etc. It is contended by some that where there is danger of too much competition from weeds that sowing in March is an advantage. This may be correct to some extent in the first few weeks of the plants' existence, and possibly it is in a more advanced and stronger condition early the following spring, enabling it to compete to better advantage against grasses and weeds, "out the fact remains that it is courting failure to sow lucerne in dirty land at any time.

POTATO CROPS. From the end of this month and beginning of March'on. through April, according to tlhe district, main crops of potatoes will he lifted. Maturity is indicated generally by the dying away of the tops, except in the case of blight but the best indication is when, the skin adheres firmly to the tuber when handled. Those intended for seed should be dug before maturing, but the usual practice is to select the middle size (about the size of a pens egg) whilst being graded into-.sacks m the field. There is no doubt that this practice of not selecting seed from the best plants subsequent.to digging the crop is mainly responsible for the deterioration of some oi the best old varieties. Choose weather for digging, either by hand or machine, when the tubers will turn out clean and free.