FIELD NOTES FOR MARCH, 1924.

Shannon News, 4 March 1924, Page 4

FIELD NOTES FOR MARCH, 1924.

(Supplied by W. jJ. Mcculloch, Instructor in Agriculture, P.N.) CULTIVATION. On stubble land not already catch crops, plonking should now be commenced and carried out at a fair depth, on the heavier soils, in order that thie most benefit be obtained from the winter fallow., Where land is inclined to be weedy the surface should be turned completely under (by a skimmer attachment. It the plough is "to expose a rough surface to the ameliorating influence, of winfleir, every endeavour should be made to set it so that the furrow slice is not turned over flaft, but kid as much as possible on edge. ■• [Lanjd intended for \aiutumn sown wheat or oats should also be prepared, and where the previous crop has been a cereal, should have 'been disced or harrowed to encourage the germination of any shaken grain. Nothing is sq unsightly as heads of wheat appearing in an oat crop, or oats in the wheat crop. With reasonable v weather the catch i crops should■ now .We making, good 'progress, and w|th the, barleys should not be allowed"to get away—rather ■ feed off in good time iand prevent, the tendency, which barley has at .this time of the year,, to into ear. AUTUMN SOWN PASTURES. , This is undoubtedly the most important operation, of the year, and demands the greatest skill and, attention of the live-stock owner. On arable land the preparation of the seed bed is extremely important, especially so if permanent pastures are being laid down. The paddock should ihavehjeen in cultivation for at least three years previously, but not with jthe object of yielding the heaviest re-, 'turns from annual crops at ,the expense of soil fertility, or of producing a series of crops •which encourage weed growth; but rather to enrich and clean thief soil and work it into a good physical state;' all of these ■ conditions being so necessary to the successful establishment of .gpod per- ■ manent pasture. The cultivation work'should be such as will provide ■a Ann, fine seed'bed. The selection of grasses, and the proportion of ;each, v together with the purchase of jbest quality seed, is likewise most important, and as each soil type demands special consideration, general mixtures rather than hard and fast rules for mixing can only be advised, and these mixtures must be modified ■to suit varying conditions. The following mixture is suggested ;for good first class soil with a fairly !uniform moisture content:— I Perennial .ryegrass 12lhs Italian ryegrass ........! 41bs Cocksfoot 6lbs i Timothy 41bs I Meadow fescue | «...■: : - 51bs - \ Meadow foxtlail ~... 41bs | Crested dQigstaii ..., 2lbs Cowgrass 41bs '■ Alsike :. 1x ...:.. t . i .,... < 21bs White clover 2lbs . 451bs General short rotation pasture mixture for the «ame soil type—two to four years. Plerennifal ryegrass ... 15lbs Italian ryegrass ....;.... Blhs \ Timothy 4lbs Cocksfoot ;... 61bs Cowgrass :... slbs Alsike ~.., ..■ 21bs i White clover ;..*. 21bs 421ibs For. temporary, pasture—up to two years. J Italian 'ryegrass .......... Islbs Westernwolths 151bs Cowgrass 6lbs 361bs Permanent pasture mixture for good rolling country, or' for second class country:— Perennial ryegrass .... > lOlbs Italian ryegrass 41bs Cocksfoot ...... I2lbs Crested dogstail 41bs Timothy 31bs Cowgnass ) 41hs White clo.yer ~, 21bs

39lbs •-. Temporary mixture on same type of soil—up to two years:— Italian ryegrass 251bs Cowgrass 61bs " 3111X5 ' Manures should be applied with any of the mixtures as follows:—Land previously limed, followed by super ljcwt. mixed/with lowt. Ephos or oither rock phosphate, or else l'J cwt. super with 1 cwt. basic slag (mixed and sown immediately) or "basic slag alone at 3cwt. per acre at time of* sowing if not previously limed.

The seed should he sown ion a newly rolled surface and lightly chain or brush harrowed. This prevents the finer seeds being deeply buried, and leaves the surface with a soil mulch which retains moisture ; near the top, greatly assisting a uniform germination and preventing crusting of the soil after rain.'. The sowing down of grass on bush burns is probably more important—if that were possible—4ham on anaMe lands, in view of the fact that many years may elapse, or it may never again be possible to renew it according to the nature of the country so that this operation demands the greatest care in the selection of suitable .grasses^of as permanent a nature as possible, and no labour should be spared in haying the work properly carried out. The first care is to ensure a good clean burn, and this can ' only' be obtained by choosing the right weather conditions. The sowing should follow as soon as the ashes are cold. Care and attention to every detail often means all the difference between success and failure with our most profitable and important crop, namely, grass. . For good first class bush burn' land on 'low country:—*

Perennial ryegrass .... lOlbs Italian ryegrass ;... 4lhs Cocksfoot , 10U>s Timothy 51bs Meadow foxtail .....,•-• 3lbs Poa trivMis -i...- lib :-,« Cowgrass 31'bs

White clover , ~ 21bs LOjtus major *• lib 391bs For second class bush burn country on steeper country:— Perennial ryegrass .... lOlbs Italian ryegrass 41bs Cocksfoot ;.... lOlbs Timothy 21bs ' Poa pratiensis .=,.-,,, 21bs ' Danthonia pilosa ......... 21bs Cowgrass 31bs - White clover ../........... 21bs Lotus major lib 38ibs FEEDING OF MAIZE. This fodder should be fed with the intention' of utilizing! it all by the middle of next month (April), as at any time after that frost may occur. Should there apparently be a surplus in view it would he wise to consider making ensilage of this early in April. SOFT TURNIPS. will be proving useful to the duiryinah. now; and any surplus of early crops not required can be fed off with sheep. ■ ' . i RAPE { Early fed rape will still be provid-1 ing a fair growth, and, like other green fodders if they can be spared, will help to freshen the ewes just before tupping. ROOT CROPS.

Only the very late and backward crop may require scarifying, as the others have long since ' covered the soil between the rows; are completely in possession and are ; retaining moisture from the (heavy dews underneath a dense leaf covering. POTATO CROP.

The lifting of the main crop should bie general this month, and on the whole should be gpod. In most instances grading into three classestable, seed and pig—is' carried ; out while bagging in the field. Of course, where this crop is grown in'- large areas a diggfer machine, and probably a mechanical grader, 'is- employed. The storage of the tubers for winter calls for some attention. Potatoes should never he harvested while

tine soil is wet, but should turn •■ out clean and free, and if stored in this condition keep much better. If emptied into a spare shed or room, excessive light moist be prevented from entering as they green very quickly and this spoils-them fo table use; if they are required for seed purposes light is advantageous. In colder districts flhe usual method is 'to vpitthe Rubers in the* open by piling them in long heaps—say ai Ibase of five or six ! feet brought up to a point at a Weight jof say 2J to 3ft. The Heaps may be any length required. Cover with a 'good layer of dry clean straw, , and cover with a thick layer of soil drought to a; fairly sharp finish at the ridge—the whole being nicely patted smooth with a spade. Ventilators should We, < made by inserting a few tile drain pipes along the ridf e, or else good Wisps of straw, otherwise undue heat may develop and decay set in. A vtery good method where frosts are: not extremely heavy is to ' tip the tubers in long heaps under a good shady plantation and cover well with straw. In this way they keep splendidly, amid las ventilation and temperature are good, there is little danger of decay. Care must be taken that no" diseased tubers are included with those stored for iwinter.