FIELD NOTES FOR MAY.

Shannon News, 9 May 1924, Page 3

FIELD NOTES FOR MAY.

(P.y W. .1. McCulloch, instructor in Agriculture, Palmerston N.) </ Cereals. —-The sowing of autumn wheat and oats intended for threshing or chatting should he completed in May. As the crop is much longer in the' ground and may be fed oIT once or twice during winter or spring, it can be expected to tiller to a Jar greater extern than’spring sown crop. This feature is very characteristic ot certain winter varieties of wheat. For this reason, Hie rate of seeding per acre c.an be reduced from a half to three quarters of a bushel less than would normally he sown in spring varieties. Autumn sown ground should be well worked but not rolled until spring, leaving a rough surface which to some extent, prevents the soil running together and affords shelter to the young plants. All seed should be pickled. From 1 to B cwt. per acre ot bail super and hall rock .phosphate should ho applied with the seed. TOP-DREUSING PASTURES. Lime or the slower anting phospliatic mainije.s may still he applied as toil-dressing to pastures. From one to one and a half, tons of carbonate of time per acre should he applied on pastures not previously Ji'ined, and then, apply MeWt. super in the spring, or where'no lime has been used apply iiewt. basic slag or other slower acting phosphatic fertiliser ;t.s an autumn top dressing. ROOTS. Mangels should be pul it'd before frost is severe, and left lying for a fortnight or three weeks to thoroughly rip'en before okuuping. Covfer the e'lamp witlh straw, or pile in the shade of a plantation. Arrange the 'clamp so that the “Long Reds’’ are to he used last. Owing to their superior keeping qualities they are valuable for pig-feeding, etc., till the end of December. Swedes can he fed to dry stock with hay, using the worst qua! ity hay first. CULTIVATION. As weather permits, ploughing lor spring crops should he pushed along in older that the soi,l may receive as much benefit as possible from weathering during the winter months. MISCELLANEOUS WORK. If too wet to get on with land work, a.hy drainage previous.*,? • utomplated should be. carried out. and repairs ’sto fences, 'buildings, etc., should receive attention.