FIELD NOTES FOR APRIL.

Shannon News, 31 March 1925, Page 3

FIELD NOTES FOR APRIL.

1 4 (By W. J. McCulloch, Inspector m Agriculture, Palmerston North.) Areas cleared of Autump fodders, such as maize, soft turnips, etc., and not intended to be sown down in grass, should be worked up and sow’J in a catch crop of cereals for early spring - feed. Black Skinless barley is probably amongst the best, being a vigorous and quick grower, and very palatable. Sow 2i to 3 bushels per acre of any of the cereals, with li cwt. high grade super. A proportion of Scotch or winter fares improves the ration and if not fed too severely in spring, makes a well balanced hay crop later.

Surplus maiz t e, if in sufficient quantity, should be ensiled before frost appears. Cultural Work. —Land intended for spring sown crops, more especially if of a stilt\natiire should be turned over early to fallow. Many fail to appreciate the beneficial effect of a bare fallow, both during winter, and at other periods, and by far too much land is ploughed and sown almost immediately—a practice which* cannot be too strongly condemned. A winter fallow should be left as rough as possible, the mai'n purpose being to take full advantage of weathering, and differs from summer fallowing in that the chief purpose of the latter may be the eradication of troublesome weeds, but in both cases the mellowing or sweetening of the soil is of great advantage. Roots. —Mangels, swedes, and carrots demand little or no attention and should be bulbing fast. If dry-rot has made its appearance in the swede crop and shows signs of spreading, the crop should be fed off without delay. Where the main crop of potatoes has not yet been lifted this should be completed during the month.

Pastures.—-Autumn sowing of pasture should be completed this month, and as good grass pasture is the foundation of good farming choose the mixture carefully, and sow only good viable seed in a well worked and firm bed with a reasonable .amount Of suitable fertiliser.

Top-dressing: pastures with artificial fertilisers is becoming more and more popular each year as the attendant benefits are realised. Slow acting manures such as basic slag and the ground rock phosphates s&ould he applied during autumn if due advantage is to be expected in ,the following spring-. Lime should also be applieo in autumn for the same reason. Use two or three cwt. of these fertilisers per acre, or in the case of lime, about 1 ton.

Under no circumstances will either fertilisers or lime . cause much improvement unless proper drainage is provided. Lucerne.—Where the stand has not yet received I cultivation and the ground is still sufficiently dry this yet received cultivation and the ground is still sufficiently dry this work should not be further neglected. The cultivator with lucerne teeth should be used to root out grass and stir the soil well to a depth of four or five inches, provided the stand is sufficiently and if the soil is inclined to become stiff and sodden during winter, do not allow stock to graze as this only tends to aggravate the evil. Leave ,the stand with a fair growth to protect it during winter.