DOES FARMING PAY? FIELD NOTES FOR JUNE.

Shannon News, 2 June 1925, Page 2

DOES FARMING PAY?

FIELD NOTES FOR JUNE.

(By W. J. McCulloch, Instructor m Agriculture, Palmerston North.) Cultivation.—Plans for next season's cropping should be thought o so that the necessary ploughing can be pushed ahead for intended spring crops. The benefits of winter tallowing—especially where broken out ot old grass—are extremely important, and should always be taken advantage of. Such areas ploughed m spring and sown almost immediately afterwards generally result in poor yields and unsatisfactory returns tor the cultivation, seed, and manure used Land recently under crop should be loft turned up as rough as possible in order that greater surface be exposed to the ameliorating effects of the weather. Grassland should be ploughed shallow and flat; more especially if brown-top, chewings, etc., are present, as this to a great extent prevents renewed growth starting betwieen the furjows, and assists the decay of the turfskimmer attachment on the plough , is especially useful in this connection where a second ploughing In spring is impossible. Feeding roots.. —Mangolds and carrots will now be safely in clamps—the former for use later in winter ana early spring. Swedes are brought into use as the harder varieties of soft turnpis are finished, and like the latter must be fed with care to dairy cows, otherwise milk taint is sure to occur. Fred only immediately after milking, and avoid very laTge quantities, and allow a resaonable ration of good nay. The dairy herds will now be rearing the end of Production for t’>* season, and with pastuie growth d'minished should be well 'ared for and properly fed if maximum production is to be maintained *1 ext see -on. Too many cows are .„vr,od oi-t to fossick for themselves m winter and expected to comp m m soring and produce satisfactorilyPastures —During the present month art July, the older pastures ••should h" severely tripod-harrowed, and if not, already done, where the oast lire composition justifies, should he top-dressed with suitable phosphate fertilisers. Tripod harrows .are to be preferred rather than chainharrows, for while the latter only scatter manure droppings, the former cultivate as well by opening the caked surface and admitting air and crea ing a surface mulch, as well as removing old dry growth. This work •'an be carried out when opportunity offers or when other cultivation is at a standstill. . , , , Turning.—Lime may still be apph.ea

during this month. For the heavier •vpes of clay land, or drained swamp, '■•tc.. use 15 cwt. to one ton ground burnt lime, or on lighter soils crush'd limestone (carbonate of limei at f.-nm so cwt.'upwards per acre. Even if marked result is observed in nic.nl. growth from the use of lime, l boTe can be no doubt that, the remnant contains quality which •’dll ,be reflected in the appearance of ‘he stock. , Draining.—Any drainage schemes should be pushed ahead as oppor‘unity offers. Open ditches should be cleaned and broken culverts repaired. See that all outlets of tile or mole drains, etc., arc clear, and running freelv. and note instance's where same are failing to discharge so that the cause may be located as early as possible. , . Miscellaneous.—Pick over potatoes for decaying tubers, and sort seed lines. Strain and mend fences and -ates. pairf and repair farm implements, cut hedging, etc., shift stock from turnip breaks in wet wather.