ON THE FARM.

Shannon News, 30 June 1925, Page 3

ON THE FARM.

FIELD NOTES FOK JULY. (By W. J. McCulloch, Instructor in Agriculture, Palmerston North.) Cultivation Work. Generally speaking the average land is more or less water-logged in July, which means that cultivation work should be held in abeyance meantime. If for any reason the work has been delayed, do not attempt to make up for lost time by working vvet land. Ploughing should always be postponed if the furrow shows a glaze caused by the pressure of the mould-board. A certain amount of risk may be taken in turning over old lea grounds a little wet, but never in the case of land recently under cultivation. Provided soil conditions are suitable, however, no reasonable opportunity should be lost in turning areas intended for spring crops. Far too many failures are due to late preparation and sowing on raw soil not sufficiently weathered.

Pastures.—Growth ,is now at lowest ebb, and pastures are being supplemented with hay and roots, or autumn sown green fodders. So that the present month is a very suitable time to top-dress with the quicker-acting phosphatic fertilisers, such as super--phosphate, etc., followed by severe ti ipod-harrowing. Both operations mean quicker and better quality pasture as spring advances.

Feeding Off Roots.—The stock will appreciate a run-off with access to hay or good straw, and should be shut off entirely in wot weather in order that the crop should not be wasted, or which is probably more important that soil texture should not be spoiled. Cattle should never have the run of a root paddock in winter if th e soil is inclined to be heavy or wet. Owing to undependable weather in late winter and early spring the breaks should b e small in area so that as little waste as possible should occur.

Drainage—. Open ditches should be noticed after flooding, and any obstructions removed from time to time. The mouths of moles or tiles should also be watched after heavy rains and blocked drains investigated. In such cases notice wet patches above ground in the known course of the drain, when by digging down the cause will usually be located. Indications of want of dz-ainage in certain fields will now be apparent, and plans for future work should be thought out to be materialised later. Surface water should be lot olf areas under crop after heavy rain, but surface draining is never successful, and every endeavour should be made to under-drain as soon as possible. Money spent on cultivation, lime or manures is wasted, where drainage is th’e controlling factor.

Miscellaneous.--All odd jobs, such as repairs to fences, gates, machinery, farm implements, etc.., should be carried out while work on the land may be at a standstill, so that as spring* advances all possible labour may be available for the busy season.