FIELD NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER

Shannon News, 4 September 1925, Page 1

FIELD NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER

(By W. J. McCulloch, Instructor in, Agriculture, Palmerston Nortte)i i Cultivation.—Areas which havehave been lying fallow should now be ploughed a second time for roots, etc., and kept stirred from time to time to encourage the germination of annual weed seeds, and thus lessen as far as possible competition from the latter during the early growth of the crops, and at the same time ensure efficient aeration and consequent profit from the latent plant foods in the soil. During the past season, many instances proved distinctly the advantages of at least two ploughings for roots. Land intended for potatoes which for preference would have been skimmed ploughed out. of lea early, should now be ploughed again to a reasonable depth and worked up as opportunity offers, with the object of planting towards the end of October. Although the potato responds to a good loose tilth it is preferable not to work down too fine so long as the old turf is well chopped up. The seed should be picked over carefully as opportunity offers, and only good robust healthy seed selected. It is very advisable to arrange for a change of seed every three or four years, choosing a consignment from southern districts if possible. The area selected for rape should be further prepared as occasion permits, with the object of making a first sowing on warm land with a northerly aspect from the middle of October—weather permitting—and the main sowing early in November. In certain localities it is becoming a common practice to sow rape with the ridger—more especially the very early sowings. This method undoubtedly assists the soil in absorbing and retaining heat, and it is very evident that rape sown on ridges does not suffer to the same extent from shock as a result of cold weather as does that sown on the flat. Spring sowings.—Wheat may still be sown in the early part of the month. September is generally accepted as the best month for sowing oats in the north for threshing or chaffing. Where necessary the feeding off of the earlier sown cereals should be completed as soon as possible, and followed by tine-harrowing. Special crops for hay, such as oats and tares or peas should be sown at the rate of three bushels per acre. It ia usual to select this class of crop as a means of smothering troublesome weeds, and, if so, use li bushels tares to li bushels outs. If peas are desired, use 1 1 bushels Grey Partridge or Minto peas to 2 bushels of oats. Wheat may replace oats if desired, and cut fairly green makes a hay much relished by dairy cows. Apply 2-3 CAvt. Super or other suitable phosphatic manure per acre. It is usual t« sow Algerian oats in such mixtures. Italian or Westernwolths ryegrass and cowgrass also make very fine hay, using ,15lbs. of each as a mixture with 5 or 61bs. cowgrass, or 301bs. Italian,. with the same amount of cowgrass. Oats and mustard—2iJ to 3 bushels oats, with about 61bs. mustard —sown now make a useful bite for the ewes and lambs before the rape is ready. Closing for hay.—Grass paddocks intended for hay should be closely grazed and afterwards well tripodharrowed with the object of closing up about the end of the month, or early in October. If not already topdressed this should be done at once, using 2-3 cwt. Super or other suitable fertilizer. The period during which a hay paddock should be closed will depend entirely on requirements. Very early closing means a higher proportion of grass to clovers, whereas later closing means th e reverse; so that the aim should be to close at a time previous experience has shown will result in sufficient clovers being present. On the other hand, a fairly early hay harvest usually results in a better aftermath, before the dry weather sets in and during which a fresh clean paddock is so useful.

Lucerne. —New areas to be sown in lucerne should be kept well stirred from time to time, or if a green crop has been grown for manuring this should be ploughed in at once. Where possible, already established stands should be opened up by cultivation. After winter rains, or where grazing has been carried on the soil has become sodden, and to some extent sealed on the surface, and as this is detrimental to a vigorous growth of lucerne and encourages grass, it should be given a few strokes of the spring-tooth cultivator with narrow lucerne points. Top-dress with 2-3 cwt. super per acre. If the weather is unsuitable for cultivation, postpone the operation until after the first cut is taken.