FIELD NOTES FOR OCTOBER.

Shannon News, 2 October 1925, Page 4

FIELD NOTES FOR OCTOBER.

(By W. J. McCulloch, Instructor in Agriculture.)

Pastures.—The pastures will now begin to show vigorous growth more especially where fertilisers have been applied during winter or early Spring, and towards the end of the month and during November should be carefully grazed or topped with the mowing machine if there is any tendency to coarseness or seeding. If reasonably well controlled in this way pasture remains longer succulent and palatable as the drier months approach. A few. sheep are extremely useful on the dairy farm at this time to follow the milking herd and clean up, while the position is reversed on the hill country—the cattle controlling the coarse vegetation not suited to the flock. Paddocks intended for hay may still be closed during the month and early in November —the later’ closing results in a greater development and higher proportion of clovers where they are present but it is generally recognised that the early hay is finer in quality. Spring Sowings.—lf soil conditions arc suitable and a warm aspect chosen i a first sowing of rape, may be made towards the end of the month. These early sowings are always a risk and only a small area should be tried. The main rape crop will be sown during November. A small area of the earlier maturing varieties of soft turnip can be sown towards the end of the month These should provide feed early in January if required, in localities likc}y to suffer from a diminishng grass growth at that time and to come in before other supplementary crops. | Devonshire greystone, purple top mammoth, or pomeranian white globe are suitable varieties for this purpose. Use 2-21 cwt. superphosphate per acre with the crop. Chou moelller or any of the kale family can be sown towards the end of the month and be- I ginning of November and, conditions being favourable, should be ready to commence feeding in February. Manure liberally, as these crops are gross feeders. Maize should not be sown until after middle of November in average districts, but the land shoula , be prepared meantime as should also 1 the area intended for the mangold crop. Land intended for new lucerne stands should be kept moving with the idea of sowing in November, but if the season has the appearance of j being late, it will be well to postpone I the operation until the soil Una warm. I

ed up sufficiently. On the sandy areas along the coast which usually dry out early, more advantage should be taken of the drought resisting qualities of Japanese millet for autumn feeding, and with this end in view, prepare an area for sowing next month. Millet should not be sown until the soil has warmed up and a mixture of 10 to 12 lbs. Of millet and one bushel of peas or five or six lbs. red clover provide a valuable grazing fodder in a dry autumn. Likewise on these sandy areas prairie grass, should be taken advantage of for winter feeding. Several good stands of the latter have been established along the coastal districts. Oats and tares or peas can be sown during the mopth for early green feed and if not required later make very fine hay. Sow I-1S bushel tares to 2 bushels of oats ,or substitute a bushel per acre of peas for the tares.