FIELD NOTES FOR JANUARY.

Shannon News, 31 December 1925, Page 3

FIELD NOTES FOR JANUARY.

(By W. J. McCulloch, Instructor in Agriculture, Palmerston North). HAY. The slow growth of grass this season will very materially affect the yield of. most'hay paddocks, as unfortunately grass is inclined to run up to seed head quite independent of whether the bottom growth has been luxuriant or not. However, the majority of the grass hay in the Wellington province this season will not be ready until some time in January, but, as quality is 'always of great importance, the crop shauild be carefully watched and cut before an undue amount of indigestible fibre has formed. Many samples of hay examined last year indicate that digestibility is often sacrificed in the endeavour to obtain a supposed greater yield, and 'again it is sometimes noted that sufficient care is not exercised in saving the crop. No doubt if the weather is favourable the labour of cocking may be cut out, but nevertheless, the finest quality material is made by curing in cocks. A further important point, and one which does not receive the attention due to it, is staek4;pi'lding. The waste from badly constructed stacks must be enormous, probably due in a great measure to the usual hurry and bustle which appears to be inseparable from haymaking. Keep the heart of the stack high at. till times, and build in even courses. It should be realised that a steep roof ; may easily absorb moisture if the inner layers of material are below the outer courses. Where more than one stack is required to hold the crop, and provided a good cover is available, and the weather reasonable, the first stack may he allowed to settle down while a second is carried up to a certain height., Immediately a stack is completed rake down carefully and put on the necessary wires weighted with posts, or sacks of soil, and allowed to further settle for three or four weeks before thatching. All hay should have at least 10 lbs of coarse salt per ton added to the stack, and more if the quality is inferior.

CATCH CHOPS. Will ere cereal crops for hay, or soft turnips or other fodders have been removed, every effort should be made to sow catch"crops, except in oasts where it may be necessary to fallow for weeds. Provided the weather is favourable, and the moisture content sufficient, soft turnips may still be sown early in the month. A mixture of Italian" rye at 301bs, with crimson clover sibs, and' 3 or 4 lbs cowgrass per acre, sown a little later will provide useful winter graying, or where the land is required for spring sowing Algerian eats or skinless barley (black) . also make good winter and early spring fodder. ROOTS.

Owing to tru) lateness of the seagon some of the mangold crops will only he ready for thinning early in January. Inter-cultiiviation and weeding 6hould hie carefully done, remembering that the attention to these details, often mean all the difference between' a heavy yielding) crop and a very indifferent odie. Work annong all root crops should be consistently attended to until the tops meet in the rows. Should the weather prove dry there is all the more reason to keep inter-cultivation going in order to retain moist are. PASTURES.

Thin, old pastures may be allowed to run to seed head if convenient, awl subsequently thoroughly tripodbarrbwed; In many instances this method will assist in making, a better sole, while in the case of young grass it is very necessary not to allow seeding to tafce place in the first year. If stock cannot be depended upon to check seeding a mower should he need. RAPE. The earlier sown'rape may have matured sufficiently for feeding,' The lambs should be turned on before the leaf shows any indication of beoonir ing red, otherwise the feeding quality will he impaired. In order that the greatest profit from rape may be obtained, iambs should have an occasional change to other fodder, and Where available lucerne or young grass is preferable. Rape is undoubtedly the best fattener for sheep, and it is only inferior to lucerne in that it is an annual. Lucerne or oats and tare hay or chaff makes a very fine combination wliile the lambs aire feeding off rape. It is realised that some,laird is not suitable for the successful , growth of -lucerne, .but m in every case other legumes such 'as clover, or tare hay, can be produced, and one or other should certainly be in evidence on both the sheep or dairy farm. LUCEiRNE.

Where lucerne stands are becoming polluted with weeds or grass, advantage should be taken to thorofugTily cultivate during hot, dry weather immediately after Glutting. Many stands have become badly consolidated this season, and as soon as weather conditions are favourable the soil should he thoroughly stirred with the narrow-pointed cultivator and every effort made to kill grass, etc., which has taken hofld as a result of consolidation. Owing to unfavourable weather areais intended to be sown in lucerne have been held over meantime, and these should be kept stirred With the idea of sowing in February. ""