FIELD NOTES FOR APRIL

Shannon News, 25 March 1927, Page 4

FIELD NOTES FOR APRIL

By W. J. McCulloch, (Ininstructor in Agriculture Palmerston North.) Work on the average farm should be slackened down sufficiently to allow time for any further Autumn topdressing not yet completed. The Autumn has generally been recognised as the proper time to apply the slower acting fertilisers such as Slag, Nauru, Ephos etc., or mixtures of the latter >manures and super while super straight was’only applied in spring. But in many cases straight super can also be used very profitably in Autumn. This may possibly apply more to hill country work •where a highly concentrated phosphate can be handled more profitably owing to transport costs, sledging or packing, and the application on the ground. In the late autumn and early winter the ground is usually in very good condition for the operation and this means that the work can be carried out with more expedition and consequently is less expensive. While the slower acting manures can, under certain conditions of soli and climate, favourable to their use, be expected to give good results the following spring, super applied during autumn or early winter usually causes a freshening of the growth soon after application and whether or not, the results will be easily as good as if it were applied later in the early spring. Hence, where it is more convenient to handle super at this time on hill country it should be understood that at least no loss occurs during the intervening months until spring growth commences. Where it is necessary and economically sound lime should be applied now as early as possible. Recent experiments in certain parts of this district seem to point to he fact that where some of the slower acting phosphates are to be used, the application of lime about the same time has a suppressing effect in the first season. Later experiments show that this effect does not obtain when lime is applied early enough.

Tripod harrowing of old pastures ! a universally recognised as very important and like top-dressing, its advantages need not be elaborated here. It is quite optional whether this operation is carried before of after top dressing. A s soon as autumn rains have softened the. surface, the tripods can be used with advantage.

Autumn sowings of grass should bo completed as early as possi!)le in the month and as previously mentioned, mixtures can only be suggested after a knowledge of each particular district, and careful judgement is required to avoid unnecessary expense, for it must be remembered that it is not the constituents so much desired that always establish but those most suited to the particular conditions. Where temporary pasture has ceased to be profitable or where permament pasture is worn out and eanot be satisfactorily renovated by top dressing, they should be skim-ploughed and allowed to fallow during winter in readiness for sowings of mangels, turnips, maize etc. If the soil is heavy fallowing ha a a very beneficial effect, but on the lighter soils where loaching may occur as an effect of winter rains, it may be advisable to sow a catch crop such as oats or barley for winter and early spring feed The feeding of the better keeping varieties of soft turnipg will continue and where hay is available a reasonable ration should be allowed. The swede crop will be bulbing fast as the weather gets colder and mangels should be maturing. For dairy cows

It i s advantageous to pull the roots and feed out on more elevated and drier portions of the pasture, choosing a clean, fresh site daily. Feeding. eff roots by dairy cows is to be avoided as much waste occurs by this method while the quantity fed is difficult to control and often results in ;.lie ill-health of tho herd. Feeding out should be done as far as possible on the poorer, lighter portions of the paddocks or where grass grub has boon in evidence.

The remainder of the main crop should be lifted before the ground becomes sodden with winter rains. The tubers should be carefully stored and if a shed is available can be conveniently picked over from time to time in inclement weather during winter. If not already done the lucerne stand should be given a thorough cultivation before the ground becomes sodden with winter rains, The main object is to tear out all grass that may have become established as a result of consolidation and to allow the air free circulation in the soil. The cultivation of a lucerne stand at this time should be so effective that oats could be drilled in, and in point of fact, this latter method is common practice now in some localities. Oats shelter the almost dormant lucerne in winter and do not monopolise the ground the following season like grass, while assisting to keep out the latter. As tho ground becames softened with rains drainage of h w lyng areas

should be pushed ahead. The resources .of some Of the richest land has not yet, been tapped. Make sure of a good outlet whether it be by Dutch well, creek or watercourse, otherwise much labour will be wasted. Plan the scheme first and do not expect a few drains to effectively £teo a vast area where the soil type ; or fall is unfavourable. Hedges should be. . {claimed, .gateß. .fe.pai.red,_. u and where metal is available, gate-ways filled In.