WORK FOR NOVEMBER

Shannon News, 28 October 1927, Page 4

WORK FOR NOVEMBER

ON A DAIRY FARM. Temporary Pastures. November is a suitable time for the sowing of temporary pastures, and as a general rule spring-sown pastures have a higher clover content than those sown in the autumn. For either feeding-out or for grazing, a mixture of 30 lbs. Italian or Western Wolths ryegrass and 5 lbs. red clover or cowgrass per acre will give a useful amount of feed. To increase the yield of herbage, 2 cwt. of superphosphate should be applied at the same time as the seed is sown. Hay Paddocks. Preparation can now be made for the hay-making season by selecting suitable stack sites, and laying down stack-bottoms of old posts and other suitable material, getting fencing materials together, and seeing that the mowers and rakes are in good order and readiness. Green Forage Crops, Novemher is the principal month in nearly all parts of the Dominion for the sowing of summer and autumn green forage crops for the supplementary feeding of the dairy cows and both maize and millet may now be sown as soon as danger of frost is past, being useful crops during a dry autumn foi; tb.e herd. Maize. For green feed, maize should be sown at the rate or 40 lbs. to 50 lbs. per acre in 28in. drills, or, if broadcasted at the rate of 15 to 2 bushels per acre. It is a common mistake to sow maize too shallow; it is best burred at least 2in. deep, and guarded as far as possible against birds. Ninety Days and Hickory King are good varieties for green feeding, and a suitable manure is 2cwt. of superphosphate mixed with 11 cwt of bone and blood manure. Sown with either Scotch tares or Partridge peas, maize gives a better balanced feed for milk production, in which case about 15 bushels per acre of each should be sown. - Japanese Millet. This crop should not be sown too early, as it requires a warm soil, from mid-November to mid-Decem-ber being a suitable time for sowing according to local conditions. It is a useful crp for (dairy cows during dry weather, especially in the North Island, but a limited quantity only should be sown as it grows rapidly and sion becomes rank. It is best sown in 7in. drills at the rate of 15 lbs. to 201bs; of seed per acre, Avith 2 cwt. to 3 cwt. of superphosphate. It is a good plan to sow it in combination with red clover or crimson clover, when 10 lbs. of millet and 7 lbs. of clover should be sown. • The Turnip Crop. November is the recognised month for sowing the main turnip crop, but in districts such as parts of Canterbury, which are subject to the depredations of the grass beetle, it may be advisable to delay sowing until December. The swede crop in Otago and Southland is generally sown this month. Swedes grow more slowly than soft turnips, requiring usually from 5 to 7 weeks longer to reach maturity. They require better soil conditions than soft turnips, and-a more generous application of fertilisers than usually given is recommended. Instead of a fairly large poor crop, the aim should be to produce'a heavy crop on a smaller area. A suitable manure is 3 cwt. superphosphate, 1 cwt. lcainit, and 1 cw T t. dried blood, applied at the rate of 5 cwt. per acre. Lucerne. In most districts November is a suitable month for the undertaking of lucerne establishment, but in cold or exposed situations the seed sowing will be better delayed until December. If the ground? has not been limed, 10 cwt. per acre of crushed limestone' should be applied without delay, or 5 cwt. of burnt lime may be applied just before the seed is sown. About 3 cwt. per acre of inoculated soil should be distributed, the soil should be well consolidated, and about 3 cwt per acre of superphosphate used. In order to obtain a good stand of lucerne, clean land, a fertile soil, a firm seed-bed, and favourable weather to germinate the seed are essential. Intercultivation. During this month . all growing crops which were sown in wide drills, such as mangolds, carrots, cliou moel;lier, Buda kale and early maize crops, should be cultivated between the roAvs This stirs the soil between the rows, checks loss of moisture by mulching, and keeps down the weeds. Intercultivation of crops invariably gives heavier yields under dry conditions. The Herd. An important matter to be attended to this month is the sorting out of the cows ant? heifers and mating them with suitable bulls. This will naturally entail a certain amount of culling, and all cows drafted out as unsuitable for breeding purposes should be pastured well away from the dairy herd. The Herd Sire. The selection of the herd sire is a matter of great importance in the efficient management* of the dairy farm,

and if the herd is purebred or grade it is equally important that he should be both a purebred and one descended from stock of outstanding milking characteristics. Herd-testing is a necessary aid to dairying improvement in that it not only enables the farmer to draft out with certainty his unprofitable coavs, but it supplies him when selecting a herd sire Avith a record of th-e milk-producing capabiliity of the bull’s progenitors.