WORKING THE FALLOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 620, 23 March 1929, Page 29

WORKING THE FALLOW

IMPLEMENTS TO USE The Implements that should be used in working the fallow depend largely on the nature of the soil and the state of the fallow. If the soil is medium to heavy loam and is free from weeds, the harrows or spring-toothed cultivator would serve. If semi-alluvial ground or light red loam or heavy black self-mulching soil and free from weeds, the harrows would be the most suitable implement. If heavy red loam or clay country, or if weeds are prevalent, the rigid tine scarifier should be used. The determining factor, however, is usually the amount of weed growth. It is often possible to deal very effectively with weeds when very young by the use of the harrows, says Dalgety’s “Review,” but should weather conditions, etc., delay the working until they are too big, the rigid tine cultivator with suitable points will put the fallows into excellent condition. The rigid tine cultivator or scarifier is the most satisfactory implement for most classes of work. Compared with the spring-tooth, because it can be set to the desired depth, it does more uniform work, makes a more even mulch, and leaves the top of the compacted sub-surface area level, not ridged. This makes for a much more uniform condition of the fallow generally, and results in a more even crop. With the correct points, or fitted with knife bars, it can deal much more effectively with weed growth, particularly thistles and melons; it has not, however, the sifting action of the spring-tooth, and should not displace it for the early cultivations. The disc cultivator is without doubt the best implement of all to put the fallow in bad condition. Admitting Its value in destroying large weeds, it is evident that they could almost always have been killed while quite small by the use of other implements. Large weeds are a sign of neglected fallow. Deep discing ruins the compacted sub-surface layer and delivers the clods to the bottom and fine soil to the surface, where it is easily crusted by the first rain. As discing is usually done in January or February, not only is the whole physical condition of the fallows practically ruined, but rapid evaporation of the moisture results, and there is not sufficient time to restore consolidation unless special means are devised, and they very rarely are. The Commonwealth Statistician has issued official production statistics for the Commonwealth for the 1926-27 season. The number of sheep totalled 104,267,101, while 924,410,5531 b of wool were produced valued at £69,430,000. The total value of pastoral production was £111,168,000. Agriculture yielded £98,294,503, and 17,750.000 acres were cropped.