CATCH CROPS,

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 343, 16 February 1889, Page 7

CATCH CROPS,

The innin secret of successful autumn cropping may he said to be promptness in setting about operations. As snnn as harvest is ovei no time should he lost in breaking up the stubbles and ti ntc the autumn crop sown. As a general rulo, any special application* of manure for an autnmn crop is considered to involve an insufficiently secure investment, as autumn weather is very un-ei tian, and, furthermore, a catcli-crop is, us has been already pointed ( nt, a crop '' by the way, "intended to <ret whntevpr good can be got from such immediately available feitility as the soil possesses. Catch-crops, this Wing so, natural flourish best on land that is kept in *w>d hpait, and they help to prevent waste of the excess of previously applied manure which always exists after harvest, us atother ti:nes, in a soil that has been libei ally dealt with. On very poor aud hungry land only meagre catch crops can be grown, unless at an oxcpss which most fanners would not consider justified by the uncertainty of the weather, One of the best and most useful catch-crops is, no doubt Trifolium Tncavnaturn. It has over most ether crops the advantage that the soil needs for it no specnl preparation. In most cases it i« unneces°ary even to plough up the stubble, the seed beintr merely boardcasted or dulled and harrowed over. It thus ccsts but little beyond the value of thp 20 lbs. of seed which will sreneralh' suffice to get a good plant, and it can, moreover, he sown without loss of time, as soon as the wheat is carried — a matter of some importance with this crop, which is apt to fail somewhat unless it has fairly established itself before the sharp f 1 osts. It is a particularly serviceable crop, because it can be variously utilised. It can be fed off on the land in e-trly spring, or it can be cut for green fodder, or it may be" turned into hay or into silage, or it. may he left standing for seed, as circumstances may dictate In all ca-<es but the last it can' be got off the land in good time for turnip-sowing or cabbageplanting — and in an early season even ,1 crop of seed mny some times be gatheied without getting too Lite fora turnip crop. In an average season a crop of trifolium should yield from a ton to a ton and a half of good hay, but partically greater value than this would represent is realised, if green food is scarce, by its earlier consumption as fresh food. As a seed crop it yields from five to ten cwt. of seed, and in any case it represents a handsome addition to the year's ctops. Winter taies or Vetches :— Where catchcropping is regularly practised, are a very favourite crop for seeming an abundant supply of food in the spiing. They suit heavy loams, and even fairly strong clay soils on which tiifolimn 'wou'd 'h.irdlv succeed. They have a dense and luxuriant mode of growth, which enables them to choke off most of the weeds which would have sqrungup on a fallow, uiilpss it weie very thoroughly cultivated ; and they may be used all through the Rpring months. An excellent mixture which the writer has seen very successuly used as an autumn gpwn catch-prop is one of vetches, beams

and wheat— J£ bushels of vetches, £ bushel of beans, and £ bushel of wheat. This mixture will give a good crop of green fodder which comes in most usefully for diary cattle or other stock on an arable farm, still leaving time to prepare properly for swedes kohKi abJ, or c.ibtmgeItalian Rye Grass is a plant cecond to none for rank and rapid growth in a suitable situation, nnd one, therefore, well suited for catch-cropping. But it is not only in spring that catchcropping affords a means of eking out tlio root crop. There are crops that may be sown to afford an early bite of green food before roots are begun. Perhaps the best example is White Mustard, which, it sown after harvest in a fairly early season, after either wheat or oats, will generally give a pretty heavy crop of geen stuff by mid-autumn It is sown broadcast, about a peck of seed per acre being used, If it is not wanted for food it will still pay for all the trouble it has cost by its manurial I value, ploughed in as a green manure, while it is usually dense enough to act as a successful smolhbting crop I for the autumn growing weeds In the Agricultural Gazette for October, 1848, just 40 years ago, is to be found a report of a paper read before the Hereford j Farmer's Club, in which Mr Batson dwells, among other matters relating to autumn green cropping on the special advantages of white mustard, partially for cousumption' but partially also for ploughing in. He dwells not only on its " growing to a very great size in a very short time," but on its " keeping the land unusually clean" by crowding out weeds, crops which succeed it being invariably good. If even the whole crop is ploughed in, none of it being used for fodder, he considers its growth will be amply paid for by the manurial value that it yields for the following - crop.

Those whose occupation keeps them on their feet a Great deal, are often troubled with chafed, soie. and blistered feet, especially in extremely hot weather, no matter how comfortable their shoes may fit. A pou der is used in the German army for sifting into the shoes and stockings of the foot soldicis, c.illed "Fusslreupulver," and conhi.>tt> of 3 puts salicylic <icid, 10 parts starch, and 87 pirts pulveiised soap stone It keeps the feet dry, prevents chafins:, and rapidly he-ils sore spots. Finely pulverised soapstone alone is very good.