FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1922, Page 12

FARM AND DAIRY.

PLANTATIONS FOR THE FARM. > /', GHELx’ER AND TIMBER * ' (Written for the Daily News.) The passing away of the bush throughout Taranaki brings to the notice of the fanner the necessity of replacing the shelter which has been destroyed. Many farms lie open to every wind that blows, and it is really pitiable to observe cows with their backs up and tails turned to the storm. Frequent showers of rain or sleet give them wet hides, and the cold, boisterous winds which follow must be chilling to. the very marrow. The prevalency of cold winds is very notable throughout the dairying portion of the province. The establishment of plantations for stock shelter alone would be highly re-, munerative. Cows lying snugly to leeward of a clump of trees thrive marvellously compared with those in exposed paddocks. The delay of benefit arising from shelter plantations probably deters farmers from planting, but it is astonishing how quickly moderate shelter becomes available. Out of pocket expense need be trifling. Fencing is essential. Thousands of trees have been bought and planted in Taranaki only to be destroyed by stock. The area to be planted must be made stock proof before planting, otherwise it is better to leave planting alone.

Increasing scarcity of fencing material impresses the fact that plantations should serve the dual purpose of shelter and timber. It is not desirable to occupy much good level land with trees, •but on practically every farm there are portions which have little or no value for grazing or cropping. The many creeks which at present harbor weeds of various sorts might well be filled up with trees, which would in time smother the weeds and supply the desired shelter and timber without wasting valuable land. If the foregoing suggestion of planting an extent of creek were adopted the writer would recommend planting the bottom of the ereek and the first slopes with eucalyptus macarthuri and eucalyptus viminalis. Both of these are very hardy, and in the shelter of a creek soon grow into substantial trees. They both provide durable timber. Nexi; above them on the creek side cupressus macrocarpa should do well. This tree makes good posts and excellent firewood. On the brow of the creek bank, pinus insignis would do well. This tree is well known. It is hardy and quick-growing. No other tree •will give good shelter in so short a time, and when the more durable timber has established itself into ample shelter the pinus insignis could be cut out. At least six feet should be allowed between the protective fence and the trees in order to prevent cattle from reachingthem.

The Government encourages the planting of trees, and on application to the Conservator of Forests at Rotorua, advice is again given gratis. His department also supplies good yearling plants at very low rates. The varieties named are sold at 4s to 10s per hundred. Planting is a simple matter in the Taranaki soil and climate. If the grass is chipped off with a spade and a spit of earth turned over and pulverised the seedling tree will soon strike and establish itself. Now is the season to start a plantation. The trees should be ordered without delay to avoid disappointment, and the plantation area should be fenced. “To plant a tree” has been counted among the cardinal virtues of the Arabs. We might almost adopt that attitude of mind in Taranaki.

LUCERNE. A WONDERFUL PLANT. Mr. F. W. Greenwood, 8.A., Instructor in Agriculture, gave a most interesting lecture on lucerne at the Weroroa Farm School. In speaking of the origin of this legume he said that it was supposed to have been first grown on the central and southern plateaux of Asia. In 450 8.C., at the time of the invasion of Greece by Xerxes, mention was found oT it, and it was extensively used as fodder for the horses of the Roman army. From Italy the plant travelled to Spain, and thence to the Spanish South American colonies. After this it became widely known, and soon found its way to all parts of Europe and America, and later came to Australasia, being firfet grown successfully in this Dominion in Marlborough between forty and fifty years ago. In one important respect lucerne differed from other legumes, as its roots are known to have reached a depth of thirty to forty feet in search of moisture. It was, however, a mistaken notion to imagine that it would grow anywhere under the same conditions of treatment. The soils most suitable for its cultivation are a good river silt, a sandy soil (once it was given sufficient body by green manuring, etc.), and a limestone soil. AH practical investigations had tended to show that one of the most important features of soil, having reference to its suitability for lucerne, was the subsoil. Stiff clay subsoils and ironstone pans, while they did not absolutely preclude its establishment, often made it so difficult as to render growing it a poor commercial proposition. The question the farmer should ask himself should not be so much “Can I grow lucerne on my farm?” but “Can I grow it profitably?” Mr. Greenwood stressed the importance of thoroughly cultivating the soil. As the young plant was apt to suffer seriously from frost or from the early growth of weeds, drilling must be done either well on in the spring or early in the autumn, not before November for spring sowing, and generally not later than the end of February for an autumn sowing. The land should be well ploughed, then cross-ploughed or disced, provided that the paddock was not over-run with twitch, which was often spread by discing - . The spring-toothed cultivator should be used either after or in lieu of the dises, or immediately succeeding them. The surface for sowing should be rolled, and the drilling followed bv a light chain harrowing. Ho advocated liming the land before drilling with not less than one or two tons per acre of carbonate of lime. Twelve to fourteen pounds of seed per acre had proved a suitable quantity, and either •broadcast sowing or in drills 21 inches apart was recommended. Hp also dealt at length with the cutting s.nd feeding off of lucerne. So far as the uses of the legume were concerned, he said that a well-balanced ration was one which com- ! bined about one part of proteid or nitrogenous matter to six parts of starch•b« sugars, hydrates gad fats. Red sil-

ver hay, which contained proteid 1 to SJB of -carbo-hydrates and fats, and green oats, containing 1 of proteids to 6.2 of carbo-hydrates and fats, might well be said to be well-balanced rations. Lucerne hay was 1 to 3.7 From that it ■would be seen that it was a concentrated food containing a high proportion of proteid or tissue-building, rather than heat-producing, materials. It should, therefore, be fed with greens, watery foods, such as maize, grass, turnips, mangolds, etc. He quoted Coburn, the famous American authority, as saying: “The alfalfa plant furnishes the protein to construct and repair the brains of statesmen. It -builds up the bones and muscles of the war horse, and gives his rider sinews of iron. Alfalfa makes the hens cackle and the turkeys gobble.. It induces the pigs to squeal and grunt with satisfaction. It causes the contented cow to give pails full of creamy milk, and the Shorthorn and white-faced steers to bawl for the feed rack. Alfalfa softens the disposition of the colt, and hardens his -bones and muscles. It fattens lambs as no other feed, and promotes a wool clip that is a veritable golden fleece. It compels skim milk calves to make gains of 21b per day. Alfalfa drills for water, working 365, days in the year without any recompensefrom man. The labor it performs in penetrating the subsoil is eijormous. No other agricultural plant leaves the soil in such good physical condition as alfalfa.” i < POTATO CROP. In the northern districts there should be no delay in the harvesting of potatoes. In fact the digging should have already been completed. There is not anything to be gained by allowing potatoes to remain in the ground after they have matured. In seasons of early rainfalls there is the danger of the second growth, and that is always harmful. The tubers should be gathered and covered as soon as possible after they have been lifted. The activities of the potato moth have by this time of the year lessened, still more care should be extended to the exposed tubers, and especially to those that may -be intended for seed.

Seed potatoes are not usually selected at the harvesting of the main crop, but the observant grower well knows that the heaviest crops are those that are raised from the tubers of the plants that have been marked for seed saving during the season of growth. Those tubers should be lifted apart from the main crop and eared for until the planting season is at hand.

It is recognised that our general farm practice does not contemplate the boxing and greening of seed potatoes, but that method may well be commended for the attention of the careful grower who is not operating on acres of this crop. -Still, whatever is the method, seed potatoes should be selected, or sorted out much earlier than is usual. Sound tubers should be chosen. They should not be thrown in heaps of tons in any dark, damp shed corner; they should be spread out thinly where there is sunlight and air. POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND. Choose a breed and do not change it. Breed with correct type in mind. Study pedigrees for inherited characteristics, relative merit and value. Keep your stock free from disease. Develop the young animals and maintain the breeding animals through careful management and liberal feeding. Advertise better live stock in your district. When you have stock to sell, advertise judiciously. Exhibit at the A. and P. Association shows. Never sell an animal of which you are doubtful. • Remember that a satisfied purchaser is your best advertisement. THE CHIEF FERTILISER. So far as the manurial needs of New Zealand soils are concerned, one stands out very clearly, and that is the general lack of phosphoric acid. Practically speaking, we can never go wrong in applying a phosphatic manure, while, in many instances, we may throw money away when we apply nitrogen and potash. Of course, there are exceptional cases in which a complete manure may give best results, -but such are very rare, so far as top-dressing pastures is concerned.