FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1922, Page 8

FARM AND DAIRY.

FODDER FOR COWS. SOME VALUABLE HINTS. _ Our Urenui correspondent writes:— In a recent article in the News it was pointed out that if dairying was to be can-led on successfully it was absolutely necessary, in view of the reduced prices for both cheese and butter, together with the still high cost of living, manures,- etc., that there should be a much higher average of butter-fat per cow realised than is at present the case; and as a means towards this end it was suggested that nothing but the better class of cows should be milked,-whilst every attention should be given to cleanliness as regards machines, dairy utensils, sheds, etc. Another very important 'item in this connection is r the providing of- an ample supply of milk-producing fodder, especially in the early months of spring, when there is. generally a scaroity of grass ; and also of keeping the herds in the best possible condition during the winter.

In view of the repeated failures in swede crops, farmers are now in many instances turning their 'attention to mangolds to supply a sufficiency of roots. That they can be successfully grown in this district has been amply proved, the procedure generally followed being to sow the seed with a ridger or drill, and to thin the plants out when they are sufficiently advanced. This season, however, the method of growing the seeds in a bed and then transplanting into rows has been tried in Wai-toi-toi, and a fine crop of some 70 tons per acre has resulted. It has recently been carted in and occupies a space some 24 yards in length, 9 feet wide and 4 to 5 feet high, straw being placed -on top to prevent frost-bite, and will be ready for use in four weeks from the period of stacking. Wheii-it is taken into consideration that according to experts 28 lb of mangolds per diem is a large ration for a cow. a rough calculation on this basis should prove how payable the proposition is. It means that a herd of 40 cows can be fed daily for a period of nearly twelve weeks; and it would be hard to mention any other fodder where similar results could be obtained from one acre with so little trouble. The variety grown was Sutton’s sugar mangold, which seems to lend itself admirably to transplanting, but no doubt others could be grown as successfully. With regard to the preparation of the soil, a good plan is to plough in June or July to the depth of Gin or 7in, having previously (where practicable) spread over the area a dressing of rotted hay, waste ensilage, or stockyard manure; in some cases the ground is well disced before ploughing. The field can then be left until required to be worked up in '.I e spring, which should be carried out as thoroughly as possible, and then rotted. planting, ridge up with a horse hoe or two-row ridger, the latter being preferable as the manure can be sown at the same time, the quantity used being 3 cwt. The seed should be sown in September on a well-worked bed containing plenty of rotted straw, in a sheltered, spot, but getting all the sun available. Spread the seed evenly over the ground, cover lightly with soil and flatten down with spade. For one acre a plot 2 yards by 10 yards will suffice, and the plants should be ready in about six weeks. It is not advisable to use small, weedy ones, the most sturdy, with plenty of fibre, being the best; in fact, it is better to delay planting rather than use small ones, as these seem to hang fire and never catch up with the larger ones; cut off the tap-root and also about half of the green top. as it makes the plants easier to handle, and they also appear to strike better.

No doubt most farmers have each their own method -of transplanting, but the plan followed in the above instance was to draw the soil towards you by hand, insert the mangold, and place the earth back against it. The time occupied was equal to 45 hours for one man for the acre, the rows being 22in apart and the plants 14in, but it might be mentioned .that a trial row proved that the latter distance could be considerably reduced without detriment to the size of the mangold, and thus give a larger yield per acre. The after treatment consisted of running through once with a hand-hoe, and twice with a horse hoe, the crop not being then touched until it was removed and stacked. One point strongly in favor of this process of transplantation :is that the plants get a good start before the weeds become much in. evidence, and also that a much more regular crop is ensured.