DODDER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9175, 26 August 1908, Page 3

DODDER.

A South African authority, in a paper on dodder in lucerne, writes: — ''Dodder is often called the worst enemy that lucernfi has, but, taken in time, burning it well three times over, with dry grass or weeds, until ■not a vistage of growth is left on the ground, will soon work it out. The burning will not kill the lucerne if the ground is damp, as it will come iup again from below the surface. Both kinds of couch grass are by far :a worse plague to the lucerne grower. The best time to mow the crop is just when the blossoms are full and odd flowers showing here and there in the field. As a general rule, what you mow to-day would be fit to rake to-morrnw and put into •cocks the next day, the thickness of: the crop and weather being taken . into consideration. When raked, the stuff should be tough to the feel, atul before the leaf makes any outcry in the hand. The hay cocks should be well put up and combed out nicely, so as to allow the water to van off in case of rain, not made to6~amau\* Allow these to stand ab.T.it four days on the land before baling. Stacks should be at once thatched with grass, which will keep the lucerne nice and bright."