LAND, INDUSTRY AND MARKETS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1940, Page 9

LAND, INDUSTRY AND MARKETS

FARM CROPS

CORRECT RATES’ OF SEEDING CONDITIONS OF GERMINATION. DEPARTMENTAL GUIDANCE. In pursuance of the policy of increased production many farmers will this; year be. planting crops that they have not grown for some time previously. if at all. Consequently the information contained in tne Department of Agriculture’s bulletin entitled “The Rates of Seeding of Farm Crops” will be of great assistance. As these bulletins are in fairly short supply, they may only be available to members of organising committees and the following account of the information given in the bulletin will be well worth cutting out for reference.

With most crops there are slight variations in the rates of seeding in different districts, depending on soil and climatic conditions, and in some cases the rates generally adopted in different districts have been given. The aim of a correct seeding is to get a uniform stand of plants spaced so as to obtain maximum efficiency as regards yield and quality. Those who adopt higher rates of seeding than the average usually do so from fear of faulty germination, while, on the other hand, the possibility of overcrowding and subsequent competition causing lowered yield or quality is usually the

reason for adopting lighter rates of seeding than the standard. When cultivation is not quite as thorough as it might be, there is a tendency to increase the rate of seeding. This is also done when sowing has been delayed until late in the season. when cold or dry conditions prevail. The following conditions regulate the satisfactory field germination of any crop: (a) The laboratory germination should be reasonably high; (bl the nature of the seed bed should be satisfactory for that particular crop: (c) sowing should be done under optimum seasonal conditions; (d) the land should be sufficiently clean to ensure that no undue competition from weeds limits the development of crop seedlings; (e) fertilisers such as superphosphate, blood and bone, and potash manures are liable to affect germination if mixed and sown with the seed; and <f) the depth of sowing should vary with the size of seed —small seeds generally require sowing less deeply than larger seeds. SOWING OF CEREAL CROPS. The sowing of cereal crops for grain commences about April and continues until June, when unfavourable weather conditions generally interfere with seeding operations. Spring sowing is commenced in August and continues through until as late as November in some districts. Seeding varies considerably from district to district and according to the time of sowing, since spring sowings are generally made at a higher rate than autumn sowings. Good tillering varieties of wheat, such as Hunter's, are often sown at one and a quarter bushels per acre on heavy land in Canterbury, where the average sowings range from one and a half to one and three-quarter bushels per acre.

On the other hand, actual experiments have shown that a little more, rather than a little less, seed than that ordinarily used in Canterbury should be sown, and there is a distinct chance of gain resulting from better yields without loss of value per bushel by sowing one and three-quarters to two bushels per acre, except on land where lodging is likely to occur. Where the older methods of seed treatment for control of smut, such as formalin or bluestone, are employed, higher rates of seeding are adopted to counteract the effect on germination. The new organic mercury dusts, such as Ceresan and Agrosan, however, are now advocated for treating all cereals, and these are believed to assist field germination rather than depress it. The usual rates of seeding of cereals for various districts are given below:—• •

Rate of Seeding Grain Crop. per acre. Wheat: N. Island 3 bushels Oats: North Island 21 to 3 bushels Barley: N. Island 2 to 21 bushels Cereals for Fodder Purposes. Oats for chaff: North Island 21 to 3 bushels Oats for green feed 2 bushels Cape barley, Black Skinless barley 2 bushels SEEDINGS FOR ROOT CROPS. The rate of sowing turnips and swedes varies according to the method of planting, i.e., whether in 7-inch or 14-inch rows, or whether the crop is sown on ridges and thinned. Mangolds are invariably sown by the latter method. Although potatoes are never planted at any definite weight on a given area, this depending on the size of seed used and the distance apart between the sets and the width of the rows, approximate quantities required to plant an acre under various methods are given.

Rate of Seeding Crop. per acre. Swedes — In 7in. rows (N. 1. 10 to 14oz. In 14in rows 10 to 12oz. Turnips—in 7in. rows 12 to 14oz. In 14in. rows 8 to 14oz. Broadcasted 21b Mangolds— In 26in to 28in rows 4to 61b. Carrots — In 14in drills, unthinned 1 to ljlb. In 21 in. to 28in. drills, thinned 2 to 31b. Potatoes (whole seed 2-4 oz. grade)— Sets 15in apart in 27in rows 26cwt Sets 15in. apart in 30in. rows 23cwt Sets 18in. apart in 27in. rows 22cwt Sets 18in. apart in 30in. rows 19cwt Artichokes — Sets z 2ft apart in 30in. rows 12 to 15cwt. FODDER CROPS AND MIXTURES. Besides crops sucn as rape, Chou moellier and kale, etc., numerous mixtures of cereals with other crops are often grown, and varying proportions of the various constituents are used. Those listed below are only typical of some of the more common mixtures grown for fodder purposes. Occasionally crops such as rape are sown together with a grass seed mixture, and as it is considered that heavy sowings of the crop have a bad effect on the pasture, the rate of seeding is reduced. Rate of Seeding Crop. per acre. Rape ’ 2 to 31b. Chou moellier 11 to 21b. Kale 2~ to 211 b. Maize 11 to 2 bush. Japanese millet 15 to 201 b. Peas for hay 2 to 3 bush. Peas with Oats — Peas, 1 bush.; Oats, 2 bush. Lucerne (in 7in. rows) 151 b. Lucerne (broadcasted) .... 201 b. Prairie grass 751 b. Peas (for seed) 21 to 3 bush. Red clover (pure, for seed) Bto 101 b White clover (pure, for seed) — 4 to 61b. TEMPORARY GRASS MIXTURES. About 31 to 361 b of seed per acre, consisting of Italian ryegrass (25 to 301b> and red. clover (61b). are sown for temporary pastures of one or two years' duration. For a short rotational pasture of two to three years the seeds mixture should consist of Italian ryegrass (151 b perennial ryegrass (151 b red clover (41bJ, and white clover (21b).