CULTIVATIOY OF TARES.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1272, 24 August 1880, Page 2

CULTIVATIOY OF TARES.

The tare is a plant of .very bardy growth, and has beon cultivated in Britain from time immemorial. The cultivation of tares is worthy the attention of every farmer, because of their value as a substitute for grass for stock during early summer, when many of the ineadowa are shut up for hay. There are only two varieties commonly sown — namely, the winter tare or vetch and the spring tare or vetch. There is a considerable difference in the habit.* of these two sorts. The spring vetch runs up a stalk very early, aud branches out very little, while it is not of so hardy a nature as the winter vetch, and the food ia of a weaker quality. It is also very sensitive to fio»t, and dops not produce a great weight of food. The stalks, being weak, fall to the ground very eailey, thus getting mouldy, and leaving only the tops as food of any value. The winter tare has a shorter stem, with numerous branch.^, and produces a considerable weight of sound, nutritious food, except en very rich land, whore it gets overgrown and is apt to lodge very soon ; though if sown in the spiing on such land it is found to an>wer vory well. It will stand sever frosts, and if early feed is required, it i-> undoubtedly tho best kind to sow. Tares of either sort will do well on any moderately rich or good soil, whether clay or sandy lcam, provided it is not to wet. It is scarcely oo^sible to ilistingui-h the seed of the two varieties, owing to their being so vory much alike, both in size and color. The farmer mu«fc therefore rely on the honesty of the seedsman to a great extent, only taking care that the seed is plump and entirely free from weed eeed* of any tori We should imagine that tto better wiv would be for every farmer to save enough seed for his own use every year : vetches are very easily thrashed, and no dres-intr ia required beyond sifting to seperate seed from husk. The winter tare is generally sown in March and April : the first sowing ought to be made as soon after harvest as possible ; and if a supply extending over a long period is desired, another sowing may be made a month or two later. The spring vetch should be sown about the mouth of August, ami it will be rentlv for mowing soon "after the supply of winter sown is exhausted. The quantity of seed to sow per acre depends upon the condition and quality of the soil— from 1 } to 2 bushels will generally be found sufficient, but a less quantity will be required if the crop is meant for seed. A slight sprinkling of oats or rye sown with tares will keep them from falling close to the ground. Tares are usually sown broadcast, but if the land is foul with weeds it is advisable to drill the seed in rows at a sufficient distance apart to admit of a working the horse hoe between them. To ensure a really heavy crop of tares after a corn crop, a good dressing of farmyard manure must be ploughed in at a good depth. Tares are rather gross feeders, and in England they are generally treated to five or six hundredweight of guano per acre, applied previous to ploughing, or mixed with an equal weight of dry ashes and drilled in with the seed.

The produce of a fairly good crop when cut green is from 10 to 12 tons per acre. Tares are sometimes made into hay ; but

1 this operation is attended with a good deal of risk, unless in a very favorable season ; and the weight being so much leas than in a green state, the practise is seldom followed. The weight per acre when made into hay is generally about 3 tons. They are sometimes fed off at Home by folding sheep on them, but thid plan is not to be recommended, on account of the great waste caused by the sheep tramping down and spoiling a great portion of the crop. The yield of seed varies from 20 to 30 bushels per acre, but in a good season, with careful tillage, forty-two or more bushels may be obtained. The seed is usually preserved for sowing, and in some cases given to poultry and horses, but it is not considered very good for them, being of a heating and very stimulating nature. Horses thrive very well on green tares, even better than they do on rye-grass and clover : and the same remark is applicable to fattening cattle, which feed faster on this article of green fodder than upon any kind of grass or escuentwith which we are acquainted. Danger often arises from their eating too many, especially when foddered, as colics, ana other stomach disorders are apt to be produced by the excessive loads which they devour.

otj q i si s «2 £ *3 I I ? Water 83*65 73*41 77*320 82*16 Flesh-forming matters ... ... .. 4*65 4-40 3*512 3-56 Heat and fat producing substances ... 10*26 19*11 17*438 12*74 Inorganic matters ... 1*57 3*oB 1*730 1*54 100*00 lOO'OO 100*00 100*00

Tares ought to be well harrowed in and rolled in the spring- to render the surface as smooth as possible, in order that the scythe may work close to the ground when mowing them. "When intended for green food they should always be cut with the scytue. for by using the sickle or reap hook, many of the stalks are pulled up by the root or broken off, thereby rendering the second growth of little value. For* saed, they may be cut in any way, and dried and threshed in the same manner as peas. As green food tares are very little behind other leguminous crops, such as lucerene, sainfoin, clover, &c. The average composition is as follows : —