SEASONABLE HINTS FOR THE FARM.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1314, 30 November 1880, Page 3

SEASONABLE HINTS FOR THE FARM.

The season being a "catching one every hay-grower who is unprovided with rick-sheets in proportion to the number and dimensions of the stacks he is building should at once obtain them. When good hay is abundant, and consequently of low value, damaged hay is quite unsaleabls. The cost ot making and spoiling it then involves the grower in additional loss, us. that in effect it is even more important to make good hay when it is oncap than when it is dear. In the latter case, inferior is saleable at some price. A stack once commenced should never be left uncovered at night, nor in showery weather at any time. There may not be much danger of bush fires whilst the crops are green, but ere November expires there will assuredly be in some parts abundance of dry grass on which fire will feed. Now is the time to prepare against such unwelcome visitations by ploughing breaks of suitable width, according to the conditions. The plan of keeping headlands of grain paddocks in lucerne, or of cropping them with potatoes or mangels when the climate is suitable, is a good one. It hay be in demand, the strip of wheat or oats next each fence may be mown at once, and as soon a« cleared the land should be ploughed. Through the middle 01 extensive grain paddocks fallow breaks may be run, but it should not be forgotten that root crops afford better protection against fire than bare fallows, and at the same time enable a profitable use to be made of the land. Bare fallows should be kept free from weeds by running the flock over them at short intervals. It is not to be understood that summer fallowing is the be>t possible plan of treating land to a rest from grain-growing. Fallowing does not enrich or restore the fertility of soil. By the action of sun and air an additional quantity of plant food is rendered available for the use of the next crop, which is therefore by so much the better than a irop taken the previous year would have been. Unless, then, the soil be obdurate clay, whose mechanical condition would be improved by exposure to the atmosphere, it is not expedient to allow it to lie bare. The ground may as well be carrying a crop of poas, clover, or rape, or of pasture o* which clover is a component part, as be lying altogether unused. Grass seeds having been over-abundant and proportionately cheap, many who are accustomed to grow them will this season abstain from doing so, in which event a scarcity will follow a glut. A large proportion ot the sample? on offer this season were extremely foul. These to the owner of new and clean land would have been dear at a gift. Better by far would it be for occupiers of new land to thoroughly clean & small parcel of seed, and from that grow and pave seed for their own sowing, even though th 9 crop might be small in some districts. Where good yields of grass seed can be grown, ard the crop is not very weedy or mixed with other kinds of grass, it will pay to send hands through the crop, to pul! out the strangers, but such course cannot be profitably taken with eight or ten bushel crops of ryegrass or cocksfoot. The best method ef harvesting grass seeds of all sorts is to out the crop with a nice light mower, such as the Buckeye. In the case of prairie-grass, and also rye-grass, do not wait until the seed is ripe, but (especially with prairie) cut before ripening has set in, and cut eaily in the morning, whilsi the dew is upon the crop. Let the binding and stacking of the sheaves follow quickly, and in carting line the dray with a tarpaulin, or great lows of seed will be experienced. Gentle handling in loadingis also essential, and it is to facilitate the work of loading and thus prevent loss of seed that eheafing is practised by many large growers. The htring - binding reapers have not been long enough in übe to test their value in this branch of husbandry. We are inclined to question the utility of those that throw the sheaf violently on the ground, and would prefer such machines as allow the sheaf to slide gently down. In the case of prairiegra^s an immense lo&s of seed would inevitably occur from any rough usage whatever. On the management of pastures during the summer months their .stock-carrying capabilities chiefly depenJ. Overstocking is incompatible with profit. When the sole is once destroyed a whole seabon or roore is lequired to restore it. The pasturage oji any farm should be divided into at least three ptiddocks, but four would be preferable. If the stock has to be classified thei'O should be as many sets, each of three or f jut paddocks, as may be required for such elapsing The stock should be shifted at intervals varying from 10 to 14 days, according to the season of year and the number of stock per acre. Frequent removals are preferable. In the case of lucerne it is particularly desirable to have the crop eaten down qu'ckly, as the plant do^s not like constant nibbling. On that account the series of paddocks bhould comprise not less than four, by which arrangement weekly shifts could bp made. The objection that prairie- grass will not stand grazing would not be urged were such a system as the foi'egoing adopted for its management. 'Mound Melbourne it has iriven enormous cuts of green stuff this season Crops now in seed are like oats in height, but thicker; prairie -gra&s needs only proper management to become in the warmer parts of Victoria a most popular winter fodder plant, and in the cooler districts equally esteemed in the summer. In order to maintain a good sole year after year, it is necessary to allow the grasses time to re-seed the ground ; failing such opportunity, seed must be sown in the autumn. This is, however no real substitute for the self-seeding ; the latter is indispensable if thb native grasses are to be perpetuated, because their seed cannot be bought, and amongst them are many of the most valuable pasture plants known

to stockowners. In order that the pastures may not be damaged by overstocking during the dry season, provision should always be made, as we have suggested in previous months, of green fodder crops for summer use. Maize, although not highly nutritious until the cobbing stage is reached, is up n the whole most usetul to fill the gap. A piece of lowlying gronnd in good heart will throw a crop that will relieve the pastures very materially, and help to maintain the flow of milk at the most critical reason. Rape also i.s fine summer feed, especially if some grass pasture or maize be also available. Early mangels should also be ready by Christmas, to eke out the supply of green fodder. Advantage should be taken of the occurrence of showery weather to urnAe monthly sowings of ir»angels, maize, and such other green fodder crops as may be adapted to the climate of the district. — Australasian.

In- mince-pies there is meat for rcpen-

tanc°. Nunc Dimittis. — Iv New York, a drag diiven by an elegantly-attired lady, with a trim and neatly diesaed coloured boy perched on the foottr.an's seat behind, was passing through the street, when it was espifd by an old negro woman. " Bress de Lord !" she exclaimed, raising her hands as she spoke, u Bress de Lord ! I never ' spected to see dat. Wonder what dat young cullud gem man pays that young white 'oman for driving dat kerridge ? I know'd it'll come, but never 'spected to lib to sco it. Dia niggar's ready to go 'way now."