VALUE OF LUPINS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 248, 27 July 1940, Page 3

VALUE OF LUPINS

AS A FOOD AND MANURE.

ADDRESS BY MR W. H WILKINSON.

“I would not be without them-,” said Mr W. H. Wilkinson, speaking on lupin-growing at a meeting of farmers in Ashburton yesterday afternoon. The main points of the lecture wore the value of lupins as a sheep feed and as a soil-improver in preparation for grass or wheat. An appeal had been made for increased production said Mr Wilkinson, and ’ lupins could play a part in this effort. In a normal year, if the plants were ploughed in, a following wheat crop would give an increased yield. Stressing the value of lupins as a winter feed Mr Wilkinson gave examples of the carrying capacity of his farm at Chertsey. In one case 1100 ewes had boon fed on 50 acres for six weeks and at the end of this period 1300 had been maintained for another two weeks. Lupins were not, however, a winter feed and some other provision was necessary for July and August. Good growth in the autumn might be followed by frosting in June and to derive as much benefit from lupins as possible even when they are frosted, Mr Wilkinson advised that they should be mowed or disced. Sheep could bo fed quite well in this manner. Greatly Reduce Scouring. . There was a certain difficulty in inducing sheep to take the lupins, but when they acquired the taste they found in the plant something which they really desired. He had a theory that the alkali content of lupins was a mild form of poison which when taken by sheep greatly reduced scouring or worm-trouble. The plant had the effect of loosening up even stiff soil, said Mr Wilkinson, and ploughed in it was possible to drill on the top of the furrow. There was usually no need for manure when sowing and the lupin was not very susceptible to blight. Autumn sown lupins, if not grazed too heavily, would seed in December. A simple means of resowing was to run the grubber over the ground. This would greatly benefit the land. If the plant was beaded for seed, however, the ground would not benefit. Mr Wilkinson spoke of cases where lambs had been fattened largely as a result of feeding on lupins. Farmers had to be careful, however, .that they had another paddock where they could run their sheep periodically. Harvesting of Seed. The difficulty of harvesting the seed was admitted by Mr Wilkinson. If when the seed was reaching the ripe stage there was excessive heat the pods might hurst so that a large percentage of the seed would he lost. Lupins were easy on sheep’s teeth, and ewes that usually could be kept only for two yars could he retained for another season when fed with them. Considerable importance was attached to the time.of sowing and Mr Wilkinson outlined an experiment which he had carried out at his farm over a period of seven years. By alternating lupins with wheat, oats and grass he had had some first-class crops in spite of the thrashing he had given the land. Mr Wilkinson advised thati seed should not be sown deeply and the ground should not bo rolled afterwards. If the seed was damp it was best to put it out in the sun on a sheet for a. few hours. The seed was most successfully cured when the bags were hung on a fence.

Air H. c ßratley thanked Air Wilkinson for his valuable address,