THE LAND.

Auckland Star, Issue 291, 9 December 1925, Page 18

THE LAND.

FARMING IN THE KING COUNTRY HAYMAKING. (By "AXCHORITE.") ~ Quite a-number of settlers fin. thii district .have, already commenced hay making activities, and, although the crops will-be somewhat on the ligln side, owing to/ the backward spring, thi area under grass for hay is much large] than in any season since white settle ment began in this territory, some 2; iyears ago. ■ j Profiting by the experience of las !year, there. is a probability 'that man i of the grass paddocks cut for hay wil again be closed, in order to secure i fcecond crop in February. Owing to thi backward spring retarding the growtl of grass, all last season's reserve ■ cropi of hay have now been fed to the dairj herds. Early Mowing Advisable. . It is frequently the case, both, here and elsewhere, that grasa for hay is allowed to become overripe before it ie put. The grass should always be cut before the plants have seeded, otherwise the result is unpalatable, dry,' haystraw. It should be remembered that succulence in hay is of greater importance than bulk of dry material, and that quality is only present when the grass is cut and saved in the earlier stages of growth. In other words, as the grass reaches maturity, the quality passes as the plants ripen. Good hay is obtained by cutting the stand as soon is the growth is heavy enough to stand up. to the mowing-machine. When special catch crops are used for hay, such as peas and oats, the correct time, to mow this mixture is when the peas are in flower. W?-'!f aBB for ha y should be left standeon.is? r , the P redo minating plants it mStaV . are . in flower ' if th * vaults are to be reached. j£ Haymak ing Equipment. «o4rS Z"n* Who * xc only a * iodder for hlv 1 a ° reage of K- raßSeßfu V Whether it V doubtent v " " w ould be a payable in?*»*B nuipmer e haycon- »'.•-. "■- j

owners, who frequently combine labour I forces in saving hay with the oldfashioned . equipment. The initial cost of a -modern hay-saving plant could be borne by, .three or four neighbours. The saving effected in labour costs each season, and the gain due to the improved ..quality of the crop, would .mean that the equipment would pay for itself in a few seasons. , ■ ... Methods. .' The . whole eecret" of. successful hay saving-lies iri : the use of only the best methods : of handling 'the stand. "Ttie employment of modern machinery and general, equipment will cut down the-'cost of the operations very materially—and it will also help to minimise the effect-of the weather, and much more readily enable a higher quality of haj to be saved. Too much hand-forking injures hey, as it is conducive to the loss of the leaf and that is the moat valuable part ol the hay. The greater part of the food value of the hay is in the leaves, and hand-forking in the old way, into the dray or- sledge, and then on to the stack, brings about i great loss of the leaves. The use of-hay-sweeps- effects- a 5( per cent saving of labour, it also makes it possible to handle < more bulk in ■ a given time, and this lessens the likelihood of damage by bad weather. A 'bay sweep is capable of handling U] to half a ton of hay at a load.. The ha; may be carried from the furthest cofne" of the paddock to the stack, with tin least labour.- These sweeps work quit satisfactorily .even, on rolling- country They- may be operated quite easily by a boy. The exposure to continued rain i< very injurious to hay. It reduces iti quality .in feeding value and iti palatability. Even heavy dews will cause considerable bleaching. Excessive wet brings about mould and genera! discolouration, as well as the loss of the pleasant aroma of well cured hay. The use of the stacker or elevator greatly reduces hay-making costs, as nc forking need be done, even on the .'stack. The sweeps and elevators make the operations comparatively light and easy as compared with the older methods. A horse in charge of a lad is all that is necessary to hoist the hay , to the top of the stack. - • -','..; ■ It is difficult to; describei when fit to be , stacked, and experience is the beet guide.* If the hay-maker ia uncertain, he would: -be-well *ad vised to have" the opinion of a neighbour to help him to decide when stacking should be done. Special care must be taken when there is much clover in the stand to ensure that the fleshy stems are dried sufficiently to prevent heating when in the. stack. Several stacks of hay .were lost in the King Country last winter through carelessness in this respect. '. • ' BAMS FOR CHILE. , (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ■r; DDNEDIN, this "% . The motor snip ; Alynbank is loading ♦ bpe " : 102 stu * : Corriedale Cnc'rf Srt Uana (Chile) to the IK- yof Dal gety and Company.