Worth Knowing

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2485, 16 June 1893, Page 4

Worth Knowing

Mr T. K. Dow, of the Longerenong Agricultural College, Victoria, has been writing to the press directing their attention to a cheap and useful way of growing rape, suggested by the college experience of last season. He says:— "We obtained a very satisfactory return from our rape crop grown in drills in the ordinary way, but we carried out another experiment which, I think, suggests a system more suited to the requirements of northern farmers. I refer to the system of sowing rape broadcast on stubble land as a means of increasing the supply of grazing fodder for stock and improving the condition of the soil. Last season we harrowed in rape seed upon stubble land on the 25th May, and the result was highly satisfactory. The selfsown grain and the rape grew together, the former appearing to beuefit the latter by sheltering it, and a very large quantity of fodder was produced by the middle of July. The crop was cut in October for ensilage, but I believe that after the middle of July five sheep per acre could have been fattened upon it. This season we sowed 20 acres in the same way on the 4th April, and it has already made a good start. I am strongly of opinion that it would be profitable to sow wheat paddocks in this way which are intended either for letting out or for fallow, sowing 81b per acre any time between the middle of March and tho end of May."