PROTECTING PASTURES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 47, 14 August 1939, Page 3

PROTECTING PASTURES

Where the work has not already been put in hand, ploughing should be got under way without delay in order to have the ground ready for spring farm crops. * * * * Advantage should be taken of early growth in pastures by making an, application of phosphate, Where autumn.sown pastures are backward their position may be improved by the distribution of super or amnioniated super. * * * * Where paddocks have been heavily fed off they should be chainharrowed and closed to afford them an. opportunity to recover for the spring growth. Ml S£ K> * Full usr can well be made of rotational grazing of pastures at this time of the year. If this practice is adopted pastures which have been fairly heavily grazed will be able to recover from the check given by hard close grazing. ' * # # » The use of cattle should be avoided on the better class of rye-grass pastures that are inclined to. becoma poached Where poaching has occurred it is advisable to carry out soinfi har rowing and to add a little more ryegrass and white clover seed during September. a * a * Paddocks intended for lucerne should be ploughed and fallowed now to permit natural consolidation by the time sowing is opportune. » * * • Ewes heavy in lamb can be materially assisted, particularly where the hay is of poor quality, by feeding out two ounces of meggat nuts a day, or by the use of an oat and bran ration, composed of G7lbs of oats and 331bs of bran, fed at the rate of two ounces a day. Another suitable ration is comprised of 501bs of oats, 201bs of bran and lOlbs cf linseed or meatmeal. These concentrates will definitely* assist in keeping the- ewe even with lamb at foot.