Page 20 Advertisements Column 1

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21320, 13 November 1934, Page 20

■r AUCTIONS. H. MATSON AND CO.' SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER. (TRIFOLIUM iSUBTERRANEUM). oil a variety of soils and, when given suitable climatic conditions and sufficient phosphoric acid, it will grow ■well on calcerous land, in sour soils, in all sandy soils, on most claylands, and in peaty soils. It is, however, best adapted to, and gives the'most successful results, in good well-bal-anced loams having a good natural drainage. ' ; Probably no other pasture plant has sprung into prominence so quickly as Subterranean Clover. Generally, the clover variety requires a fairly good soil, but the big thing that amazes growers of Subterranean Clover is its vigorous growth revealed on poor soils. From all corners of the State come expressions of approval for this miraculous plant, and the punch it gives to pastures. Useless land has been converted into lanaV of extreme grazing usefulness, land value ■ has doubled, and carrying capacities' have been increased two and three-fold. ! SEED MAY BE SOWN AT ANY TIME FROM MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER UNTIL FEBRUARY. If the young plants have not started before the cold weather arrives, the crop does not make the luxuriant stand which follows an early germination, except when an exceptionally long drawn-out growing season is experienced, so for average seasons it is essential to seed Subterranean Clover in the autumn, and if possible to have the land prepared beforehand. The seed shown be sown on the first autumn rain which is sufficiently heavy to lead to the germination of the seed. Being an annual, it must be allowed to FORM SEED IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER, otherwise it will be greatly thinned out of the pasture. Under ordinary conditions of stocking, however, runners of Subterranean Clover sets sufficient seed under the soil to maintain it in a pasture for all time. Subterranean Clover should be lightly stocked during its first year's growth in order to enable the runners to become well grown and form plenty of seed. The intervening spaces between the plants are then quickly covered. If heavily stocked before the runners are well established, many plants will be pulled up and destroyed. Where lucerne will thrive it is to be preferred to Subterranean Clover, being of a more permanent and drought-resistant character, and providing feed during all periods x>f the year, but on soils too shallow to allow of a deep-rooting system beinc developed, country too rough for cultivation to be carried out, and for" working in among estab- • lished pastures, Subterranean Clover is exceptionally valuable. Subterranean Clover is remarkably economical. One sowing will last a lifetime, and this fact alone makes the seed cheap even at a high price. This cannot be said of any other fodder plant. In addition, Subterranean Clover will produce wonderful crops on relatively poor, dry, sandy, or gravelly land, and improves the soil, adding humus and nitrogen. When sown alone it is advisable to sow a liberal seeding, as "the first cost is the only one." It will ensure better and quicker results, which enable the plants to establish themselves more thickly. 10 TO 12LB PER ACRE, in experts' opinion, is not too much, but mix with spil or sand in order to get an even distribution. In mixtures, 4 TO 6LB are sufficient. During the first season after sowing, shut the paddock up from the beginning of November so as to allow the plants to seed, instead of, grazing "them too heavily. Stock like its wealth of rich herbage, and a few acres always prove a profitable venture. In addition to possessing extra high feeding and grazing value, Subterranean Clover is very useful for silage. It makes a Very rich and superior food as silage, being very palatable and rich in protein. SPECIALLY RECLEANED MOUNT BARKER Subterranean Clover ,Seed, extra choice quality. Price 2s per pound, obtainable from H. MATSON and CO. SMALL FIELDS ADVISED. Subterranean Clover should be rown in small fields so that it can be pe cuixivaieu "i " a " v "" z,r-." vear in the early autumn. Thin stands should be harrowed each year hi the early autumn, to ensure seed is spread on to the bare patches. Clover fields will allow of a crop of another kind being grown for one year without affecting the Clover stand. THE VALUE OF TOP-DRESSING. Top-dressing applies to Clovers as it does to other pasture fodders. To ensure a good crop of Clovers for grazing or hay-making, the application of one cwt of Superphosphate to the acre 'is advisable. When this is done it does not matter how poor or gravelly the soil. With sufficient moisture, the results are amazing. One farmer reports that as a result of sowing clover, and top-dressing it, his wool production advanced at least 30 per cent, and his ■ sheep are in better health and condition than ever before. A further dress- . ing every second year has big advantages, which means still stronger • growth. A light harrowing is all that is required except in sandy soils, when it is not essential. A dressing of lime although not absolutely essential except in very acid soils, is particularly valuable as to all members of the trifolium family: A little initial outlay, on lime and fertiliser, where necessary, is more than amply repaid by this plant. . Subterranean Clover is a rather ■mall, woolly prostrate plant, all parts of which are covered with fairly long, spreading hairs. A writer in The Leader" gives a good description of the ' Sub. Clover plant. He says: The i three leaflets forming each leaf are carried on a long stalk, and each leaflet is heart-shaped and faintly toothed at the summit. The two small appendages growing at the base of each leaf stalk are broad, and almost oval in shape, although bluntly pointed. The'flowers are creamy white to pink in colour, and smaH in size, clusters of three or four flowers being produced . on comparatively short stalks, which j spring from axils of the leaf stalks. Immediately after flowering, the stalk carrying the cluster of flowers turns downwards, and grows until the seed is pushed below- the surface of the 3oil. On penetrating the soil, the parts of the flower head surrounding the fertile flowers, grow sufficiently to anchor the seed heacr in the soil.' HINTS ON HAY-MAKING. Where.any considerable quantity ofhay is to be made, the most economical way to do it appears to be to press it into bales in the field where grown. The crop should be cut with a mower when it begins to show signs of maturing, which is usually early in November, and should be "cocked" with a horse-rake on the same day. It should be taken to the hay-press by push rakes as soon as cured, and put straight into bales, which can be stacked away at once. For smaller quantities the hay should be stored in stacks. The crop should be cocked immediately it is cocked'within a few hours, and stalls. If water can be squeezed from' the hay when a handful from the cen- ? e S*.^ 1 !® CT °P is tightly twisted by hand, it is not sufficiently dry to stack -With safety. If allowed to stand in the and much wetting and H. MATSON and CO.