FIELD ROOTS COMPETITION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25246, 26 July 1947, Page 5

FIELD ROOTS COMPETITION

HIGH STANDARD AT OXFORD

In pre-war years farmers’ field competitions sponsored by the local branch of the Farmers’ Union were held annually in the Oxford district. These competitions were discontinued alter 1941, but have been revived tipis year by Federated Farmers. The judging of root crops was recently carried out this week by Mr E. G. Smith, Fields Instructor at Rangiora, with Messrs R. Budge and H. G. Parish acting as land ve luers.

Farmers to-day realise the value of such competitions as a means of studying the merits of the various cultural and manurial practices being carried out in the district" This year there were 15 entries in the competition, and, judging from the keen interest shown, not only by the competitors, but also by other progressive fsrmers of the district, there is no doubt that the decision to revive the competition was a wise one. The turnip crop is an important one in the Oxford district, and some exceptional yields are obtained there in seasons when crops are extremely disappointing in many other parts of Canterbury. Some of the crops judged this year were grown at sn elevation of more than 1000 feet above sea level, and, whilst the severity of the winter climate on such properties shortens the growing period of the crop, this factor is more than compensated for by the fact that Oxford is blessed by many north-west showers that never reach the lower levels.

Higher Fertility During recent years, soil fertility has been raised to a very marked extent by improved farm management. Those who have profited from high prices for small seeds have been enabled to spend more money on lime and on carrying out better methods of cultivation. The result of these improved practices is obvious throughout the district. In the majority of the entries the turnips were sown alone, but in three instances a pasture mixture was sown with them, and the grass had established well in all cases. Three other paddocks were sown to turnips after subterranean clover, and the volunteer clover was producing considerable feed. The general practice in Oxford is to sow in either seven-inch or 14-inch drills, with a mixture of half lime and half superphosphate at the rate of 3cwt per acre. In parts of the district, however, spurrey is particularly troublesome and one farmer has adopted the practice of sowing on ridges, with subsequent inter-cultiva-tion. Very satisfactory results have attended this method. On clean land heaviest yields will invariably be obtained by sowing in 7-inch drills, but there is no doubt of the wisdom of wider spacing where spurrey is bad. It is safe to say that, where suurrey is very troublesome, inter-cul-tivation may mean the difference between the success or the failure of the crop. Turnips Neglected On the property mentioned, superlative swedes and green top Aberdeen turnips were sown in alternate rows. When sheep were turned on to the area both the tops and the roots of the turnips were neglected, whilst the swedes were being heavily grazed. The quality of the turnips was good in the. majority of entries, although in a few crops it was evident that the bulbs were past their best. The quality of swedes was excellent and there was no evidence of rot in the bulbs. For late winter and early spring feed, swedes might well be more widely grown in the parts of the district. In judging, points were allotted on the following basis: yield (50). quality (30). evenness (10), freedom from weeds (10). Adjustment was made for variations in land value at the rate of one yield point for each £1 of land value, the standard land value being set at £lO an acre. The placings for the soft turnips class were as follows:—M. Johnston (84 points) 1. G. Kimber (77 J) 2, Farr Bros. (751) 3. Tn the mixed roots class the placings were:—L. J. Skurr (75) 1. A. C. Townshend (71) 2, J. Pickering (66j) 3.