SEASONABLE HINTS TO FARMERS.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 89, 23 March 1876, Page 7

SEASONABLE HINTS TO FARMERS.

The improvement of permanent pastures should receive prompt attention at this season of the year. Nature effects repairs by sowing seed upon the surface, where it lies undamaged until started into growth by the autumn rains. Nature's example may be safely imitated in this case ; seed may be sown upon the surface of established pastures with a view to thicken the sole. This may be done whilst the land is dry, and whilst time can best be spared for the work. Any of the ordinary grasses will lie safely until moisture has fallen m sufficient quantity to germinate the seed and establish the plant. In dry districts, and especially where the weather appears likely to continue, dry, the work may be postponed until a change appears imminent, for seeds have natural enemies in birds and insects. Where the area is not too large to receive more particular treatment it may be topdressed with advantage. A compost of stable litter (of any age), ashes from house fires, ashes from weeds and turf lime ruggish or old mortar, the parings of road sides or other waste ground, night soil, &c, may, after being turned once or twice and thoroughly mixed together, be carted out and spread over the ground. A bushel-harrow should next be drawn over it, and then if the crop is intended for hay all stones of any size should be picked off; inthe case of light soil tbe roll may be afterwards used with great benefit — indeed, its use should never be omitted when the produce is intended for hay, machines often being' damaged (and much time, thus lost) by the presence of stones on the surface. ' It would' astonish occupiers of large areas of pastures to see how many head of stock can be fed on small areas of ground where fertility is maintained by annual seedings and dressings as above described. In the cooler districts of these colonies old pastures should be guarded from invasion by the. plough "as jealously as are pastures at home. It takes several years and considerable trouble and cost to form a really good pasture, and, once broken up, it is almost impossible to replace it. The practice of top-dressing is little in vogue amongst farmers, probably because the system of husbandry is unfavorable to the production of suit- ; able material. Cattle which are always kept out manure the land very unevenly and wages, are too high in this country to.alfow'of the droppings being weekly gathered and stacked in one corner of the field, as in the best dairy districts of England... Sheep,, therefore, are the most. useful, stock for supporting the the fertility of pastures, especially if nets are used at this of 'the' year, or throughout, the autumn, to "insure greater, regularity of distribution. A Ritc'li on alternate days' will- ansWer the purpose, and ' there are few farms on which the work could- not be done without the employment ot other labor than the regular hands. /The' work of laying down new pastures should ' be attended to without : delay." If' the soil be in a nearly dry state and no prospect of rain, it will J>§ judicious to, ytrait until raiii has fallen in quantity. \ On. this .point no rule can be laid down, the character 1 of the 'soil,' the, climate, and ' local sexperience must be the guide. In the warmer distjricjfe lucerne, should-. be: sown at this season. In the event* "of" the winter proving wet (and.; cold, young lucerne is apt to perish, the season lately

haying- been dry, there has been no opportunity of clearing land before ploughing, as the weed seeds lying on the sur-. face-have . not -germinated, and have, therefore, been ploughed down to foul the land for generations. There has been no help fpr it where the area to be ploughed has been large, and work, of necessity, has been pushed forward. For example, where wheat is the only, or almost the only crop, ploughing is commenced as soon as harvest has passed, and continued until' the changes of the season give warning that it is too late to sow any more. Other matters then receive attention, but ploughing for summer fallow is soon begun and pursued through the growing season. Ploughing for winter and spring green feed should soon be brought to a close. For the winter crop a. wellmanured piece of dry-lying ground should be chosen. Cape barley, Cape or Calcutta oats, either, alone or with vetches, make capital fodder for stall or stable.* For feeding off with sheep, rape is perhaps 'better than vetches, especially if there is a littlesweet grass upon the land. For a rape crop only about six pounds of seed is required per acre. It is a very exhaustive crop, but if fed upon the ground, the second crop comes better than the first. In.beginning to grow rape, unless the land is very'good, it will pay better to manure well than to be sparing of fertilisers. — 'Australasian.' .' ;