WHEAT AND VETCH SILAGE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume L, Issue 2649, 24 November 1919, Page 2

WHEAT AND VETCH SILAGE.

! The value of wheat and vetch as a silage crop is coming; to be recognise;! more and more. .Doubtless it will never supplant maize in this re- , spect. but in those localities in which maize is Jiot particularly adapted experience has shown that very satisJ factory results can be secured from wheat and vetch. I W. K. Newell, prominent Holstein and Berkshire breeder, of Seghers, uses this kind of silage with excellent results. When properly put up he finds it ecmal to the best maize silage as a feed for dairy cattle. SOWN IN AUTUMN.

| The crop is sown in the autumn. ! and, like most other crops, much depends upon the condition of the set.d ! bed. Should the ground be' in poor ! condition the chances of getting an insufficient stand are greatly increasi ed, because, under such circum- ! stances, it is hard to cover the seed I properly, and much'of it is like y j to be picked up by the bird? or dr> i'out and die after germination. As an aid in securing the best pos- ! sible condition of the soil, j Newell plans to have the wheat and ! vetch follow some cultivated en> • such as early potatoes or maize that 'has been cut for green (ail or si!a*.r< By doing this he finds that the amount of labour required to work the seed bed into a good tilth is reduced greatly, and it is very ran 1; easier to get an early seeding. His seeding is done preferably in April, and at the rate of three to four pecks of wheat and 401b. of vetch per acre. The thing of great importance in seeding is uniformity of distribution and depth of planting. Any convenient seeding device which will give these results may be used successfully. The grain seeder is probably the most efficient Mr. Newell has noticed good results following a small application of land plaster daring July or August. The value of land plaster is more in the fact that it increases the ava.'liblliiy of the plant food already contained in the soil rather than aaiy direct effect upon the crop which it may have.

In putting up this kind of silage, Mr. Newel 1 has learned that the crop should be harvested at about the same stage of ripeness as that required for good hay. UsuaJly this will be when the first seeds are appearing in the vetch pods. Should it be impossible to harvest at this time, he chooses a little riper in preference to a greener stage. Like hay, the ensilage is cut with a mower and raked. Low waggons are utilised for hauling the material to the ensilage cutter. This facilitates loading and feeding to the machine.

At the discretion of the farmer the crop' may be allowed to wilt a few hours prior to filling up the silo, but if it shotild be over-ripe or dry, this grower recommends the addition of water during the filling operation. The preservative principle of the silo is the exclusion of air, and the securing of this depends primarily upon the thoroughness and solidity with which the ensilage is packed in the silo. In this respect Mr. Newell's motto is : "Tramp well, then tramp some more, and then keep on tramping."