A Farmer’s Advice to Farmers

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 275, 16 August 1932, Page 11

A Farmer’s Advice to Farmers

Sir, —There is one very valuable thing that I would like to bring before the notice of all farmers in New Zealand, especially the dairy farmers. Over a number of years I have been struck by the marvellous qualities of prairie grass as a winter fodder. It is absolutely unaffected by the heaviest frosts, growing luxuriantly right through the depth of winter. Another very valuable quality about it is that it will thrive under and amofig pine or any other shelter trees, and therefore could with great advantage be sown in any fenced-in shelter belt or corner provided the trees were not too close together. Unfortunately, there arc many fanners who will not go to the trouble of putting in mangolds or turnips, or even paving hay, or ensilage, and the constitutions of their stock are ruined through lack of feed at the most critical time of the year. What a tremendous help it would be toward the health and well-being of the stock of this Dominion If every farmer had a corner of, say, half an acre fenced off and laid down in prairie grass. With a little topdressing now and then it would prove a gold mine, for it would save the stock from getting a check. When farmers realise that it isxcruelty to animals to allow cows to calve until sufficient provision in the way of green feed is ready for them, then both the quality and quantity of our dairy produce will be enormously increased, and the constitutions of the cattle maintained at a proper level. Every shelter plantation and spare corner should be laid, down in prairie grass for it is a splendid permanent grass which grows strongly all the year round, but sheep should not be allowed to graze on it, as if eaten off too dosely it will die out.

I hope the question of the excessive cost of English fencing wire will be gone into at the Ottawa -Conference. If not a very serious omission will be made, for cheaper fencing is one of the most vital factors toward the fuller development of New Zealand. In several previous letters I have referred to the great necessity for providing belts of shelter trees. Shelter is half feed to stock in winter, and the same applies to pasture, for grass will continue to come away iu a well-sheltered paddock in spite of bad weather. Shade from the hot sun is also necessary in summer. In order to test the value of a good thick plantation I would suggest that a person stand for a while on a cold, windy day on the exposed side of it, and then go through the gate to the other side, when one will find ones self in u different climate altogether. No stock should be allowed to get into shelter belts, or they will soon cease to become any protection at all. There is one thing for which God rightly punishes us severely through our pockets, and that is neglect through laziness and carelessness to properly provide for tho dumb animals placed in our charge. 1 have often thought it a pity that the punishment is not visited personally upon us in the form of hunger and cold. For the only way to reach some people is through ther stomachs and hides. Stock belonging to people who make no proper provision will always have a hard winter, no matter how mild it may be, while their owners are going about warm and comfortably bewailing the severity of the season. Southerly and south-east winds are those which should be guarded against, and, in my opinion, Cupressus Lawijoniana is the best shelter tree, being of close, thick habit right to the ground, and impossible to burn. There is no excuse for axis fannwr with th* cheap

labour now obtainable who fails to plant shelter for his stock. I hope 1 may be excused for repeating what I have several times stated in previous letters to “The Dominion, namely that every farmer should see that there is nt nil times a large pieco of English red rock salt available . to the stock in every paddock, for constipation caused by lack of green feed is the cause of at least half the mortality among stock of all kinds. After licking the salt stock drink plenty of water, which keeps them healthy, besides which rock salt contains valuable minerals. Especially in the case of breeding cows, ewes and mares during the hard months of winter and early spring rock ralt. should be kept up to them, thus saving a lot of trouble and losses which could be avoided. If every farmer before next winter hail his half-acre of prairie grass, a supply of rock salt, and had planted a shelter belt of trees what a difference it would make to the stock in this country.—-I am. eto., G. F. MOORE. Bushy Park, August 12.