FOR THE FARMER.

Franklin Times, Volume XXI, Issue 66, 8 June 1931, Page 3

FOR THE FARMER.

AGRICULTURAL TOPICS. (Conducted by "Agricola.") HARVESTING MANGOLDS. Usually mangolds are harvested during the present month, but owing 1o the moist weather that has prevailed this autumn the plants have continued and the tops have remained green and the bulbs have not ripened. If the land is not required for other purposes the mangolds can safely remain where they are for a while. The removal of vigorous green foliage makes harvesting longer and less pleasant work, but' if the mangolds are needed for early feeding they musL lie pulled for some time before so that acids in tlie roots, which are dangerous to stock, may be thrown off before feeding commences. To save labour it is noticed that some farmers do not remove the roots from the field but simply pull them and throw thein into-small heaps and cart them from the field as required. One disadvantage of this plan is that in a wet saason the land becomes too sodden for a horse and cart to be taken over il without creating a mess and otherwise injuring the soil. It is preferable to make one job of the harvesting and to convey the roots to the pit at once: and even if the land is not to be used immediately for another crop it will be all the better for being ploughed and exposed to the effects of weather influences. Where mangolds are grown for sheep ft is a common practice to run a light set of harrows over the crop and pull the roots out of the ground by this means. The field is then divided if necessary and the same procedure followed as in feeding turnips. . LIMING. ♦ ' Lime may be applied to pastures in May or June. Superphosphate and ground limestone (carbonate) may safely be mixed, if desired, and applied as one dressing, but superphosphate and burnt lime should not be mixed, except when one is certain that the mixture of burnt lime and super is allowed to stand for any considerable time it will set into a hard mass. When superphosphate and lime are to be applied during the same period, but in separate dressings, the lime, if it can conveniently be arranged, should be applied before the superphosphate. Approximately two tons of ground limestone are equivalent in their ultimate influence on the soil to one ton of burnt lime (1001 b. of ground limestone is equivalent to 561 b of burnt lime when both are pure). As a general rule, considering only the'effect on the soil, it is not of material importance whether ground limestone or burnt lime is used, provided tin? dressings of limestone are about twice as heavy as those of burnt lime. Hence their relative costs generally should determine which of the forms of lime should be used. Certain special circumstances, however, may lead to departure from this rule. For instance, if speedy action of the lime is desired, as in the removing of soil-sourness for the better control of crop-disease such as club-root, then burnt lime should be used. Again, the cost of transport and handling, as distinct from the cost of the material, if relatively heavy, may justify preference for burnt lime, as it gives a similar soil-effect with approximately half the material. Indeed, the costs of transport and handling are at times so heavy as to make expenditure on liming either not worth while or at least not as attractive as expenditure on other top-dressing material, such as phosphates.

Ordinarily supplies of lime in the soil tend to be depleted because the lime is washed down and leached away. Hence the working' of lime into the soil is to he avoided as simply a means of hastening loss.

WINTER FEEDING. In all probability feeding oul will have started on most farms. Probably the first material used for middle of May and latter part: will be ensilage. The feeding of this constitutes no difficulties apart from labour. The question of which, is the best way to tackle the stack is one that provokes a good deal of discussion, and the process of uncovering the whole of the slack and working the whole right to the base Without any cutting is one that is more widely adopted each year. There is little doubt that on a small to medium sized stack, however, it appears that it is better to take the stack, down in two or three (or more) cuts. Unless five or six inches is being removed daily from the whole stack the old system should be adhered to. The feeding of- the wastage from round the sides in any quantity is not recommended. No harm may come from carting out small quantities of it with the load each day. but there is relatively no fond value in it. and one can hardly imagine si nek feeding heavily on it unless ihoy are extremely hard pushed. This wastage is great stuff to use in the vegetable garden, and is well wort!i carting there. Weak sailings will also benefit greatly from its distribution over them Feeding out should be done, where convenient, mi Hie weak pastures, as the hoof eul l.ivntion and the extra shirk manuring will lend towards building "p Mm sward. Areas affected by the era UTI ,h also benefit greatly frmn the r,-.•.|illu- oul on them