DAIRYING.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1483, 4 May 1911, Page 4

DAIRYING.

GROWING 'FEES) FOR COWS

SOME AORANGI- METHODS

With the price of land always on tho up grade, with dairy stock becoming dearer every year, with labour laws, and What not, the farmer who makes . his living by milking cows has to keep his! weather ■ eye open and to know everything that is of value-in connection with the several departments of the industry. Tho selection of the herd is a matter of the first, importance, and the strain used in breeding must receive the hoot attention. Tho surroundings of tho farm and of tho milking Shod aro matters of concern, "too, which aro sometimes not given that care to which thoy are entitled. It is not the intention of tho writer of this articlo, however, to deal with any of these aspects of the industry, but" to devote some space to the cultivation of feeds for tho stock.' With the object of ascertaining the most BUcce_aul methods which have

been adopted, some investigations were made by our representative in the Aorangi settlement, which may be considered to be one of tho leading dairying centres in the Manawatu district.

Different farmers have, of course, different styles" of conducting their farms. One dairyman was asked if lie believed in ploughing up and resowing occasionally, with a view to loosening the soil and getting a better growth of grass. He stated he did not believe in breaking up the ground once there was a good sole of grass on it. His practice was to topdress the paddocks with basic slag, and he found it paid well. Results were given to show that all through tho recent dry spell there was good growth of grass in his paddocks, which wero not by any means lightly stocked. It lias been pointed out that if the fanners can get the same results from top-dressing as they can by breaking up tho soil and re-sow-ing, it will pay handsomely to do so. Hence the bonofit of carrying on experiments in top-dressing, and it is hoped tlie Agricultural Department will continue the operations which they have been conducting— or assisting farmers to conduct —in this district. It has to be said that the New Zealand farmers generally are ready to adopt new methods of cultivation more quickly than their brothers in Australia, for instance, and when it is shown and made known that top-dressing pays ; the system will become tlie practice instead ol the -experiment, which it now is in some cases.

But there are other farmers in the Aorangi block who believe _in cultivating the soil, and providing variety in the fecct for their herds. Mr Jas(. -McFarland has -boen carrying out a- series of operations, the results of which have been gathered by our representative. They are interesting as showing the bonofit of tilling the soil and the use of manures. In one small paddock, whioh had previously grown roots, oat#, and peas in three successive seasons, a mixture ■of seed comprising Italian rye and prairie grass in equal proportions, with a little clover, was sown. Manure—equal proportions of superphosphates and basic slag—was applied at the rate of 4cwt. to the acre. The result vas a very rapid growth. The sowing took place in March, and in 'August the grcon crop was cut and fed to the cows which were calving. The paddock was 1 cut twice for hay before tho- end of 12 months, and it now stands as_ a first-class grazing paddock. It is the intention of the owner to graze tlie paddock for three years, then break it up again and resow with Italian ryo and clovers. Another paddock has just been sown down with Italian rye and clover, and thisi will be ready as green feed in September. It will ho treated in a similar -manner to that above referred to, grazed for -a year or two, and ploughed up again. Splendid results were obtained with a paddock of lucerne, -which was sown iv March of last year. The seed was sown with a drill, but the manure was spread broadcast over the paddock. This was shown to be a mistake, as the weeds got the benefit of the fertiliser, and came away faster than the lucerne. However, the sown crop soon made headway, and within 12 months three excellent heavy crops were cut off the paddock. With his next lucerne paddock, Mr McFarland intends to put the fertiliser along the trenches under the seed, and he looks for better results still. When it is considered that one ton of lucerne hay contains as much nutriment for cattle as three tons of clover hay, it will be seen what a valuable crop it is to cultivate, and what excellent hay it makes for winter feed for the stock.

Prairie grass has come in for a good deal of attention on the Aorangi farm and it is found that cows eat it with avidity. It is a useful grass, hardy, grows # well #in dry seasons, and is a splendid winter feed. A crop was sown, mixed with Italian rye and clover, and manured with superphosphate and basic slag. It was interesting to note that the clover was practically smothered, and the prairie grass gave a prolific crop. A stack of hay has been cut off the paddock, and the cows are now grazing on it. Topdressing manures Avill bo applied to the paddock, and the owner believes he will get most satisfactory results. On the farm, which has a'total area of 68 acres, thoro -aro quite a number of small paddocks, Mr McFarland believing in close cultivation asthe best method of carrying on dairying. He is running now over 60 head of stock, nearly one head per acre, and he considers that with a proper system of growing feeds, manuring, etc., it should be n_ite within the farmer's power to keep one cow per acre. Close by tlie lucerne paddock is another small area which has been down in grass four years, Italian rye and a mixture of clovers having been sown. It is- an excellent grazing paddock, and later on it is hoped to still further improve it by top-dressing. A mixture of golden, tares and oats has just been sown in the paddock adjoining, to be cut for green feed in August.

Maize is well known in the Aorangi settlement, as in other parts of the district, as a first-class fodder for dairy cows, and in previous years crops have been grown and used on the farm under review to the best advantage, and with solid success. This year further crops have been put in, with the expected result. Superphosphate and slag were applied to the soil, and a splendid crop followed. By way of finding out the exact weight of tlie crop, a piece ten yards square was cut and put on the scale. It worked out at close upon 50 tons to the acre. This was when the crop was in the green state. Through the recent dry spell here the maize was cut and fed to the cows, and milk supply kept up till the maize gave out. Next season the crop or crops will be distributed over a longer period in the sowing, so that the green feed may spread further into the autumn.

It will be" seen that cultivation is the practice on this farm, and that it has been proved to be a highly successful and paying proposition. Haphazard styles of dairying ' are not merely going out of date; they are being driven out, anid dairymen will need to either experiment themselves or follow closely the experiments of their move progressive neighbours, before they can hope to get the best from their hards.