FIELD NOTES FOR APRIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 April 1925, Page 7

FIELD NOTES FOR APRIL.

(By J. W. Deem, Instructor of Agri-

culture)

All stubble, etc., should be ploughed at once, anct either sown in a green ciop or left to fallow. Very stilt wet lands leach badly ii : left fallow, and for fallow, but the lighter North. Island aiids leach, badly if lelt faoW, and for this reason’ tney are better sown in a green crop. As a general rule, in the Nortli Island wheat gives the best results when spring sown, but oats may be sown any tune nmV, and Algerians are the best. For autumn sowing 2i bushels an acre is ample. In preparing a seed bed for autumn cereals it is advisable to work the land fine underneath, but leave it a bit lumpy on the surface. This condition affords a certain amount of shelter for the young plants and prevents .the land from running together. Pastures. —Permanent and temporary pastures may still he sown; mixtures and general treatment were dealt with in last month’s notes. From the middle of April on, if sowing grass in exposed positions, it is advisable to sow one bushel white oats or barley .an acre to afford shelter.

Liming.—April is a good month to apply lime, it being a great advantage to get the carting done before- the land is too wet. The lime is best applied to the ploughed surface, as it quickly works down. The question of which lime it is best to use is one for each farmer to determine for himself. On most °f the North Island lands carbonate of lime., is very satisfactory; but if quick results are desired burnt lime should be used; or, again, if the lim e has to be carted long distances there is a saving in haulage in the case of burnt as against the carbonate, as 12cwts of the. former is equivalent to 20ewts of the latter. Against this advantage the greater cost of the burnt must be taken into, consideration, this being on the average 50 per cent, more than for the carbonate, added to which is the nhplaesahtness of distributing the burnt. Except where the land is of a very sour nature, the best results are obtained by 'light and frequent dressings as against a heavy dressing at long intervals, say 6 to 10 cwts of carbonate, or half this quantity of burnt, considerable benefit- being derived from even half these quantities. General.—Crops like maize and millet should be cleaned up as far as possible during April, as they are easily damaged bv frosts, which we are likely to get any time after the end of the month. ( In most dairying districts the cows will he dried off in May, and every opportunity should be taken to get them in a? good condition as possible before they go out. ■ The outlets of all drains should have attention, so that water will get away rapidly during the winter months. Plans for winter! and spring drainage should also be put in hand, so that, the work may lie done when opportunity offers.