FIELD NOTES FOR APRIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 April 1926, Page 6

FIELD NOTES FOR APRIL.

(By ,T. W. Deem, Instructor in Agriculture, Wanganui.) The late ripening of cereal crops has put autumn cultivation back in many instances, and where this has happened the ploughing of .stubble land, should be pushed along, especially if it is intended to sow it either in pasture or a cereal crop. If it is to be fallow there is not so much hurry. The question of fallowing requires careful consideration on this- coast. Some of the heavy soils benefit greatly from a winter fallow, especially' if wheat is to be grown; on the other hand, the lighter lands leach badly and are better sown in a green crop of some sort. April and the early part of May are. good months to sow Algerian oats, as they get well established during the winter and are in a- condition to make very rapid growth in the early spring. Oats sown during April andi May should provide one or two feedings in the spring and be ready to harvest from the middle to the end of December. Sow at the rate of 24 bushels pen acre. Suitable manures are super or special grain mixtures, at from 14 to 2 ewt. per acre. In preparing the seed bed for autumn sown cereals, the land should be worked fine underneath, but the surface should he left rough. The elodte provide shelter for the young plants during the winter and prevent the land from 'running together too closely. Pastures both temporary and permanent may still be .sown. Where the sowing lias to be delayed until the end of April or early in May. it is good practice to sow a bushel of white oats or barley' to protect the young pasture plants, particularly the clovers. The white oats or barley arc better at this time of the year, as they come away' quicker and stand up better than the Algerians and do not stool out so much in the spring. v This is a good time to supply lime, particularly if carbonate of lime is being used, and on the whole it is the most satisfactory for this coast. Dressings’ of from. 6 to 1,0 ewt. per acre are quite satisfactory, and if this amount is appliec\ every two or three years it will give better results than heavier dressings at less frequent intervals. The top-dressing of hill country' with slag, basic super, or super may ho pushed along while the-weather is good. The manure should he applied at from 2 to 4 ewt. per acre.

Old stands of lucerne that have not been cultivated during the autumn may still have attention. It is a mistake to give, too much autumn cultivation, one good cleaning up is sufficient; and, as advised last month, it. is good practice to drill in. one bushel of oats, Western l Wolths or Italian Rye, after this cultivation, using 2 ewt. super, basic super or basic slag. This treatment will provide good early feeding, which may be grazed in August or left la.ter for soiling or making into ensilage.- First, year crops should have a stroke of the tine harrows and the oats drilled in. All drains should get attention. so as to carry away the winter rain® quickly.