FARMING OPERATIONS FOR APRIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3895, 11 April 1877, Page 2

FARMING OPERATIONS FOR APRIL.

(From " May's Guide to Farming-.") We have in this month generally fine weather with some showers, and if there is sufficient moisture the grass grows well — the autumn is more congenial than the spring, being less subject to cold winds. You may continue to sow oats for green food as recommended last month, but more particularly on land foul with small weeds, such as sorrel, &c, such lands after the grain or potato harvest should be well fallowed and the weeds and rubbish burnt, then you can sow it with oats three bushels to the acre, to be grazed or cut by the end of September or October. Tliis J crop will during the winter keep down small weeds, and after being well grazed oiit should be ploughed and laid down with grass and clover, sowing at the same time two bushels of maize per acre; this would shade the young grass and clover from the scorching summer sun, and would also be fine feed for cattle the following March, when green food is scarce and the ground firm. Rape is excellent to sow with grass seeds, as the leaves spread and assist to keep the ground moist, thus affording shelter to the young clover, but be careful not to let the rape get too high, as it Avould then injure the grass — it affords an early bite for sheep, and they help to consolidate the new land, which is much required here — it is astonishing how much good sheep do to newly laid pastures if the land is not a stiff clay — four pounds of rape to the acre. During the wet winter months cattle should not be allowed on young grass, as they injure it. Land intended for wheat should now be well ploughed and harrowed — potato land is preferable to any any other, if it was well wrought and manured for the potatoes, but always remember that in breaking up land, either new or old, the land broken up during dry weather will grow the best crop. If September lambs will be soon enough for the farm the rams should be with the ewes this month. Sow cabbages, Swedish turnips, mangolds and early stone turnips, to be eaten off with sheep in the spring. Sow winter vetches with oats, as the oats will keep them off the ground — hoe and clear off weeds, and mould up and thin out the above as they require. Finish burning off for the season by the end of this month.

Clovers of various kinds are found advantageous for feeding stock, particularly the red clover, care being taken to cut it a few hours before it is given to the animals, particularly if it is wet from rain or dew — otherwise it will be apt to blow them. The flesh-colored Clover is a desirable kind, as it will grow all the winter, and early in the spring may be fed off by sheep, or left longer and cut as green feed, or made into hay. — Australian Farmer.