MIXED FARMING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 258, 14 October 1932, Page 11

MIXED FARMING

BENEFITS OF INTENSIVE METHODS. RESULTS AT LINDEN HILLS, NEW SOUTH WALES. The wisdom of increasing production per‘acre rather thau attempting to supplement the turnover by purchasing extra land, had been clearly demonstarted by Mr B. J. Stocks, on his “Linden Hills’’ property at Cunningar, near Harden, says Mr L. W. McLennan, assistant agrostologist of New South Wales. The high efficiency of Mr Stocks's farm as an economic unit had been achieved by careful pasture management, raising fat lambs of correct type, growing stud wheat for sale as seed, and running a small dairy in conjunction with pig-rearing. The most important aspects of the pasture management included the subdivision "of large areas into small, well-watered paddocks, systematic attention to the topdressing of natural and improved pastures with superphosphate, and the extensive culture of lucerne and clovers and high quality grasses. The total area of sown pastures on Linden Hills was 360 acres, Mr McLennan continued. The country, which was of an undulating nature, was overlain with soil varying from •< red sandy loam to a red loam. The annual rainfall at the farm was about 23 inches. Mr Stocks commenced laying down the pastures in April, 1925, when a paddock of 50 acres was sown in lucerne at the rate of 51b of seed per acre, with lewt of Superphosphate. During April, 1927, Mr Stocks wa s very actively engaged in this work, for 12 acres of land were sown to subterranean clover at the rate of 41b per acre; eight acres with 51b lucerne; 30 acres with 41b lucerne and 21b Wimmera rye grass; and 20 acres with 31b Wimmera rye grass, in each case with superphosphate at the rate of lewt per acre. The work was continued in April of the following year, when one paddock of 30 acres received lucerne at the rate of 61b per acre and lewt of superphosphate; whilst another of 60 acres was planted with 51b lucerne per acre and a reduced application of 601 b of super.

In the spring of 1930 and 1931 two further paddocks of 90 and 60 acres respectively were sown to lucerne at the rate of 41b of seed per acre. As before, superphosphate was also applied. The lucerne paddocks were cultivated each year during July or August, whilst all improved pastures were top-dressed with super every second year, the grasses and clover in April and lucerne in August. These pastures, supplemented by oats in the early winter, provided a continuous supply of green feed, which enabled fat lambs and grown sheep to be trucked each month of the year, and ensured a consistent milk yield from the 25 dairy cows. Pasture and green fodder paddocks were made small enough to permit quick feeding-off, stated Mr McLennan. Consequently, the full benefits of rotational grazing were enjoyed by the stock, whilst care was exercised, however, that no damage was done to the plants by too severe grazing. In addition, the stock had accesss to the native grass paddocks. An abundance of clean water, which in most cases was conducted by pipe-lines from conveniently situated wells to troughs, was available in all the paddocks. Although from 300 to 400 acres of wheat were grown annually on the 1900 acres of L nden Hills, in the spring of 1931 3500 sheep and lambs were also carried. This number of sheep was somewhat higher than usual, for as a rule the number carried seldom rose above 3000. Mr Stocks concentrated on fat lamb raising, and each year marketed from 1000 to 1500 lambs and an averge of 500 crossbred wethers and ewes.

Fifteen breeding sows were run in conjunction with the dairy, and grazed on a small lucerne paddock, added Mr McLennan. The young pigs were weaned at eight weeks, fattened on skim-milk, green lucerne, and secondgrade wheat, and marketed as porkers at five months. The average weight at this age was between 801 b and 1001 b.