A Valuable Soiling Crop.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3121, 6 April 1915, Page 3

A Valuable Soiling Crop.

* (W. Dibble). Succulent green feed is a valuable asset to the dairy-farmer in the au-

tumn, winter, and early sprang months. There is nothing better for this purpose than a mixture of Azof barely (llbushel), tares (\ bushel), Italian ryegrass (201b.), and beans (lolb.). As rapid maturity and a heavy growth, are desired the crop should be stimu-* lateci 'by applying with the seed 1| cwt of ,bonemeaf and U ewt of superphosphate per acre. Sown early in March the prop may be .used to furnish) a nice -bite when pastures are probafbly failing ftt the end of the milking season, after which it could be allowed) to develop into a crop for caning out; to the cows in the late spring. The) better method of utilising the crop is to allow it to mature, which it should, do, given fair growing conditions, in. July or August, when it could be cut and fed out to the cows just whoa they are in the greatest need of good food, having just gone through an exhausting milking season and about to bear a calf, though this need would be generally overlooked and the feedi kept till the cows have calved. Om light laud the crop may be fed off, with advantage, though on heavier lands the soiling method is preferable. The rye-grass will come away again

md give, if desired, fair feeding in he spring months. I would prefer,

however, to leave it and utilise the dense matted growth as green manure preparatory to establishing lucerne or for making a fine seed bed for any other crop. On light land deficient in humus tihis procedure would be. most advisable, as the crop furnishes a great body of humus-forming material—'Journal of Agriculture.'