FARMING AND

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 105, 3 April 1926, Page 5

FARMING AND

BREAKING UP OF PASTURES. (Notes by “Ploughshare.”) Regarding the capacity for production in tho way of milk and moat, grass lands vary considerably. Usually land under arable cultivation is capable of producing a greater amount of food than land.under grass, but as is only natural somo pastures will yield a great deal moro than other pastures when ploughed. Tho suitability of any particular pasture for arablo cultivation is determined by such considerations as whether tho land is of a general character as to mako it reasonably probable that it jvill with proper cultivation yield remunerative crops. For instanco wot, undrainod land, very adhesive clays) excessively dry sandy soils, and land at a high elevation aro not generally likely to provo profitable under arablo cultivation. A groat deal though of tho land in this country which is now in pasturo could with great advantage, both to tho farmer and tho country generally, bo converted into arablo -land. Much land which is carrying inferior pastures, rushes, etc., could bo improved by arablo cultivation! The turf in tho case of inferior"grass land is often largely composed of woods, and it is necessary for proper cultivation and cleaning that tho turf should bo killed on tho surface and not buriod in tho soil. On grass land, where the turf is of good quality, and tho soil is deep, tho turf should bo burned, which will enable it to rot in tho ground. It will provo an advantage if the land is broken up early and left in its rough state. The elements will so act on tho clods that they will later bo easily broken up and thus save the farmer a groat deal of work with tho disc and harrows which ho would liavo to do otherwise. If tho ploughing is late, it should -not bo ploughed too deeply as a shallow and flat furrow will prove' moro effective in killing tho turf, and will mako it easier work "when cross ploughing is undertaken, ffhe treatment of a summer fallow after tho first breaking up will do pend to a certain extent on the stato of the land and weather. In somo cases one ploughing followed by a discing and then cross ploughing has proved sufficient in breaking up the turf. Tho aim should bo to kill tho sod and break up the clods and the course to bo followed will usually depend on tho condition of tho fallow. If a poor pasturo or heavy land cannot l>o broken up before tho autumn or -winter, tho method of ploughing should then bo modified. Instead of a shallow flat furrow tho aim should be to havo a’deep and inverted furrow. t 1 HERD IMPROVEMENT.

T.lio importance of- keeping accurate milk records to tho dairy farmer and breeder cannot bo over-estimated. They not only enablo 'wasters to be weeded out but also supply the information necessary for tho establishing of a profitable milkingherd. Only bulls from a good milking strain should bo used jn breeding dairy cattle, for the hereditary characters derived from tho malo parent aro fully as important as those derived from tho female; in fact, more so. Tho dairyman must also givo particular attention to the general character and points of tho animals selected for building up and improving the herd. ENSILAGE. Tliero is a largo quantity of maize in this district this season, and many farmers could not do bettor than utilise a quantity of this crop for the making of ensjlage. If a silo has not already been provided it is as ■well to mako a careful selection of a site for such. Hollows into which water will run should bo avoided, and tho site should bo located in a convenient locality for the purpose of feeding. • A trench silo is often recommended and

the dimensions aro usually about 60 feet long, 12 feet wido at tho bottom, 15 foot wide at toTi and 12 feet deep. Of courso a much smaller trench can bo made with similar proportions as these specifications are for a trench with a capacity for holding 315 tons. There should bo an outslopo at each end. Tho crops can then bo cut, loaded into the wagon and driven into tho trench.. Tho method is to drive in one end, dump tho load, and drive out through tho opposite end. Drivo over tho dumped load as this will help to compress it. Till from the bottom up and not from one end and you will get an even packing. Tho silo should bo filled well above the surfneo with a down slope from tho middle to tho sides. It should then ho covered with a layer cf straw, which will provent the silage coming in contact with mo soil. Cover tho whole with a layer of soil to a thickness of about nine inches. TIIE PIGGERY, A breed of pig which is recommended by many pig buyers in this country for crossing purposes is tho Tamworth. The Tarnworth should conform to the following standard of excellence: Hair golden-red, on a flesh-coloured skin, abundant, long, straight and fine, fairly long head, snout moderately long and quite straight, face slightly dishod, wido between ears and rather long ears, with a tine fringe, carried rigid and inclined slightly forward, neck fairly long and muscular, chest wido and deep. The shoulders are lino, slanting and well set, legs strong and shapely, with plenty of bone and well outside body, pasterns strong and sloping, feet strong' and of fair size, back long and straight, loin strong and broad; tail set on high and well tasscllcd, sides long and deop, ribs well sprung and extended well up tho flank; belly deep with straight under-line, flank full and well let down; quarlers Jong, wido and straight from hip to tail. Broad hams and full hocks aro well let down and action firm and free. Tnmworths aro crossed with tho Berkshiro or Largo York and aro noted for their hardiness. GENERAL NOTES. Ruminants pastured on wet lucerne will bloat and dio very quickly. Gain in weight made by jiigs depends on the breed, feed and on tho comfort they have. Tho capacity per aero depends to a groat extent on tho naturo of the soil. Calllo in high condition, and cows suckling or well forward in calf do not bloat. Stock should have free access to a plentiful supply of salt. A foal will thrivo better in company with other foals than if kept alone. Young horses respond to kind treatment and this will bo found more effective than rough usage, and tho young animal should be taught to obey the voice rather than bo driven *\vith the whip. A good ploughman works his horses almost entirely by the voice. In purchasing seed it is a good thing to remember that bad seed is dear at any price, and that clean, genuine seed is usually worth the extra money asked for it. ,11 When nitralo of soda and superphosphates are to bo mixed as a fertiliser tho mixing should not be done until just beforo tho time of application, otherwise tho loss of nitric acid will result. EXCHANGE RATES. LONDON, April 1. Foreign rales of exchange on April 1, as compared with par rates or as averaged first half of 1914, are as follow: April 1. Par. New York, dols to £1 ... 4.86 3-16 4.866 Montreal, dols to £1 ... 4.87 4.866 Paris, francs to £1 140.94 25.22 j Brussels, francs to £1 ... 133.62 25.22 i Amsterdam, florins to £1 12.121, 12.107 Stockholm, knr to £1 ... 18.13 18.12 Oslo knr to £1 22.67 18.12 Copenhagen, knr to £1 18.57 18.12 Berlin, Reichsmark to £1 20.43 Rome, lire to £1 120.85 25.221, Yokohama, pence to yen 2211-16 24.48 Calcutta, pence to rupee 17 15-16 24 Hong Kong, ponce to dol 1715-16 24 Batavia, florins to £1... 12.10 j