FEEDING THE LAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 111, 11 April 1931, Page 5

FEEDING THE LAND.

IMPORTANCE OF MANURING.

(By “Plougshare.”)

In these days when revenue is severely restricted by loiv prices in every saleable farm commodity much closer attention will necessarily bo given to keeping down working costs and even with the practice of the greatest economy it will be difficult for many to show a profit or to hold their own on the operations of the year. In previous articles it has been shown that by the adoption of improved methods of management the land and the stock may bo used more efficiently whereby the increased yields per acre, secured at a proportionately lower cost, will help to offset market disadvantages. Every individual farmer should • know best the particular requirements needed to keep his land up to the highest point of production and also the financial resources at his command to enable wprk to bo carried on efficiently. There seems in many instances of oocupiers of land a tendency to use the pruning knife beyond the winds of prudence and, in order to gain temporary relief, to curtail the future earning power of the land by allowing its fertility to diminish to such an extent that restoration will take many years to accomplish; while, in the meantime, cash receipts for produce will diminish instead of increasing. What is in mind in this connection Is the knowledge that many orders for manures have been cancelled and that other farmers propose to follow a very modified system during the present autumn. Recognising this possibility the Government recently announced that financial assistance would be given to farmers who are unable to make other satisfactory arrangements to enable them to purchase sufficient quantities of manures and, wherever needed, farmers would be well advised to take advantage of the assistance offering. Just now, and in fact right through the summer there has been a wonderfully good growth of grass because of tho favourable weather conditions prevailing, but it would be a serious mistake to follow too closely to tho line of reasoning that because there is an abundance of feed now no manuring will bo required'at all. On the majority of farms some additional stock has boen put on to deal with the extra growth and, having in mind the variations in weather conditions which often take place between one season and another, it is well to be prepared for every emergency. To keep the farm up to its highest point of grass production it follows that the soil must be regularly fed with stimulating manures, for no matter how good the land may be in its original state, constant heavy stocking muss necessarily deplete Its fertility. Since suitable artificial fertilisers have been made available even the poorer classes of soil have been made highly productive, and if they are now allowed to go back for the 6ake of a few tons or hundredweights of manure timely applied, everyone will bo the loser. Experience has shown that the autumn is the best time for distributing manures such as basio slag and Nauru phosphates, which are slower in their action, but over the greater part of this part of the West Coast superphosphate is more generally favoured. In a prolific season such as the present it may be advisable to defer topdressing with super until next month so as to stimulate seasonable growth when it is most wanted for dairy cows or breeding ewes in the spring. Looking round for other means whereby the annual manure bill may be reduced, it is timely to again draw attention to the waste which occurs through failure to utilise the natural manure produced on the farm. - Thi6 is the most valuable manure that can be used, but unfortunately most of it is allowed to accumulate in unsightly and evil smelling heaps near tho cowyard, just for the want of a little extra labour or system in haring it removed at frequent intervals and distributed in liquid form over the grass paddocks. Home made pumps and distributing apparatus can bo easily and cheaply made on the farm! In scattering liquid manure care should be taken not to leave it lying too thictkly on the' pasture, otherwise it takes some time for the grass to sweeten up sufficiently for the stock to graze it. By the use of all residue from the cowyards the double purpose is served of keeping the place cleaner and more sanitary and also of greatly reducing the outlay on artificial manures. CULTIVATION OF PASTURES. Another operation that should bo attended to now, and which, if thoroughly done, will to some degree compensate for the smaller dressings of artificial manures, is the harrowing of pasture lands. To scatter the animal droppings is very important, but just as important, if not more bo, is the necees-y to liven up tho turf. A great deal can be dono in the way of pasture stimulation by surface cultivation with the newer implements which have been made specially for this purpose, and it is scarcely' possible to stir the ground surface too much. Grass will respond to cultivation equally as well as carrots, mangolds and other roots and all farmers appreciate just what cultivation means to such crops. It may not be generally known that all pasture plants develop new root systems every year and the old root system gradually dies off. Cultivation stimulates the grov>ih of the young roots and loosens the surface soil a little so that they may penetrate more quickly. A further advantage is that cultivation admits more air and sunshine into the roots and, in addition to assisting to make growth more rapid, the pasture is made sweeter and more healthy for stock. REVIVAL OF WHEAT GROWING In days gone by a large area of the open country in the Manawatu and Rangitikei was devoted almost exclusively to the cultivation of grain and for many years these products formed the principal items from which . revenue was derived. Later graingrowing gave place to dairying and fat lamb raising, and save for an occasional field of oats or barley grown for home feeding requirements, the old order was changed entirely. In former times sufficient wheat was grown to warrant the establishment of several flour mills which were kept in regular employment. Some of these mills have long since gone out of existence and it has been left for South : : ■ i 1 ' ' 1 i , i 1

Island farmers to provide the grain necessary for the "staff of life." During the past few seasons it has been shown at the Hatana settlement that wheat can still be grown successfully and with profit. Probably stimulated by the example set by the Natives and also by following the plan of having more than one basket, other farmers in the neighbourhood have been trying out a few acres of wheat during the past season. In the Sandon district a good many small areas ranging from ten to forty acres have been devoted to wheat, and threshing returns are highly satisfactory. It is reported that yields of from forty to sixty-odd bushels have been harvested and the grain is of first-class milling quality. With a guaranteed price of 6s per bushel these crops should show a fair margin of profit to the growers. Should sheep products remain for any length of time at the present low level of prices there is always the alternative open to again introduce grain into a short cropping rotation in conjunction with roots and grass. The variety of wheat grown at Sandon this year is a spring wheat known as Jambuck. This wheat is of Australian origin and has been tried out for some years on the Government plots at Marton Junction. It is noteworthy that in the past several other varieties of Australian wheat, such as Federation, John Brown and .Marquis have been noted for their high yielding qualities when first introduced, but after a few years have deteriorated in cropping power and in blight-resisting qualities, and it has been found necessary to make fresh importations of seed or to secure other varieties. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. From now on the slackening off of other regular work will afford time to take in hand odd jobs about the farm before the winter rains set in. This is a good time to clear all drains of growth and other obstructions which have accumulated. If delayed too long, the work in drains has to be done under unpleasant conditions and, will be much harder to perform. In low-lying places which cannot be' drained by surface drains it is advisable, wherever possible, to carry away the water by pipes laid underground and by so doing reclaim land which is often

unproductive. Gateways which have been worn hollow through constant traffic with cattle require attention and if metal is available it is better to fill up the depression with stones which make a lasting and a much cleaner job. If clay is used it should be carted at once so as to allow it to consolidate before the winter sets in. Fences that have fallen into disrepair during tho year require attention and, on the majority of tho older homesteads, whatever new posts that are needed can be taken from macroearpa plantations. If split from old trees theso posts last a long time in the ground. If fences aro always kept tightly 6trained they serve their purpose better and last longer, especially if the droppers are placed fairly close together and aro firmly fastened in position. THE NEED FOR MINERALS.

The dairy cow which produces 70001 b of milk in a year secretes in that milk about 5011 b of mineral matter. The mineral must come from the ration which she receives. All animals, whether milkproducing or not, require mineral elements in their feed, whether in the natural state or artificially prepared. Most grains contain phosphorus in measurable quantities. Legume crops, such as alfalfa and clover, contain lime. Where these feeds aro available in proper form and proportions the feeding of mineral mixtures is not as necessary as where properly-balanced rations of natural feeds arc not available.

The dairy cow which does not receive adequate legume hay or pasture will be benefited by a mineral mixture containing lime. If her ration does not include adequate grain or other feeds from which phosphorus is obtainable, the mixture should include this mineral.

Pigs aro probably more often sufferers from lack of correct mineral elements than any other class of animals, for they more often get a one-sided ration, made up in their caso of a preponderance of grain. While tho threo minerals most vital to animal life are salt, lime, and phosphorus, others contained in some mineral mixtures includo iron, potassium, sulphur, magnesium, copperas, and so on. Feeders should study their rations carefully . with a view to providing in one form or another such minerals as tho particular animals in question require for bodily growth, maintenance, and production.

LINCOLN COLLEGE. DAIRYING WORK CRITICISED. A belief that tho authorities of Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, could with considerable advantage take far more cognisance of the value of dairying than they did at present was expressed at this week’s meeting of the general committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association by Mr John Parlane. He stated that he had come into contact with students who showed a deplorable lack of dairying knowledge, and suggested that the association should endeavour to persuade the authorities to take up dairying research on a more extensive scale.

Professor R. E. Alexander (Director of Lincoln College) stated that the college had always taken a keen interest in dairying, but that the land, particularly round the college buildings, was quite unsuitable for the purpose. Mr Parlane said that the association should impress on the Lincoln College authorities the necessity for greater interest in dairying work. In view of tho present position of dairying in the Dominion, the wealth that it brought into the country, and the labour that it absorbed. Lincoln College should set an example. “I am not finding fault with Lincoln College,” said Mr Parlane. “I am merely suggesting'.' improvements that could he made in the industry in Canterbury. I know of one farmer whose property is on the boundary of Lincoln College, and who is doing very well , with his dairying. The college should keep two or three more breeds of cattle for research purposes.” The dairymen, said Mr Parlane, needed help in the growing of root crops, and he would like to see the college take it up.

Professor Alexander replied that it was not passible to keep a lot of breeds of dairy cattle on a small place. ‘‘l understood that Massey College was to have looked after dairying. We ourselves have taken a keen interest in the feeding of stock. Summer feeding will fail at times and advantage should not he taken of that fact to ‘rub it in.’ ” said Professor Alexander. “We have tried everything that was possible, even if we keep only one breed of cattle. With the exception of a few acres the land at the college is not fitted for dairying. Indeed, we are under an obligation, by Act of Parliament, to concentrate on general agriculture and leave dairying to Massey College.” A good deal of money had been spent in herd-testing, but they had received very little encouragement, said Professor Alexander. It was ridiculous to say that dairying could be taught by having five or six breeds of cattle on land that did not suit the purpose. Mr Parlane: I am sorry Professor Alexander takes up that attitude. It is quite competent for the college to give the lead in the growing of green crops. Professor Alexander: We have done so for years. Mr Parlane said he hoped that the association would do its duty in the matter.

Professor Alexander said that the year had been an exceptional one. “We cannot make water run. uphill,” he said. “We cannot grow lucerne on hard, clay land. It is not fair to say that we have not tried these things.”

Mr Parlane: The professor and I must agree to differ. He moved that the association’s representativ on the Lincoln College Board of Governors should go into the matter. Professor Alexander: Mr Parlane is not fair. We can show how to feed cattle and get milk from the cows under the most trying conditions. The chairman (Mr L. R. C. Macfarlane) said that the most satisfactory thing for Mr Parlane to do would be to visit the college and discuss the matter with Professor Alexander. The association coidd not take it up without investigation. One could not criticise such an institution as Lincoln College without the full facts of the case. It would not be fair to the college or to Professor Alexander. There was no seconder for Mr Parlane’s resolution and there the discussion ended. HEMP AND TOW. MARCH GRADINGS. • The languishing state of the flaxmilling industrv is shown by the gliding returns for March, which show very heavy decreases in the quantities handled as compared with those of a year ago. There were only 1649 bales of hemp graded at the nine centres, compared with 7258 hales in March, 1930, a decrease of 5609 bales. Tow gradings totalled only 382 bales, as against 2333 bales, a decrease of 1951 bales. Thirtyeight bales of stripper slips were graded, as compared with 113 bales.

The Pihama (Taranaki) factory turned from cheese to butter manufacturing on April 1,