General Crop Work

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7198, 22 April 1930, Page 9

General Crop Work

Because of tho prolonged dry spc'l which has been experienced extensively it may be advisable on many farms as an emergency measure to grow such catch crops as Algerian oats, black skinless barley or a mixture of ryocorn and oats for colder, severer climates. The arte of development of such crops may, under average conditions, be hastened appreciably by the use of a dressing of about 1 cwt. of superphosphate. Such crops sown now will be likely to provide valuable green feed when it is most wanted in the spring. The general advisability of using a dressing of phosphates when sowing wheat has already been pointed out in this scries of articles. Such a dressing is sometimes condemned on the ground that it leads to the crop ripening oil unduly rapidly at harvest time, with the result that the yiold is lowered. This allegation as to lowered yield is not at all supported by extensive field trials; ■ While the phosphatie fertilising of Wheat is to bo recommended, tho available evidence docs not support tho autumn use of tho special nitrogenous fertilisers such as sulphate of ammonia, while on the available evideneo the use of potash may he definitely condemned. What is true of the manuring of wheat is true also of tho manuring of other cereal crops.