Notes on July Work

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 175, 27 July 1935, Page 12

Notes on July Work

Harrowing. This work may well bo pushed on with at this season. There is more time available now than there will be later. Harrowing may be divided into two distinct classifications. There is penetration harrowing and superiicial harrowing. Both have a distinct place in farm practice.

Superficial or light harrowing is of especial benefit at this season in spreading manure droppings on dairy-farms' in particular. It should be carried out several times a year if possible. Wc know, all too well, the clump of coarse, unprintable grass that grows up around cattle dungings. These have a bad effect upon a pasture. Ensilage Pits.

Before the rush ot the season it is a wise procedure to plan and put in ensilage pits where needed. Silos have largely gone out of favour, stacking is father expensive and resultant in Joss on the big exposed surface. Where possible, a pit of a sidling is the perfect storage place. It can be filled from the fop and carted out from below. The utmost economy of labour is thus provided for. Ensilage is rapidly growing in favour xvtill sheep-farmers and this is all to the good. It has just as important a place la sheep feeding as in dairy feeding. Pern Crashing. / The bracken fern is readily destroyed, provided slock handling is properly carried through. An important aid in this regard is fencing. The area to be controlled must be such that the fanner can crush it with stock and do so in a fairly short period. The actual size of the paddock cannot be stated, it depends upon the size of the whole farm. An 10U acres may be a small paddock on a large sheep farm, or 20 acres may bo it large paddock on another farm.

Quick crushing is much to be desired as this will enable the stock to do their work without unduly damaging themselves. Some men have done great work by buying up large numbers of cull cows at cheap prices and used theso for crushing purposes through the winter and spring, then fattening them off in the summer.

Crushing fern at this season docs not destroy it! What is done is to open it up for destruction in the growing season. A fern frond grows in the spring and lives but one year. To kill out fern involves stocking at the time the new fronds appear. That is the all important period. (This question will bo further dealt with next week.)