Ensilage And Hay Crops.

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 47, 6 November 1929, Page 6

Ensilage And Hay Crops.

The Value Of Nitrogen

Apart from its value in stimulating the growth of grasses for grazing purposes and ryegrass for seed production, Sulphate of Ammonia will be found to be valuable in the securing of bigger crops of ensilage and hay. Nitrogen undoubtedly gives greater leaf production and thereby gives greater bulk to the crop.

In the August number of the Journal of Agriculture, the Fields Division advises as follows :

“Fields intended for ensilage should be thoroughly cleaned and shut up early as they can be spared. A careful clearing-up at this time, particularly of any wire or othtr foreign material, will save a great deal of trouble at mowing-time. The early shut-ting-up is most important, as it allows the grass to get a suffici-' ent growth to allow it to be cut during November, or very early in December. If this is done, the grass is saved at its best, and the pastures are enabled to get a good growth of clover and fine grasses before the dry weather sets in. This means that the clovers and better grasses are preserved in the sward. “Ensilage making should become a standard practice on every dairy-farm and on a great many sheep-farms. In addition to the advantages just mentioned ensilage making means that one is independent of the weather, as it can be saved during showery weather just as well as in dry. It is piactically safe from fire, and will keep for years if not required in the meantime. It is proposed to deal with methods of ensilage-making in the September Journal.

“Fields for hay should also be cleaned and shut up, so as to have them at their best when the local weather conditions are considered likely to be right for haymaking. All fields to be shut up for ensilage or hay should be given 2cwt. per acre of super at time of closing. If very rich in clover, I cwt. of sulphate of ammonia could also be applied with advantage.”