FARM NOTES FOR OCTOBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5582, 6 October 1879, Page 3

FARM NOTES FOR OCTOBER.

Nobody seems to recollect the timo when there was such a long spell of fine nunshiny weather as was experienced last mouth. A splendid opportunity wai thus giv n for farmers to get in th-.ir usu.il crops aiiu to get thiui in well. Fine showery weather has since been experienced, and spring may be said to have fairly commenced, grass and other vegetation now making good progress. I believe most farmers before this have their potatoes and oats in the ground. lam informed that this crops of potatoes have, in many instances, been planted earlier than usual —a commendable thing. If their afterculture is attended to with proper care aud attention, the returns are almost sure to be better than if they were planted later in the season. Paddocks intended for hay should, now be finally closed, the manure lying about all spread, and wood or stones gathered off, so as to have a clear course for the mowing machine or the scythe. It would be wise also to eradicate any thistles thai; may be found springing up among the grass, as they are not desirable things during hay-making or to get mixed among the hay. Docks also ought to be dug out. A little care in extirpating noxious weeds will save a good deal of trouble in the future. To secure a good burn next summer, bush felling should be completed at the end of this month, heavy bush I mean. Of course, light scrub can be felleJ to December, as it will burn after lying two or three months. In clearing forest, it is the best plan to fell everything, with the exception of good puriri trees, which may be left standing. Borne bush farmers have an objectionable method of leaving all the big trees, but that practice only gives more work at some other time.

This is the month for sowing mangolds, and to grow this crop successfully the land wants to be in good heart, and well, worked. At the rate of three or four cwt. of salt to the acre is required for mangolds. I need hardly remark how suitable this country is for the growth of these roots, and how valuable they are to the farmer both for cattle, sheep and pigs. In tho depth of winter mangolds help to keep up the flow of milk; indeed, experiments appear to nave proved that when equal quantities of each have been given mangolds will produce a greater increase of milk than potatoes by about a third. Pigs prefer mangolds to any other roots, and, if they cannot be otherwise utilised, a flock of sheep can be turned iu on them, to the great benefit of the sheep. There is sometimes a a little difficulty iu keepiug the young plants from being devoured by slugs uud other poets, but once they get a proper start they do well as there is no particular disease to whioh they are subject. In growing a root crop like mangolds, it should be remembered that aa they yield from 30 to CO tons to the acre how very much more valuable they are to the farmer than a crop of hay. During the month maize may be sown both for seed and green fodder. To raise a payable crop of seed attention will have to be given to thorough cultivation of the soil as well as to enriching it with manure. It has been remarked that a well-cultivated and mellow surface prevents the bad effects of dry weather in two ways. I , ; increases the absorption of moisture from the air. During the dryest daya in summer the atmosphere contains a large amount of moisture, and a loose, mellow soil, by admitting the passage of air through its particles, increases the deposit of moisture. If, after the soil has become thoroughly dried, a hole is dug one foot in diameter, and about 14 inches deep, aud the earth thoroughly pulverized and replaced, it will be found that at the end of forty-eight hours this loose soil is moist, while the surrounding soil which was not disturbed is dry arjd hard. An open soil prevents the evaporation of moisture, because it is a bad conductor of heat. A fire built upon a solid of Btone will Eoon heat tho whole mass, bul; after the ttone has been reduced to a powder the same degree of heat will penetrate but a very short distance below the suiface. The thorough cultivation of the soil prevents the absorption of the ammoniacal and other gases from the air, and in this manner contributes indirectly to tho supply of nourishment.

In growing maize, the common practice is to oow in drills, thinning ou , whea sufficiently high, the weakest, and leaving the strongest to go to seed. Thosti who have Krowu imize for green stuff well know its value for milking cowa, when, in tho height of summer, grass may bo drie.l up. As in Rome localities, there i 3 danger of the seed being devoured l>y pheasants, I may state once more that the plan adopted iu some mnize-growing countries is to coat the seed ■with coal tar, halfa-pint to tho bushel. Tho tar is poured on the eecJ, and tho wholo well stirred. The seed is aEtenvards mixed with woad-ashes until it can be haudled freely. Land is in tine condition now for breaking up, and fern land, ready tor the plough, should be at once turned over before the young fern gets too high. GARDE.V REMINDEE:B. In gardening operations this is .1 very busy month at a great variety of vegetables can now be planted or sowu. It i 3 important tbat only the best of seeds be used ; that sufficient manure is applied to crops ; that the soil is well worked, and that seed is not eown when tho ground 13 too wet. During showery weather cabbages should bo transplanted. Give plenty of manure to force them on. Watering with soapsuds will help them wonderfully. Forced in this way they will not so readily b« injured by blight. Cauliflower and cabbage seed may still be sown. Of the latter, Enfield, sugarloaf, and St. John's Day will be suitable. List sowing of broad beans may be attended to and nlso peas of favourite sorts. Main crop of carrots should now bti got in, especially red sorts. White Belgio.n does well sown next month. Towards encl of month, kidney beans and scarlet runners may be planted, aa also pumpkins and marrows. Beds should be prepared for cucuinbors and melons to be put in next month. Onions that were sown early should novr be weedtd and thinned out. They will bear transplanting and will grow well if it is properly done. Tomato seed may be sown in a bed, to transplant. Turnips may still be put in. Look out for sluga. Sprinkle lime or salt where they are likely to iujure young plants. In sowing seed do not bury too deep. For many seeds, such as cabbage and turnip, it is sufficiont to rake the ground over or flatten it with tho back of the spade. This is a good timo for getting in seed of tho box thorn, and tree seeds of nearly all kinds should be planted at once. An exception ehould perhaps be lnada in the blue gum, which, growing so rapidly, the sewing should be deferred as long as possible. Many of the tree seeds are better sown in boxes or raised beds. Slugs may be kept off by putting tin round. I must not omit to mention that tboso who are fond of rhubarb will do well to sow some seed at once, in order to raise plenty of roots for transplanting at the proper time. , The orchard will require Bonie attention. 1 On peach trees that bear too frenly the fruit should bo thinned out, and tho sihoots of the ' tree pinched back. I Flower seeds, whether annual, triennial, or perennial, may be sown on d.ry beds, the ' earth being very fine, but they must not be covered deep. Many flowers will now be in fall bloom. .^eweou*