ON TEE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15504, 10 January 1914, Page 11

ON TEE LAND.

CROPS FOR PLOUGHING IN.

Tares is a good crop for this purpose, and is better in this respect, especially on a light sandy soil, than mustard; the tares are a bulky crop and open up the soil admirably. A great deal, however, depends on the conditions of soil mixture. White mustard is no doubt an excellent preparation for wheat, but it should be ploughed in at the end of six Or seven weeks as soon as the flowers have made their appearance and before the plants have reached the seeding stage. White mustard can be used as a green manure within two months of its being sown. If clover is used, it is simply turned in and left to rot, when in about six weeks' time the ground will be ready to receive the cultivation necessary to fit it for a succeeding- crop. Rape sometimes .-hows a superiority oyer spring or autumn-sown tares, and lupins, peas, and vetches can also be used for the purpose of green manuring. FERTILISERS ON MEADOWS. The Agricultural Department of the Swiss Government has just published an interesting report of experiments conducted over three years to test the effect of different fertilisers on meadow land. The fertiliser:-, experimented with were nitrogen, phosphate of lime, and potash, the fertilisers being tried alone and mixed. The conclusion arrived at is that, in order to obtain the heaviest and most profitable crops, it is necessary to supply fertilisers containing the three principal fertilising —phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen. The extra yield obtained from this system of manuring covers the cost of the fertilisers and leaves a good profit. The effect of the manures is more marked on the first cutting than on the second cut, the average increase having been found to be from 62 to 100 per cent, on the former and 20 to 40 per cent, on the second crop. BRITISH AGRICULTURAL RETURNS. The agricultural returns for England and Wales as shown in the preliminary statement of the Board of Agriculture reveal a position for the British farmer, which is a striking one, in view of the diminution of crop areas. The total acreage under all crops and grass at June last is given as 27,129,382, a decrease of 45,308 acres, and the one fact that impresses itself on the observer is that barley is the sole crop (1,558,856 acres, increase 1u2,328) which shows an advance. The decline in the arable land, 11,058,233 acres, amounts to 277,000 acres, most of which was transferred to permanent pasture, and the latter area now, for the first time, surpasses 16,000,000 acres. Wheat, 1,701,588, shows a decline of 162,000 acres, the total thus reverting to rather less than in 1910. Oats, 1,974,700, also decreased by 98,000 acres. Most of the crops show a decline, probably owing to thj difficulties of the sowing season. Bare fallow increased by 114,000 acres, thus emphasising the conditions of the early part of the year. Potatoes declined by 21,000, and mangolds by 66,000 acres. Clover and grasses under rotation fell off by 27,000 acres, but the area reserved for hay, whether seeds or meadow, shows an increase of 273.730 acres. —.—.—________ ~~"~ ' ' ' ' s CLOVER ROTATION. The principle of clover rotation in keeping up the fertility of the farm finds a strong confirmation in one of the experiments of the Minnesota Station. A ten-year average showed that if one-fifth of the farm is devoted to clover in a suitable rotation and the manure is applied to the land, the remaining four-fifths will produce more grain than would the entire farm without the clover rotation.

In a sort of vague theoretical manner, fanners have believed this doctrine for many years. But with a very large proportion of farmers it is still something to be taken up or thrown down just as it happens. But few farmers adhere rigidly to a three or four-year rotation with clover. And in all the older farming sections where the soil has grown acid, conditions have beA wor.se than ever, for so few farmers will spend any money in the purchase of lime to sweeten the soil so that they may grow clover. They are very hard to convince of the real money value to them of such outlay. And so we see right here in the old dairy sections of Wisconsin hundreds of farms that cannot produce corn, grain or hay as they once did. " N

THE TOP SOIL.

The lop soil of an acre of arable land to {he depth of eight inches is estimated to weigh about 1000 tons, so that a dressing of Scwt of fertiliser to the acre is really the application of only about 9oz of fertiliser to a ton of soil, and the quantities of actual plant-food, nitrogen, phosphate and potash, seem infinitely small; and yet these minute quantities of available plant food exert a wonderful influence on the growth of the crop. When we apply a top-dressing of 2cwt nitrate of soda per acre, we are putting in the soil only about half an ounce of actual nitrogen to every 35,8400z of soil, and still the effect is great. It seems marvellous!

THE PIG A GRAZING ANIMAL.

The too closely penning of pigs (except while topping up) 'is a mistake. In a state of nature the pig is a grazing animal. For breeding and growing pigs a grass outrun is profitable. Admitting that pigs must be fed differently from other stock, when housed, yet. grass is still a natural food to them, even as it is to horses and cows. Pigs graze as close to the ground as sheep. It is sometimes stated that pasture deteriorates under cows, but whether this be so or not, pigs benefit pasturage, and rapidly improve poor quality grass. Even the very youngest pigs running with the mother will graze a little, but should be given some other food as well. Shade and shelter are necessary. Sunburn is to be guarded against. Even with larger pige a sudden change from dull to sunny weather during the hotter portion of the year means sunburn. When grass is plentiful store pigs of all age's can be run upon it cheaply, and need but very little trough food. With regard to the quantity of trough food to give, the rule should, be to keep the animals in decent condition.

With plenty of grass, strong pigs need only a minimum of trough food, and the warmer the weather the less they will need. Breeding sows in pig should "not be allowed to become low in condition for want of a little extra food. Pi gs are thirsty animals, and when run out need plenty to drink. Failing natural shade artificial has to be provided. It is a natural habit of the pig to wallow, and the coating of mud it not uncleannese in a pig, and helps much in keeping off flies. r e

IRON IN FERTILISERS. Iron is always found in the ash of plants, and, therefore, forms a part of their composition, but in such an insignificant quantity that it is not necessary to take it into consideration. A crop of wheat, grain and straw is estimated to contain only about 21b to the acre, and hay from 31b to 51b. Mr. Muntz, Professor of the Institute Agronomique, at Paris, investigated this subject, and pointed out that the action of tulphate of iron as regards producing increase of crop or improvement of quality does not justify the favourable opinions sometimes expressed. Farmers should not be induced to pay for .it as an ingredient in chemical manures. On the other hand, although of no commercial value as a fertiliser, it possesses properties which are most useful as an insecticide, and for the removal of moss, dodder and other noxious growths. RAPE AS FODDER. The cultivation of rape as a fodder crop, says the Pastoralists Review, has yet to be more thoroughly studied by farmers in the wheat areas of Australia. At the Nyngan Experimental Farm, N.S.W., rape has been very successfully grown, 17 tons to 19' tons per acre being obtained. A paddock of 52 acres sown with rape and skinless barley carried 700 sheep from the end of May

to June 17, and early in August there was another growth of feed on the same area sufficient to carry tße same number of sheep for three weeks. The crop is regarded om the farm as an inexpensive one. Stubble land is ploughed as soon after harvest aa possible, a good working of 4in or sira being given. Before sowing, the harrow and then the roller are put into use to> work the soil into fine condition, and the seed is then sown with 91b of fertiliser to the acre. The whole cost, including the fertiliser and the seed, is set down by the manager as 8s to 9s per acre, and there is no after-cultivation. Last season the seed was sown at the rate of 31b rape and lib of skinless barTey (preference being entertained for this mixture), and the results suggested that the rape could have been slightly reduced and the barley increased. THE AMERICAN HARVEST. American formers have this season reached the climax of the . good fortune which they have enjoyed for some year* past. Their principal crops, as compared with averages for recent vears. are 3,000,000,000 bushels of maize against 2,610,000.000; 1.300,000.000 bushels o« oats, against 930.000,000; 700,000,000 bushels of wheal, against 650,000,000; 210.000.000 bushels of barley, against 165.000.000; 35,000,000 bushels of rye. against 320,000.000; 20.000,000 bushels d buckwheat, against 16,000,000; 30,000,000 bushels if linseed, against 21,000,000; 100.000.000 bushels of potatoes, against 320,000,0000. In the last week of September 30,990,000 bushels of grain were removed from farms to primary markets, following 23,000,000 bushels moved in the preceding week. The greatest quantity for a week in any previous year was! 24!000.000 bushels. There is a great shortage of railway cars for conveying the grain. KINDS OF POTASH SALTS. In ordqr to obtain the best results from] the use of potash salts, the manure should be applied early; this recommendation holds good especially with kainit, which proves most effective when applied in winter or quite early in the spring. The more concentrated salts—sulphate o£ potash or muriate of potashcan be put* on the soil in the course of the manuring season, when most convenient. With them there is not the same reason for early application. The potash salts sold in this country are usually either one or the other of the following three kinds—Kainit, containing 23 per cent, sulphate of potash, equal 12£ per cent, of pure potash; sulphate of potash, containing 90 to 95 per cent, sulphate of potash, equal to 48 to 50 -er cent, pure potash ; muriate of potash, containing 80 to 85 per cent, muriate of potash, equal to 50 to 52 per cent, pure potash.

The use of kainit is the most common, because it is the cheapest and the most! useful for general application ; its price is about 46s to 5Cs per ton, so that the unit of potash costs 3s 6d to 4s. It should be applied in the autumn or quite early in the year, as its quality gets purified and mellowed by incorporation with the soil, and as the potash gets fixed in the soil there is no danger of loss by drainage. Sulphate of potash, as mentioned above, contains about 50 per cent, pure potash, and as its price is, say, £10 10s per ton, the unit of potash in it is more expensive, costing over 4s. Sulphate of potash is especially suitable for certain crops, such, as potatoes, beetroot, tobacco, etc.. lor which the other forms of potash, do not seem so well adapted. Sulphate of potash . has also the advantage that it blends well when mixed with sulphate of ammonia, superphosphate, etc. Muriate of potash also contains about 50 per cent, pure potash, and as it casts about 20s per ton less than the sulphate, the unit of potash in it is cheaper; it ia more economical, and is suitable for application in spring to cereals andt roots when potash is required, and especially for mangolds. ' POLLINATION OF FRUIT. A bulletin on " Cross and Self-pollination of the Apple," issued by the Oregon Ex- ' periment Station, tells'. us that "all varieties do not cross satisfactorily with each, other; when one variety was fertilised with pollen from a number of other, varieties " distinct differences were found in tie number of fruits set from the different cresses anl in the average weight of the produce. - The suitability of varieties for crossing ia a matter of investigation, but it is pointed out that in planting different varieties together their pollen-producing qualities should be taken into consideration, as well as their commercial value, while it is important that they should come into blossom at about the same time, or at any rate their blossoming periods should overlap." KAINIT AS A WEED DESTROYER, A German paper contains an account of an experiment carried out with the object of testing the efficiency of kainit as a weed destroyei. The experiment was carried out in a field of oats overrun by weeds to such an extent that the crop looked as if it would be ruined. Some large plots were marked off and dressed with different quantities of finely-ground kainit. 'The best result/' was obtained with about 9cwt. to lOcwt. of kainit per acre. At first, after the/' y application, the oats had a set-back, but quickly recovered, whereas the weeds were permanently checked to such a degree that the oat crop : produced a normal yield. The leaves of thistles turned brown very quickly after -the application, the effect on . ehalock was slower, but sufficient to cause the weed to perish. In the use of kainit for this purpose it must be ground fine and applied as a top dressing. BREVITIES. To farm without keeping books is as wise as to sail the seas without a compass. Few things there are but may serve useful ends; dandelions teach the lesson of persistence. "British breeders of Romney Marsh' rams,' the Mark-lane Express reports, ' are at the present time in a very happr position. The export demand has reduce* the number on hand to a larger extent than ever before. Somewhere about 800 rams and 300 to 400 ewes have been shinped.' r

Writing on tne subject of "the value o| different crops as green manures." Mr. A. D. Hall says: "From the practical point! of view, the Rothamsted experiments would seem to show that on strong land the farmer will do better to sow vetches or crimson clover for green manuring than) one of the non-leguminous crops.

Agriculture still holds, notwithstanding the development of commerce and manufactures, a fundamental position; and although time has changed the position of the owner of the land, the country gentleman, with Ids wife and children, the tenant, and the labourer still form a great* and united family, in which we gladly re* cognise ',he foundation of the social slate.

A cow to do her best must have he* bodily condition kept right. She must not be too poor, nor too fat, but in a good, healthy working condition. The cow's individuality has to be taken into consideration. If she grows poor by feeding- » so-called balance ration, then this ration is not a balance for her, and more of tha carbohydrates or fat-making element should be fed.

It is not good business to pay high price* for materials which the soil may itself yield, but it is good economy to supply the lacking ones in the cheapest way. The rule in the purchase of expensive commercial fertilisers should be to select those that supply in the best forms and at the* lowest cost the plant food which the crop needs and the soils fail to furnish. It is a familiar plea in these days of scarce help that "wo can't get time to keep records." The truth is one. cannot afford not to do it. As a matter of fact, it doesn't take much time. Half a minute a day per cow will cover all the time i&* volved in weighing and, marking down tha •, figures. That is five minutes per day foe ft herd of ton cows. ■ ..: ■'■*■.-'