ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18679, 8 April 1924, Page 12

ON THE LAND.

•DAIRYING IN R<YTOTUNA.

MILK YIELDS HIGH. VALUE OF HERD TESTING. [BX TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.} HAMILTON, Monday. Farming operations in the Rototuna district are being carried out this autumn under the most favourable conditions. Mr. F. W. Thomas, a well-known settler, said to-day that as far as dairying was concerned the cattle were keeping up their milk supply splendidly. He could only wish that current prices were better- The growth of grass in the paddocks was quite as good as In the spring. The turnip crops were good, although excessive moisture was causing some of the roots to rot. The maize in his neighbourhood was practically finished. Soft turnips and millet carried the Rototuna farmers through the dry spell in January without any appreciable drop in tile supply, said Mr. Thomas. With the rains which followed the grass came away rapidly, and an abundance of pasture was now available. Rats were playing havoc with the marrows, which had becu provided, along with swedes and hay, for winter feed. As an indication showing how the supply had been maintained, Mr. Thomas said that his 40 tows gave 18001b. of milk daily during the flush period. In January the supply eased off until it reached the 10001b. mark. At the present time his cows were giving 9501b. of milk daily. Herd-testing in the Rototuna district had been of great assistance to the farmers in enabling them to ascertain what the individual cows were producing, said Mr. Thomas. Some of his cows had gi\en 4851b. of butter-fat to date. Even though a farmer of many years experience, he had had some interesting surprises. He recently bought a likelylooking Jersey. He paid £9 15s for her. When tested 'the cow gave 181b. of milk cn 0110 dav, with a 5.6 test. The next month she "gave less milk and a 3.6 test. Eer month's production was 181b. of butter-fat. A Shorthorn cow in the same herd gave 761b. of butter-fat for one month. Mr. Thomas said he fattened the Jersey and was glad to get £3 for her. He has a grade herd, composed chiefly of nearly purebred cows. A pedigree Shorthorn hull is herd sire.

NEW DEMONSTRATION FARM

NORTH TARANAK! SCHEME. CABINET AGREES TO SUBSIDY ■Mr. W. B. Grant, chairman of the North Tararsaki Demonstration Farm Committee, has received a letter from the Minister for Agriculture with reference to the establishment of a demonstration farm at Lepperton, and stating that the Cabinet had agreed to grant a subsidy of £300 per annum for three years on the same principle as is adopted at Stratford and Manaia. The grant is subject to the moneys iot this purpose being made available from the revenue deriveu from cutting up and leasing of the Moomahaki .State Farm. It has been found that the revenue derived from placing settlers on the Moumahaki estate cannot be used for the purpose intended without special legislation. This will be submitted to Parliament as early as possible.

WINTER FEEDING STOCK.

VALUE OF MANGOLDS. •METHOD OF. CULTIVATION. £BX TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Monday. The growing of mangolds for winter feeding was the subject of a lecture given at* Raaknra by Mr. W. Hudson. An Education Board inspector, recently. Mangolds, Mr. Hudson said, were suitable for all kinds of stock. They would not taint the milk, they were heavy in bulk, and were of high feeding value. The principal varieties were long red, globe, and tankard. In the Waikato the tankard variety was mostly grown, being found to be most suitable for the conditions. When the feed was most —during a dry spell—mangolds were of great value. The crop would yield up to from 30 to 40 Cons per acre. Alluvial soil was the best for mangold crops and should not be too light. The ground should be skim-ploughed in the autumn and deep-ploughed in the spring. Cultivation should be deep. With regard to manuring, farmyard refuse and phosphates were ideal. Of artificial fertilisers two to three cwt. of superphosphates, half cwt. of sulphate ammonia, and half cwt. of potash per acre was recommended. As an alternative to potash lewi. of kainit or 2cwt. of common salt could be . used. In the Waikato manuring should be heavy, and 4cwt, of basic super and 2cwt. of bonedust could be applied with advantage. An essential requirement, was phosphatic manure to hasten germination and to promote a healthy growth. Dealing with the sowing Mr. Hudson recommended 51b. of seed to the acre. The seed should be sown in ridges 2ft. 6in. apart. The ridging gave better results than sowing on the fiat. Sowing should be carried out in October. It was a good plan to hoe between the ridges so as to improve aeration and the moisture content, and remove the weeds. When growth had developed the mangolds should be thinned out and left from 8 to 12 inches apart. Mangolds should be read* to be pulled in May. Their tops should ba twisted off and the roots stacked for use in the winter. Mr. Hudson said it was better for a farmer to limit the size of his crop of mangolds to four or five acres, and cultivate them thoroughly, than to attempt to grow a largo area. Another winter root crop dealt with by the lecturer was swedes. Before sowing swedes the soil, he said, should be in good order. A paddock that had previously been in cultivation was best suited to the growing of swedes — that contained a bare proportion of nitrogenous matter in the. form of humus. The soil should be prepared as far as possible ahead of the time of sowing. Cultivation should be thorough. Speed was essential. The usual practice was to mix the seed and the manure. To get the best results out of swedes they should be thinned to seven inches apart, and cultivation should be carried out between the rows as long as the size of the leaves allowed this to be done. Cultivation destroyed the weeds, admitted the air, and controlled the moisture movement.

' EXPORT OF POULTRY.

! - SHIPMENT TO MATALe [by TELEGRAPH.OWN correspondent.] CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. Mr. J. Liggins, the well-known breeder of white Leghorn poultry, shipped to-day 16 White Leghorn pullets and two cockerels to Mr. R. Parritt, of the Kirkwood stud poultry farm, Pietermaritzburg, Natal. . This is the first order that Mr. Liggins has received from South Africa, but he has sent shipments to Australia and England. The birds for South Africa, will be transhipped at Sydney.