WINTER WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22437, 5 June 1936, Page 5

WINTER WORK

PASTURE " CULTIVATION " BENEFITS TO GROWTH SUPPLEMENTS FOR STOCK

BY SUNDOWN Kit

During May and June, and par ticularly in the latter month, both dairy and sheep farmers should be j concerned with the cultivation and manuring of their pastures if best results are to be obtained in the coming spring and summer. Harrowing, both to distribute the animal manure and to open up and reinvigorate the sward, is of primary importance now. Excepting in the case of young pastures wh'ere the soil has not been heavily trampled and consolidated and the plants arc still vigorous, severe surface cultivation, which leaves the land looking almost like a cultivated paddock, will do most good. This, however, should bo accompanied by a light surface sowing of these grasses and clovers which observation lias shown produce best grazing results in tho district.

This treatment is particularly advisable for old pasture paddocks which are to be used for lambing the main flock of longwool owes. It should be accompanied, if possible, with a top-dressing of sulphate of ammonia and basic slag, in the proportion of one of the former to two of the latter. Half a hundred of sulphate of ammonia to one hundred of basic slag gives excellent and profitable results on most sheep country, and it is questionable whether a heavier application than this is advisable, except on dairying land, where experience will indicate whether the quantities may be doubled or even trebled. Eflects of Lime It is not advisable to use lime — especially burnt lime —011 light country, or even 011 heavy soils if in conjunction with slag or superphosphate. On light soils lime attacks and makes highly soluble what lamias is present, with the result that this is leached from the soil or utilised extravagantly by the plants, resulting in eventual impoverishment. Where applied with superphosphate or basic slag, it greatly hastens the process of these becoming insoluble, and prevents their distribution through the soil to a depth they are available to the roots of tho grass plants. Directly paddocks are harrowed, or "surface cultivated" and top-dressed, they should be closed up until required for the lambing ewes. There will then —in August and September—be an excellent growth of short, nourishing and "clean" grass, for the majority of the parasite worms affecting sheep will have boon destroyed by the winter frosts. Supplementary Feed It is now advisable to feed out hay, ensilage, roots, or any other supplementan fodder which may have been conserved, to both cattle and sheep. There is 110 necessity for extravagance for all that is not quickly cleaned up is wasted, but sufficient should be fed to keep all breeding stock in good and improving condition. Both ensilage and roots —which each contain a large proportion of sap—should be fed in conjunction with hay. This provides tho bulk in a dry form which is so essential to all ruminants.

The cj i Kin tit v of supplementary fodders which stock will require depends so much- on the grass growth that no strict rule can bo laid down. Generally, however, where there is little, grass, 301b. to 501b. of hay and ensilage is required per cow per day, while breeding ewes will clean up about a tenth of this quantity each.