OTAGO FARMERS' CALENDAR FOR APRIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 697, 8 April 1865, Page 15

OTAGO FARMERS' CALENDAR FOR APRIL.

The grain harvest will now be completed, and attention will be turned to the housing of root crops, ploughing, laying down pasture, &c. Many farmers will now be tempted to neglect the important operation of ploughing for threshing, thatching', marketing, and other work which may be necessary at this sea«on. But this should not be, as the success of the next year's crops depends a good deal upon the autumnal treatment of the land. A deep, rich, and stiff soil can never j be moved too much nor too deep : deep ploughing j brings up rich earth, admits the air and water readily and gives room for the roots to shoot, whilst the rich compact soil affords moisture and nourishment. Whenever the soil below a cci tain depth is of an inferior quality, there can be no use in bringing it up, and whe'-e the soil is light and porous, the bottom had much better not be broken. Where the soil is good, with a porous subsoil, the greatest care should be taken not to go too deep ; but where the subsoil is compact and impervious to water, but not wet for want of outlet or draining, it is useful to stir the soil to a great depth, but without bringing it to the surface, which may be done by a plough without a mould-board following the common plough in the same furrow. This is an excellent method of draining, and at the same time keeping a reservoir of moisture, which in dry weather ascends in vapors through the soil and refreshes the roots. The mode in which the soil is prepared most perfectly for the reception of seed is as follows : After the harvest, the plough is set to work, and the stubble ploughed in. The winter's mellows it, while the stubble and weed 3 rot below. In spring, as soon as the weather permits, it is ploughed again, the first ridges being turned over as they were before. It is then stirred with harrows or other instruments, which tear up the roots which remained, and some of these, not being easily destroyed, are carefully gathered and burnt, or put in a heap to ferment and rot, a portion of quick lime being added. Another ploughing and Stirling follows, at some interval, till the whole ground is mellow, pulverised, and free from weeds ;

manure is put on if required, and immediately spread and plough in : the land is then prepared for the seed.

In laying down a field to errnss for a very few, years, the mode of proceeding is somewhat different from that which is recommended for producing a permanent pasture. Clover in this case is always a principal plant, both the red and the white; these, with annual i or perennial rye grass, are sown with a crop of orn in spring." If the grass is good, the f.irnn r is certain of good crops after it with little trouble or manure. We have on former occasions called attention to the importance of the cultivitiou in this Piovince, of the English grasses, and wo now do so again, this being the season for .-owing. Great care should he taken in iho selection of seeds, which should not o.ily bj go>l in quiltty but suited to the soi aid climate. Respectable and intelligent seedsmen are Usually competent judges as to the kiuds and proportion of grass seeds to lie sown in certain localities, and advice is usually given with tiie seeds. The perennial rye-grass is a favorite, and with, it may betaken timothy, fox-tail,coek's-foot, poa, clover, cow-grass, and meadow foxtail.

Lucerne slnuld now be sown. It likes a good, f iahle, sandy soil. The drill system is preferred. Thp drills drawn fourteen inches apart, and he plants kept fee fiom weeds, and hoed out so as to leave a distance of twelve inches between them. If kept clean while young, they thrive fast, and soon cover tbo ground. A temporary crop of peas miy 1 c grown between the rows, to shelter the youmrpl-nts. Lucerne may be cut five times during the season, for years.

Tare- area most important green crop in the improved system of igricultui'e, and those of our farmers who have heavy soil should give them a trial. When sown in autumn, with a small sprinkling of wheat, they cover the ground in spring, and supply abundance of f dder in summer They also improve the land, preparing it for a ci op of w heat.