BOOT AND GREEN CROPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1778, 19 December 1885, Page 6

BOOT AND GREEN CROPS.

Turnip sowing, except for late varieties, is now well advanced, and by advices we learn that the area under crop this year will be very considerable. It will be remembered that in the " Witness Returns " last season quite a number of the farming correspondents pointed out the superiority of the drill over the broadcast system of turnip cultivation. The principle however, admittedly applies only to old cultivation, for broadcasting must continue to be the economical plan on "first or second furrow.'' Virgin soils in this way, and with very crude cultivation, give remarkably heavy crop&pf roots, and these eaten off abstract 'but little froniTthe soil, while the treading of the sheep or cattle'So ameliorates it that much expense is spared in the further tillage. Grain or grasses following can have a good seed-bad provided at a trifling cost, and therefore' broadcasting > turnips' ; will continue the most eligible plan of dealing with new lands. On 1 old tillages, however, drilling and manuring are essentials to success, and it is satisfactory to know ' ' that these conditions have this year received more than ordinary attention from farmers. So far, the weather has been adverse to attack of fly ;' and provided the drill-grubber and scarifier is* freely used during summer, the turnip crop on farms should be above late averages, and the lands will be in fine condition for whatever is to follow. " A graincrop following effective turnip cultivation has in all experience proved so superior as to fully recoup the expense involved in the tillage of the previous year. It is frequently argued that, as farmers mostly cart the turnips off to feed their stock, the land is by so much impoverished, but as most of them now own sheep, a practice commonly adopted in the United Kingdom may be suggested for consideration. This plan is to cart alternate drills, or, if required, two out of three, thus leaving the balance for feeding off , equally distributed over the field, and securing the even distribution of the droppings from the stock turned in. It is satisfactory to learn that the cultivation of mangolds is extending steadily on dairy farms, and apparently the time is approaching when this root, cabbages, and catch green crops will supersede turnips amongst dairymen. On the South Australian experimental farm mangolds and cattle cabbage withstood the drought, but rerfcainlyin regard to both their merits were exaggerated in the report. It was said that mangolds grew well without water and without manure on the sandy soil of the farm. Experienced growers know that land must be especially well prepared for this root crop, and liberally manured. The returns, however, follow in from three to four months, for the drooping leaves, which may be removed with benefit to the roots, afford a quantity of cattle food in extent known only to habitual growers?', The pastures are thereby helped in after-summer ( and autumn. Another strong argument in favour of mangolds is their keeping quality. In spring, when turnips have lost much of their nutritive qualities, mangolds properly stored continue in perfect condition. In regard to, cabbages the idea of cropping for stock food is hardly ever entertained by New Zealand farmers, notwithstanding what ordinary observation must have assured them of, that one variety or ojbher. of jbhe many commonly grown may be had hi perfection ' at all seasons of the year. There is'^, groundless fear as to the cost of cultivation ; butltrang.planting cabbage plants from seedling' beds into, drills is not moire costly than turnip-thinning, and the after tillage is much less elaborate, while an infinitely greater yield of feed will be procured. Only a few weeks ago a paragraph appeared in the Witness detailing the experience of a well-known and extensive farmer in cab-bage-growing, and affording direct testimony in, regard to the Jarge acr'eable returns, fn nutritive quality cahbagbs are superior to turnips. One ton of the former Will yield 751b of gluten, while a ton of Swede turnips' w^ll'only give 1 '#$)>. Long habit in turnip cultivation and a ceffcaib amount of prejudice against or inexperience in cabbage-growing have heretofore retarded' thd cultivation of the latter, but were farmers to test the matter for themselves by transplanting cabbages into spaces where failures occur in the turnip crop very certain evidence would be afforded of the 'relative merits, always assuming, that the transplanting would be done in f avom> able weather and good seasonable sorts chosen.

On most farms there are occasional patches uncropped during summer ; these could be planted when time admitted after turnip-sowing with suitable sorts of cabbage plants, and which are to be had at exceedingly low prices from gardeners and nurserymen. , The cow-keeper especially, cannot afford to have laud unoccupied by home feed crops, aud failing all else, should rather sow Cape or other barley, oats or wheat for summer and autumn soiling.