DAIRY FARMING ON ARABLE LANDS.—No. 2,

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 6

DAIRY FARMING ON ARABLE LANDS.— No. 2,

On reading the extracts from Mr Howman's paper on the above subject, published in last week's issue, dairy farmers in the Colony will be disposed to regard the system advocated as impracticable here and beyond Lhc means of all bat a very few of the many cngagec in the industry at present. The construction of silos involves a considerable expenditure ; while stack silage is not yet an assured success. Probably the stack system as at present advocated for the preservation of green fodder will be so improved upon that the losses through waste will be minimised ; and in the event of this being accomplished, the practice of stacking up superfluous summer supplies of stock food would soon be generally adopted. In the meantime, with milk at 3d a gallon — its value at a factory here — as Professor Long writes, the primary object with our dairy farmers must be to produce a maximum quantity of superior milk at a minimum cost. If silos are too expensive, the necessity for them in this colony is the less because of the facilities for the production of a succession of forage crops nearly throughout the year. Take, for example, rye, Mr Howman's favourite, or Cape barley. Either of these sown towards the end of February on highly manured stubble laud would give a good cutting in ordinary seasons by the end of May or beginning of June, whereas Mr Howman's rye sown on stubble immediately after harvest is not ready until the following spring. Mr Howman's testimony to the value of a variety of food for milking cows Was fully confirmed by other members of the conference, who affirmed that one or two small feeds given daily to the animalsxm the best pastures greatly increased the flow of milk. During the sittings Professor Long submitted some interesting tables, one of which shows the quantity required of the different foods named to keep a cow 184 days, or six of the months, and the area necessary for production. The estimates are based either upon his own or other accredited weighing of yields with the exception of grass, which, as we stated, is purposely placed high, presumably that it might compare as favourably as possible with the others.

Mr Long assumes that although ordinarily there may be slight deviations, the estimates are in accordance with his own experience, and approximately correct. Having ascertained how much of each crop will keep a cow for six months the respective values can be determined, and for the purpose he supposes a case that 100 acres of each is devoted to feeding cows. It would then be found that during the six summer months Head. 100 acres of good grazioe would keep ... 100 „ clover would keep ... 100 „ trifolium would keep ... 80 „ vetches would keep ... 100 „ lucerne would keep ... 200 „ sainfoin would keep ... 117 „ Italian ryegrass would keep 188 „ rye would keep ... ... 117 „ maize would kpep ... 163 t „ sorghum would keep ... 160 ;, cabbage would keep ... 133 In reference to this table, Professor Long points out that in each case the permanent crops, such as lucerne, sainfoin, and clover, if given in stalls have great advantage over the grass for summer feeding; while the temporary crops have the inestimable advantage that they can be removed and succeeded by others, and for this reason their value is almost double that shown in the above figures. In growing these temporary crops, he suggests the following course for adoption by English dairy farmers : — Fin t orop. Succession. Trifolium ) ( Sorghum Vetches >• followed by -(Maize ; Bye ) (Cabbage. In reference to trifolium, maize, and sorghum, he observes ;— " Jt is possible they

cannot be grown successfully in the northern counties of England, and that sainfoin and lucerne require lime in the soil."

The cultivation of temporary or intermediate crops for cow food is slowly but surely extending on dairy farms within the colony, and- would be largely recognised- in the management were markets opened up and steady remunerative prices obtainable for dairy products. In the average seasons were suitable food and shelter provided for cattle butter would always pay the producer of a good article in the winter handsomely. In summer time grass ?lone is relied on solely, as it is usually supposed to be the cheapest keep, whereas as regards milk cows especially a supply' of green forage , at milking times would increase the yield of milk per cow, and enable the farmer to maintain a larger number in good condition. The expense of cultivation of the temporary crops is trivial ; the deterrent is in the main the daily mowing and carting of the food to the cows. The case may be thus stated : In favour of pasture exclusively :here is no outlay for cultivation of crop or for mowing and carting. In favour of the growth of forage crops, more cows kept and a better yield of milk per cow ; a plentiful supply of cattle food, drought or no drought ; and a full supply of milk maintained nearly throughout the year, thus enabling the farmer to benefit by the high prices in winter.

Crop. ■gis . *4 2 a S Of , Average necessary to produce it. Grass Clover Trifolium Incarnatunn Vetches ... Lucerne ... Sainfoin ... Italian Ryegrass Rye Maize Sorghum ... ... Cabbage ... Tons. 10 12 10 10 18 12 15 12 20 16 16 Tons. lOi 12 1 io| 8 io| 12£ 1 acre 1 acre lj acres 1 acre Less than § acre 136 poles 85 poles 136 poles 98 po'es 2£ roods 3 roods.