FOOD SUPPLIES FOR LIVE STOCK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 42

FOOD SUPPLIES FOR LIVE STOCK.

The fact is now unfortunately well known that throughout extensive districts in Ocago and Southland the grain crops and pastures have sustained a considerable check, while the success of the root erop3 is eerionsJy imperilled by the unseasonable dry weather that has prevailed during the past three weeks. These misfortunes supervening upon an already depressed industry have brought matters to such a pass in the districts affected an has not been expiriefctd in any recent t-eason. Although at present tho low current pacts for mutton a&d wool eJfford a parallel to those luling for grain, the di*appointment in the evont of an indifferent harvest yi»ld would be less severely lelt were there reasonably assured proppcets of an abundanca of ftiuimcr and wilder feed for strck. The out'ock jurt, row ip, however, very rii-conng-ing, pdo f-h uld the drought cnntuirti Icr anoi '.'. rwyk or two, the m.ijori'y of f.nmwp —t-heepf turners c cpcci.:lly— will to^n find out thi't thfty h, ye rcu<ic s'.ock on hand than they can coEVCbiently carry on through tho summer, and that the lesteri^g of "store flocks" by pales will be possible only by the Bnbmission to a range of very moderate prices. It is unpleasant thus to have to throw a damper on stock-owners' expectations of success, but at the earae time few will be found to aifiuejthtit the indications of

bcaniy bumru'-r pasturage and a less than average yield of root crops have been exaggerated.

The d-cline in value and the consequent limitation in extent and importance of grain cropn have served to make pastnr»ge and live stock the chief concern of farmers ; but as the past month has been about the worst for the growth of grass exparlonced for many summer seasons, all hopeful calculations have been upset, and the distressing consequences of depressed prices aggravated. In order in some measura to avert the threatened evilß, it is advisable to direct the ; attention of owners of stock to some of the " catch crops," which may be advantageomly, if immediately, sown to make up for the unexpected deficiency in the pastures. For several years back dairy farmers in particular have bestowed incroapinfc attention on this branch of farming, and (here ißno doubt | it dt'serves to attract a closer and more j general observance in the future. O£ the j quick-growiug crops patronised by " cow j men " in the colony for the provision of green food for their stock on failing pastures, rye, Cape barky, and dan or black oats have had , the preference in the order stated. Kye, if sown at once on land in fairly good heart, i and with a dressing given of lewt superphosphate and lewt nitrogenous manure (guano or blood manure) per acre, would yield a cutting in seven or tight weeks. We , have known instances of Rowings of rye on j ploughed oat stubble with a dressing of ] 2owt per acre of bonedust harrowed in with the scad that afforded substantial cuttings for dairy cowa in the course of seven we«ks, and vigorous after-growths. Cape barley, , although perhaps tlightly slower in growth j than rye, is found to be equally useful as a i supplementary food, a» are tho varieties of t oats named. Of course on a sheep farm tho growth would be fed off, and we/c tho soed i promptly put in two courses of feeding ( would bo obtained between now and winter.

As there is i\ strong probability of an early J harvest the quick-growiug habits of rye, , Cape barley, and oats should be turned to ; advactpg^ by farmers in order to relieve them of all anxiety concerning winter and spring fsed for stock. The stubble lands should bo promptly ploughed or tilled with a cultivator, seedtd, and dressed with the artificials recommended, so that green etuff may be available throughout Apiil and M.iy, leaving tho probably deficient turnip crop untouched. The varieties of cereals suggested all bear severe vrinter weather well, aad partial sowings of them should be made (portions as a mixture with winter tare«) in the autumn. ' In this way a valuable; pnpply ot food for for" s.uck will be &v.-.il&Mo fr-ivn tic mH^le of An, nst t'i November folljwi. g, ari vlich wi'l bs < IT \be ground in suuplc timo lo admit of the tWcu^h preparatory cultivation of , the scil for a root crop to follow. A3 a , further recommendation of thia system of , wiiler cropping, the new well-ftfcertrineil I fact may be cited that a growing crop conseives fertility in winter, whercau an f>ppreoiable atnouufc of ffcnllUing piopoties are washed out o£ Me auitiva&i&ns br W»e rain- * fall*

It has to be conceded that in many districts it is not yet too lato to bow some cf the late varieties of turnip, but these at best are indifferent food for other than store stock, and are only useful in the first winter month. The swedeß and other valuable hardy sorts have been in the ground for some time, and in rare instances only do they exhibit, the vigorous growth indicative of a satisfactory maturity, whilst by the "fly" and the consequent neceußity for reseoding. Under similar cironmetancea a practice long followed by ezl'^naive growers of turnip 3 there have boon numerous reports of ravages in the Homo country may be mentioned here. Wlien a crop was only a partial success giant rape was sown between the rowfl of tnruips i after the final hoeing aad f uvzow cultivation had beea given. Tue rape was in due time thinned, aad on ordinarily well-tilled soils was invariably such a success as to compensate for the shortage of the turnip oop. Farmers hitve learned to accommodate themselves to circum&tarc^a when " needs muat," and so this season they must have recourse to the foregoing or other devices for providing gtock food, unless they deaire to be of the number who must crowd the markets with stores or half-fatted animals, in their •Buxiety to dear or atleaust lighten their stock at a sacrifice.