SOUTH ISLAND FORAGE CROP TESTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3033, 1 May 1912, Page 17

SOUTH ISLAND FORAGE CROP TESTS.

Mr A. Macpherson, superintendent of fields experiments, supplies the following report, giving weights and particulars regarding the capacity of some forage crops grown on an experimental area at the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company's property at Belfast, and eaten off by ©beep, or otherwise, dealt with, to the Department of the Journal of Agriculture:— Rape.— Essex Broadleaf. —Sown October 9, 1911, in drills 21in apart. Manured with Belfast rape fertiliser at too rate of 3cwt per acre. Stocked January 12, 1912 Weight of leaves per acre, January 12, 1912, 29.55 tons. Giant Essex Broadleaf.—Sown October 9, 1911, in drills 21in apart. Manured with Belfast rape fertiliser at the rate of 3cwt per acre Stocked January 12, 1912. Weight of leaves per acre, January 12, 1912, 38.54 tons. Remarks. —The varieties were not eaten off separately, but were included inside a ring fence, and a mob of 115 sheep and strong lambs put on to eat both plots at the one time. Tho carrying capacity of tho crops was at the rate of 223 sheep per acre for 14 days. Since the sheep wore taken off both varieties have coma away well, and will be sufficiently grown in a short time to be stocked again. Kale. — Thousand-headed. —Sown October 7, 1911. in drills 21in apart. Manured with Belfast rape fertiliser at the rate of 3owt per acre. Stocked February 1, 1912. Weight of leaves per acre February 1, 1912, 23.24 tons. Green Buda. —Sown October 7. 1911, in drills 21in apart. Manured with Belfast rape fertiliser at the rate of 3cwt per acre. Stocked February 1, 1912. Weight of leaves per acre, February 1, 1912,_ 26.96 tons. Remarks. —These two varieties were fenced off in the same way as the rape, and both lota were eaten off at the same time, the same mob of sheep and strong lambs being used. Tho carrying capacity of the crops was at the rate of 217 sheep per acre f or 14 days. Immediately the sheep were taken off the Buda kale grew again at a veryrapid rate, the thousand-headed kale making a very slow recovery, end no groat growth in comparison with tho Buda kale. Chou Moeiher or Marrow Cabbage.--Sown October 7, 1911, in drills 36in apivand plants 2ft between in the rows. Manured with Belfast.rape_ fertiliser at the rate of Sows per acre. First stripping of leaves, weighed February 29, gave a yield of 30.14 tons per acre. Remarks. —Part of the plot will be experimented with in tho direction of ascertaining for dairying purposes the number of strippings of loaves and weight of leaves per stripping that can be got in a season before finally pulling up the stocks (which also are eatable) and feeding to cattle. Another potrion of the plot will be fenced, and sheep put on to it. The weight of the whole plant will bo ascertained on date of stocking, as both stem and leaves will l-e eaten. Silver Boot.— Sown October Manured with Belfast rape fertiliser at the rate of 3owc per acre. First stripping ot leaves, weighed February 29, gave a yield of 51.72 tons per acre. It was stacked on March 12. Remarks —The carrying capacity of tho crop was at the rate of 243 sheep per acre for 14 days. Mr Hopkins, manager of tho Belfast Freezing Works, reports: “ It is the best forage crop of all. The sheep ate it greeddy, and evidently improved upon it. which was very apparent. The sheen did not run all over it, but went straight ahead eating to the ground as they went. Since tho stock were removed I have given intcrcultivution between the rows, and the plants have now 6in of growth.