NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3035, 15 May 1912, Page 14

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

In endeavouring to work out the actual position in regard to manuring the oat <irop on. land which requires assistance to carry a full crop, the writer has accepted one of the- best of the Home experiments and applied colonial prices to it. In a bulletin issued by the Lancaster County Council, published by the Mark Lane Express, the best results were secured from the application of a mixture composed of 1001 b sulphate of ammonia, 2cwt superphosphate, and 2cwt kainit broadcasted just before the oats wore sown and jiarrowed in. This dressing gave ah increase over the unmanured plot of 15 bushels of grain and llcwt of straw. That is to sav, that scwt per acre was applied for that increase. The value of the manure here would be 40s, without railage and distribution, and the value of the increase here, estimating oats at 2s and straw at 20s per ton, "~would com© to 41s, so that such an aoplieation here would nofc clear itself. 'the profit at Home v.as shown to be 27s 10s per acre, but i.t is only fair to add that since the calculation was mude sulphate of ammonia has gone up in price 75 per cent, and both superphosphate and kainit over 5s per ton. And the question is, Does our land need sogreat a quantity as scwt per acre? and would the same increase not bo obtained from half the amount of the manure. The experiment quoted was spread over a number of farms in all parts of Great Bri t au }j and included every variety of soil and all conditions of labour and tillage. It is safe to say that much of that land had been cultivated for centuries, and would only respond to a full manuring. It seems clear that our comparatively virgin land, which needs anv manuring, would respond similarly to a very much smaller quantity. But while advising that 2cwt of such a mixture would more than repay itself, no departure should be made from the proportion of the various ingredients laid down. They are all needed on* any average soil which needs assistance. Tho conclusions arrived at in Lancaster were—(l) That artificial manures can be economically employed to manure an oat crop which follows "seeds" in rotation. (2) The heaviest and most economical crop lias been obtained by employing a "complete" dressing. (3) An incomplete dressing, when nitrogen is the constituent left out, has comparatively libtle effect on the oat crop, and it is not therefore good practice to apply a mixed dressing of potassic and phosphatic manures unless it is intended to supplement this mixture later with a topdressing of nitrogenous manure. If nitrate of soda is used instead of sulphate of ammonia 1301 b will be equivalent to the 1001 b mentioned. The manures must bs reduced to a fine powder and not allowed to stand after mixing, but sown at once. There are many points of great practical importance to be gained from the field experiments of the Department of Agriculture, but they _do not lend themselves readily to summarising. At the same time they are fruitful of interesting suggestions to the various centres in which they were conducted. The following are Mr A. Macphersqn's remarks in reference to the experiments this season, anid wo proposo to analyse some of the results next week. The extract is made from the Journal of the Department of Agriculture, a . publication that every, farmer ought to study carefully: Co-operative field experiments con; ducted in the South Island, in order to discover if possible the most suitable turnip varieties for the different districts, and the best manurial treatment of local soils for turnip-cultivation, have been in progress for over three years, and the results of the first three years' investigation are now available. The areas selected for* the experiments were typical of considerable extents of similar land in the respective districts. In the manurial-test plots the fertilisers applied were according to a scheme designed by Mr B. C. Aston. the Chief Agricultural Chemist. The objects aimed at in these tests were to ascertain by prnHical field experiments for a series of vears the fertiliser or combination of fertilisers and quantities best suited to the different types of soil and the varied climatic conditions which obtain in the

Manuring the Oat €io|i.

The Field Experiment!.

areas whore demonstrations are conducted that will produce the largest crops at a minimum of cost and with least injury to the soil. . In'the variety tests the objects aimed at are to ascertain by tests extending over a number of years the relative merits of the different sorts under trial as to quality, productiveness, earliness in maturing, best keeping, and most resistant to insect pests and fungoid diseases, and to which best suit the different soils and varied climatic conditions. The seeds sown in the variety tests were obtained from reputable seed merchants in Great Britain and in the Dominion.

The land selected for the test plots on each farm was as nearly uniform in character as could be found, and, before sowing, was in most cases brought into a good condition of tilth. The weather from time of sowing to near the harvesting of the crop was not conducive to the growth of good root crops. The sowings were done during a very dry period, and in many districts where experiments were conducted little or no rain fell for some months afterwards. Consequently" the early growth of the plants was slow, local conditions being also favourable for attack by the turnip flea-beetle- or turnip-fly (Phyllotreta nemorum); in fact, these completely Tuined the crops in some of the areas. Subsequently in other areas, when the leaves were nearly full-grown, such dry and warm weather-conditions proved favourable to aphid-life—turnip aphis (Aphis rapae) and the diamond-back moth (Cerostoma xylostella). The ravages of these last two mentioned insect pests proved so destructive to the leaves that a large number of the experiments were, rendered worthless as a test. Where rain followed the attacks of the aphis and diamond-back moth, and moist weather-conditions supervened for a time, there was a second growth of leaves which injured tho roots to some extent, causing hardening of the tissues.

The return of 23.24- and 26.96 tons of thousand-headed and green Buda kale in a year unfavourable for the growth of green crops can only be described as a result which should arrest th attention of the grazier. Mr A. Macpherson, the field instructor, states that these two crops were eaten at the same time, and the carryinar capacity was at the rate of 217 sheep per acre for 14 days, or say 36 sheep for three months, _ without allowing anything for growth during that time. That is higher considerably than the average crop of rape. And immediately the sheep were taken off the Buda kale grew again at a much more rapid rate than the thousand-headed kale, which made a slow recovery. The result was obtained in anything but a normal season, for "the weather, from the time of sowing to near the harvesting of the crop, was not conducive to the growth of good root crops. The sowings were done during a very dry period, and in many districts where experiments were conducted little or no rain fell for some months afterwards." This result in a bad yar is important, and better than might have been expected, as this year most of the rape was a partial failure. That circumsrtance is possibly due to more efficient cultivation than is commonly practised. If that is the reason an important 'esson is inculcated. Heavy land generally is not considered as so suitable for its cultivation as the sharper, lighter soils. But the plant is evidently a drought-resister, and one of the most valuable crops, especially for sheep, in the autumn and early winter, and it would be invaluable if turnips and swedes failed for any reason. It is not a plant which is readily susceptible to frost, and is useful for dairy cows. pigs, and youne stook, and does not taint the milk, which is more than can be said of other kales. This crop was sown October 7. 1911. in drills 21in apart, manured with scwt of Belfast rape fertiliser, and stoeked February 1, 1912. It is sown at the rate of 31b of seed per acre, and, being a deeprooted plant, it stands eating well. Two or three hours daily is long enough to allow cows on to it with safety.

The Fteld Bulla Kiilo.

One of the largest yields of wheat obtained at Lincoln College this year was secured by grain which had been steeped in hot water. The process is Freeman's modification of Jensen's hot-water treatment, and is simple enough and tedious, but seem.s to be effective, and would be specially applicable to oats. Tli© seed is placed in wire baskets and steeped in cool water for six hours, so that this moisture penetrates the Shusk. It is then drained and placed in water at a temperature of 115 deg Fahr. for one. minute. From this it goes into a temperature of exactly 129 deg for 10 minutes. Then it is taken out, drained, and dried on the floor of a shed or in the Open air. The drying is not altogether essential, but advisablo to avoid unevenness in running through the drill, and damp-soaked grain may germinato too quickly, and either water out or get scorched with heat. Dr Hilgendorf, of the oollege, treats 201 b of seed in the baskets— Which are shallow trays made of perforated ginc—at one time, and can completely treat 16 bushels of seed wheat in a day. At the Ontario College of Agriculture the best reBaits in both wheat and oats were obtained

The Ukp of Hot Water for Stepping Grain.

by the use of formalin. They immersed the seed in a solution made by adding one pint of formalin to 42 gallons of water, in which the grain was immersed for 20 minutes. This treatment was easily aplied, comparatively cheap, and effectual m killing smut spores.

When land is left unploughed till late in spring the labour of the farm is apt to accumulate. Neglect of autumn cultivation is often afforded by the fact that lea land is frequently not broken up till the oat crop is sown in September, nor the stubbles till the same time. On any but the lightest soils the winter may prove so rough that it will be impossible to work the land to any extent, and we may also have heavy rains in spring. It is therefore as well to take the chance when it offers and work ud the land as long as» it is dry and in a suitable condition for working. In order to get a good braird of swedes or turnips the soil has to be in fine tilth, clean, deep, and with a high moisture-content. This is often impossible to get when the working begins in spring. The labour involved is heavy, and the moisture frequently worked out of the ground before it is got sufficiently fine for the small seed. When ploughed in the autumn as.d -cultivated through the winter very little work to assist the action of t'he frost and atmosphere., is necessary to reduce the ground to an acceptable condition as a seed-bed. In a year like this, when the stubbles are not cleared till late in the season, it is difficult to get them done, and they will have to be ploughed as soon as possible, without any cleaning. But where cleaning is necessary and can be done at present the weeds are more readily eradicated than in spring. A more even distribution of labour is effected by getting a good breadth turned oyer in the autumn; and there is less hurry in a backward year to work the land, when it would be better left alone. The ploughing of lea ground is often delayed for the amount of keep which it provides in winter; but, as a rule, that would be very little. If the grass is eaten down close in autumn no object is served by leaving it unploughed; but the advantage is gained by ploughing of having all the vegetable matter in the soil decomposed and converted into available plant food by the time the oat crop is sown, wit'h the result that a much heavier crop is obtained. Every ploughing reduces the amount of vegetable matter in the soil, wireworms and grubs have less to live on, and crops make such vigorous growth in a kindly seed-bed that they soon get past the dangerous stage, and thus escape injury.

The * (Wantages of Early Ploughing.

The improvement, effected in many kinds of cereals, clovers, and roots by cross-breeding is :well known to farmers generally who have made full use of the improved varieties so obtained. Beforo this system was inaugurated by the Messrs Garton, the improvement of cereals was secured by selection alone. But Mr John Garton was not satisfied with the process, and determined that, first of all, a new life must be awakened, and selection afterwards employed to fix the form and character. How well he has succeeded may be gauged by the numerous valuable varieties he is turning out periodically. The Messrs Garton pursue one principle in all their attempts: they seek a violent cross between two or more varieties, for the reason that it produces a violent "*sport," tho good qualities of which they use in a subsequent cross. This composite crossing is the root principle of all their work. In this way the hardiness and prolific nature of the wild oat is secured, and it increases the number of grains in the head, so that a single seed has returned more than a himdTod-fold. The increase in the ordinary cultivated oats when crossed with the wild oat is manifested in the growth of as many as fivo grains in a single easement. It produces tier upon tier, and there seems to be no limit to the size of tho panmicle which may be produced. A ribbon type of oat has been evolved in this way, which promises well, and to illustrate the prolific nature of some of these it may bo memtioned lhat no less than 160 bushels per acre have been grown. Tho scienco of plant-breeding requires not only an accurate scientifio knowledge particularly of botany, but extreme care and years of patient waiting after crossing two plants before the progeny is fixed in character and worthy of being put on the market. Tho Chinese- oat grass has been used in the sameway as the wild oat, and it produces five grains in a spikelet in place of three produced by the ordinary oat. Com,posite crossing with the first cross has produced as many as 21 grains in a spikelet, and a remarkably thin' husk. After producing these crosses tho work of selection is a long process. They are sown for 10 years beforo selection is made. A number of tho best plants from each crop aro selected and sown separately. Year after year there is a weeding-out until only three plants per 100 are left, and if any given cross is not satisfactory it is discarded. The points sought after are increased yield, earlier maturity, and greater length of straw. The Warrington Guardian says that "in dealing with oats, the aim is to produce new breeds with hardier constitutions, increased yields, thinner husks, stronger straw, early maturity, and a greater power to resist fungus diseases. In baTley they seek to produce new breds with a higher percentage of starch, thinness of skin, increased yields, and strength of straw. In clover

Jtegenenttion of Cross-fertilisation

their main Object is to evolve new breeds which will have perennial instead of biennial or annual habits; and in the development of grasses for pasture purposes, a grass which will make an early start, grow quickly, resist drought, and evenly cover the ground." Every farmer knows how" well they have succeeded in many cases. AGRICOLA.