FIELD NOTES FOR NOVEMBER.

Shannon News, 10 November 1925, Page 4

FIELD NOTES FOR NOVEMBER.

By (AV. J. McCulloch, Instructor in Agriculture.) Spring growth this season has been slower than for many years past, owing to the almost incessant wet weather. Not only is growth slow but much intended cultivation has been held up. The want of efficient field drainage must be apparent to many and plans should be made to- correct this fault in time for next season. The amount of moisture which has to- be removed by evaporation in many in- | stances in the early spring before I the soil can become sufficiently warm j enough for growth, is enormous and so long as the stiller and heavier soils remain undrained, just so <fong will it be necessary to submit to late growth and a consequent short season.. Probably the position can be eased somewhat by the provision of greater amounts of supplementary fodders to carry on later but the most profitable method is to encourage earlier spring grass by drainage liming and top-dressing where any or all of these details are required. The seriousness of the position is reflected in the lowered volume of production at the dairy factories which is said to be’ on the average qf from S , to 10% below the usual output. Cultivation: Although, this work may be far behind, it should not he attempted while the soil is wet, but as soon as opportunity offers the team work should be pushed on with all expedition. Potato Crop: This may be planted about the. end of the month, but there is still plenty of time during November and even well into December. It is contended that the later crops usually'escape blight better in most years. Use any available farmyard manure as well as artificial. An average mixture for this crop would be 3cwt. super. 11 cwt. blood and bone, 1 cwt. sulphate of potash, at the rate of 4cwt. per acre. Mangels: The land should be thoroughly worked for this crop as in the case of all roots, and' on the light er coastal soils which usually dry out early in November. The smaller area well cultivated and attended to during growth is always more profitable than a larger area indifferently treat* ed. ■ Prizewinner yellow globe is. still the popular variety as a main cropsow 51bs to Gibs seed per acre with a mixture of 3 cwt. super, l|cwt Moot! and bone, and apply 2 to 3 cwt kainif per acre some time previous to sowing.

Carrots: Prepare the area for this crop by deep cultivation and choose land which has. been well manure-3 Die previous season if possible. Sowing will not be necessary until neX month. Matchless white is still a popular heavy yielder. The guerand 1 carrot is very useful for feeding off with sheep where difficulty is expe • • kneed with turnips or swedes. SoV 1 to seed of the latter in ridges 24 ins. apart with 3 cwt. super per acre.. No thinning is necessarl with the latter variety, but they should be kept free from weeds an! given the usual intercultivation. Soft Turnips: A. small area of white-fleshed turnips may be. sown U warm land from the middle of the month to come in for early autumn feed. Purple top mammoth, pomeranian white globe, or Devonshire greystone are <nrty maturing variet ies.

Rape and t'vs Kales etc:, A smal sowing of rape, may be made towards the end of the month if the land has a warm aspect; but the main sowing should be mn.’o in November. Prepare land for sowing chon moelliet thousand-headed kale etc.. during November for autumn feeding. Or. drier and lighter soils where the latior may not be successful prepare for sowing a mixture of Japanese millet and clover or rape during next month. . Millet and peas have beer, found profitable for lambs where rapt may fail with drought. Lucerne: Areas intended to be sowt in lucerne should be persistently cul tivated with a view to germinating as much weed seed as possible before sowing in November or December. Endeavour to have a fine firm seed bed, and apply crushed limestone at one ton per acre, or 10 cwt burnt lime while working the land. Be ceieful f not to plough again after liming.

Temporary grass, such as Italian or Westernwoltlis rye-grass and clovet may be sown at the rate of BOOlbs grass and Gibs cowgrass per acre with 2ewt of a good phosphatic fertiliser.