WOODLANDS NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 17938, 18 May 1917, Page 2

WOODLANDS NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) We have enjoyed ideal weather during the last six months, except during the month of January, which was rather dry for both cereals and the root crops, and In consequence the oat crops were rather lighter than usual. Although the season can be claimed to be one of Southland’s best, yet, farmers had as much difficulty in saving their grain as they ever had. Reaping commenced about the first week in February, which is about as early as ever we have commenced harvesting in these parts. Immediately the corn was reaped, rain set in, which lasted for two days, followed by close, muggy weather, and in consequence when stacking commenced the sheaves were found to be in a mouldy and growing condition. Under such conditions, small stacks were built with various kinds of ventilators in them; but, although every care was taken,’ several of the stacks heated, and had to he rebuilt. The early turnip crops are very good; but anything sown during the dry spell in January is only fair. The weather was then so dry that a good braird of turnips could scarcely be expected. The dry-rot has already made its appearance in the swede crop. So far, there appears to be no remedy for this disease in roots, which seems to spread from the one to'the other. Wherever the disease makes its appearance all such affected roots may be carted off. This, I think, would minimise the likelihood of the disease spreading from one portion of the field to another. To guard against dry-rot, however, swedes should never be" grown in the same field for two years in succession.

Mangolds are not grown to any extent in these parts; but four small areas have been sown this season, of which three have proved satisfactory, and the fourth is a failure. One of the crops of mangolds which has come under my notice was sown on the clover lea furrow. About five dray-loads of stable manure to the acre was used, and, in addition to this, a fair amount of fertilisers was also sown. And to-day this crop of mangolds is better than any previous swede crop which has been grown on this farm. This being an exceptionally fine summer, it has been favourable to the growing of mangolds, but, with the reversion of the seasons it is questionable if mangolds could be grown economically to any great extent in these parts. However, they are worthy of a trial, and more will undoubtedly be heard of this valuable root crop as time goes on. Mangolds are injurious to stock when fed in their green state. They should be pitted for at least a month before being fed to stock. They cost rather more per acre to grow, but in favourable localities they grow Immense crops of higher feeding value than either swedes or turnips. One advantage that mangolds have over other root crops is that they are not subject to dry-rot or blight, therefore, it is preferable to grow mangolds rather than swedes or turnips wherever the locality is suitable for them.

At the request of the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald a very small acreage of wheat has been sown. Why such a small acreage should be sown on these fertile ridges is difficult to explain. Several letters on wheat growing have appeared in your valuable paper of late, showing that other crops can be grown with less risk, etc. True, there is a certain amount of risk with the wheat crop, and more especially with the late sown ones. But at the present juncture I consider a certain amount of risk should be taken, seeing that 5/7 per bushel is guaranteed for a milling sample. And unless the market is glutted with frosted wheat, we would then be assured of a profitable market for that commodity in the sale rooms. The clover lea furrow is very suitable for the growing of wheat, but potato ground is preferable to any other class of land. A suitable variety of wheat for sowing In these parts is solid straw Tuscan. The amount to be sown per acre is about 2% bushels.

Ploughing Is now the principal work on the farm, and wherever one goes the teams can be seen hard at work. Clipping the farm team has come to stay, and before ploughing commences this operation should be completed without delay. An undipped horse sweats badly while in the yoke, and is really never dry the whole winter through, which means that he is neither comfortable nor healthy.

A diversity of opinion exists as to which is the best kind of a plough to use. Some people contend that the swamp plough is superior to the digger plough, and personally, I think it is. Others again claim that the old doublefurrow can’t be surpassed. But for deep ploughing I consider that the double-fur-row is surpassed by either of the two former ploughs. For light lea ploughing, however, the double-furrow makes good work, and is faster than either the swamp or the digger plough. Whether the swamp or the digger plough is used for ploughing stubble land, I consider is of little Importance. But the plough that “goes down” and “goes early” is the one that will fit the land for the coming root crop. The earlier the ploughing Is done the deeper it should be. From six to nine Inches may be taken as the proper depth for ploughing stubble land. Swampy, .or river flat land, may b© safely ploughed

deeper than ridge land. By ploughing deeply a fresh layer of clay is brought to the surface, which contains a certain amount of potash, and, by applying lime to the land, the potash is rendered soluble as a plant food. Lime also corrects soil acidity, making it in a fit state for the soil bacteria.

A deal has been said as to what is the better kind of lime to use, whether burnt or unbumt, also, the quantities to be applied per acre, and no doubt this argument can be carried a good deal further than it is at the present time. I think I am safe in saying one thing, and that is that we haven’t put on enough l*me. Also, he w r ho omits the liming cf his land has lost the keys of agriculture. When applying lime to the land it should be immediately harrowed, or disced into the soi). This applies more so to the burnt form of lime, because if left scattered on the surface it forms into a crust or cake, which does away with its fineness. For top-dressing pasture, lime also gives good results; but it is generally cmoiisidered that to get the best results from lime it should be worked into the soil. The carbonate form is preferable to that of burnt lime when applying it as a top dress. The mildness of the winter is bringing on a continuance of green sappy pasture for the stock, which will be a saving on the abundance of roots which is awaiting their consumption. The potato erdp has been a bumper one, and up to twelve tons per acre has been got. Eight tons of potatoes may be taken as an average crop this year. There was some doubt as to what extent of damage was done by the blight before the digging commenced, but the tubers rolled out in excellent order.

The best of our manhood are dwindling away to the war, and in consequence labour is very hard to get. Therefore, some of our dairy farmers may be putting their herds on the market in the spring of the year. In drying off dairy cows care should be taken once a cow commences giving’ stringy milk. This is often due to an old-standing complaint known as contagious mammitis. Although a cow may show little or no sign of it during the milking season, yet it often makes its appearance when the milking is done but once a day or every second day. Some individual cov, s may take it worse than others, but all cases should be taken cautiously. If the disease is found to be contagious mammitis, the cow should be milked four times daily, and kept fro© from the rest of the herd. Mortification is the worst form of the disease, and cows are even known to die from it, although this may be a very rare occurrence. The dairy cow has now been receiving a liberal allowance of roots for some time past, and it is soon noticeable how deranged they get when allowed to run on breaks of this class of feed alone. ■They should be allowed about two hours only, and then removed from the break of roots to some pasture where there is a supply of straw available, or, better still, some nicely cured clover hay, which is much preferable than either oaten or wheat straw. A better way of feeding roots is to have them carted out to a lea paddock. In this way they can be carted out in the required quantities. The continued fine weather keeps the cows milking away, consequently the dairy factories should .be kept running well on in the winter. The third year book of the Friesian Association has been to hand for some time now. There are several fresh leaders to their respective classes. But, so far, there is no improvement over the previous year’s New Zealand champion, which is held by Manor Beets Daughter 2nd of Ashlyn. It is as follows: 18,733 lbs milk, containing 8631bs of butterfat. Her age at the commencement of her te«t was 3 years 296 days. The highest milk record for New Zealand is held by the Friesian cow Salma Johanna Lyons, amounting to 21,4391bs milk containing 730 lbs of butter-fat. This is now the third cow in New Zealand to give over 20,0001bs of milk in a year. Salma Johanna Lyons, to the writer’s mind, would be a very profitable cow to own for one who sells milk round the town. She has produced 2133 gallons of milk, and at 1/6 per gallon she would return to her owner the satisfactory figure of £l6O 10/- for the year. Her average test for the year works out at 3.4 per cent. Her dally milk average is 58% lbs. At the various sale centres stock of all kinds are commanding high figures. Fourteen years ago an Inferior gummy ewe would command from half-a-crown to five shillings, but to-day she is worth from fifteen to twenty shillings.

Farms are still finding new owners. Mr Hewitt, of Woodlands, has dispoed of bis property. Also Mr Wm. Jukes, of Waltuna, has sold his farm at a highly satisfactory figure. Another farm which has found a new owner is that of Mr John Carlene, of Waituna. John was one of the first who battled for the establishment of the Oteramika co-oper-ative dairy factory, and no matter who came' forward with any suggestion in connection with the above factory, would be there with his also. John’s remarks were sometimes the cause of a certain amount of merriment, but before the meetings closed they were often the cause of some highly distinguishing adjectives being used.