A Farmer's Note-Book

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 19

A Farmer's Note-Book

In the coastal areas of Southland where the rainfall is much higher than in inland districts sowing with either oats or rape is a popular practice and has given good results. However, in the drier areas pastures sown with nurse crops have in many cases not been satisfactory. It is interesting to note the comments of Mr W. Faithful, Fields Instructor, Gore, in the August Journal of Agriculture, on this problem: “The grass seed mixture usually used in Southland contains perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, crested dogstail, timothy, white clover, alsike and sometimes red clover, and the grass is frequently sown with a nurse crop of oats, rape, or turnips. If the nurse crop is oats it is harvested and the stubble is grazed, and if rape, lambs are fattened and any surplus is used for hoggets. Irrespective of the nurse crop, the paddock is often closed up and a seed crop taken during the following summer, the stubble being used for grazing. This system of early management is decidedly bad, so far as the establishment of good pas?ture is concerned, for two most important reasons—(l) The nurse crop has a retarding effect upon clover establishment, and, when followed by a grass seed crop, this has a still further depressing effect upon the clovers. (2) The Southland ryegrass at present under consideration is a comparatively shortlived type and produces its maximum at seeding, so that the pasture is left with a very sparse ryegrass content.” Plant Language

It is well known that keen students of nature have attained a high degree of efficiency in the identification of plants, as well as being able to form fairly correct conclusions as to soil deficiencies, simply by observing the habit, growth and colour of stems and foliage. Research workers in general obtain great help from the study of plant language, as do also keen gardeners. Farmers, however, have perhaps not realized to the same extent the benefits to be gained from this branch of agricultural science. Young Farmers’ Club members have begun the study of this most interesting subject. Keen observation in conjunction with detailed records very soon places a student in the position to read fundamentals, particularly when opportunity is taken to attend practical demonstrations on the subject. The power to track down any particular plant specimen, or discern some shortage of basis elements cannot however, be attained without some effort, and a knowledge of structural differences. Yet there are certain easily recognized features that tend to lighten the task and provide short cuts. Certain species serve as indicator plants. Sorrel and yarr for instance are indicators of sourness or acidity. Plants short of potash show a straw colour round the edges of the leaves, often in conjunction with a mottled varigated greenish yellow colour in patches. An excess of nitrogen is shown by dark shining green leaves of crinkled appearance.

Founder of Field Experiments Field experimentation for the acquiring of information on agricultural problems is today accepted as a matter of course. A little more than 100 years ago this method had not been utilized. Mr J. W. Woodcock, crop experimentalist, Department of Agriculture, draws attention to this development in agricultural science in his article on the founders of modern agriculture. “Before the year 1834 the advances in agricultural chemistry were based on experiments conducted either in the laboratory or in small plots,” he writes. “By these methods great progress had been made by de Saursiire and others in bringing to light many new ideas about' the relationship of plants to the soil. To Jean Boussingault (1802-1887), however, is ascribed the credit for having introduced a method of carrying out experiments in the field which were to lay the foundation of a new agricultural science. He can therefore be regarded as the founder of field experiments which he began in the year 1834 on a farm at Bechelbronne, in France.” Extra Early Grass Obtained

On the farm of Mr J. C. Calvert, Myross Bush, is a very fine paddock of extra early grass on a pasture some six years old. There is a dense sward of ryegrass and clover some three to four inches in length. The ewe flock is due to begin lambing in a few days. The carefully managed pasture referred to must be a source of great satisfaction to both the owner and the fortunate flock. The methods followed were early autumn topdressing with 2| cwt of super and,.s cwt of carbonate of lime. All stock was removed at the beginning of May and the paddock has remained completely closed up until the present time. The ewe flock is in the pink of condition. It had an ample supply of chaff and mineral lick with several hours a day on swedes until the end of July. During' August no feeding on swedes was allowed, while the chaff ration was slightly increased. All dry feeding took place in a holding night paddock and during the day time the flock was' removed to other pasture thus assuring regular exercise. Several bought-in ewes which were not in such good condition as the permanent flock, were placed in a separate mob and were given extra rations of dry feed by feeding them twice a day. The effect of extra feeding on the low conditioned sheep is apparent, and there is no doubt that it has been a profitable procedure. The methods followed by. Mr Calvert have been generally advocated by agricultural authorities and those interested in correct nutrition of stock. This outstanding example should be an incentive to progressive farmers to master the necessary technique. Young Farmers’ Clubs

The opportunity to gain first-hand information from acknowledged masters on stock, ploughing, and sheep dogs was greatly appreciated by more than 100 young farmers who attended the field day recently held on the Southland Frozen Meat Company’s property at Makarewa. Mr J. Lilico’s address on the care of ewes and lambing problems under existing conditions in Southland was of a very practical nature. A number of older farmers present expressed the opinion that the hints given could be applied with profit by many established farmers. Mr Lilico’s offer of a pup as a prize for the best essay on the points he had dealt with should encourage quite a number of the youths to compete. As many of them were noticed\ to be busily engaged in taking

notes of this, and other demonstrators’ remarks, there is every prospect of all the important points being recorded for future use. Several papers have already been received for the essay competition on the whole of the proceedings for the day, for which two good prizes have been given.

Prospects of Linseed for Linen Fibre Farmers who maintain a fairly close association with the instructional staff of the Department of Agriculture save themselves from losses by adopting correct methods. In the interest of economic production it is a matter of regret that many farmers do not seek the the latest information. Research work and practical experiments are carried out by a big staff on all problems pertaining to agricultural development and nutrition of stock. In many cases investigational work has to be carried out over a period of years before practical solutions are found. Mr A. Stuart, Fields Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Invercargill, has intimated that this season a series of farm trials is to be carried out with the growing of flax (linseed). It is hoped that the growing of this crop will develop as a profitable venture for commercial purposes. The object is to grow the flax for fibre suitable for the manufacture of linen for which a market exists overseas. Linseed has been grown in Southland in the past for both sheep feed in -the green stage, and seed purposes. One objection to linseed growing for seed purposes is that some farmers consider it to be a heavy feeder of plant food, and unless the land is in good heart and well supplied with fertilizer, following crops, or grass, it has not flourished as well as expected. However, when the crop is grown for fibre production it is cut while green; therefore, the drain on fertility is not excessively heavy. Several farmers in the Drummond and Heddon Bush districts will sow trial areas this season.

Nurse Crops With Pastures Sowing down land to permanent pasture is one of the most important operations of the grassland farmer. In the north most of this work is performed in the autumn months. The general practice in Southland is to carry out this work during the spring and early summer. As present indications are for a dry season, farmers will no doubt sow out earlier than usual, to secure a good cover before the full effect of the hot weather becomes apparent. The question of laying down pasture mixtures with a nurse crop, or as straight sowings, is one that calls for serious consideration.

World Grasslands Conference The first World Grasslands Conference was held in England in 1937, and was attended by 500 delegates representing 27 countries. New Zealand was represented by Mr Bruce Levy, of the Department of Agriculture and Mr G. H. Holford. The numerous papers given on the habits and behaviour of grasses under varying conditions throughout the world strongly brought out the fact that grass is the most important crop of all. The main foundation of food supplies for millions of people inhabiting the world at the present time are the grasslands.