SEASONABLE FARM WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1930, Page 12

SEASONABLE FARM WORK

DECEMBER FIELD NOTES PASTURES REQUIRE ATTENTION. CROPS FOR ENSILAGE AND HAY. (Contributed by the Fields Division, Department of Agriculture, New Plymouth.) , - ! The weather during the past month has been patchy, and generally speaking unfavourable to growth. The lateness of the spring, however, has made itself very much felt during the past few weeks. , . .

There has been a tendency on the part of the pastures to run up to seed head, and as soon as this tendency made itself apparent the mower should have been brought into use and the pastures topped. It. is better to top pastures early rather than to let the seed heads get well away, as with early topping there is actually less wastage of herbage, and there is niot the drain on the soil fertility. This applies, of course, to the pastures that are being grazed, and this phase of pasture management should be given due attention during the coming month. It is often possible to sneak an hour or two before or after the ensilage or hay crop has been cut for the purpose of topping some of the grazing areas—that is, while the horses are still in the mower.

•The use of manure as a top-dressing to bring the grass away for autumn feeding is considered good practice, and for this purpose two to three cwt. of superphosphate should be used. Application should-be made early enough to catch the late spring rains, for if these are missed ahd we get into the dry weather that is usually experienced in January, the application of the manure will’not be nearly as beneficial. As far as sulphate of ammonia is concerned, at this time of the year we are not quite so certain, but provided ample rainfall is experienced its use in conjunction with super should prove valuable in promoting autumn feed. On the other hand, without rain its use may prove detrimental. It should not be used too liberally, however, j and up to one cwt. per acre should be ample.

ENSILAGE. The making of ensilage is now in full' swing, and jin some districts a corisiderabje amount has .already been saved. With the early saving of ensilage the gooa afterpiath growth that results before the dry weather sets in is a strong point in favour of making ensilage in preference to hay. The matter of cutting on the early side is a point that must not be lost sight of, as it is better to sacrifice a little quantity to get the. extra quality rather than let the crop get past the best stage, with a resultant poorer ensilage, usually dark in colour. A bulletin on ensilage making is available for and can be obtained from the department’s office in New Plymouth 'or Hawera. This deals fully with the whole business of ensilage making.;

Hay crops from present time appearance are going to be lighter than usual, although, given suitable weather, the bottom will yet come up considerably, with a resultant heavier yield, . The, earlier cutting of hay crops is also recommended, as- the Changes which 'occur hi plants after they have reached/their eaily flowering stage reduce rather than increase the value of the crop from the hay standpoint, in that the digestibility of the forage is seriously impaired without effecting any material increase ill the weight of the crops. Often, of course, it is the weather that delays the cutting, a-nd |hjs trouble ,as far haymaking is concerned eaqnot be avoided.

SUPPLEMENTARY FODDER CROPS. . The strike of piangolcjs in many districts is poor, and. Jvhere it is qbvioup that th© crop is going to be a, failure no'time should be lost in - resowing the area. On” the /other hand, tho carroj -crop, generally' speaking, is coming awaywell and the ‘strikes are satisfactory. Attention nee'ds to be given these crops, in the early stages, otherwise weeds will greatly retard the growth and reduce the ultimate yield. The sowing of swedes should be carried out during the coming month, but this should be delayed un-. til after the middle of the month, if possible, to avoid the .ravages of the'turnip fly . There are several standard varieties which. yield well, and manure should be applied fairly liberally.. The mixture should contain a quick acting phosphate such; as superphosphate to rush the plants'past the seedling stage. Where super ‘albne is being used the seed, if mixed, with the manure, should be sown within a few hours of mixing, otherwise the germination may be affected. A manure, say, of three parts super, , one part blood and bone and one part African phosphate should prove satisfactory. The first cut from the lucerne paddock will have been made by this and probably made into ensilage. A light cultivation following this cut is quite sound procedure. The next cut will be ready during the month, and this may be utilised for hay if weather conditions permit or for'ensilage, or it may be required for soilage. Areas ( sown this Spring should be coming away nicely now, and the cutting of these for the first time will be governed by-the weed, growth. The weeds should be cut before flowering. Weed stands may now b> strengthened up by a good cultivation fpllowed by reseeding the weak portions with the addition of a little, quick-acting, phosphate. . If time permits, the harrows should be kept going during the month to scat-tor-droppings and prevent the, uneven patches through this source. ■ Watering places for stock should be seen to before the dry weather sets in, and water troughs cleaned out and refilled before any shortage occurs. i ’

BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS. The competitors growing - mangolds should give attention to tho inter-cul-tivation of the plots during the. month. As soon as the plants are visible in the lews the hoe should be started, although thie first cultivation should not be too deep, as it is really only to check the weeds and not to loosen up the soil. As the plants get stronger, hoeing may be deeper, until later on in the season the soil should be cultivated as deeply as possible. Thinning and transplauting should take place towards the end of the month. In thinning leave the plants a distance apart that will be filled by the mature root. No hard and fast rule can be given as to the distance, as on poorer soils the mangolds will not grow to the same size as on rich soil, and should therefore be left closer together. Gaps may be filled by transplanting. In transplanting use the biggest plants available and trim the roots and tops a little. If dry weather is experienced water the plants for a night or so to st: rt them away., Competitors who are growing swedes will receive their seed early in the

month. There is no desperate hurry to, net it sown. Remember you are being supplied with three lots of seed, being blnte different '-aneties namely Supc lat : vp Heriiings and Vilmouns. Inis for th. P«rpoi »' 01,1 fteSo , T Mies for yield and disease resistance. Six rows of each variety will need to be. sown. If any plots fail a new lot of seed can be obtained on application.