USE OF THE PLOUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1935, Page 24 (Supplement)

USE OF THE PLOUGH

FARMERS RECOGNISE VALUE. CROPS IN NORTH TARANAKI. . (By “Tainui.”) Taranaki farmers appear to be coming back again to the use of the plough with a view to providing crops to supplement the pastures. No matter how well the pastures may be managed, both from the aspect of top-dressing and attention to ensure that the best growth is secured, and also of utilisation to ensure that the best results are obtained from the pastures, it is coming to be recognised that the growing of a supplementary fodder crop, root or grain, is advisable. It enables the best use to be made of the land by stocking more heavily, without the risk of the stock not doing well and above all it provides against any setback of the pastures due to a spell of dry weather. Travelling through North Taranaki one can notice that the plough is being used more each year and this year considerable areas have been sown down in soft turnips for autumn feed. Other areas have been sown down in oats and some good strikes have been secured. Smaller patches have been sown in mangolds and carrots. Considerable areas of land are also being prepared for swedes. Some farmers have used the plough to make provision for early summer feed in the shape of oats and rye sown in the autumn. If not required to be fed out to the stock it can be turned into ensilage.