PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 15

PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE

INFORMATION FOR THE MAN ON THE LAND (By Primrose McConnell) 128. If the centre of the stack is concave before topping-out commences, ■will a long steep top keep out the rain? —No kind of top will keep out the rain If the centre is concave. 129. Is a cereal the best crop to follow pasture?—lf the pasture is old and tough it is better to follow with a potato, swede, or rape crop, but not when the land is under a comparatively short rotation. 130. In a cropping rotation, what is the main object in growing a potato, swede, or other fallow crop, apart from the food it provides?—One of the main objects in growing such a crop is to clean the land. 131. Under a cropping rotation, when should the fallow crop be sown?—As a rule a fallow crop should follow a cereal crop, or should be at the end of the rotation, and just before sowing down with grasses and clovers again. 132. What other desirable effect has this system besides cleaning the land? —Such fallow crops as swedes, turnips, rape. &c., are, as a rule, fed on the land, and the resulting manure benefits the coming pasture. 133. What time of year would you preferably plough a pasture for a swede crop?—ln autumn or early winter. 134. How would you proceed after j ploughing as directed in the answer to question No. 83?—If ploughed in the autumn, a catch-crop such as mustard ' may be sown for ploughing under, and this is a very desirable course if the pasture is poor. 135. At what stage and at what depth should the mustard be ploughed under?—lt should be ploughed under just when coming into flower, and to a depth of 6in. 136. Will lime be beneficial at this stage? Give reason for reply.—Yes; because the ploughed-under mustard creates acidity which an application of lime corrects. 137. When should the lime be applied?—When the mustard is sown. | 138. How long should the ploughed j -under mustard lie undisturbed?—For j at least six weeks. 139. After allowing the ploughed- I under mustard to lie undisturbed for six weeks, what is the next process?— The land should again be ploughed. 140. On this occasion should the ploughing be shallow or deep?—lt should be at least an inch deeper than j the previous ploughing. 141. Why should the ploughing be deeper on this occasion? —Because the lime was previously ploughed under with the mustard, and it is necessary to bring them both to the surface again, and the deeper ploughing will be beneficial to the crop in other directions. 142. Why is it beneficial to bring the lime and manure near to the surface again?—Because lime being easily washed into the subsoil should never be ploughed under and allowed to remain so, except for a very short time, and the green manure is more beneficial when thoroughly incorporated with the surface soil. 143. When a green-manuring catchcrop is not sown should the initial ploughing be deep?—Yes, if done with the digger. 144. In this case will another ploughing be necessary?—Another ploughing will undoubtedly be very beneficial, but it is not imperative. 145. After the ploughing is completed, what is the next step in preparing for the swede or turnip crop? —When no green manure has been ploughed under, the land should be repeatedly stirred with a cultivator. 146. In the event of green manure being ploughed under, and again turned up close to the surface, what is the best implement to use?—A strong disc harrow, because it incorporates the manure thoroughly with the soil. ' 147. What is the next process?— The land should be brought to as fine a tilth as possible with the disc and tine harrows, and finally rolled just before drilling. 148. On what date should swedes be sown?—Swedes may be sown any time between the end of November and the New Year. 149". Should the sowing of turnips be confined to the same period?—Soft turnips may be sown any time between October and February. 150. Can the swede and turnip crops be successfully grown after any other farm crop?—Yes; but swede should not follow swede, or turnip follow turnip, except on very rare occasions. 151. What usually follows when these crops are grown for several years in succession on the same land?—Diseases gradually make their appearance, particularly those of a fungoid nature, and the manuring becomes more costly. 152. Should the swede or turnip seed be sown broadcast, or in rows .sufficiently far apart to admit or aftercultivation?—When such crops are grown in small areas the best results are had when the rows are sufficiently far apart to admit of after-cultivation, but on many large holdings, particularly those of a rough nature, this is impossible. 153. In intensive farming, and when grown in small areas, will it pay to single the turnips with the hand-hoe? Give reason for reply.—Yes; because, as previously stated, such crops are intended to clean the land as well as provide desirable food, and if kept throughly clean the beneficial effect will be apparent through the whole

cropping rotation. 154. How much swede or turnip seed should be sown per acre? —Swedes, ! broadcasted through all the coulters of the drill, 90z.; turnips, 60z.; either, sown in rows about 26in. apart, 21b. 155. What is the best implement for sowing the above on the latter system?—The double-ridger, which makes two rows and sows seed and manure in one operation. 156. Give a good manure or mixture for the swede or turnip crop?—Four basic superphosphate to one of bonedust.