ROOT CROPS FOR WINTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21508, 22 November 1939, Page 3

ROOT CROPS FOR WINTER

Factors Governing Success Avoiding Shortage Of Feed The growing of swedes, turnips and fodder crops for wintering stock is always an important feature of farming operations. This season an adequate supply of root crops is more necessary than ever because of the need for increased production during the war period. It is hoped that the war will be of short duration, but the length of it cannot be predicted and therefore plans have to be made for an expansion in the volume of primary products during the next few years. The producing capacity of stock in summer and autumn is very largely governed by the quantity and quality of the feed they receive during the preceding winter and early spring months. All successful farmers have at some time had bitter experience as the result of a shortage of winter feed. One of the chief reasons for their success in farming is that they have profited by experience and always take steps to provide adequate reserves of fodder as an assurance against lean feed periods. They endeavour to sow out a sufficient acreage in root crops to allow for any contingencies such as unusually low yields caused by adverse weather conditions, pests, and diseases. Also, they are always happy in very favourable growing seasons when they find that it is necessary to plough in a few acres of crop in the late spring when general pasture growth is able to carry the stock. There is no doubt that the chief method of increasing production for the current season is by means of providing faculties to enable all producing units such as cows, sheep and pigs to give maximum returns. The keynote of this policy is better and still better feeding, and the main points to be considered are uniform and adequate supplies throughout each month of’ the year; high quality in each class of food supplied; a good variety of crops and a knowledge of elements contained m each in order that the rations provided are well balanced in minerals, dry matter, protein and carbohydrates; and good management and the necessary labour. Points Necessary for Success The accumulated experience in swede and turnip growing in this province during the last 50 years or more has resulted in the adoption of a wellrecognised technique by successful growers. Disappointments do, of course, occur especially in seasons when adverse weather conditions are experienced. The first essential is thorough preparation and cultivation of the seed bed. The second is a good natural supply of plant food, or, in other words, the land requires to be in good heart at the start. The third point is to sow an adequate amount of phosphate as the natural supply of available phosphate is always insufficient in these days to produce maximum yields. The fourth requirement is to have the land in a sweet condition. Under average conditions half to one ton of burnt lime, or one to two tons of carbonate of lime to the acre should be broadcast before sowing the seeds and where this has been done two or three months ago better results can be expected. Turnips grown on sweet land have a higher feeding value than those grown on sour soils. Attention to all the above details can be nullified by sowing seeds of poor quality and by sowing varieties unsuited for the type of land in different districts. Therefore, it is of prime importance to sow carefully selected seeds from a reliable source.

Choice of Seeds There has been a good deal of discussion among farmers as to the best time to sow swedes. Over a period of years experience has shown that midNovember to the end of the month is most satisfactory although in abnormal seasons later sown crops have sometimes thrived equally well or better. A good many inquiries have been made about the most suitable varieties of seeds to sow. In considering this question it is wise first to remember that a number of swedes sold under various trade names may all belong to one group such as Superlative, Elephant, Greentop and so on. Also, that seed producing firms very often supply different strains which all belong to one of the main groups. Apart from this factor farmers should give consideration to type of land, general state of fertility, rainfall, and whether the crop is to be sown on lea land, or is a second or third one within a short period. On new land the choice should be largely guided by past experience. Of the many varieties some have usually proved particularly suitable in respective districts. An important point is that some of the high quality fastgrowing species, such as the superlative group, usually give of their best on heavy fertile land. On lighter land in drier areas preference should be given to varieties of harder texture that are not so liable to suffer from slower growth conditions. Many successful growers have adopted the practice of sowing several different types; quickgrowing, early-maturing ones for early feeding and slower-maturing kinds, such as Wilhelmberger and Elephant, for late feeding in the spring. This method has much to commend 't provided care is taken to place the early maturing lots handy to the runoff paddock, and the later hard ones where they can be conveniently kept until early spring. On second-crop land the risk of club-root Infection can be minimised by the selection of proved disease-resistant varieties. In swedes the Wilhelmberger strains have proved very resistant. They are a hard variety of good quality, when generously treated with fertilisers or on land in really good heart. In yellow and hard turnips various strains of Bruce have grown good sound crops on infected land and some of the better known strains are Tammy Machie, Wonowon and Wallace. New strains from time to time become available and these are often worthy of a trial on the recommendation of reliable seed merchants. Manurial Policy In manuring, swedes and turnips require a liberal amount of phosphate, usually from 3cwt to 6cwt to the acre, on land of low fertility. The bigger quantity, or something approaching it, ensures best results and leaves the land in better condition for the following crop, especially grass. For many years a mixture of superphosphate and lime, preferably mixed some little time before sowing, has been more extensively used than any other form of phosphate and it still retains its popularity is being effective and economical. In recent years reverted superphosphate has rapidly

taken the honours either as a straight fertiliser or as the main base in mixtures, and has figured largely in the treatment of winning crops in turnip competitions in Southland and Otago. Another phosphate that grows turnips quite well is guano and slag and is sometimes used. Some farmers prefer a mixture of phosphates which usually contain a small percentage of both potash salts and nitrogen. It has been found that swedes and turnips need chiefly phosphates and that there is comparatively little difference in yields from any of the reasonably available forms and that the price factor is one for consideration. Potash has invariably proved to De very good as an improver of feeding quality and when needed should be used at from i to 1 cwt to the acre down the front spouts to avoid germination injury. On land in poor heart on which clovers have not previously grown strongly, nitrogen gives results in the same quantities if used with the same precautions as potash. Both potash and nitrogen when required are usually mixed with phosphate, and neutral fertiliser such as the superphosphate and lime mixture, or reverted superphosphate are sown down the back spouts with the seeds. Preventing Brown Heart There is no certain cure for clubroot. The best plan is to lime lea land and take one crop only. Likewise a solution for the dry rot disease has not yet been found. The best line of action is to buy seed that is guaranteed free from dry rot and sow it on clean ground. On land where the disease has previously been in evidence and clean seed is sown, reinfection usually takes place. Brown heart can fortunately be effectively controlled by sowing standard 24 per cent, borated fertiliser at the rate of 2i to 3cwts down the front spouts. When time and circumstances permit, broadcasting borax at 151 b to the acre in 2cwts of straight superphosphate or reverted superphosphate at least one week before drilling in seeds with the fertiliser decided upon, is no doubt the most effective method. Disappointments have occurred, but they have invariably happened when the borated fertiliser has been sown down the back spouts with seeds, or with manure containing more potash or nitrogen than usual. To avoid germination injury, borated manure should always be prevented from making direct contact with seeds. The problem of controlling pests such as the turnip fly or beetle, diamond back moth, and white butterfly still remains to be solved. The effects of diamond moth attacks are most to be feared in dry seasons when several successive hatches take place.