THE FARMERS’ MONTH.

Wairarapa Age, 30 July 1925, Page 7

THE FARMERS’ MONTH.

NOTES FOR AUGUST.

i,By Fields Division, Department of Agriculture.) Spring Cultivation and Forage Crops. As soon ns the land is dry enough in August ploughing and general preparation for spring Crops should be pushed along with a view to sowings during the latter part of the month or ear.y in September. ' Special hay or ensilage crops: Where the situation is warm and likely to suffer from dry weather early in summer it is good policy to get these cops in towards the end of August, but in most situations from the middle to the end of September is quite Carly enough, Suitable for this purpose are mixtures of Algerian oats or wheat with tares or peas—2 bushels of the cereal to 1 bushel of the legume. For spring sawing golden tares are the best, but if there is any difficulty in procuring these the ordinary grey tare is quite satisfactory. In peas Early Minto, Grey partridge, or i Imperial Blue may be used, their merits generally being in the order name.!. In localities where tares or peas da not grow very well it is advisable, to sow li bushels per acre. Suitable manures for this class of crop are basic super, or mixtures of super and Ephos, slag, er Nauru phosphate, at the rate of lewt to 3cwt per acre according to the condition of the land. If the land has beoa recently limed, super will psobably be the -best. Another suit, able crop is Western Wolths and Italian rye-grass, 151 b each, together with 61b of cow-grass.

Sheep feed: Oats and mustard (Si bushels to 3 bushels of the former and 51b or 61b of the latter per acre) may be sown in August for ewes and lambs, to be fed before the first rape is ready, la Southland a mixture of Emerald rye-corn (2 and Western Wolths (121 b has been, found very useful. F Wheat and Oats.

The extremely wet conditions prevailing during June will have prevented the winter sowing of large areas of cereals in Canterbury. The laud already prepared in most cases will have settled rather badly, and before drilling is carried out a deep cultivation will be necessary to permit of a good seed-bed and ample aeration. Except in the milder districts near the coast, the sowing of wheat and oats should be left until favourable conditions in August and September. The earlier spring sowing should be done while soil conditions will permit, and growers will be wise to use at least lewt per acre of high-grade superphosphate or basic super. The shorter period «f growth of spring-sown crops calls for the use of these more soluble phosphates, as quick development of a good rooting-system to help in overcoming dry conditions which may set in is essential.

Later in August the rolling of autumn-sown crops should be carried out. Frost-lifted ground will dry out very quickly, and deprive £he roots of that close contact with the soil which is necessary for enabling’ the plant to deserve the maximum benefit. Rolling •should be followed by harrowing in all cases,- for once having compacted the soil it is just as desirable to prevent, as far as possible, any loss of moisture by evaporation. The harrowing will provide the surface mulch which, itself being loose, will dry quickly, but will prevent further excessive evaporation from the lower soil. Excessive evaporation means loss of warmth as well as loss of moisture, and both require conservation ia the spring. Pastures.

Quick returns for money invested in manures is always desirable, and if benefit from top-dressing is desired m the current season August should be the latest month for application. Preference should now be given to super, basic super, er a mixture of super and limo. Every farmer should be his own experimenter as far as is practicable, and no operation sich as top-dressing should b.’ done v Blunt having a st:ip or two in the paddock left free for comparative purposes. Pasture should bo given a thorough harrowing with the tripod or chain barrows during the coming month. "Where green forage crops have been provided they will prove of great value for cows that have come into profit early, also for newly lambed ewes. To make the best of the crop and ensure the best results from the stock, considerable care is necessary in feeding at this time of the year. When feeding off, the stock should only be allowed on the crop for 20 minutes to half an hour during the first few days; if the supply is ample this may be increased to one hour at the end of a week. If available, hay or some roughage should bo fed before the stock are allowed on the green fodder; most stomach troubles will then be avoided.

Crops of thousand-headed kale and cl'.ou moellier are best cut and allowed to wilt for a day before being fed out. In this condition cows do better on the fodder, and the danger of red-water is avoided.

Mangolds make excellent feeding for both sheep and cattle, provided thep hve been properly ripened. It will often be found that they ripen unevenly, and care should be taken when carting out to select the ripest, throwing the green roots back and giving them a further chance to mature. When mangolds have been carted out on a field for ewes the latter will generally select the ripest roots themselves. Dairy cows should be started with 20 lb. per day, and this may bo increased to 50 lb. to 60 lb. per day; any quantities over this are more or less wasted. •

Hay should |be fed before roots of any sort, but especially before mangolds. Caro should be taken to feed roots on a clean pasture; the consumption of quantities of earth is bad for any animal.