ROTATION OF CROPS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 104, 10 March 1879, Page 2

ROTATION OF CROPS.

The essay appended is tho third and last of those published in the New Zealand Agriculturist of January 8. The author's motto is" Try Again Farming being an employment which is carried on very extensively in the Waitaki district, it is very necessary for the farmer to have a thorough knowledge of best and most efficient method of cultivating the soil in this district. No doubt there are different opinions 011 this subject entertained by farmers, but by experience and

by paying proper attention to cultivate the ground thoroughly and in the proper seasons, the farmer will soon overcome most of his difficulties, There are many farmers who pay dearly for their experience before they get a moderate knowledge of farming in this district. Having had experience in farmin» in New Zealand for 13 years, and being in the _ Waitaki district for six years, and having watched minutely from year to year the different system of farming in this district, I have come to the conclusion that the best and most profitable, and, at the same time, the easiest way to enrich the land is as follows

In the first place, we must take the land in its natural state, and which is generally ploughed for wheat; if the farmer intends to plough twice, aa is generally done, first furrow 3in. to 4in. in depth, by lOin, tollin. in width. All ploughing of fallow land should, if possible, be finished about the middle of May, and the sowing of wheat commenced. If the farmer intend only to plough once out of tussock land, he should not commence sooner than the middle of November, and

finish not later than the middle of Jan. the depth of furrow should bo 6in. by 9in. in width, and should be sown from the middle of June to middle of July, In hilly lands all ground that lies off the sun should be sown first, if possible, for if a heavy frost come it often happens that it is difficult to get the ground properly harrowed.

_ Wheat should be pickled before sowing. Ono pound of bluestona is sufficient for four bushels, Land that is rough should got a harrowing before tho wheat is sown, which causes the wheat to braird more evenly; in tho month of Soptombev it should be rolled, but in cases where the land lias been soddened together it should get a stroke with, the harrows before being rolled, but roll, immediately after harrowing, Second crop—oats or barley, If for barley, the land should be ploughed twia The furrow should be Gin. in depth, ft lOin, in width, Barley should bo picked the same as wheat, and should bo sown , early in October. The land should bo ( harrowed before sowing, and roll it immediately after sowing. Oats should be sown early in September. Third crop should be a green crop of rape or turnips, and fed off with sheep, as it pays better to feed off with sheep than cattle, and thero is a better chance of enriching the land than with cattle, and the fanner is surer of a better crop of wheat. Before sowing the wheat a limited number of sheep should be allowed to run over the ground to cat the roots of the rapo or turnips, Fourth crop—oats or barley. This is the last ploughing, and should, if possible, be ploughed a little deeper than on former occasions, and early, and also dry sow to grasses in September if with a crop, and if not let it remain to December. If it is ploughed early it will require to bo ploughed again, My mixture of grasses is 151b perennial rye grass, 71b Italian, 21b timothy, 21b red clover, 21b white clover, lib cow grass, lib Alsyke; total, 281b to the acre. Land should be harrowed three times before sowing, Harrow after sowing with grass, harrow and roll immediately after with a heavy rolled Let the land remain in grass for at least three years before cropping again, This system, if followed, would be very remunerative for this district,