PRIMARY PRODUCTS

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 80, 8 January 1926, Page 5

PRIMARY PRODUCTS

NOTES AND COMMENTS. CATCH CROPS. — Where cereal crops for hay, or soft turnips or other fodders have been removed, every effort should be made ito sow catch crops, except in cases where it may be necessary to fallow •for weeds. Provided the weather is favourable and the moisture content sufficient, soft turnips may still be sown early in the month. A mixture of Italian rye at 301bs. with crimson clover 51bs, and 3 or Albs cowgrass per acre, sown a little later will provide useful winter grazing, or where the land is required for spring sowung Algerian oats or skinless barley (black) also make good winter and early spring fodder. ROOTS. Owing to the lateness of the season some of the mangold crops will only be ready for thinning early in Janary. Inter-cultivation and weeding should be carefully done, remembering that the attention of these details often mean all the difference between a h eavy yielding crop and a very indifferent one. Work among al root crops should be consistently attended to until the crops meet in the rows. Should the weather prove dry there is all the more reason to keep inter-cultivation going in order to retain moisture. ' PASTURES. Thin, old pastures may be allowed to run to seed head if convenient and subsequently thoroughly tripod-har-rowed. In many instances this method will assist in making a better sole, while in the case of young grass, it is very necessary not to allow 7 seeding to take place in the first year. If stock cannot be depended upon to check seeding, a mower could be used. HAY. Immediately a stack is completed rake down carefully and put on the necessary wires weighted with posts, or sacks of soil, and allow to further settle for three of four weeks before thatching. All hay should have at least 10 lbs coarse salt per ton added to the stack, and more if the quality is inferior—By W. J. McCulloch. Instructor in Agriculture. j