FOR THE FARMER

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 205, 24 August 1932, Page 6

FOR THE FARMER

WORK FOB AUGUST MAKING THE DECISIONS It may truly be said that August is the month for making decisions. For instance, it is now you want to decide which fields are to be kept for ensilage, which for hay and which for close grazing and harrowing. You also want to decide right now whether or not you are going to put in roots for next season or depend wholly upon hay and ensilage. It should not take long to come to a decision on all these points and nothing is to be gained by unduly delaying such, decision until you know what the weather conditions are going to be. There should not be much occasion to continue feeding out to dairy cattle after the end of this month. If the pastures have been properly treated in the summer they should be' moving away now and by the end of the month should be growing at a pace sufficient to keep the herd going. All roots used for feeding should be fed out as quickly as possible as they become a bit risky once second growth starts; turnips or swedes in this condition are apt to cause red’ water if fed out too liberally or without hay. I would say to those of you who have been feeding out roots or special fodder crops get the land cleaned off during this month and put it into another crop right away. Of course Ido not mean another crop of roots but something in the nature of a catch crop between the roots and permanent grass. Autumn is quite early enough for sowing out to permanent grass but that is not reason why the turnip land should be left lying idle until then. In some cases is may be sufficient to disc the turnip paddock and in other cases where the land is stiff or dirty it may be better to plough lightly. One has quite a selection of crops from which to choose one that will pay for itself —it is just, a question as to what is likely to be of most advantage to the individual concerned. For instance, if the pastures are not too good, and a bit of extra grazing would be an advantage then a catch crop of Italian rye and red clover would be the thing to sow. For this crop sow 11 bushels of Italian and 4 lbs. of red clover per acre. This crop would come quickly and provide a large amount of nutritious fodder right up to the end of November when it could then be shut up for hay.

If there is no need for a really good ensilage crop, then one could not do better than sow out a mixture of oats and field peas. 1£ bushels of oats and 1 bushel of grey partridge peas per acre will make an evenly balanced and excellent quality ensilage crop. With this crop use about 21 cwts. of ammoniated super per acre.

Again for late summer feeding a crop of kale or chow mollier can be recommended or if lamb feed is inquired, rape may be sown, although I would not recommend the latter crop as it is so liable to attacks of club root especially when following swedes. There is not the same danger with kale or chow mollier as both crops show a remarkable degree of resistance to disease. If feed for January, February, and March is wanted then one could safely recommend the sowing of la lbs. of chow mollier per acre early in September with a manurial dressing of 3 cwts. ammonia top-dressing per acre. There are many other catch crops which may be sown at this time of the year with something more than the chance of their paying their way. For instance after roots why not a crop of potatoes? Potatoes in the north must be a paying proposition especially if they can be taken between the swedes and permanent grass. I realise perfectly well that this is not the ideal place in the rotation for potatoes but I am quite confident that potatoes are profitable when grown under these circumstances.

Again, 'why not oats oi' even w’heat? There is much to be said in favour of growing a few acres of spring sown, wheat on land that has been in roots. We in the north go on complaining about the high cost of wheat for poultry when all the time we could be producing our own requirements. Two years ago a farmer on the Waihi Plains threshed over 40 bushels of wheat from a seven acre paddock that had previously been in roots. The wheat' was in excellent condition and the crop was cut in plenty of time to allow the stubble land to be got ready for grass in the winter. You know we are just a little too much inclined to

stick rigidly to the same old system of working year in and yeai’ out and to neglect the many little opportunities that go begging all round us. I admit that I am one who believes we have gone too far away from the plough and that the time has arrived for us to make at least a modest return to this particular implement. I am also one who believes that once the plough has been put in every possible use should be made of the land under cultivation until it goes back into grass. Speaking of ploughing generally it seems to me that the time is opportune for discussing ploughs and ploughing. Every year sees a certain area of land laid under the plough but in a great many cases the ploughing is left too late and is not deep enough. It is only looking for failure when you turn land over about ten minutes before you intend sowing it out in a crop. Old pasture land that has lain for a number of years requires the sweetening influence of the weather on it before it is in a fit condition for further use. During the years of its existence as a pasture or unimproved as the case may be this land has become more or less impregnated with acids formed from decaying roots and other vegetable matter and it is essential that it be ploughed early if good results are to be looked for in the next crop. It is not too early to plough right now for turnips and swedes for next winter. I think one could safely say that the majority of crop failures, at least in so far as roots are concerned, are due to the first ploughing being done too late. Ploughing, if done earlier could also be deeper. Shallow ploughing or skimming is all verywell when it is proposed to plough a second time, but it is not enough, when the land is to be turned over only once. —Vide Mr W. Alexander, agricultural adviser to Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser and Co.