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Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 25 May 1872, Page 3

HINTS TO AGRICULTURISTS. From Anderson, Hall and Go's Catalogue, Sydney. Buckwheat. l —This is an excellent crop, and is useiul for pig- and poultry feed. There is nothing better for cleaning- foul land than this crop; it grows thick, and very rapidly, and renders the land friable and ready for the receptiion of a permanent crop. In America buckwheat cukes are much esteemed. Quantity required for an acre, two bushels. Chicory.—This is a most useful plant, and has been grown to a considerable extent as a root crop. It is relished by all kinds of i stock ; its roots are very tenacious of life, | consequently it will be found useful in dry i situations and during 1 lons' droughts. It will , © © © j last many years in the ground if cut regu- ! larly before arriving at full flower. On suitable soils this could be grown profitably as a root crop, and it is larg-ely imported every year as a mixture for coffee. It should be sown in rows three feet apart, and carefully thinned by hand when in second leaf. The quantity of seed required per acre is from four to five pounds. Field Cabbage.—This might be advantageously cultivated if sown early in the <pring or autumn, after the disappearance of • the aphis. It is highly nutritious, and would ! >e found of great service to dairy farmers, as ! jows eat it greedily, and milk well on it. About 5000 plants are required to plant an j icre. | Lucerne.—This is one of the most exten- j •lively grown forage plants in the colony, and, j is a hay crop, has been cultivated to the I of nearly every other. The land j -nust be well worked previous to sowing— that is, well ploughed, and, if possible, well, drained. The soil must be naturally of good quality, else the crop will be stunted and unprofitable. The quantity of seed required per acre, sown broad-cast, is about twenty-pounds; I and, if in drills, which is most to be recom- [ mended, twelve pounds is sufficient. |

: PhairieG uass. —This most valuable planthas now become so favourably known that wo j do not consider it necessary to say much in its favour. We may state, however, that it : is a very hardy variety, stands drought as 1 well, perhaps better, than any other grasses, : and can be kept constantly under the scythe, i and is well relished by all kinds of .stock. I We desire, however, to give cultivators a few , hints whtch may save disappointment from ; the result of first trials :—lt is firmly believed by many that prairie grass is an annual, such ; having been their experience of its durability. ' This, however, we shall readily explain to be : the result of a weak first growth being ; allowed to run to seed, und thereby weakening the } r oung plant to such an extent that, it ; becomes ' 1 run out," and prematurely dis- : appears. Let those who are anxious to ; suceed with ihe cultivation of this valuable grass cut it for the first season, after which, ;if required for pasture, let the stock be | turned in (the grass should not be kept too : closely eaten or cut down), and we venture to ; say that all shall be amply satisfied that, as i it continues to thicken from year to year, it ■is not an annual but. a perennial. We recommend autumn and winter as the best ; seasons for sowing ; and if this cannot be ! accomplished it should be done early in spring Iso as to establish the braird before the ; summer sets in. We recommend this grass as moat valuable to squatters, who, by sowing a few bushels broadcast over their runs, will secure a most permanent winter grass. The quantity required per acre is about one and a half bushels (thirty pounds), and not exceeding two bushels.