FARMERS’ FARM SCHOOL.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16812, 2 June 1926, Page 6

FARMERS’ FARM SCHOOL.

SESSION AT HAMILTON. The Farm Sohool for farmers, which was opened in Hamilton on Monday afternoon, and will continue throughout the remainder of the week, held its second day’s session yesterday. The attendance morning and afternoon was only fair, but there was a good attendance of farmers and others interested at the cx'e.ning lecture. The subjects yesterday were “ Hay and Ensilage,” by Mr G. W. Wild;. “ Manures and Top-dressing,” by Mr C. J. Ilamblyn; “Poultry,” by Mr E. C. Jarrett; “ Pigs," by Mr K. W. Gorringc. HAY AND ENSILAGE. Mr G. W. Wild assistant instructor in agriculture Auckland, in his lecture on “ Hay and Ensilage ” showed the position that hay and ensilage occupied in dairy farm practice as seen in the Thames and Waikato Valley. Hay and ensilage formed, as it were, the sinking fund in a farmer's business, to be drawn on in time of scarcity and want. Such periods were always to be met with, and it was the wise farmer who harvested his surplus crops in time of plenty and stored them for use during the lean months. The figures from the Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics Bulletin showed that in the season 1923-24 the amount of hay per cow (i.e., if all hay saved were fed to dairy cows alone) was scwt. In 1924-25 the position had improved to 6scwt. In the same seasons the yield shows 1.6 ton of hay per acre for 1923-24, and 1.8 ton per acre in 1925-24. If this last figure was increased to 2.5 to 3.0 ton of hay per acre then the amount saved would be almost sufficient for the winter months, which in Waikato and Thames Valley extended from early .Tune to mid-September and even later.

if 1a- 201 b of bay were fed to cows for this period, at least 15-20 cwt of hay was necessary per cow, and the farmer in the above-mentioned districts should aim at. such a production of hay. The figures for the different counties showed that the large dairy centres of Piako, Waikato. Waipa, and Malamata were saving from 8-10 cwt per cow, nr about half the requirement. In the northern districts of Whangarei and the Bay of Islands about iewt only was saved per cow, whereas the requirement in this part of the country was from S-12c\vt per cow. The lecturer then ■ dealt with the early spring . treatment of pasture closed for hay. While temporary sown was possibly the best for hay crops, providing bulk and succulence; yet many farmers did not include this in the crop rotations, and consequently hayed their permanent pastures. This practice could only be recommended when the farmer paid great attention to the fertility maintenance of such a pasture. Ilay cropping a permanent pasture tended to eliminate the bottom grasses and allowed the invasion of weeds and grasses of low worth. Spring treatment of hay pastures should consist of a thorough tripod and chain harrowing and top-dressing. The land should be cleared of stones, etc.., so that breakages and stoppages be reduced lo a minimum. Tlic next thing was to see lo the mower, tighten nuts, and sharpen knives, so ttiat the work, once started, could be finished without delay, in cutting hay it was best lo use a fast-stepping pair of horses, as Iherc was less wear and tear on the machines and a cleaner cut. A spare team should be in attendance, and changes made when the first pair showed signs of lagging. A change of knife bar should be made at the same time. With breakages of sections the best plan was to remove the knife box, clamp it in a vise and hit smartly the base of the section. This section being of hard steel would cut through the small soft iron rivet holding it, and a new section could be replaced rapidly. In the districts where good sunlight was assured, a hay crop could be harvested with the use of the rake only. Licht windrows, so as to get air percolation, were the best, but these needed turning to thoroughly dry the underside. A good guide to judge hay fit for stacking was to wring a wisp of hay in llie bands; if it exuded no moisture and did not. snap, then it was ready for the stack. Losses of hay occurred in three ways: (1) Respiration losses from cut surface; (2) fermentation losses; (3) mechanical operations. The first two were met with when rains had fallen on the cut swathe. If rain threaten at this period the hay should be built into cooks to turn the water. In good bright weather cocking of hay was unnecessary. The less mechanical operations that were utilised the better, as valuable leaf was lost and seed shaken out. The swathe turner was possibly one of the best implements to use in conjunction with Hie hay-rake. The whole range of hay-making implements used in England was not always necessary, and might be even harmful used under the good weather conditions in the South Auckland district. Grass was best cut when (i) bulk and succulence were both attained; (2) grasses and clovers past flowering stage—setting the seed. In stacking the good farmer put down a “ bed " of straw, fern or brush. The losses on (lie stack bottom were thus minimised. In building, the fundamental scheme was to keep the centre up well—-wcil bested as the farmer himself calls it. The builder should have someone to follow him and bind his footsteps soundly, so that no objectionable “ sump ” appeared at the edge of Ihe stack. If the stack was left over night it should he well heaped up. and a hag cover or tarpaulin stretched light over it. If rain falls on a flat-roofed, unfinished stark, penetration was set up. and possibly “ firing ” would ensue. When Urn slack was finished it should he raked down, allowed to settle for a week or so, and (hen thatched, and a good fence erected to keep cal Me out. The aftermath should lie grazed, and Hum Ihe field shut up to allow some growth. Autumn roots, or ensilage, should he carted out. and systematically spread in long lines over the field, so that it was thoroughly trodden, and dressed with dung. When this had been accomplished the tripod and chain harrow should finish by distributing the dung. Jf permanent pastures were hayed and clover growth was not strong, one pound of cowgrass and the same of white clover should be mixed with the autumn top-dressing, and broacasted over the field, it was necessary to keep up the fertility of the hay paddock by such methods, and he bad seen permanent meadowns hayed for 15 years, from which were produced as big and better crops of hay as ever they did. l’aspalum was an Ideal hay crop and all rank paspalum growth in winter should be mowed and saved eilher as hay or ensilage. The aftermath of sweet paspalum was second to none for milk production. In fording out hay,, raeks were not advised: but Hie systematic spreading of hay to get Ihe dunging of slock and seed scattering was Hie best.