RED CLOVER AT RUAKURA.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XII, Issue 3, 20 March 1916, Page 212

RED CLOVER AT RUAKURA.

The n-acre field of red clover at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, illustrated opposite, was laid down in conjunction with a wheat crop. The wheat, was put in’ early in September, 1914. About a month later the clover was sown at the rate of 15 lb. per acre, the seed being lightly harrowed in. Fertilizers consisting of 3 cwt. basic superphosphate . and 1 cwt. bonedust per acre were used for the combined crop.' The wheat crop (Bob’s variety) was harvested in January, 1915, yielding 45 bushels per acre. The clover then came away extremely well. During April a portion of the crop was cut and fed out to; stock, the remainder being fed off with wethers. On the Ist September the field was shut up for hay, and cut in the last week .of November, giving a yield, of about 2| tons per acre. . The field was subsequently shut up again, and the clover made another heavy growth, which has been allowed to mature seed. The crop is being harvested this month and promises a good . yield on threshing. The first photograph shows the crop at the end of October coming on for' hay. In the second picture the resultant haystack is seen standing in the crop maturing for seed.

The ostriches raised at the Yanco Experimental Farm, New South Wales, are kept on lucerne > runs, and feed almost entirely on lucerne. Swedish gorse-vetches at Ruakura this season were badly attacked by caterpillars. The .grubs did not touch the leaves, but stripped the pods of almost every seed. Scotch tares yielded very heavily, not being touched by caterpillars, ■ although growing only a few yards distant from the field of Swedish gorse-vetches. .