SPRING CULTIVATION

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XIII, Issue 2, 21 August 1916, Page 143

SPRING CULTIVATION

With autumn and early winter sown crops the question of getting rid of surplus water is generally one of more importance than that of conserving water within the soil. With spring-sown crops the question of conserving mositure in ill-drained soils, as well as in all soils of a porous nature,' is one of paramount importance. The proper preparation .of the seed-bed by deep .cultivation, by fining, and consolidation of the soil thereafter is a primary factor in helping to keep the soil moist. The Cambridge roller is an indispensable implement in such operations, but there are still numerous farms where such things as Cambridge rollers have been heard of- but never possessed or utilized. The Cambridge roller is not an implement in everyday use upon a small farm, neither is it a very expensive article, and consequently three *or four adjacent farmers might easily share one between them. A " roller of medium weight with an . extra-strong frame is “ the ’ most useful kind of implement for a small farm, as it may be used as - a light roller, and can be weighted by placing bags of earth upon the frame to any reasonable weight desired. . •

Failing a roller perhaps the next best thing, and also a most inexpensive article, is the rubbing or fining board. It resembles a sledge with close decking, but- with the boards nailed slightly slantways instead of at right angles to the runners, and overlapping as in weatherboarding. This sledge-like implement is turned upside down, weighted with a bag of earth if necessary, and pulled by two horses; It will fine down a ploughed field, upon which the harrows or disks have ceased to accomplish satisfactory work, and it also performs a considerable amount of levelling, while making a firm and compact seed-bed. It probably is better adapted for use upon . clays and loams than upon very light loams or sand; but even on sands it may be made to perform fairly good work by placing most of the weight towards the centre or back rather than near the front. — G. de S. Baylis, Fields Supervisor.