FORAGE CROPS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 3, 20 March 1919, Page 169

FORAGE CROPS.

By

W. DIBBLE,

Assistant Agriculturist.

SUMMER FORAGES.

An old worn-out pasture that requires renewing may with advantage be devoted to the production of a course of summer forage crops. For this purpose the land should be ploughed in the late autumn, and permitted to lie exposed to the rain and atmosphere during the winter months. In the spring cross-plough and subsoil as deeply as the land will allow, and later, when the time for sowing is near, work down with disk and harrows ' until the seed-bed is made as fine and friable as possible. The extent to which the'roller can be used at that period of the year can only be decided at the time and on the spot. The simplest way to determine whether it is advisable to roll cloddy ground is to. kick some of the clods. If the clods fall apart the roller may be used, but if they are difficult to break and the -ground is at all moist the roller should not be employed. Rolling is ' not satisfactory if the clods are merely forced into the soil without being broken up, for this only results in a hard crust being formed on the surface. Depth of cultivation, thorough preparation of the land, and a fine mellow seedbed are all important.

If after a few days there appears to be a superfluity of water in the soil it is an indication that the land requires draining. Waterlogged land when it does dry loses nearly the whole of its moisture by evaporation. On the other hand, the small particles in a friable soil check capillary action, and thereby prevent undue evaporation, the soil remaining moist long after sodden parts of the field have become as hard as a brick. If drainage is required it should be done, as it pays, and pays handsomely. Drainage has an intimate relation to soil-moisture. By drainage is meant the means employed for the removal of the surplus free water. Surface or open ditches may serve to carry off surface water, but as soil-drainers they function imperfectly. The correct method for removing the surplus water of rainfall is to cause it to sink into the soil and be removed by under-drains.

The following course of summer forages will be found of valuable assistance to farmers, and especially dairymen who desire to keep up a good steady supply of milk during the season :—•

For a dairy herd of from sixty to seventy in number sow 5 acres of oats and grey spring tares about the second week of October, at the rate of 2 bushels of oats and 1 bushel tares to the acre. These should be ready for feeding in January, and if not required can be utilized for hay or ensilage. In the first week of November sow 4 acres with soft turnipspurple-top Mammoth, Imperial .Green Globe, or Lincolnshire Red. These should serve for February and March feeding.

In addition to the foregoing, sow between the third week of November and the second week of December from 5 to 8 acres of any of the forages

on the list which follows. These crops, which are all worthy of a trial subject to district conditions, will come in for April and May feeding (the Sudan grass and tares also for March), and any surplus that may not be required can be made into ensilage. The seeding specified is per acre.

Sudan grass, 30 lb., and grey spring tares, 60 lb., in 7 in. drills. Brown barley, 761b., and grey spring tares, 60 lb., in 7 in. drills.

Japanese millet, 15 lb., in 7 in. drills. Sorghum Early Amber Cane, 25 lb., in 28 in. drills.

Maize Red Hogan, 90 lb., with grey spring tares, 75 lb., in 14 in. drills.

Maize Ninety-day or Hickory King, 90 lb., in 28 in. drills.

Maize Clarence Wonder or Yellow Dent, 120 lb., in 28 in. drills.

Sorghum Saccharatum, 25 lb., in 28 in. drills Sorghum Imphee, 25 lb., in 28 in. drills.

Manure consisting of super, 2 cwt., and bone-meal, 1 cwt., per acre can be mixed with the seed and sown through the drill, or sown separately. With those crops that are drilled at 28 in. apart it will be beneficial to the plants and assist in keeping weeds in check if in the early stages of growth the soil is kept well stirred by the cultivator between the drills.

The varieties of maize mentioned, having plenty of flag, will yield from 25 tons to 45 tons of- green forage per acre. The time .to use maize is when the cobs are. well formed and are becoming glazed. It is necessary that the drills should not be less than 28 in. apart, so as to admit the necessary sunshine to properly develop the crop.

From experience I can fully recommend the varieties of sorghum mentioned Amber Cane, Imphee, and Saccharatum. Sorghum should be sown at a depth of i| in. to 2 in. It is necessary to give one stroke with the tine harrows after .drilling, and if the land is very dry and of rough surface it should be rolled. After the crop is 4 in. high, and if the weather is favourable, draw the tine harrows across the drills once weekly until the crop gets too high for this to be done. The time to harvest is when the crop is in full bloom the average yield is from 20 tons to 30 tons, per acre.

Of the millets, I have found Japanese, White French, and Pearl to be the best. Sow 15 lb. of seed to the acre, mixed with manure, through the ordinary seed-drill, in drills 7 in. apart. The land should be harrowed across the drills and the crop treated in the same way as sorghum. Harvest when the crop is in full bloom. Do not delay, as the seed soon forms and the crop ripens quickly. Millet can generally be cut with an ordinary reaper-and-binder. The average crop yields from 15 tons to 20 tons per acre.

Maize, sorghum, and millet are all susceptible to frost. If a frost should come out of season and turn the crops white in the leaf put the binder in at once and make it into ensilage.

WINTER FORAGES.

For winter forage crops the land may be ploughed during December, and a thorough cultivation should be given during February and March

with the disk, cultivator, harrows, and roller. The land should be worked until in fine tilth and really good order for sowing the seed. Under ordinary conditions this will be about the first week in April, or as soon as there is sufficient moisture in the land to ensure a good germination,. Many farmers will now have a paddock ready worked up in the manner indicated. -■ U .

Among winter forages that have been proved suitable for average conditions, and that are practically free from disease, are the following, the combinations and seedings per acre given being recommended :—

Huguenot wheat, 90 lb., and Scotch tares, 60 lb.

Purple-straw Tuscan wheat, 90 lb., and Scotch tares, 60 lb

Emerald rye, 55 lb., and Huguenot wheat, 58 lb.

Emerald rye, 87 lb., and Scotch tares, 60 lb. Algerian oats, 45 lb., and Emerald rye, 55 lb. Algerian oats, 45 lb., and Brown barley, 40 lb.

Algerian oats, 45 lb., and Huguenot wheat, 58 lb. Algerian oats, 55 lb., and Scotch tares, 60 lb.

For manure use from 2 cwt. to 3 cwt. of superphosphate or basic, superphosphate per acre.

■ These forages can be grazed, or they may remain to be cut and carted out to the stock as required. Any balance of the crops not required for feeding during the winter months can be utilized for ensilage, chaff, or hay, and will be found equally valuable for feeding to stock during the month of January following, or at any other time when required. • ■

LUCERNE.

The writer would like to see a lucerne-field established on every suitable farm to the extent of a tenth of its area, for grazing, making hay, or, when the weather is unfavourable for haymaking, for ensilage. Lucerne in either form fed to stock with an abundant supply of mangolds will enable the farmer to tide over many difficulties. This practice should appeal to the small farmer especially. Trussed lucerne hay generally realizes from £7 to £10 a ton in the open market.

Investigation of Fruit Industry in America.— Following a decision of the Department to send an officer of the Horticulture.. Division to investigate the fruit industry in the United States and Canada, Mr. J. A. Campbell, Assistant Director of the Division, is leaving for Vancouver this month. . Mr. Campbell will make full observations and inquiries in connection with fruit growing, storage, marketing (particularly co-operative systems), control of pests and diseases, and other related matters of general interest. He will be in America during the whole of this year's northern growing and harvesting seasons. During Mr. Campbell’s absence Mr.' Gordan Esam, Orchard Instructor, Hastings, will hold the. position of Acting Assistant Director at the Division’s headquarters, in Wellington. : / . '