SEASONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVI, Issue 6, 20 June 1923, Page 382

SEASONAL NOTES.

THE FARM.

DRAINAGE.

As a rule, very little in the way of cultivation is practicable in July, and the month offers a good opportunity to finish any drainage-work that was commenced in the autumn. In many districts there are large areas of flat clay land that would be greatly benefited by tile draining. Drained land is not so badly poached or puddled by the tramping of stock in the winter-time, and in consequence it does not become so dry or liable to crack in summer. Drained land is earlier in the spring than undrained land and ■ allows more latitude in time of cultivation. Draining of clay land is best done in the winter, as the soil can then be more easily worked and there is plenty of water in the drains to enable the drainer to judge the fall. ,

PASTURE-MANAGEMENT.

Where not already carried out, top-dressing should be pushed along. Suitable manures for this time of year are basic slag, basic super, and super and Nauru phosphate (half-and-half). In the earlier districts superphosphate alone will give good results ; where lime has' been applied earlier the super is best applied from the middle to the end of July. The harrows should be kept going to scatter stock-droppings. Now also is a good time to give a final harrowing to a top-dressed paddock and close it up for early calving cows or early-lambing ewes. There is no better tonic for a newly calved cow or lambed ewe than a piece of nice clean pasture. Pastures intended for haying next season will also greatly benefit from top-dressing and harrowing.

FEEDING OF FORAGE CROPS.

The feeding of roots will now be general, and where several kinds, such as swedes, carrots, and mangolds, are grown, the swedes are best used up for the dry cows, reserving the carrots for the cows as they come into profit, and the mangolds for August and September feeding. It . may be well to repeat that mangolds should not be fed to dairy ■ cows until they have been out of the ground for some weeks. In feeding out mangolds to cows it is advisable to see that the small roots are cut up. Cows are apt to swallow a small mangold whole and get choked in consequence. The roots can be most easily cut after they have been carted out to the field and scattered over the ground.

Cows feeding off swedes should be allowed a good ration of hay, or a run-off on to a field with rough feed. Allowing cows to gorge themselves on frosted turnips is a continual source of trouble; they should be kept off the field till well on in the day, and given a good feed of hay before being turned in.

In some districts Thousand-headed kale and similar crops are provided for August and September feeding. Great care should be taken to see that the ration is not too. liberal, otherwise redwater and other stomach troubles may result. If this class of forage is cut and allowed to wilt for a day such danger is greatly reduced.

Dairy cows and springing heifers should have special attention from now on till calving-time. If feed is limited it is better, to give it to the animals now rather than let them go back in condition with the idea of reserving the feed till they come into profit. If the dairy cow is to be pinched at all for feed she will stand it much better, in the spring; when she has got rid of her calf, than in the winter when she is carrying it and has to find nourishment both for the calf and herself. • ' . .

Early-sown fields of oats or wheat that are showing much growth should be fed down if the land is dry enough. This should be followed with a stroke or two of the tine harrows to open up the land.

PLOUGHING IN GREEN CROPS.

Where cover-crops are grown for green-manuring, care should be taken that the stuff is turned under sufficiently early to allow it to rot before the following crop is sown. Usually from four to six weeks will be sufficient, and, of course, the heavier the cover-crop the longer it will take to decay. If it is found that the crop cannot be turned under sufficiently early to allow the material to decay, it will be better to feed off the crop and turn under the manure from the stock.

THE NEXT DAIRYING SEASON.

In several dairying districts cows will be coming into profit towards the end of July, and all preparations for a busy season should be pushed along, especially repairs to milking-sheds and yards. The longer new concrete-work stands before being used the better. Where a milking plant is installed it should be well overhauled, and the engine put in good repair. .

—Fields Division.