CROPPING FOR SUPPLEMENTARY FEED

Te Ao Hou, September 1959, Page 53

CROPPING FOR SUPPLEMENTARY FEED by R. W. Falconer Horticulturist, Department of Maori Affairs, Tauranga It is considered that many Maori Farmers at present engaged in Dairy Farming could increase their butterfat production if some consideration was given to the subject of fodder crops. The experience of two or three seasons when climatic conditions have been most favourable to the production of adequate grass, ample silage and hay, gives no insurance that future seasons will prove as beneficial to the farmer. It is therefore suggested that where the farmer has worn or burnt out pasture, the mere fact of turning over and working up to a seed bed will in addition to providing fodder, improve the strike of new grass. Taking into consideration the sowing back into new pasture land with certified grasses which are costly, the effort pays dividends and has been proved over past seasons especially where draught conditions prevail. Stock relish the change to root crops especially when fodder is short. At the same time the growing of carrots as winter fodder for pigs has proved very profitable to Maori Farmers who have been prepared to spend the extra time involved. Today more than ever before Maori Farmers must produce more butterfat and more pig meat if they are going to continue to economically farm their lands. With the above thoughts in mind it is suggested that the following field crops should prove suitable in the Bay of Plenty district giving increased returns for the labour and expenditure. SWEDE Variety: Superlative, Crimson King, Sensation. Rate of Seed per Acre: 7ins. Rows 14ozs. per acre, Broadcast 16ozs. per acre. Fertilizer: Superphosphate 3 cwt. per acre—non acid soil Lime required. Time of Planting: December. Cultivation: Early essential. Yield: 50 to 60 tons per acre. TURNIP SOFT Variety: Purple Top, Yellow N.Z. Green Top, Yellow N.Z. Green Globe. Rate of Seed per Acre: 7ins. Rows 12 to 14ozs. per acre. Broadcast 2lbs. per acre. Fertilizer: Same as Swede. Time of Planting: February, March. CHOU MOELLIER Rate of Seed per Acre: 1 ½ to 2lbs. per acre in drills 14 to 28ins. Fertilizer: Gross feeder Nitrogenous and Phosphatic manure, 3 cwt. Blood and Bone; 2 cwt. Super per acre. Time of Planting: October, November or earlier in warmer districts. Cultivation: Early and through Mangolds. Rate of Seed per Acre: 4 to 6 lbs. per acre. Time of Planting: October. Cultivation: Early in drills 20ins. Fertilizer: 4 to 5 cwt. per acre; superphosphate, Blood and Bone required. 57 to 70 tons per acre. KUMIKUMI Rate of Seed per Acre: 2 to 4lbs. per acre. Time of Planting: 3 seeds 6 feet in rows 20 feet between. Fertilizer: Phosphate animal manure, Blood and Bone. 5 cwt. to the acre Broadcast. CARROT Variety: Guerand, White Belgium, Matchless White. Rate of Seed per Acre: 2-2 ½lbs. 28in. ridges often rolled to consolidate. Fertilizer: A good rich seed bed essential, after potatoes etc. preferred. Misshapen forked roots will result if sown with manure. Phosphate required. Yield: 40 to 60 tons per acre. Time of Planting: October to January. MAIZE FOR GREENFEED Rate of Seed per Acre: 2 Bush. per Acre. Fertilizer: 3 to 4 cwt. per acre Super Blood and Bone, equal parts disced in before planting. Variety: Hickory King, Marigold, Early Butter. Time of Sowing: October, November, drilled in 7in. rows or Broadcast and disced in.