June 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazettt of N.S. TV. 495 



In all cases it will be found desirable to use about 50 lb. per acre of super- 

 phosphate, or, better still, one of the f^ommercial manures containing a little 

 potash and nitrogen in addition to the phosphoric acid contained in the 

 ordinary sujierphosphates. 



Should the crop get a good start in warm weather it should be fit for feeding 

 ofE in eight or ten weeks. Care should, however, be taken that sheep are not 

 left on the crop long enough to injure the crowns of the plants by close feeding. 

 It is, therefore, advisable to have more than one paddock, so that the respective 

 areas may be fed off in rotation, thus giving the earlier grazed area time to 

 make fresh growth while those in later use are being fed off. Much greater 

 value may thus be obtained than if the whole area be stocked at one time. 

 In fair seasons good pasture may be obtained up to October or November. 

 The plant being an annual, it seeds and dies in the latter month, unless killed 

 earlier by stock. 



Rape seed wiU germinate here freely in the spring, but the crop is very 

 liable to be destroyed by aphides in the early stages of its growth, while the 

 autumn-sown plants either do not attract the pest or are capable of resisting 

 its attacks. 



When first stocking rape with sheep care should be taken that they have 

 been fairly well filled on some other pasture, so that the risk of hoven is 

 decreased. After the first day the risk is comparatively slight, and the 

 stock may be allowed to remain on the crop. 



It is an advantage if the sheep can leave tbe crop for a sound camping 

 ground, whence they may return to feed at will. 



In districts favoured with a better rainfall than ours, records of the carrying 

 capacity of crops of rape up to twenty sheep to the acre are available. Our 

 best local record is the fattening of nine ewes and lambs per acre. 



lAiceme. 



Naturally the best situations for lucerne growing without irrigation are 

 low-lying lands with a good depth of soil, and a possibility of the existence 

 of water-bearing drifts at a fair depth. 



As such conditions are not available on the majority of farms, the sites 

 nearest approaching those described should be selected, as it will pay to have 

 an area, however small it may be, under lucerne. 



The best seed is that grown in the Hunter or Tamworth districts. 



If sown through the grass-box of a wheat drill 4 lb. per acre of seed of the 

 best quality will be sufficient, as the ground will be in the course of a few 

 months fairly covered. If sown broadca.st, 10 lb. per acre will be required 

 under ordinary conditions, but in irrigated land it will be found desirable 

 to sow not less than 15 lb. of seed per acre, as the increased quantity will 

 check a tendency to produce too woody a growth. 



The land should be subsoiled if the subsoil is not free enough to be easily 

 penetrable by roots ; but if it be of a free nature it mav be ploughed as deeply 

 as the soil will permit without bringing sour soil to the surface. 



