514 AgriculUiral, Gazette of N.S.W. [Jf/w^ 2, 1908. 



I (IrJux, l'(iis, li((ins. — 'I'lio fiii;il sowiiiLis of vctclics. aloiir oi' willi oats, 

 or hai'lcy, can 1k' made in ordei' to indvidc caih s])iin^' mTfii freil for 

 stock. Field peas and beans are alsoc)'o)is Wdilli |iayin<i- some attention lo. 



()ni(>)is.~\''\[\\\{ ont the youn^- seedlini^s inio well-draineil, inellow. rich 

 soil. 'I'lns plant needs <i-ood soil, failin.^' wlueli it will lie essential to enrich 

 jt witli tai'niN'ard niannre oi- artitieial ten ilisers. 



Rape. — This crop may he classed as a foddi'r U<v steck in eluse line with 

 hiccrne from a nntrient point of view. As a catcli-croj) in the i-otation it 

 is most valualile, and where shee|i er pi.iis an' I'eai'cd no hetter or cheaper 

 form of eni-icliin.ii impoverished soils can be adopted, more especially where 

 the land is to he snhs(>qnently utilised foi- maize. 



The plant is succulent , i-elishahle. and rich in those elements fov forming 

 flesh.. Moreover, it is a ijuick grower, and does ]iot interfere witli the 

 main crops. 



Fnrthei' sowintis slioidd he made now in ordei- to pro\ide a grazing crop 

 in SepteiYil ei'. 



Glen Innes Distkict — June. 



r. h. cjennys. 



Tillage of the Soil. 



One of the most important of farm operations is the preparation of the 

 soil for farm crops. In its natural state the ground is generally covered 

 with a thick coating of various kinds of vegetation, which ^ake up the 

 surface area and use the available plant-food underneath; it is also usually 

 too compact, or even in some cases too loose, foi' the roots of foreign growths; 

 also the ])lant-food re(piired for the latter, although there in ahundance, 

 is mostly in an insoluhle ccunlition, ami much deleterious acid may also 

 be present. 



If it is not intended to cultivate green-timbei'ed land for some years it 

 certainly should he ringharke(|, to sweeten and improve the herhag(> and rot 

 the roots of trees, s(j that i\\.v grnhhing, when it takes place, will he wvy 

 much less expensive. When clearing, take out all roots that may imi)e(|e the 

 plough right ont to the greatest depth to which it is likely to he stirred, 

 and in no casi' slnndd this he less than .'^ inches. Make one operation 

 when means will peiinit : had clearing means l)roken ploughs, hroken 

 machinery, and continuous work through removing fallen timber for 

 vears to come — fai' the deai'er way in the hmg lam. Ploughing and othei' 

 modes of tillage tni'ii the natural grasses and otiier vegetation lying on 

 the surface into humus for future use, the soil is loosent'(l and thi' paitii-les. 

 which composi' it ai'e sejiarated so as to pei'tnit of the free circulalioii of 

 air and water, and the young roots can easily lind thi'ir way among the 

 channels so foi'nied. Th(> s(d! nmlerneath is also l)i'(night to the sui'face. 



