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168 Agricultural Gazette of X.S Jr. [Feb. 3, 11)08. 



Farm Notes 



IlAWKliSBURY Ui.STKICT — FeJ5KUAUV. 



H. VV. I'dTTS. . 



In thr Fclinijiry is^nc <>\' the (nizd/c last yciir, in l*';inii Xotes it was stated: 

 " 111 point iif scviM'il.w llic (Ii'miil;!:! this sraMin Iim> iinl liccii cxnniiilcil in the 

 liistdi'v lit' till' iiMot iiilinliil :ti:t. It is ilitiiriilt tu in-taiicc a siniiir croi), 

 excepting eowpeas, wliich has imt liecn sluntnl in iirnwth, and in thi? 

 majority of cases a ('om])lete failure."' The dronulfl continne-^. The state 

 f agriculture in the Valley this year is worsi- than last. Kven the eowpea 

 crops this season are a failure. Farmers, finding the suhsoils dried out. 

 have not riskeil the cost of planting maize and oiIht >uninier ei'opN. The 

 few who have, liave lost heavily, except wliei'e the maize stalks ha\e hern 

 used as dairy green feed. 



We may he favoui'ed with rain this month, as we were last year. It is a 

 risk to take to plant maizes, sorghums, and millets to provide for ensilage 

 an.d early winter forage. With a late winter the results will lie favouralile, 

 particularly with varieties that mature rapidly. 



In some cases, crops of Red ITogan and Hickory King have heen planted, 

 and are just ahove ground. These will require constant cultivation. 



)Sof!/li iniis. — (liven rainfall within a few days, it will he good policy to 

 put in at once sowings of Amiier ('ane. If there he sufficient moisture to 

 effect germination, it will he essential to follow with shallow cultivation. 



The x\mber Cane or Planters' Friend varieties are noted for quick growth 

 and hardiness, enabling the plant to resist early frosts. Year after year 

 these crops have p-i-ovided fodder for stock up to the middle of July. 



In the early stages of growth sorghums require more attention than 

 mnizes, l)Ut when full grown t\\cy ]ii'o\e hanliei' and can he i-elied on as 

 green feed later in the autnnni. In addition to providing a succulent and 

 I'l'Iisluihle class of food when othei' foi-age is una\ailahle, the sui'plus cro|)s 

 can he- readily converted into ensilage, also dried a> hay. In the latter cas(^ 

 it has been used with excellent results, chaffed with other foods. 



Cereals. — The main crops ha\'e now to he considered, and fai'uiing opera- 

 tions conducted to get the land in oi-dci'. Large areas of last season's laml 

 used for crops were turned ovt-r, and have lain in fallow throughout the 

 summer. 



('ultivation should he pursued during the month to got the soil into good 

 tilth, rendy for sowing the early winter crops of oats, wheats, and barleys, 

 with or without vetches, the aim lieing to get the seed sown in ordci' to take 

 advantage of the earliest i-ainfall and secure green feed foi- wintei'. 



