Oct. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.SJF, 833 



The South Coast farmer should, by growing crops, prepare for feeding his 

 dair}' liei'd from January, and to continue from then, if need be, right 

 through the winter montlis. On the best managed jjroperties a regular 

 supply of green fodder could not always be maintained even dui'ing very 

 favourable seasons. There would always be a break between the summer cro[)s 

 of maize and sorghum and the winter crops of oats, itc. ; the gap between 

 winter crops and spring grass would also call for attention. 



To tide over these or other bad periods reserves of fodder are necessary. 

 Stacks of oaten, lucerne, millet or meadow hay, and silage made from any 

 of the crops already mentioned, should be on every farm. 



Of all crops suitable for dairy-cow feed, lucerne and maize are the best. 

 While maize flourishes on the South Coast, lucerne is only grown in isolated 

 places, and in many instances with indifferent success. Lucerne hay is the 

 ideal concentrated food for the dairy cow. Lucerne, fed in conjunction 

 with either green maize or silage, makes practically a complete, home- 

 -grown milk-making ration. 



Every daiiy farmer having a suitable piece of land would profit by growing 

 ii few acres of lucerne. 



To have a regular supply of maize and sorghum for cow-feeding fr3m 

 January, begin early in October by sowing a section of paddock sufficiently 

 large to feed milking herd for one month, sowing as seed in this case one of 

 the early maizes, such as Ninety-da}' or Early Learning. Follow u[> this 

 sowing at an interval of, say a fortnight, with another section of paddock, 

 using in this case seed of Hickoiy King, Red Hogan, or any other tall 

 growing maize. 



Also sow at this time the main crop of corn for ensilage making. 



Another sowing of maize could be made towards the beginning of 

 December. From December to January, a suitable piece of land being a\ailable, 

 as a catch crop a sowing of Ninety-day maize would, provided frosts held off, 

 give a good cutting of green feed by April ; this crop could be off the land in 

 iimple time t) allow of ploughing and sowing for late crop of l)arley or oats. 



During spring months two sowings of sorghum should also be made. 

 Sorghum grows slower than maize, and though not so good a milk-makin* 

 food, has the advantage of holding out after frost much better than the corn 

 crop. Sorghum should come in as the fodder to follow maize. Amber Cane 

 variety is good for early feed. Planters' Friend being the better winter 

 ■stanfl-by, will cut fresh, though frost-bitten, well into June. 



As there is always a risk of losing part of crop through heavy rains, it is 

 advisable to either cut, bind and stook, or make into silage any sorghum 

 required for feed after the month of May. Maize and sorghum yield 

 enormous quantities of fodder to the acre, and are the South Coast farmers' 

 principal siloing or ensilage crops. Cowpeas are often recommended as a 

 heavy yielding summer fodder crop. 



In warmer localities cowpeas undoubtedly are \aluable. On the lower 

 South Coast the writer's experiences of this crop grown on good land were far 

 from profitable. 



