1042 Ayricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Deo. 2, 1908. 



Jarm Notes. 



Hawkesbury District — Dec em ber. 



H. W. I'OTTS. 



We are having another spell of dry weather, and although not (juite 

 unseasonable, it has suited most of the farniei's in the Valley and enahlcd 

 hay-making of cereals to be conducted successfully. The yields this year are 

 far ahead of those of the last two seasons. The i-ainf;dl has been more 

 generous, although far from the normal. During llJUIJ-7 we had a little 

 over 1() inches, and this year 22h inches have been registered so far. On the 

 ilats, hay crops have given up to 2^ tons to the acre, whilst on the uplands ^ to 

 1 ton to the acre crops are not uncommon. These weights chiefly apply to 

 the early sown crops. 



The first cut of lucerne provided a fair return, but owing to scarcity of 

 rain now the crops are almost dormant. 



Where it is intended to increase the area under lucerne, a favourable 

 opportunity now offers to turn in the stubble of the hay padflocks, cultivate 

 thoroughly, and grow a crop of cowpeas. The land nmst be clean and 

 naturally fertilised, ready for laying down in lucerne during the wet months 

 of autumn. It will V)e advi.sable to add i ton of gypsum to the acre piior to 

 sowing the cowpeas. 



M'lize. — Owing to prevailing hot westerly winds, the young crops of maize 

 are being subjected to severe conditions, in addition to the absence of rain. 

 Our only hope of relief is from occasional thunderstoi'ins. 



Every oj.portunity should be seized to practi.se shallow cultivation, to stir 

 the surface soil between the drills, in order to establish an eftective earth 

 mulch and check evaporation. The supplies of subsoil moisture are almost 

 exhausted. Whenever rain falls, be it light or h('a\y, the cultivators sliould 

 be brought into use immediately afterwards to conserve moisture. It is only 

 by assiduous attention to this woi'k that a croj) will be secui'ed with our 

 present outlook. 



It will be necessary to make provision for future sowings of maize for 

 ensilage up to the end of this month, in order to i>ro\ idc food for the winter 

 The following varieties may be planted : — Red Hogan, Golden Beauty, 

 Hickory King, and Early Mastodon. Should the season prove fa^•ourable, 

 a satisfactory yield of grain may be expected from any of these. 



Millets. — The crops of this useful fodder sown in September are not 

 promising, owing to the scanty rainfall. Where tln-y are drilled it will be 

 necessary to keep up constant cultivation to ensure a medium cro[). Fresh 

 sowings may be made this month. 



