50 Agriculture of SUropsIdre. 



if the last growth is fed on the land it will materially strengthen 

 the plant. Especial care must be taken to cut the crop when 

 coming into bloom, for nothing tends more to wear out the plant 

 than allowing it to get too forward. 



Italian Rye Grass is another of our valuable but much-neglected 

 fodder crops. This will be suitable when the soil does not admit 

 of the growth of lucerne. To the sheep-breeders of this district 

 this has been most valuable wherever it has been grown, and 1 

 am glad to say its growth is extending rapidly. The land may 

 be laid down with this, as in the case of ordinary seeds, with a 

 corn crop, but the subsequent growth is very much better if sown 

 without corn. About three bushels of seed is the usual quantity 

 sown per acre. If there is any sloping field below and near the 

 liomestead over which the liquid manure can be carried at a 

 small expense, on such a spot the Italian rye grass will answer 

 well. It is not particular as to soil, but it needs good tillage 

 in preparation : then the liquid manure will contribute much to 

 its luxuriance. Being near the buildings is also desirable, as it 

 should be cut and carried from the ground, and the ground 

 watered immediately after, so that the irrigation may follow the 

 scythe quickly. 



Rape is also grown as a spring crop, but it is not a general 

 favourite, being considered apt to scour the sheep from its juicy 

 nature. In the autumn, however, this is very different, as it then 

 yields firm and strong food. The objection to it as a food in 

 spring is no doubt owing to the growth being made whilst there 

 is an abundance of moisture, and when the climate is dry this 

 objection does not apply. My own experience leads me to 

 believe that this objection may be very much overcome by alter- 

 ing the cultivation in the following manner. Instead of sowing 

 as is usual in August and September, let the seed be sown in the 

 early part of July, and the crop properly hoed out. We thus get 

 a crop of autumn rape, which being fed off remains and shoots 

 out beautifully for the spring, but being produced from older 

 roots it is firmer and less juicy in its nature. If the rape is 

 wanted solely for autumn use an earlier sowing is desirable. 



Root Crops. — Mangold- Wurtzel. — The land appropriated for 

 this crop is not sown with a green crop, but its cultivation is 

 advanced so as to prepare for early sowing. Clearing the 

 surface is the first step, and as this land is very subject to couch- 

 grass the first attention is given to it. Many broadshare their 

 stubbles regardless of its existence, and thus rather add to 

 their troubles, as cutting into smaller pieces has the tendency 

 to increase rather than diminish the growth of this weed. If, 

 therefore, there is couch in a field, before anything else is 

 done this should be destroyed. Forking and picking are 



