HOW VARIOUS METHODS OF WINTERING AFFECT PASTURE SWARDS

Nowadays it is fashionable to emphasise how skilful and knowledgeable the farmer has to be. It is said that he has to be a botanist, chemist, engineer, carpenter, stockbreeder, and a competent accountant. A combination of all the qualifications held by these experts might sound very desirable, but they are not at all necessary to make a good farmer. He can hire the services of a trained technical officer from a competent firm selling herbicides and insecticides, employ the local blacksmith and a carpenter, and take the advice of his bank manager and accountant on financial matters. One quality, however, he cannot buy or hire is managerial skill which will enable him to feed his cows efficiently over 365 days a year without doing damage to his pasture and his pocket.