Mixed Farming - Type of farming under which crop production is combined with live-stock raising. The live-stock enterprise, is complementary to crop production programme so as to provide, a balanced and productive system of farming. A farm to be categorised as of mixed type, at least 10 percent of its gross income must be contributed by the live-stock activities, the upper limit being 59 per cent.

Mixed Fertilisers - Consists of individual or straight fertilizer materials blended together to permit application in the field in one opera­tion. Mixed fertilisers supply two or three major plant nutrients. The percentages of these nutrients are expressed as fertiliser grade.

Mixen - A Dung heap. Also called a midden.

Mixed Grazing - Two or more classes of livestock, such as sheep and cattle grazed on the same pasture.

Moisture Penetration - Depth to which water penetrates in a soil following irrigation or rain the downward movement of water in a soil.

Moisture Percentage - Mode of expressing moisture in the soil; the ratio of the weight of water in the soil to the dryweight of the soil, and expressed as a percentage of dry weight.

Moisture Release Curve - Depicts the relationship between soil moisture tension and the absolute moisture content in the range from field capacity to wilting point.

Molasses - A thick treacle produced as a by-product of sugar refining, containing 20 to 30% water, and rich in soluble sugars (particularly Sucrose). Used to improve the palatability of Feedingstuffs, and as a binding agent in the production of Cake. Also used as a laxative and as a wilting agent in Silage making.

Mole Plough - An implement used to form mole drains, consisting of a torpedo-shaped cylinder (a mole or catridge) attached to a vertical, knife edged coulter, which is itself fixed to a metal beam suspended between two wheels. Attached directly behind the mole is an expander (a tapered cylinder of greater diameter) which slightly enlarges the drain being cut, smoothing and compressing the drain walls as the mole is drawn through the soil.

Molisch Test - A biochemical test for carbohydrate. A few drops of a-naphthol are added to a solution or suspension of the suspected carbohydrate and concentrated sulphuric acid is slowly poured down the side of the test tube. A violet ring at the juncture of the two solutions indicates carbohydrates.

Molluscicide - A chemical used to kill slugs and snails.

Molybdenum - (Mo). A metallic trace element required by Legumes for Nodule formation. When present in excess (e.g., the Teart soils of the West Country) it can cause scours in Ruminants, particularly cattle.

Moniliasis - A fungal disease affecting mainly the poultry. The infection is usually confined to the alimentary tract and rarely causes a generalized disease. Fungus of the genus Candida is the casual organism.

Monoculture- The growing of the same crop on a field year after year.

Monoecious - A term applied to plants having both separate male and female flowers on the same individual plant, e.g., hazel.

Moor, Moorland - Open country, usually on high ground, having acid soil (mostly Peat) and covered with heather, coarse grasses, sedges, bracken, etc.

Mor - An infertile acid soil containing undecayed plant remains, found particularly on sandy Heaths.

Mor Humus - A humus developing on acid, sandy heaths. The soil is too acid for an aboundant microflora to live, so the humus develops on the surface of the soil.

Morbidity - The percentage of a herd, flock etc., that becomes infected by a particular disease.

Mosaic Diseases - Various virus diseases of crops causing light and dark mottling on affected leaves. e.g., Virus Yellow.

Moss - 1. A northern term for a bog.
2. A class of small lower plants (Bryophyta) with simply constructed leaves, and lacking woody tissue.

Mould - 1. Loose soil with a good tilth. Also soil rich in humus.
2. A general term for a variety of minute fungi which produce a powdery or downy growth. Also called mildew. (Phycomycetes)

Mouldboard - A curved steel plate on the body of a plough which turns over the furrow slice. Also called breast or shell-board. Design varies according to the type of plough. The General Purpose Mouldboard is almost flat and is twisted along its length, producing a continuous almost unbroken furrow slice. (Digger, SemiDigger and Lea Plough). When worn, the leading edge or shin of the mouldboard may be replaced.

 Mow - 1. To cut grass or a forage crop.
2. A pile or stack of hay or corn, particularly in a barn. Also the place in a barn where such a stack is put (sometimes called mowhay).

Mower - An implement used to cut a grass crop. The main types are:
(a) Cutter bar mowers, incorporating a high speed reciprocating knife mechanism. They may be fully mounted or partially supported on wheels, and driven by p.t.o or gearing from the wheels. The crop receives a single cut, without further laceration and is deposited in a neat swath.
(b) Rotary mowers. The flail type consists of flail knives mounted on a horizontal axle, which lacerate the grass, assisting drying (Haymaking), and are useful for cutting laid crops. The vertical spindle type consists of one to four vertical drums containing hinge mounted knives which rotates horizontally at high speed.
(c) Cylinder mowers, usually comprising a gang of three independent horizontal cylinders, each bearing a number of cutting blades. Normally tractor drawn and used for cutting short grass. Rarely used on farms now-a-days.

Mower-Conditioner - A combination machine which both cuts the grass crop and conditions it to enhance drying. Various conditioning mechanisms are used, all of which bruise and abrade the waxy coating of the stems to increase epidermis premeability.

Mug - A wooly faced sheep.

Mulch - Material such as straw, leaves, sawdust, grass cuttings, loose soil, etc., applied to the soil surface to protect the soil and plant roots from drying our and from the effects of heavy rain, freezing, etc.

Mulch Farming - System of a farming in which the organic residues are not ploughed into the ground, but are left on the surface.

Mulch Tillage - Tillage or preparation of soil in such a way that plant residues are left on the surface.

Mule - 1. A cross bred sheep bred from a border Leicester ram and a hardy hill ewe. The original mule sheep, dating back to 1863, was derived from a Bluefaced Leicester ram mated with a Swaledale or Scottish Blackface ewe, and is known as the North Country Mule.
2. The hybrid offspring of a male ass and a mare.

Mull - A soil containing a good mixture of partly decayed Organic Matter, Humus and Mineral particles, and containing plentiful earthworms.

Multiple Suckling - AQ system of managing cattle in which dairy breed nurse cows are used to suckle several beef calves at a time. Between suckling sessions the cows are put out to graze.

Muriate of Potash - A fertilizer containing at least 60% potassium chloride, and as much as 3% sodium chloride or common salt. Available as a straight granular fertilizer but mostly incorporated in compound fertilizers.

Murray Grey - A breed of polled beef cattle developed in Australia in the Murray Grey Valley. A very gentle breed, silver to grey in colour. Cows have good milking qualities and calve easily, producing quick growing calves.