Farm and Garden.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 368, 28 May 1903, Page 7

Farm and Garden.

1 K OBI3INAL*AETICLKS. FERTILISING THE SOIL WSKERTILISERS only fertilise the dl?Hp soil when they contain one or X££ jj) more of the essential constituents of plant growth, that is, nitrogen, potash ana phosphoric acid in such materials as nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia; aeid phosphate, ground bone, muriate of potash, &c, and when their application - to ths soil will contribute quite as much or more to the growth of .crops and the constituents already there. The chief, cause of unsatisfactory results, from the application of fertilisers to soils deficient ?in available plant food is that the person using them does not understand the character of the materials he is handling, or the characteristics of growth and epacific needs, of: the plant whose growth he intends to encourage. While the value of a commercial fertiliser is determined almost exclusively by the amount and form of the nitrogenj potash and phosphoric acid which it contains, it does not follow that all soils or crops will respond equally' to applications of fertilisers containing thesa elements, because the needs of soils ■ and the requirements of crops vary. Soils differ in respect to their need for specific: elements, owing either to their 'method ot formation,or to.their management and ,cropping. A,sandy soil .is jißuaJly deficient in, all the. essential ' eiements;of plant food, while a clayey soil usually cpntains the mineral elements in abundance--particularly potash. On the *tthe.r hand :; a soil very rich is vegetable matter iff frequently deficient- in mineral mat ror, while a limestone "Boil is likely to contain considerable proportions of phosphoric acid. Another point of importance, the understanding of which is necessary in tbe adoption of an economical system ef. fertilisers, is that crops differ in respect to the relation that exists between their fertility content and their selling price. ,- In ■'■■ this respect they may be ;:dividet into those which produce a relatively low commercial value, and which contain and carry away when sold a very considerable amount-of fertilising constituents, as the cereal grains ; and some others which have a ; high commercial or market value, and'which carry, away a small amount'of fertilising cons' ituentsj lite-vegetables and fruits.

THE COSN CROP FOR FODDER. the important matter of time of cutting, the next step -is. shocking the coiai. 7 Other things being equal, a largo shock should be planned for, but the size of the shock is largely influenced fey the climate prevailing in any particular locality. Care is essential in putting up shocks, so that the shock will not twist or blown down. Place the butts wall out from the base, and when the shock is completed tie at the top lightly with, a stalk of green corn or a cord. It is a common practice to let the fodder remain in the field until wanted. Bat that results in a loss of about 20 per cent, depending upon W9ather, size of shock, &&. Where large shocks have been made, that loss is of course reduced to a minimum S aeking corn fodder after it has been thoroughly dried is common in many districts. In large corn growing sections this fodder shredder and husker is very popular. The first, objection to this machine was that there was difficulty in keeping the shredded fodder, the ttndency to mold seeming greater than in some other kinds of feed,; however,. that difficulty can be remedied by thoroughly curing. There was. some loss of shredded foader when thelvmachines were first placed on the market, but of late there has been but little complaint in that way. { t Extensive experiments by praotical feeders and experiment stations indicate that unhnsked fodder is the most palatable There is an aroma about the ear taken direct from the husk that is lost if it is removed and Btored in a crib. Not only does the animal like the feed better, but a larger amount is consumed and gains are- more rapid. Where large eared varieties are grown, it may be necessary to break the ears before giving to cattle, but that should be done just before feeding, and ia much more widely recognised by dairymen and by,feeders generally at the present time than it was some ■*;■■■ ?' ; *-«