MANURE PROBLEM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 8, 26 January 1942, Page 3

MANURE PROBLEM

A POSSIBILITY OF A SHORTAGE HOW HOUSEHOLDERS CAN HELP The effect of wartime restrictions, particularly in regard to the supply of fertilisers, is likely to be felt in the farming industry and by household gardeners, and both classes are concerned about the production of crops for autumn and winter consumption and for pasture toipdressing (says the Waikato Times). "Many problems, such as the impressment of motor trucks, petrol restrictions and labour difficulties are being faced by the industry," stated a prominent Waikato farmci, "but the most serious one at the moment is that of obtaining adequate supplies of fertilisers. Without" them it is estimated that pro-

duction will fall considerably below the normal quantity," he added. As far as market gardeners are concerned it would appear that ample provision has been made for them already. Inquiries among the firms dealing in seeds and manures in Hamilton elicited the information that merchants had. been given a fair quota of manures for market gardeners. When phosphatic. manures are concerned the 1 allocation is on a basis of lOcwt per acre. In addition, 5000 tons of blood and bone (manure is to be set aside for market gardeners, and anoitfier 20 per cent of the total tonnage of artificial manures in the Dominion is to be held back at the disposal of the Director of Primary Production.

"Altogether, it looks as if the market gardener is being pretty well looked after," said the head of the seed and manure department of a large Waikato firm, "which means that the farmer and the ordinary householder may get left."

Manures Necesslary On the other hand, it has to be admitted that under the methods of intensive cultivation followed today by market gardeners, the lavish use of fertilisers is absolutely necessary. In the Waikato district blood and bone mixture and sulphate of ammonia are commonly used. Conditions overseas have prevented the importation of sulphate of ammonia, and this has, increased the demand for blood and bone, which is produced at local freezing works. The rationing of phosphatie fertilisers by the Government as from July of last year has also increased the demand for organic manures. Dairy farmers have been endeavouring to augment their ration of superphosphate with non-ration-ed fertilisers, and abnormally large .orders for blood and bone and bone dust have been placed with the manufacturers and merchants. The Hamilton merchant said: "Farmers have been given a 40 per cent allocation of their last two years' consumption of phosphatie manures, but so far they have had no allocation of what blcod and bone manure is available, so that they may get left. As far as tjie householder is concerned, I think that in a time of crisis like the present he should not lean so much on the market gardener, but grow more of his own vegetables, even if that means digging up a lawn or two.

Making Own Manure "Moreover, the householder could make greater use of his lawn cuttings and hedge clippings which, if put into a compost heap and liberally treated Avith lime, would give him an ample supply of natural manure. He might easily find himself without artificial • manure next spring; but he can overcome this difficulty by planting green manure crops in his garden now, like mustard or oats or lupins, and digging them in in the autumn. "As for the farmers, it is essential that their topdressing be kept going, for if it isi neglected the finer grasses in their pastures will 'run out' and once the coarse grasses get away it is only a question of a season or two before paddock lias to be broken up and rclaid in grass at a time when seed and manure suitable for Waikato land may no longer be available."