GRASS PLOTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 698, 24 December 1909, Page 10

GRASS PLOTS.

• WHAT MANAIA SCHOOLBOYS FOUND OUT. /.Ten tests_ with manures on grasses at Manaia ( School'during, the last two seasons have given the results shown below. Tho seed sown consisted .' of. the following mixturoEnglish- perennialjrye,';Blb.; Italian rye, 31b.; cocksfoot, 21b.; Poa Trivialis, '21b. ; timothy, lib.; Chew- ■ ing's. fescue, lib.; trefoil, 21b.; cowgrass, lib.; white clover,-lib.j red clover, lib.; t0ta1,.221H. >' fesctio -and Poa Trivialis ■ did; not grow. .rThe sowing was too heavy for best' results. • ' - ' i Plot 1. Manure per. acre (first year). .- ■ ■»'•; ■ V-':/'- £ s. d. Blood and .bone, 2001b. 13 .4 Nitrate : '.:of soda,. 251b.', '.-2 .8 Sulphate, of ammonia, 251b.: ...........;... :3 10 Superphosphate, 1001b. •. „>• 5 10 ' \ .. . j£l .5. 8 Hay crop, G tons 4cwt. 41b. at £3 .£lB 12 0 ;Profit over manure 17 G 4 Second year (same 'manuring), hay crop, -5 tons 14cwt v 2qrs. 261b.,' profit-JilG ss. .Id. r Plot 2. ' Manure (first year). • : ".i": ■ ■■ - Ji d; Bonedust, 1001b G 4 Superphosphate, ICOlb. 5 9 Sulphate ammonia, 251b. i) 10 * 15 11 Ilay, 3 tons Gcwt. 2qrs. 41b ;... £3 18 2 Profit JtS j 2 3 . . This'year's hay crop was worth .£l7 ss. 2d. Plot 3. • 'v:■ '■ Manure (first year)., ' • ' y'"'-' £ s. d. Bonednst, 2001b ...; 12 8 Superphosphate, 1001b. 5 9 18 5 Hay,' 2 tons:6 cwt. ; £6 18- 0 'V"y,V, > ' ■ , , Profit £5 19 7 I j .This, year.', the 'yield increased to a value of m is. 3d. Plot 4. , V . Manure (first year).' -, . ■ ■ £ s. d. Dissolved bone, 3001b. 10 5 Hay, 2 tons 19cwt. :2qrs„. 241b. 8 19 3 .'Profit .T„ '.£7 18'10 ■ This year the value of tho hay crop was ,£ls ■i2s:.:;;.^iv.- ' .Plot 5. . /Manure (first year), f \ ' ;-'V-'--"-:-;._•" ..." .£ s.' d. Superphospiiate,' .'3flolb. '0.17 r 5 ; Lime, 251b. ...-. 0 0 9 , . 0 18 2 Hay, ; 4 tons 12cwt. 121b. JEI3 16 4 Profit £12 18 2 ibis-year was worth £13 Is. 2d.. . ' Plot 6. ' ..' Manure (first year). /; y;yy;y<jyr _, r £s. d. . Superphosphate, 1501b. i!.....,. 0 8 8 Sulphate-of;potash; 251b. ......'i...V .. 0.2 8 v :: o u 4 Hay, 3 tons 19cwt. lqr. 101b. ............ ,£ll 17 10. Profit .£ll G G ' Hay!' crop rthis year was worth' £12' 9s. Id. / ; .. , Plot 7. ',' r ' ''Manure (first year). - ; 1 <'■. '■ '"£ s. d. Superphosphate, 4001b. \ 13 3 'Hay,'; 7.;?tonS''.l3cwt. '221b; . ............ : .'..'....'..'22 19 8' ' Profit .£2l 10 5 n.Hay.crop,-ithislyear was worth . " ," Plot 8. ' (first:year).;-"j■■ ..- , s. d. •Basic- slag, 11001b. 2 14 0 .Hay;,LGVtons,';ipcwt.. 221b. 19 io 8 Profit '£16 16 8 «. Hay-, crop -this year was worth 4s. 7d. Plot 9. ■. - •• Manure (first year). £ B. d. Basic slag,' 11001b. ' 2 14 . 0 •Kainit . 0-910 V-'A:''' • • 3310 •; Hay, ,6 ;toEs l'lcwt. lqr. Clb. ........ 20. 2 11 Profit i............T...... -16'19'- 1 1 ; Hay crop this year was worth .£l3 "s. sd.

Plot 10: No Manure. . -liot .worth-cutting; poor growth .throughout* -.has frequently;, been' cropped but never manured. -. ■- - - General-Remarks'.—The plots' wer6 ; tob-dr'Dssed :similarly ; .'both: seasons.:" This season, tho grass was out on December 14 in the forenoon,- and i its.: it' was. not . weighed till ■> afternoon,' and ,ns the day : was hot and the .wind very- drying,only 50 per cent, was allowed fpr loss of weight. Tho . top-dressiug was done at the. beginning of August,-but'it was found "iinpossiblo to cultivate,;b'etween the rows, roots had formed ,'a close -m'at.':.:Cocksfoot had' taken a firm hold' and 'wtisymuch .more' in. evidence .than in the ;.previpus. ; ,:year.' ' .Much of it was quite five feet high.' : .In'addition to tho grasses .this year there are plots in , turnips, kohl rabl,: mangolds, carrots, maizes, sorghum, and millets. Farmers who pay. h .visit to tho school will be ;givefi all availabie information. ' . -: > -' ;', ; . .Tho- outstanding; lesson taught by.; the results is; old one -that : ;the.farmer. Who: tbp'dresses ■ rivith insoluble manures like ' bonedust ,will get no interest on his money that season. ;It- is the soluble: manures liko superphosphate, sulphate of . ammonia, and nitrate of soda that havo ah'-immediate effect. But tho good from tho bonedust is always obtained, later on • it is never'really• wasted. •, ;• c

WHY SOME FARMERS PROSPER, . 'Farming is,a business, and takes as muck running and. brains as any other business— • that: is,.''..to. make.'a success -of it! . Thetmam' ■ reason' . of-'success is method.: : He does . not ' trust to luck: liko tho other, fellow. Ono thihkaVtbat: h© will 'be particularly methodical -over tho.drenching of his cows as they pome in..; He.i won't wait : to: see if they aro =' afiug to "get milk fever, or somo other ail- . mont.;'!vnd ; -thtis_ savo him; tho troublo and cost of drenching. Instead he takes no risks'.but; '.administers - : tho Drench : every tinio.: He - has. 110' further worry - and cart . give all bis time '-'and';.:'attention . to - other matters connected with tho farm. Take a :lessoa;from, :tho : prosperous 'farmer. ' : •. Mr. Georgo Colson, Fitzroy, the - wcllkhown. .'cattle dealer. - - say's' 'Every farmer > "should;,try;Sykes!s Drench. I have used it '■ andyam .pleased to stato it is tho best drench I liavo • evor used. , Farmers who ■ have . never tried it will do .well. to; give it' a trial." : ÜbO: only. Sykes's Drench, because it is the best. Prico Is. Gd. packet or 16s. by .the; dozen..Better, buy it' by-tho'dozen, as.it is .most valuable. : ■ * ■ Write for Booklet.—Advt. ' 20