MANURING FOR MILK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1262, 18 October 1911, Page 10

MANURING FOR MILK.

RESULT OF ENGLISH EXPERIMENTS An experiment was conducted last year in England to ascertain whether superphosphates and sulphate of pornsh would give profitable returns on pasture lands used for urazing milch cows. It was a continuation of an experiment begun in 1809,. wlvn an increase of 8-4 gallons per acre was recorded. Two plots of four acres were selected in fields in pcor condition, the soil being of a strong, clayey nature. On account of indications of lack of lime, 10 cwt. p?r aero of ground lime was applied on both plors in the spring of 190!). On ono plot4cwt. of superphosphate and U cwt. of snlphato of potash were applied immediately afterwards, while to tho other plot no "manure other than the limo was given. No further manures were used in 1910. The effect was tested by comparing tho milk yield of the cows. Two cows were grazed on each plot for a fortnight; they were then changed over, the two that had been on.the no-manure plot going to the manured plot, and vice versa. This continued for iivo months, w> that each lot of cows visited ench plot five times. In-order to allow the cows time to get accustomed to tho different pasture, tho milk of tho second week of oach fortnight only was taken into account, and the amount doubled to represent the fortnight's milk. By thus changing the cows from one plot to the other tlio effect of differences bctweoa the cows was minimised, and the only factor that would influence the result would bo the manures applied. Giving to ti.' manured plot having much improved, a third cow was put on it at the same time as the other cows, and kept on tho same plot till the end of the season. During tho five months the yield of the two cows whilo on the unmamired plot was C 68511)., a.nd while on the manured plot 68-illb. Tho yield of the third cow on the lattor plot was 33921b., so that the total excess on the manured plot in 1910 was !)■ or 8G gallons, per acre. This confirms tho result obtained in li''O9, when an increase of 81 gallons per acre was obtained.