FERTILISATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 9 December 1927, Page 7

FERTILISATION

ADVANTAGES TO GRASSLANDS DEMONSTRATION PLOTS INSPECTED. ADDRESSES BY DR. FREEMAN. Some time ago demonstration plots were laid down as the result of co-operation between local farmers and Dr. D. L. Freeman, of the Department ol Agriculture and yesterday these plots were visited bv a large number of farmers. Two areas were inspected, and at each place Dr. Freeman delivered an interesting address on the subject of grassland fertilisation. The first plot visited wns that on Mrs Crawley's property at Otane. Here, for purposes of comparison, the plot had been divided into sections. and the advantages of treatment could be easily seen. Dr. Freeman explained the form of treatment of each and everv strip of land, and pointed out where improvements could be made. In the afternoon a visit was made to Mr F C. White s property at Havelock North, and here again the treatment and results were explained. TO GET THE BEST RESULTS. At the outset Dr. Freeman stated that if the best results were souught from our grasslands it was imperative that they should be satisfactorily managed both from the standard of fertility, which was the standard of productivity, and from the viewpoint of satisfactory depasturing by different classes of stock, including heavy-hoofed animals as cattle, and light-hoofed animals as sheep. The rendition of drainage and the state of shelter also exercised considerable influences in regard to a pastureland's productiveness, and for these reasons these factors should be given the consideration of which they are deserving. Unusual interest has been evinced during recent seasons as regards f he lertilisation of pasture lands or topdressing, 'as it was popularly called And it was both interesting and grai tidying to observe good results, for this meant much in the production of New Zealand’s material wealth in the form of grass products. In each centre he visited, said Dr. Freeman, pastoralists and farmers eagerly sought information in regard to fertilisers with a view io grassland betterment, and he wns pleased to give them all lhe information he could on a subject of such interest and importance. When the fertility of the farm was raised to a high standard by appropriate manuring, and provided the remaining factors in wise grassland management were satisfactory, it resulted in a mote valuable plant assocition or composition of the pasture, and this was .more desirable from the standpoint ol the pasture’s feeding quality than if the land were not manured.

PRODUCTIVENESS AND VALUE

Grasslands stood in need of lertilisation. this was tho method of nurturing the pasture plants, which in turn nurtured depasturing sheep and cattle. Therefore when lhe pastoralist or farmer fertilised the pastures, which was equivalent to ieednig it. he led indirectly the took that grazed on them. Noil-fertilisation and close depasturing resulted in the destruction ol the conditions that were essential to enable the better pasture lands lo nourish—ryegrass, clovers, and cocksfoot, for example, and these constituted the more ample, and constituted the more productive and appetising pasture plants which thrived in the richer grazing lauds. When the more valuable grasses discovered that the conditions were not favourable for their vigorous growth the less productive and less valuable plants, and perhaps even weeds, made their appearance freely in the pasture, but these were not so nutritious. and the value of the crazing area was therefore diminished. If grazing land that hail decreased in value owing to not having been fertilised were properly treated m respect to its manurial needs, a number of desirable increases would be the result, continued Dr. Freeman. In the first place the soil would be enriched, and this would result in a comparatively short period in an increased growth as regards size and quality of the better pasture plants, both the growth of the better grasses and clovers would lie promoted, and this resulted in increasing the feeding value of the pasture, and in the production of bigger and better stock, increasing both bone and flesh production. The numbers of both sheep and cattle that could be grazed on a special area of grassland was therefore greater with all the attendant advantages, the health of stock appreciated, the weight of the wool elip was increased as well as tfis numbers of carcases of meat for export and the quantities of dairy produce. This was reflected in the material wealth of the people.

FERTILISERS WERE WONDER DUSTS.

There was no .doubt about it, fertilisers, like superphosphate and basic superphosphate, were wonder dusts, and their production was gratifying to the investigator aud farmer al'ke, said Dr. Freeman. These two fertilisers were producing marvellous results on areas of grassland in Hawke's Bay. The speaker added that it should be realised that there were other fertilisers essential to grasslands if the best results were to be obtained, and went on to refer to important phases of developing grasslands. He referred particularly to points that had only a local application, stocking, anlaysis of soils, and the treatment of pastures, bv manuring. He then referred to the values and effects of the chief manures at the farmer’s disposal for pasture fertilisation and explained that the principal manures required for our pastures were of the phosphatic class. The doctor was careul throughout the whole of his lecture to impress upon his hearers that they must in every case be guided by local conditions of climate, soil, and vegetation, and thwt their requirements would vary avoiding to the local variations it. those circumstances. At S"te conclusion of the address a numbs; of questions were answered, and a Aeartv vote of thanks for a helpful and instructive address was carried by acclamation.