The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, MAY 18th, 1923. FARM CULTIVATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, MAY 18th, 1923. FARM CULTIVATION.

During the progress of the Farm School at Christchurch, one of the lectures given was of very wide application, and as general principles were laid down with regard to farm cultivation, it will be worth while reprinting the substance of the lecture in this column for general information. Mr 15. E. Alexander, director of the Canterbury Agricultural college, gave an interesting talk on cultivation. Though apparently a very commonplace theme for a lecture to farmers, no apology for it was required, as tillage in Canterbury (and for Westland as a matter of fact) was nil aspect of fanning which did not receive tho attention that was required for tho economic production of crops and for the maintenance and control of < thc chemical, physical and biological factors concerned therein. The usual complaint of the farmer, said tho director, was that he had too little land; but tho fact of tho matter was that he had too much. Too many fanners were satisfied when they had scratched the surface of the soil and reaped a crop that was the average of the district. The average of the district however, was too low, and many farmers failed to make an effort to increase it, and thus not only they themselves, hut the community ns a whole, were poorer, due to this hick of industry. ' As showing wliat could be obtained by thorough cultivation, the veturtis from ■‘he Chinnman’s small garden were instanced. Xu order to increase tbo amount of ground in which the plant could feed it was necessary to deepen its feeding ground, and this could ho done only by deep ploughing and occasionally sub-soiling. Particular care should lie taken to see that the soil was properly packed and that 110 spaces were left below the surface. The implement, and the only implement which did this properly was tho plough, but it. too, must be properly set with the required ratio between width and depth i.e., about three to two. Unless the tail of tbe mould-board showed wear, the plough was not doing its work properly. Other implements which assisted the plough in packing tho soil were the harrows and spring-tooth cultivator. The former levelled the surface and the latter brought tne clods to the top and shook the finer earth down. Air Alexander expressed tho opinion that the discs and roller were used far too much, and the harrows and cultivator too little. The discs and roller produced a fine surface, but did not pulverise and pack the soil more than a few inches down. The advantages of thorough cultivation we#o fully discussed, chief among which were the following:—lt allowed fresh air to circulate through the soil freeing it of foul air and admitting fresh air and warmth. This was necessary if the very extensive array of organisms which play nu important part in fertility were to thrive and carry out their function, It assisted the rise, of

water in the soil from the lower layers, and made it more absorbent of rainfall, which, if the soil has only a shallow cultivation, runs off the surface and carries with it plant food. The lecturer stressed the inadvisability of cultivating wet soils.