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Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1926, Page 2

Much advice lias been tendered of laic to the man on the land regarding the virtues of top-dressing. Tlw fanner, who is a farmer, will have bis own views and opinions formed from knowledge and experience, and will continue to be guarded in the main by that fountain of information. Hut the subject is really scientific, and research brings out added knowledge, and the conclusions are worthy of

some attention. A visiting professor from Wales who is at present in New Zealand is making a special study of grasslands with special regard to f.oedproduetioii and the export of seeds to Great Britain. At present at all events Westland unfortunately is not likely In be a competitor in llie export trade referred to, blit at the same time no doubt, our settlers would find some interest in what is to be said on the scientific side of .the subject- by the learned visitor. Continuing on the subject of top-dressing, Professor Staplodon (the gentleman in question) said that it stood to reason that one could not continue taking from the ground without putting something back, and everyone bad to come to

top-dressing sooner or later. “Everyone is mad about it,” lie said, “hut as yet they are just biting at it. It is the same in England. Scarifying the land is u very important adjunct to top-dressing, and farmers would he well advised to employ a. heavier implement than is usually used at presold. The whole thing is no use at all unless stock is well controlled. If a fanner has a thousand acre paddock and he attempts to top-dress 01V3 corner, allowing the stock to wander about as they please, he will he doing more harm than good.” In Now Zealand as well as in England, continued the professor, more thorough methods of land cultivation could only he employed when there were better transport facilities, but in this direction the motor-lorry was a great boon to carrying materials to hack stations and out-of-the-way .places. He felt that he could not speak with perfect accuracy on questions of New Zealand agriculture until he had completed his tour, as the conditions were so different from those to which lie was accustomed. Professor Stapledon visited the United States in 1922, when lie inspected 'the experimental and research colleges, and he has just completed a similar tour of Australia. He expressed the opinion that the climate of New Zealand was “marvellous.” There is no doubt that the basic fact about production turns on the truism expressed by the professor above, namely that one could not continue taking from the ground without putting something hack. That is really a matter for scientific instruction, for no rule of thumb can cover the position as accurately as the export knowledge. It is well then to look for all the instruction obtainable as to the best methods for top-dressing, particularly as to the right kind of fertilisers to use.