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Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1927, Page 2

A fejlort appears in tin's issue of field competitions conducted by the West Coast A. and I'. Association, whicji should be of interest to all settlors in the district: The winning crop w;is that of Mi- P. Kennedy of Totara Fiat, and there were some very interesting features in connection with it. Tt should lie mentioned that dry rot in swedes should not bo confounded with mottled heart in swedes, The latter is a particular trouble to the grower in ' Westland, hut the same disease has made its appearance, also, in Canterbury. Dry rot is a more general di.s- - ease, however, affecting the whole of Hie Dominion, and it is said that the • farmers in .Southland have to a great extent gone out of growing swedes on account of the recurring disease. What is striking about the experiments in the Grey Valley is that wood ash lias affected a satisfactory result in regard to mottled heart, and as this achievement is of some considerable importance, no doubt tlie attention of the Canterbury farmers now visiting, here, will be drawn to the experiment which lias been so successful so far. It seems to he of importance to learn more of the fertilising influence of wood ash. Its genera] effect is uniformly good, as every West Coast settler knows after a good burn. But the full possibilities are as yet unprobed. A case in point has been brought under notice of a recent experiment with the use of wood ash in the winter season. At the beginning of June, same six weeks ago. some fifteen hundredweight’ of wood ash per acre was applied to a northern pasture which had been consistently poor in growth since the second year after sowing. But in the short interval of time referred to, the effect cf tlie ash has been noticeable—there has been a decided improvement in tlie pasture. The change is not so much ill extra growth, but in the better condition of the pasture, which shows an improved, colour and more active life. Tliose . factors are brought- out proviuinentiy by comparison with adjoining pasture not treated with the ash. flic pasture being stale in appearance. Tt is certainly a feature to secure such a result in the wintry season in so short a time. This experiment at once suggests further research in the mat.

tor, and there should ho the fullest enquiries as to the fertilising qualities of wood ash, which it would appear are so essential on West Coast soils. The matter might well Ik> taken up experimentally in all localities where ash is readily available, and if conducted under a well directed system of treatment the results should certainly bo of considerable public value.