TOP-DRESSING

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1928, Page 8

TOP-DRESSING

EXPERIMENTS AT AMBERLEY.

HEP A RTM ENT’S ACT IVITI ES

CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 17. Tilt* policy of “field days in connexion with the instructional work of the Department of Agriculture, is to be extended in the Canterbury province. and in pursuance ol this policy a well attended “day” was held at Ainhcrley on Thursday. This is the first field day to he held in the district. The gathering was under the auspices ol the Amberley branch of the Farmers’ Union. am’ Mr ,1. T. Croft < president) and Mr J. .1. Busch (secretary) attended and directed the. party to tlm various exeprimental areas. Altogether four top-dressed fields were visited, and although the topdressing material was sown late in the spring, some quite remarkable differences in growth were to be oilserved. more particularly where lime and super had been applied, and also on the plots top-dressed with nitrogen. An extension of three top-dressing areas will be made next winter, when other fertilisers will be tried out. The party visited Mr J. S. Russell’S farm at Lcithfield. which had been limed and top-dressed with super a year ago. The appearance of the pasture was very favourably commented on, the growth of the clovers and rvesrass being particularly good, and Mr Russell expressed bis keen belief in the benefit, of top-dressing. Five paddocks were visited where nitrate of soda had been used as top-dressing for wheat. Mai hod lesult were noticed, especially on the c-rop* of Messrs Coleman. .T. H. James, and G. A. Maclean. The results showed a healthier growth and from appearances the fields 'should give a substantial increase in the yields nor acre. The day was voted by all present as a most useful one. Mr R. McGillhiax, Fields Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, was present, and assisted by Mr A. G, Elliott, Instructor in Agriculture, explained the working of the various plots. Mr MoGillivray also addressed the fanners at A'.mberley alter the luneh, and explained various points in connexion with the experiments.

WHEAT MAN URIAH TRIALS

After the visits to the plots at Amberley, the party inspected the manurial trials of wheat on Mr Ashworth’s farm at Sefton, where the experiment is a, very comprehensive one, embracing various phosphatie treatments, also with nitrogen and potash. Tn the straight-out phosphate plots, superphosphate and basic superphosphate are giving very fine results, with Nauru rock phosphate next in order. The Eiplios plots and the control plots are about even in growth. Where different plots have been topdressed with nitrate of soda, thou* is quite an increase in growth, and the plants also are a. much darker green in colour. Great interest was taken in this plot, where the party spent a considerable time.

On leaving, Mr Croft eypressed appreciation on behalf of those present of the efforts of the Fields Division in assisting the farmers in the economic use of manures.