LIME AND FERTILISERS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1930, Page 5

LIME AND FERTILISERS

ADDRESS BY MR B, M’GILLIVRAY.

Mr R. McGillivray, Fields superintendent of the Agriculture Departi ment, gave a lecture on lime and fert- ■ ilisers at Davenchelle last week.

Mr McGillivray said the great wealth of the. Dominion came from its 33 millions of acres of pasture land. In. Europe grass lands had been wonderfully developed in the last thirty years, '’he most economic production was from grass lands. Grass land products ’n New' Zealand in 1901 were valued 1 : at £15,000,000,’in 1920 at £300,000, and in 1529 at £45,000,000. With lime and manures there would be vast improvements. In ten years some farms were carrying four times as much as they were, before the application of lime. Top-dressing in New Zealand had increased to a million acres within two years. Nb other-country, had done . anything like that. Lime and topdressing a permanent improve- ( ment in building up fertility. At the end of 1929 13 per cent, of sown grass land of New Zealand had been topdressed, and in Auckland province 50 per cent. The early settlers grassed the land up to the snow, line, find in' a short period much had been accomplished. ; ; • /' Drainage 1 was important, so that lime and manures would not be effected in water-loggect' country. • This did not apply so much in the Peninsula. In all pasture; work, lime was necessary. He thought sewt of lime o the acre on Peninsula hill / .land, would be, sufficient;;. There was,no need '- to take any vhotice■ of thecolour\ of lime ; colour made no difference. ; Results showed that lime and super gave wonderful results, but where super, only was used, the results 'were poor.;. It was necessary that the condition of the soil should be right as most grasses renewed their root’system every year. It would be found on the Peninsula that fertility-developed land would not continue to grow cocksfoot. Fertilisers supplied plant'food, and were necessary to build up fertility. It was ’ necessary,. .where., land, . was naturally poor, to stimulate growth."

It was estimated that 250,000 tons of meat, 70,000 ' tons of ,• wool, arid, i 40,000 ,tons‘ of^butter-fat' ' were ;exported from ,Nc\y; Zealand last year. A good milking cow. would remove 4501 b ( of sulphate of ammonia, 1501 b of super, ’ -571 b of potash salts, .and 461 b of lime in a season. Something, therefore had to be put back. Lime and super could be used at any time of the year. Super would not wash out of the soil. He did not consider they need think of potash salts in Canterbury. Nitrogen was good for early feed for lambs and cows.. One cwt to the acre would he suffidieht, where iaM had '"been treated with lime and super. Good ,V grass land mtthhgeinent bonwisted of the application of lime and, fertilisers, close and systematic grazing, and sys- 1 tematic cultural operations. A harrow over land was a big help,vUnder a systern of dose grazing, the high content-, of protein was maintained. The mineral content of grasses , was most important to animals. Mr Armstrong said the local branch f the Farmers’ Union had discussed the matter of free cartage of lime on i the railways. For these living over ino miles, from a kiln, it, became expensive and it would be costly to Peninsula farmers, owing to their isolation and the cost of handling.

M> McGillivray said that twelve months ago the Agricultural Department had investigated the facilities, for the supply of lime. It was quite realised that farmers living off the railways were at a disadvantage. Thosa living 150 miles from a kiln paid ;4s per ton railage. It was a matter to, be taken up with the Farmers’ Union. V subsidy had been suggesed for those living : away from the railways.