TOP-DRESSING LAND

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1930, Page 6

TOP-DRESSING LAND

BECOMING A NECESSITY. EXPERT’S; VIEWS. An expert on top-dressing by means of fertilisers, who has made an exhaustive study of the subject, offers the following observations:— “Striking results from top-dressing have been, secured by thousands of dairy farmers throughout New Zealand, results which a few years, ago would have been thought impossible are to-day being secured in scores of districts. It is' no uncommon thing nowadays to read of a dairy farmer taking up to 2501 b. of butter-fat per aore off his farm, while a few instances of even heavier yields are on record. In every case of heavy production the farmer concerned i- a firm believer in, and persistent user of, top-dressing manures.

“The progressive increase 'in the total production of butter-fat recorded in the Auckland province over the past five seasons is in close keeping with the increase in the use of top-dressing fertilisers over the same period. It is also interesting to note that the increase in the sheep population in the Auckland province is much more rapid, than that of any other portion of New Zealand as, according to the figures compiled by the Government Statistician, there were increases of 5fid,009 sheep, 42,000 dairy cattle, and 80,000 other cattle, within the last. 12 months. (Expressed in percentages of the total increase for tiie Dominion, the Auckland quota, represents 34 per cent in sheep, 80 per cent in dairy cows, aiid 36 per cent in other cattle. The Auckland figures , are quoted here to show that very substantial, increases in carrying capacity follow the extension of top-dressing practices. “By increasing the flocks of sheep from’ 2,734,000 to 3,300,000 within a year the sheep-men of the north have shown very clearly what a wonderful effect top-dressing has in increasing the carrying capacity of sheep pastures.

LIMITLESS :SHEEP COUNTRY. “While the area, of real dairying land in the Dominion is comparatively restricted, there is an almost limitless range of sheep country, and it is here where the greatest, room for extension, of top-dijesjangj.exjsts. It is true that the sheep-man is up against difficulties not experienced by dairymen, and there is a. tendency on the part of the sheep-man to exaggerate his disadvantages. For instance, the dairyman is usually closer to the railway, and consequently has less to pay in the way of caj-tggg oir fertilisers. Again, dairying lancl is capable of being covered by ' tiVeans of implements, whereas a gdb'd deal of sheep country is steep : aind rough. Another important factor is the- monthly, milk or cream cheque ' that the dairyfarmer enjoys. Notwithstanding these differences the sheepmaii 1 ' will find it to his' decided advantage to top-dress, and as time goes on ho will be faced with th© ailternatiy^pUftop-dressing or getting out. ‘ ' :‘." FERTILISER COSTS.

“It is sometimes put forward as an excuse that the cost of applying fertiliser to hill land is prohibitive. That is only an excuse, and has no foundation in fact. There are many farmers to-day who apply the whole of their top-dressing by ..hand,' although they would have no difficulty in getting a machine over-their, land. 'Popdressing by hand to-day costs in the vicinity of 3s per acre, and 'there are very few eases where top-dressing by machine can he done for less. Results in im’reared carrying’’capacity’’ and henvi r cii s of wool more tlian, justify expenditure on « ieftilisers ' and their application.

.SKILL NECESSARY. “It is at once admitted that a good deal of skill in the management of top-dressing pastures is called for. One sometimes comes up against the idea that stock troubles of various sorts are accentuated nis a result of top-dressing. An expert was once asked to prescribe a top-dessing treatment for a 600-acre farm in the south. Eighteen months after the mixture recommended had been applied to 300 acres, the owner called back to. ask what ingredient of the top-dressing mixture had poisoned his sheep. His report was to the effect that Lis lambs had failed to fatten. In fact, lie had lost a few lambs and a number 'of ewes as well. In the course of conversation the owner admitted that lie could have out something like 700 tons of red clover hay from, the top-dressing area, but that lie had not the labour available to handle it. There was the whole explanation of liis trouble—bad management. It is no use starting out to top-dress, unless one makes arrangements at the same time to have extra stock available to handle the extra growth. Had the owner contented himself with treating, say, 50 acres for a start lie would have realised the value of top-dressing, but he ruined himself by doing 300 acres at one time and then trying! to carry on as though he had done nothing out of the usual.”