Farm and Garden

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 220, 30 December 1909, Page 3

Farm and Garden

MIXING MANURES. Chemical changes resulting in loss may take place after manures are mixed, and before they are applied to the land. For example, the mixing of lime or superphosphate of lime with manures containing nitrogen, causes the latter, in the form of ammonia, to be set free and escape into the air. The chief nitrogenous manures are farmyard manure, some of the guanos, sulphate of ammonia, steamed bone t, and other fertilisers of an organic nature. If ammonia is not lost in the manner stated, barm may be done by indiscriminate mixing, in rendering the soluble ingredients insoluble; lime has this effect on very soluble phosphates. Then again, injury may be done in a mechanical way by improper mixing some time previous to application. Kainit and other potash salts when mixed with other fertilisers cause the whole to harden and solidify. Lime, kainit, and other potash salts, basic slag and nitrate of soda may be mixed immediately before appilcation. Any of the following may be mixed at any time: —Superphosphate, sulphate of ammonia, potash manures, nitrate of soda, basic slag, guano, and farmyard manure. Chemical reactions may be largely avoided by having the manures to be mixed perfectly dry and powdery, and by sowing immediately after mixing. Basic slag should be applied some time before the sowing of the crop it is intended to benefit; sulphate of ammonia should never be applied until the day the crop is sown, and superphosphate for cereal crops should not be sown earlier. Fish guano and bones may be sometimes sown in advance with advantage, while nitrate of soda should not be sown until well on in the spring.

"Flat bone, and as much as you can get of it, with hoofs of bluish horn to match," is what the average draughthorse beredeV is on the look-out for at the present day

Let breeders remember that it depends very materially upon the manner in which they select their sires whether or not next season they have a good lot of lambs for sale, or a moderate lot.

Soundness of staple is always met with if a sheep has enjoyed good health during tbc growth of the fleece, and there is no better indication of sickness than that given by tbe fleece. Tba farm boy who has charge of young lambs, calves and colts, who has a personal interest in seeing'them .grow and develop, receives a lesson in kindness that is never forgotten. Teach the young the meaning of the cbemical needs of tbe soil, and the advantages of a proper mechanical condition in a way that will impress it upon their minds much more forcibly than to wait until driven into their comprehension by the hard knocks of experience in later lite.

Don't forget to test your cow and see if she is returning a profit—if not fatten and sell her. More milk and richer milk is tbe object of all farmers and dairymen, and to get it select your best cows that you are not feeding at a loss. According to common report, chemical manure factories have sprung up in Japan in such quantities that it is impossible to make any profit in the trade. The importations of sulphate of ammonia, chiefly from Great Britain, nave increased by over £330,000 during tbe last five years, but owing to the over-production of chemical manures by the native manufacturers, and the reluctance of the farmers to buy, the trade is generally in a deplorable condition.