THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 550, 15 March 1913, Page 6

THE RURAL WORLD.

- - ABOUT PASPALUM. It is now generally recognised, Bays the manager of tho Wullonbar experiment farm, thai, piinpulurri, when once it becomeH heavily irmtUul, in poor feed, ull other Horn lining destroyed or checked, particularly olovnr. For this reason, paHpulum nlioultl bo kept under control, to do which jl. in necoHaary to break up tho pnddonkn nft«r they have been down with the granw for about five year's. This system allows of clover being sown, and the feeding value of the pastures increased accordin S ,y - , « Last year a small patch of paspalum on the farm was ploughed up and allowed to lie, a good growth of grass, that kept perfectly greon and was much reliahed by tho stock, being the roßult. To further demonstrate the practice about ?,5 ncroa of pasture vvoro broken up during tho past wintor, anil tho manager believes that after cultivation for tuweral seasons it can again ho laid clown for pasture with mlvanti»K'o. Very few fnnnem In tho district, he Buys, now sow pnnpuluin when they once got it broken up. They prefer mixtures of ryo-graHS, cocksfoot, eouh «nd clovers; but: in u comparatively short, Bpuco of time the paspalum again becomes predominant.— Sydney Sun.

ACTION OK ARTIFICIAL MANUK KS ON WEEDS. Tho value of it meadow is sometimes seriously prejudiced by the presence in it of a large number of weeds. Not only is tho thick growth of the nourishing grass hindered, but also noxious weeds spoil the quality, so that it is an essential part of good cultivation to keep the meadow free from such unsatisfactory constituents. In the cultivation of arable land it is not a difficult matter to do so, as the operations necessary for the preparation of the soil to receive the seed help to clean the land; besides, more attention is usually given arable land than to meadow land. The question is often asked: How can I keep my meadows free of weeds? It is not easy to give a general reply, because the life conditions of weeds is su different. Up to the present time this matter has not been sufficiently investigated, or, at any rate, there is little information available about it. There is, however, no doubt that by a judicious use of chemical fertilisers much can be done.

Of course, chemical fertilisers alone will not do everything. Their use must often be assisted by other means.

To eradicate moss, for instance, the measure is drainage, and this must be supplemented by a liberal dressing of phosphate of lime and potash, Experiments have shewn that with arable land drainage alone will often suffice, but that in the treatment of mossy meadows it is essential also to apply the chemicals first mentioned.

Equally with rushy meadows, drainage is necessary. Then the clumps of rushes should be hacked out, put in a heap, and composted with lime and potash salts. The cleaned meadow should be well dressed with quick lime, basic slag, and kainit, and, later on. the compost spread over it to supply humus to the soii. Sorrel is caused by sourness of the soil through want of ventilation and deficiency of plant food especially lime. A dressing of potash, and phosphate of lime with an additional application of lime has a very good effect.

Buttercups flourish on damp land, poor in lime. They can be got rid of by harrowing, with a liberal dressing of phosphate of lime and potash. Similarly with other common meadow weeds, much can be done with chemical manures.

Why should fertilisers work in this beneficial way? The reason is that most weeds flourish in soils poor in the mineral constituents, lime, phosphate, and potash. These good plant foods do not agree with weeds, while, on the other hand, the nourishing grasses love them. By their application the best herbage is thickly developed, while the undesirable coarse growths dwindle away.—Mark Lane Express.

SALT AND MANGOLDS

A good many explanations have been given, points out the Mark Lane Express, as to why common salt should have such a beneficial effect on the mangold crop, but long before any experiments were conducted there were farmers who tried salt on their mangolds, proved its value, and told their neighbours of the results without making any attempts to explain reasons why. We notice, however, r that in the use of salt season seems to make very little difference. By this we mean that last year we examined a manurial experiment'on mangolds, and in consequence of the drought the effects of the manures could hardly be seen on some of the of the plots, but salt, wherever it was applied, left its mark. This year has been the opposite of last, climatically speaking, but salt comes out on top with mangolds, as we observed in an experiment the other day, the salted plots being quite in advance of any of the rest. It may be observed in passing that apparently the best time and way to apply salt is to work it well into the soil before the ridging up of the land is done.