Basic Slag-Superphosphate Mixture.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 December 1913, Page 2

Basic Slag-Superphosphate Mixture.

(B. C. Aston, F. I. C. in the Journal

of Agriculture). Tor-dressing Pastures

I drew attention on page 312 of the September number oi the Journal to the use of basic slag-and- superphosphate mixture on pumice soils. The difficulties in. connection with, mixing and distributing tho mixture are such that it is advisable to have an alternative method of procedure which retains the features of the mixture while disposing tc some extent of thedilKcultieb. This is effected by distributing the slag first and the superphosphate subse quently, but as soon as possible afterwards. It is desirable that the basic slag should bo applied before the superphosphate instead of working in the reverse order. The advantages of the mixture may be attributed to tho constituents of the two fertilizers working in conjunc:ion, and hence it is advisable that they should come into contact in the soil. The slag is insoluablo. in water, but tho supoipisosphate is sohuil.lo, honee it is oasv to .see that tho superphosphate has a hottor chanco of coming ink eoimicr wilh tho slag if the superphosphate ib on top Whether the application of the two fertilizers singly to a pasture will be as efficacious as if they ware mixed before distribution is impossible to predict without the knowledge that exact ex. perimentfj will give, but one can at least say that there is "every indication of the mixture proving superior to the individual constituents applied alone in th« same quantity to the light northern soils which respond to phosphates. One experiment was inspected in which (1) 4 cwt. slag, (2) 4 cwt. superphosphate, ('o) 2 cwt. basic slag and 2 cwt. superphosphate were applied to three. difi'tt -nt paddocks. 'J ho lasN named h is given the best-looking pasture, .and'cattle allowed to range of the throe paddocks showed undoubted preference for thai dressed with the mixture. As the turnip-planting1 time is now approaching, it is ns well to cali attention to tho f>ood results which have followed the application of ha<-ic-siag» and-suporphosphate mixtures to turnip crops. Mixtures of 2 cwt. basic slag and ! cwt. superphosphate per aern, drilled in with the seed, have given excellent results even when the mixture has heated after mixing. A mixture of bonedust, superphosphate, and basic j sag in equal parts should be experimented with, taking care to mix only small quantities at a time. Theoretially such a mixture would be a good one as the bonedust should improve the mechanical state of the fertilizer, enabling it to run through the drill more easily, while the acid nature of tha superphosphate should prevent the alkaline basic slag from reacting with tht* nitrogenous matter of the bone- i dust, and consequently would prevent, the loss of ammonia which otherwise m'ght result ; At Auckland show the horse placed third in the walking competition was Miss ia. Fivnii's jSiit-s Kino, ;md not Mr Oatnp'ttili's Pukoreka, a< reported. ' The Seoretary of th- $■ P. 0.. Wellington, notifies *:hat thf wireless-stwrinns. ■at Badio-Awanui (^oitu of Auckland) and Kadn'-Awar'ua. (near IHuixj huve been opened >v; from the 18:.h iust