MANURES.

Otaki Mail, 12 March 1923, Page 4

MANURES.

FREE OF CHARGE. Mr fcj. JCorgrovo has received the following letter and will be pleased to hear from anyone interested:— "1 have been wondering whether you could suggest in me the names of two careful and enterprising dairy farmers who would undertake to carrv out an

experiment on the top-dressing of some o£ your pasture lands, and for which purpose I should be glad to supply the necessary mturute of soda free of charge. Such a test could be best carried out in ;i small uniformly grassed and level paddock, and especially on which is capable of being improved as a grass producer. Three or four plots lof one acre each in area should be 'marked off, the boundaries of which i could bo. clearly made by ploughing a single furrow across the paddock. Plot J would contain basic superphosphate or basic slag. Plot 2 unnmnured check plot. Plot ."■ basic super or basic slag ■ similar to plot 1) to winch also a topdressing of nitrate of soda is applied in the early spring. From the time the nitrate of soda is applied until sufficient growth had taken place, the paddock should be kept free from stock, and the grass cut and separately weighed from each plot, either green or as hay. When this has taken place, stock should be allowed on the paddock. iTnd it is instructive to not,- whether the cows show preference to Plot 3 over the other as is often the case. I found during my recent visit to the United Kingdom and America that greater attention is paid than ever to improving pasture land by the use or fertilisers, and improved grass seeds, and I have already obtained from carefully recorded experiment::- in New Zealand, results which would seem to justify any farmer in carrying out a test such as we suggest. We should he glad to hear from you soon, and again thanking you for your courteous letter.—ALFRED E. STEPHEN."