A CHAT ABOUT MANURES

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 355, 22 February 1918, Page 4

A CHAT ABOUT MANURES

Finest Quality : Lowest

Prices

Lines for Top-Dressing

A starved man never feels fit and starved land never does well. To get results from either man, beast or land you must supply the food. All farm land is now looking for its annual meal of top-dressing. Every practical farmer is now enquiring what is the best and cheapest form in which he can supply the needs of his land.

At the Pukekohe show on Friday and Saturday of this week there will be one booth which will answer that question in the most practical form possible. This will be the stand of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd, seedsmen and manure experts. Samples of suitable top-dressings will be on view and their analysis and action will be gladly explained to all inquirers.

I'his firm has one of the biggest turnovers in manures in the South Island and has already in the past year—Bince their purchase of the business of Messrs W. Gunson and Company—become a very important factor in the manure trade in the Auckland province. The forward bookings of " Challenge " brand topdressing have already reached a surprising figure but deliveries can still be guaranteed. This 'mixture at £9 15s per ton offers remarkable value. It is built up on scientific principles to enable the three main ingredients to liberate their plant food in succession so that the grass is able, right through the season, to draw upon available food.

Another top-dressing with which wonderful results have been secured ran be supplied at a cheaper figure —£7 17s fid. This is the very highest possible analysis of guano and super. Mr A. H. Renard, the leading authority on manuring in Australasia, has a very high opinion of the good quali tiesof high-grade guano and the practical experience of the firm in New Zealand confirms that view and proves its imminent suitability for use on pastures here. The guano used is Makatea Island guano whicli has an analysis of 83 -84 per cent tricalcic phosphate. Other guanos go as low as 30—35 per cent but it it is obvious that to get the same quantities of phosphates as is given in Makatea over two tons of the lower quality guano would be required and this would mean extra cost in freight and cartage. The guano and super when mixed gives a guaranteed content of 28 per cent of phosphoric acid. Basic super has only 20 per cent phosphoric acid and there is very little difference in the price, so that the super and guano represent much,the better buying. Manuring should not be done by mere rule of thumb. To get the best results the action of the d i ft'erent manures must be understood. For instance, some farmers havo applied a rock phosphate such as Ephos in the spring and have expected good results. Naturally they were disappointed because this manure should be applied in tho autumn to give the carbonic acid gas in the soil time to liberate the plant food, ready for the spring growth. Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Coy believe in explaining the normal action of their manures to clients and in giving them all possible information. All inquiries are heartily welcomed.

In addition to top-dressings, stocks are held of bonedust (prompt delivery and to arrive) all commercial manures and special mixtures for all farm purposes—root and grain crops, etc

Special importance is also paid to the purity and germinative capacity of all grass seeds handled. The finest machines in New Zealand lor dressing purposes are in the firm's Christchurch and Invercargill branches and the effectiveness of their work may be seen in the samples of seeds that will be displayed on Friday next.—Advt.

In the foregoing advt. as it appeared in our issue of Tuesday last the analysis of guano and super when mixed was by a printer's error given as "IS" per cent of phosphoric aeid insti ad of " us."—kditor.