FARM NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8782, 9 April 1907, Page 3

FARM NOTES.

Results 6i expef iiiienrs, carried out by Mr Gillandors at the Momohaki State Farm:—

.'.ln our report of tho farirers recent j visifcJlo.Moniohaki it was stated that extensive ; "experiments are being made in order to find out the best manures for improving a pasturage by top dressing. "We are now enabled to give the results of the first stage of the experiments; together with ;parjJculaVs of the different manures iised. The field selected was sown in 1903, its previous history being as follows: When tho farm was taken over by Government in 1893 this field had been in tn-ass for some years. It was ploughed in iS'U and tout"into oats and after harvest was sown with turnips in 1895. Those were fed off in 1896 and the field was sown "down for permanent pasture [hiring the same year. ■ The paddock >va« then grazed continuously until J9OO when it was sown in oats; then followed successive crops of turnips find barley, and in 1903 it was again laid down in grass, the following mixture being used: Percunial rye 181hs, Italian rye Tibs, Cocksfoot, Timothy and Meadow Foxtail 21bs each, Chewings Fescue and Oowgrass 2% lbs each, Dogstail y,\h. Red Clover lklbs, White Clover lib. One and a half hundredweight of Kempthorne and Pressor's grass manure was ap ; plied at tho time of sowing the seed. 'i?ho field has been grazed almost continuously with sheep and cattle ever since. Ou the 32th September, 3i)00, 10 plots were laid off, each plot containing acres. Thy are identical as regards shelter, having a northern exposure. The different niamires were applied in the form oi a top dressing : on 'i-'uptemher 13th, |he ground being well 'harrowed with i\ heavy tripod harrow immediately iifferwards.' Tho plots y.-ere grazed "as usual till November Ist. when they wore given a rest until November" 13th, when seven sheep were weighed and put on each plot, it being the intention to increase the number of sheep from time to time, according to the growth of tho plots. Tho sheep have been weighed and up to the '7th of March the results are as follows:--

*2 Plot, No, 1, manured with 2-icwt ground lime' at a. cost of £1 13s per acre; gain'in mutton SOOlbs. The calculated crop of green grass 4 tons per acre.

Plot No. 2, got uo manure; pain in mutton 20filbs: calculated cl '°l" of green grass titous lOcvrt pur acre. "P-lot No/8, Maiden Maud gunno 1 pwt 2qry 21bs, supplying oOlbs phosphoric acid per aero, at a cost of 8s 7d per acre ; gain in mutton 2301b5; calculated crop of green grass por acre <Hons li?c\vt. Plot No. 4, basic slag 2c\vt 2qrs 16 lbs, supplying'so.'S3 phosphoric acid per acre; cost lis 9d.. gain in mutton 2571h5; calculated crop of green grass 6tons 7c\vt per acre. Plot N 0 .5, Basle slag scvt. Iqr. -libs., supplying IOO.R-llbs phosphoric acid per acre; cost, 23s Cd por acre; gain, mutton, 2591b5; calculated crop of green grass, (itous Bc\vt. Plot No. C, 3 cwt snporphospliate, equal to 50.41bs phosphoric acid per itcre, at a cost of 15s; gain ill* rjmttou ffedlbs; green feed calculated at 5 icons 12cwt. Plot No. 7, superphosphate 3c\vt, j)lus sulphate of ammonia lqr., equal to 50.4 phosphoric acid, and 5.321bs i nitrogen per acre ; cost, lt)s 2d j gain) in mutton, 2G4lbs'; green grass calculated Btons lOcwt. Plot No. 8, superphosphate 3cwt, plus sulphate of potash lqr, equal to 50.4Vbs phosphoric acid, and 14.5(>1bs potash per acre; cost, 19s; mutton 2961b5; green grass calculated 7 tons 18cwt. " Plot No, D, steamed bona dust lewt 3qr Mbs, equal to 50.4 phosphoric acid, and 6.981bs nitrogen; cost, 14s, lid per acre; gain in inuttou, 2721b5! green grass calculated 5 tons 19cwt. Plot No. 10, superphosphate Scwt, dessieated blood 2qrs, equal to 50.41bs phosphoric acid, and 0.441bs "nitrogen par acre, at a cost of 18s 8d per aero; gain in mutton, 2881bs; calculated drop of green grass, 7 tons 3cwt.