FARMER'S UNION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8853, 2 July 1907, Page 4

FARMER'S UNION.

Address by i. G. Wilson

At Marton on Saturday Mr J. G iVll. on, Colonial President or the Farmers’ Union, delivered an adaddress on the use of manures to a largely attended meeting of farmers. The chair was occupied ;by Mr Edward Newman. . Sir Wilson said farming was divided into two classes. There was the practical farmer, who knew how to plough, harrow and select suitable land for cropping, and there was the scientific farmer. Ho looked I upon science, which had boon gradually progressing since the world began, as an adjunct to xarmf j U rr. It was necessary to know how to°troat land by the use of manures, I as it was impossible to crop without ! giving some assistance to the laud, i Before going on to speak of manures i it was' as well for a moment to in- ; quire something about the way ' plantsSlive and their connection with k the so'ii. Generally speaking a plant I required exactly the same as an | animal—food, light, air, warmth, and moisture. Without these in their proper proportions the plant would bo more or less unhealthy, if a child was brought up without proper food it was wanting m resoluteness and vigor. It tarmeis, from want cf foresight, did not pic - pare proper food for animals they would hover have the same constitution as those properly fed It was the same with the plant, do .have, ouo of vigorous constitution it must have available food ready for it when required. All farmers knew they could not go on cropping _ without putting hack something into the soil. There was, of course, much difference in soils. In rich soils it was possible to go on cropping for a long period without assisting the 1 laud, but in other cases one crop was quite sufficient to exhaust the laud When the soil is analysed it is often found to contain much more Jplaiit food than the growth I upon it would lead one to expect. This may arise from the plant food in it not being in available form. A plant not having, like an animal, a stomach in which a store _ of feed may be put for slow digestion it is obliged to take up its food from t.ie soil mostly in the shape of food dissolved by the moisture m the soil. Leguminous plants are assisted in this respect by bacteria which extract part of the necessary food for the plant from the air. Bat speaking generally plants require to have their food in a liquid form, the rootlets absorbing this, ami it circulates through the plant. If there was not enough food in the soil for a proper growth to take place, or unless they supplied what was wanting, there 1 would not ho a satisfactory growth. If. on the other hand, there was too much plant food sunpHcd it might result in a different growth from what was required. For all practical purposes the essential manures were nitrogen, potash, and lime. Different plants took different quantities of those, hut if the soil lacked any one of them there was no chance of successful plant .growth. The plants grown in this ditsnet which required nitrates wore wheat, barely, oats, grasses colory, mangolds ; crops not generally requiring nitrates,hut which',wore benefited by it, wore clover, peas, and most leguminous crops. Nitrates wore the first of the essential foods, but the supply was very limited. In older countries, where the lauds u*oro more exhausted of their available plant, food, they had other sources of nitrogen. Some years ago Peruvian guano was a great source, but the supply was now exhausted. The present source was Ohili salt potro, or nitrate of soda. The whole trade was in the hands of one firm practically in order to keep the prices up. It was worth about 14s a cwt% and contained a large quantity of uitroI gou. He recommended giving it a j trial. Blood manure, if used, would require to he put on in autumn, so that it might ho available in spring. A wonderful process had just, been started In Sweden to extract nitrogen from the air. It was satisfactory to know that if other sources failed they had plenty of air to gather it from. It was secured by electrical methods, hut this would he an expenisve process in New Zealand. Another matter which must never be forgotten was the humus in the soil. This was organic matter, and was present in nearly all soils. It served to hold the nitrates until the plants .required them, and was encouraged by ploughing grass lauds, in which case the roots decayed and formed humus. So also did farmyard manure when ploughed into the ground. This source made garden soil so rich in humus. Coming to the second manure—phosphate—it was known by experience that it benefited almost every crop grown. Crops greatly increased by phosphate manures were turnips, swedes, maize, and rape. Fortunately, the phosphate manures turned by the freezing comnauios wore in a beautifully dry 'condition and very reliable. Among other forms that could boTpurchasod was basic slag, which was a by-product of the Bessemer stool process. It contained more lime than the other forms, and to got the best effect it should ho applied in the autumn. As a topdressing for grass land, especially where the soil was deficient in lime, this form of phosphate has been found of great value. It costs, however, about £4 15s a ton on the ground. Basic slag contained more lime than other phosphatio manures, and curiously enough was a little more soluble, and if ground to an impalpable powder became slowly soluble in the soil, and therefore available to a growing plant. It was a very useful manure for clay laud, and should he experimented in Eaugitikci. It had been used at Momohaki State Farm, but had not been a success. The third form of essential manure was potash. Crops w Inch increased by the application of potash manures were potatoes, mangolds, and fruit crops in general. It was difficult to got in New Zealand, and they hud to import Kami to,, which contained sulphate of potassium. Saltpetre at the stores was a nitrate of potash, and for a special manure in pots or in small quantities was excellent because it contained both nitrogen and® potash. The days of deluding farmers as to the properties of of various proprietary manures werefgoue for the Fertilizer Act made it necessary for every seller to supply an analysis of the ingredients. He had. spoken of these manures as being used, but he would not say it would pay to use thorn all. It was only by experiment they could find out the best manures for purposes required. It was beyond the experimental stage, however, to know that . to successfully grow turnips farmers j mnst manure. These necessary cx- j periments were very difficult for the j farmer to carry out. It was better that they should bo undertaken by an /expert. Keprcsoutations had been made to Mr Clifton who had charge of the colony’s experimental stations, as to the need of district experiments with the result that an expert was coming to Saudou. The experiments j to he conducted there should be of j value also to the Marton district. He i was glad to see that every young far- i mer now had the opportunity or join- j iug agricultural classes, and he j strongly advised them to take advau- t tage of'this by attending the Tech- ] meal School now in course of erec- j tiou at Marton. . !. In reply to- questions Mr Wilson j said high grade basic slag would bo i most suitable for the district. It j would not wash away with flood ■ water. . It had frequently been used : for turnips with highly satisfactory | results. It did not burn the seed. S The Chairman moved a hearty vote I of thanks to Mr Wilson for his ad- i dress and referred to the great interest lie had always shown in matters which would;,|be"of help to farmers. The motion was carried by acclamation. Mr Wilson replied that it gave him much pleasure to bo of assistance to bis neighbours