FARMERS TOP-DRESSING

Shannon News, 6 November 1928, Page 4

FARMERS TOP-DRESSING

SPRING MANURE TRADE.

BUSY TIMES ON THE LAND.

The spread of scientific farming knowledge, together with cut rates in She past for manures, have resulted in a great increase in top-dressing activity. It is apparent from sales made during; the winter and up to the present, by manure companies and merchants, that the 1927-28 top-dressing movement is carrying its impetus well into the current farming season. The.manager of. a company manufacturing phosph'atic manures said that the demand was exceedingly good for this time of the year. The height of the top-dressing period of the year was past, and the fact that manures were still freely sought, even though part of - the purchases 'Were for delivery early in 1929, indicated that farmers were spreading their manuring more evenly over the, 12 months. TheTe appeared to.be'a growing tendency to manure during the grass-growing period as well as at other times. ' North 'Auckland was developing as a ntanure-eonsuming district, and since the < extension/of tho Bay of Plenty railway line ni'ahy more tons, of topdressing had been sent in that direction. . While farmers bought manure generously during the "fertiliser war," with its attendant low prices l.tat year, it is evident that the increase in production resulting from revitalising and "feeding" the soil are increasingly persuading the man on the land that "it is worth while."- Experts say that the progressive increases'in production of dairy produce in this province are proportionately in excess of the number of cows* milked. It is it result toward which the' enrichment of pasture mftkea a very substantial contribution*