VALUE OF FERTILISERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 975, 19 May 1930, Page 11

VALUE OF FERTILISERS

DEVELOPMENT OF GUMLAND DEMONSTRATION AT HENDERSON ! Henderson farmers were given a practical demonstration of the potentialities of gumlands when treated I with fertilisers, in an inspection of Mr. P. D. Jones’s model farm at Hender- ! son on Saturday. The party was arranged by the Kumeu Ratepayers’ Association, and included Mr. H. G. R. Mason, M.P., and Mr. J. A. Young, M.P. In an apology for absence, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, telegraphed: “I would much like to show farmers many instances of profitable farms, all originally gumland. lam confident that, with a little help, tens of thousands of one-time gum-bearing land can be converted into farms and carry a heavy population. Directed effort and properly applied fertilisers mean a new era for tho North.” When the property was taken up by Mr. Jones five years ago, it was covered by heavy tea-tree, but today it has a heavy sole of grass that would do credit to first-class dairying land. The improvement was effected by topdressing and intensive cultivation. The farm was subdivided into 26 paddocks, which were given a substantial application of lime, potash, and some slag, while the pastures were frequently harrowed since they were laid down. The use of lime was emphasised by Mr. Jones, who said he had applied this year from 10cwt to 15cwt of this product to the acre, 2cwt to 3cwt of potash, and 6ewt to 7cwt of slag, at a total cost of £3 6s an acre. He said the farm had carried 25 cows, one bull, 11 heifer calves, five young bulls, and 1,500 head of poultry, and 500 to 600 pigs had been carried since last March. Paddocks had been cut three times for from 60 to 70 tons of ensilage, besides 10 tons of hay. Tho vaiue of an ample water supply in pig-raising was impressed upon the party by Mr, Jones, who said that from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons daily were used on his farm for the pigs, which were fed upon greens, molasses, meal, and water. He said it was costly to feed pigs on meal and molasses. Timber floors, instead of concrete, and sawdust instead of straw, were essentials as important as feeding. On behalf of the party, Messrs. J. •A* Young and H. G. R. Mason thanked Mr. Jones for the demonstration.