PURCHASING RELATIVE VALVE OF MANURE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 416, 2 November 1889, Page 3

PURCHASING RELATIVE VALVE OF MA NURE.

Not long since we published in tho FAiiMJiR some practical hints for fcbe guidance of farmers in purchasing artificial manuves. Upon the same subject Mr VV. E. Ivey, Principal of the Lincoln School of Agriculture, Canterbury, has the following in the Wetkly Press :— There is hardly any subject that the farmers of this country show moro ignoranceof than manures, and as the eeason for turnip sowing is coming round I think it might be for the, benefit of soino that I should shortly point out whore they may be misled in purchasing. In tho first place, many farmers do not 1 kn,ow what kind of manures they should apply to their turnips, and are just as likely to use— as I havo often seen done—ammoniacal guano as superphosphate of lime or bone?. Secondly, they don't know a good manure when they see it, and are, therefore, too often the victims of sellers. Thirdly, they pay too much attention to results, and there is nothing so misleading in connection with money \aluee. / J?irsHy> 'then, let the farmer 1 ely tor his turnips on phosphate of lime, preferably, of course, as soluble phosphate mc superphosphate, but failing that on the ordinoiy phosphate in bone dust or good phosphatic gqano. ' ' In the second«place, let him buy manures for turnips according to the percentage of phosphate found by analysis in bulk of manure after delivery. A guarantee as to quality is of no value in ensuring the farmers actually getting I manures of that quality. We have had numerous cases wheie the percentage of phosphates has been much les? than, and even as little as one half and one third of that guaranteed. Samples horn Auckland province, for instance, showed a very bad condition of things, and our reports resulted in some abortive agitation during the last session of Parliament. And laaoly, as to results. Let the farmer take uotice of testimonials as fco results, or even of his own neighbours' results 'only in connection with analysis. Of course, if he like at his own expense fco go over the well beaten' ground of manuße experimenting ho must do it, and some Sre so ignorant and obstinate as to do I so', but 1 would point out that in this country, where land is fresh for turnips, a good result may be obtained under favourable circumstances of season, etc., from a very small quantity of the dominant manure tor turnip, — viz., phosphates, and that a poor manure may contain this au/h'ciency. So we see at times good returns from poor guanos, or rubbishly manufactured manures, costing £5 to £7 per ton, but worth perhaps £2 or £3. And undoubtedly the same result could have been obtained at the lower price by taking the phosphates from a superphosphate or other good manure, and making up the weight with sand or other useless matter, or they might even buy lime at 15s per ,tqn, instead of paying over £4 per ton for it, as thoy do in some guanos. I write from the farmer's point of view. He can buy either imported or locally made manures. Though all phosphatic manures are good, superphosphates are best for turnips. I have already found the 'manures of tho best English makers— such as Laweb' — up to guarantee, though I have- had some bad samples Of English make. I have had also excellent samples from B.elfast and Kemptljorne, Prosser, and Co., but I don't think it is the best plan for the farmer to buy small lots direct from the milkers. I would sugge&t that the Farmers' Co-operutive Association and others dealing largely with farmers should buy, from local makers if possible, early in the sea&on a sufficient supply for the season. This manure should be" of a guaranteed quality, arid after delivery at 1 "the buyer's store should be properly sampled and analysed, and paid for at per unit of phosphoric v acid. Farmers purchasing would then be sure of obtaining a good manure at a fair price. As to buying this or that guano, or other, manure other than that of a well-known maker, it is like jumping in the dark. True, a crop of turnips may be obtained, but who knows at what cost ?—"? — " New Zealand Farmer."