FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 38, 10 March 1909, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

TOP-DRESSIMi MANURES. EXPERIMENTS LV TARANAKI. In the report of the Agricultural Dc partment (Chemistry Division.) just received some interesting experiments in the top-dressing of pastures are recorded which are of special interest to farmers in the Taranaki district, where the experiments were carried out. In May, 1907, Mr. O. Pfuhl, representing Messrs. Lohmann and Co., of Sydney, donated five tons of basic slag, registered as "Star Brand Thomas's Phosphate," to the Department for experimental purposes. At the same time Mr. J. M. Hatrick, of the Potash Syndicate, Sydney, agreed to supply any potash fertiliser required. A scheme was drawn up by the Chief Chemist (Mr. B. C. Aston) as follows: "The portion to be experimented with to consist of on© acre, to be fenced off securely, and the fertiliser to be applied in the undermentioned manner: First quarter-acre, no fertiliser; second quar-ter-acre, '/j ton basic slag per acre; third quarter-acre, y 3 ton basic slag and lewt 30-per-oent. potash fertiliser per acre; fourth quarter-acre to be reserved for (passing experiments. A strip of one-sixth of an acre along the bottom of each acre to be disced, if possible. It was deemed advisable to proceed cautiously with the application of potash, only the small quantity of lewt per acre being applied the first year, the intention being, if the results warrant it, to make a further application during the second year. The experiments will run for five consecutive years. A sample of the slag was analysed and found to contain 20.9 per cent, total phosphoric anhydride, and to leave 24.3 per cent. on a 10,000-mesh sieve." Mr. G. de S, Baylis, of the Experimental Stations Division, was deputed to supervise the carrying out of the scheme. In his report on the experiments, Mr. Baylis sitates that the plots ■were dressed early in the spring, and since the later autumn is for most coils considered, under the usual climatic conditions, the best time to apply this manure, not much by way of results was expected this season (1907). Dry weather setting in considerably curtailed the growth. A dressing of 2cwt oi slag per acre per annum for a term of years was given at one application - i.e., where lOcwt was applied the period of experiment was five years, and so on. It is explained that the usual effect of basic slag is to gfve an increasing yield for a tenn of years. The first year's yield is generally lower than the second or third year's yield when quantities such as 6cwt., Bcwt., or lOcwt. are used, and the pastures contain a fair amount of clover roots. The first year's results, therefore, cannot be taken as a basis in estimating the profit during the entire period. In estimating the yield of hay from the green weights a loss of 62 per cent, is allowed. The results of the Taranaki experiments are as follow (b.s. signifying basic slag, and p.m. potash manure) Sf ? £« s s 2 :i! "a c . g u O . es a> 2-P o « H j-. 2 ej Plot. wo-i spft ot o2 c g t p. j; %2 OO» ~ u u hoS u - > P.£. cwt.qr. s. d. s. d. New Plymouth—•i. liy 4 cwt b.s. 6 1 50 8 18 9 3. lli/ 4 cwt b.s., l'/aCwt 30per • cent. pjn. ...10 3 59 1 32. 3 Stratford—1. Disced -..71 2. lOcwt b.5... 23 0 45 0 69 0 3. lOewt b£., 1 cwt; 30-per-cent. p.m. 25 1 52 0 75 9 Xormanby—1. lOcwt b.5..., 22 45 0 7 0 2. lOtfwt .b.s., 1 ewtt 30-per-cent. p.m. 3 2 52 6 10 6 In tho New Plymouth locality the cliiei thing noticeable was the great increase in the percentage of clovers, and also the amount of growth made by those on the manured plots as compared with the unmanured; and this applies to all the experimenks, the quality of the hay being vastly superior. Another point was the rapid growth made from tliei start by the leguminous inhabitants of the pasture In Normanby the chief thing noticeable was the action of the manure on the clovers. The portion disced showed little difference from the "no manure 1 ' plot, but it was anticipated that when the seeds shed had found a resting-place the neMt year's results would show a considerable difference. At Stratford the action of the manure was quicker than in the heavier and drier soils. The increase of yield on plot 3, after paying off the total sum expendtid on manures for the whole term of five years, left a balance out of the one year's returns of 16s 5d per acre, while the slag without potash on plot 2 left a profit out of the year's returns of tl 4s. At Stratford the action of the .manures on clovers, especially on trefoil, was most marked. At an early period they had trebled the growth made by the unmanured plots, where clovers, though existing, were often inconspicuous. The growth of grasses was larger and denser. Wilth regard to the disced area, it is remarked that at Normanby one-six-teenth of each plot had the disc plough put over it, and in every instance a i slight iherea.se of yield was obtained above the average of the whole plot. "It wiH therefore be a matter of interest," nys Mr. Baylis, "to watch the returns from these plots for the next season, when the bottom will have had a chance to thicken."

The general conclusion arrived at i< til,it there can be do doubt about the great advantages to be derived from tup-dressing, and that "H will be found 'more remunerative to take time by the forelock and top-dress pastures while 'the clovers ajul better grasses can lie 'foural fairly numerous in the sward. TntUer than to leave the pastures until the clovers and better grasses have Jiractically run out, and therefore have to be nursed back again from the seed shed by a few scattered individual plants ■which have proved more tenacious of life than their fellows."

• ,The Dominion Executive of the Farmers' Union is determined, if possible, to prevent the proposed dairy regulations being finally adopted until tliev are discussed and approved by those interested. The Taranaki executive has already moved in the matter, and its lead is likely to be followed in other provinces. If the recommendation of the Dominion Executive is adopted, and officers of the Agricultural Department, together with the heads of dairy companies, were to meet suppliers and discuss the regulations, we have :io doubt (remarks the Farmers' Union Advocate) ■that a solution of the problem will be speedily and satisfactorily arrived at. The boiling-down works which it is .proposed to erect at Opunake are likely to take definite shape in a few days, says the Times. •At the Patea S.M. Court on Monday, before Mr. A. Turnbull, S.M., \V. Wright, Government grader at Patea, proceeded against 6. M. Gardner and K. E. Wilson for exporting, on February Bth, butter contrary to the provisions of the Dairy Industry Act, 1908, the offence being that while the boxes purported to weigh 501b they were short of the weight. Mr. E. Barton appeared for the department, whilst the defendants did not appear. A fine of £2 and costs ;£2 8s was imposed. That there is real need for Government stock inspector.! is shown by the following incident which was related by an inspector the other day as being true to tie last word:—A bullock belonging to a contractor in Taranaki died, and, being in a hurry, the contractor give a sailor who happened to be in tiie vicinity a few shillings to bury it, and went on his way unconcernedly. After the sailor haj got out his spado to dig a grave for the bullock an idea struck him. Why should he toil in the hot sunshine when there were pigs at the top of the hill? He strolled up the hill, met the farmer, and told him that he had just killed a bullock, and would let the farmer have it for his pigs for the taking. The ruse was completely successful. JCext day an inspector happened along, and discovered a number of pigs nosing about as fine a specimen of tubercular bullock as could be foind. There was a somewhat lively scene be-

; 'tween the inspector and the farmer. »liich ended in the latter agreeing to lacrifiee Ms pigs. The inspector tlien •went in search of the contractor, who admitted a bullock of liis had died, lie supposed of tuberculosis. The cnntraci tor also supposed the animal was lmried, •, and the inspector could not find it in y: his heart to prosecute him. The snilor 'J was by this time jingling his in ■> aome far-off port, and the inspector has *'• not seen him since.—Patea Press.