"IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURES."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 173, 25 August 1909, Page 4

"IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURES."

PAPER READ BY MR. F GILLA.N'DKKS.

There was a fair attendance of members last night at the meeting tailed by the Taranaki Agricultural .-ociety lor the purpose of meeting Mr. i. Uillander-, manager of the Mate bxpennientaj Farm at Momahaki, who had promised to read a paper on the ail-.m-puriant subject of "fhe Improvement 01 Pasture uinds." Mr. \V. Ambu.-y, piv.-H.cui of the Society, presided. ihe ehairman, in introducing Mr. Gillanders, advised farmers present to take oilt their note-books. The best farmer, l,e said, had still something to learn, Hid if he could pick up any wrinkle the meeting would not have been held in vain. Mr. Gillnndors was a man of great experience of testing manures, growing crops and cereals, and general agricultural experimental work. The business of the farmer was to get the best results with the least labor, and 1 instead of his having to go in for experi-1 nießting himself, he should be able to take hold of the information produced as the result of the experimental farm- \ wejrk and go right ahead on the propi r treatment of the soil, getting the crops. The Government, he pointed ui, was spending a good deal of money • .1 these experimental farms in the iutei eets. of the farmer?, « i.i any efforts piU forth in getting the best practical .u 1 as managers of these experimenui. farms were efforts that would help Me country.

MR, GIILAXDER'S ADDRESS. The improvement of pasture lands is a question which at the present time is largely discussed by agriculturalists in almost all parts of the British dominions, said Mr. Gillander. This is due to several causes, the primary one no doubt being the great tendency amongst agriculturalists to try to improve pasture without breaking up the surface, aod having to nsow. The increased cost of labor has also reduced the area of land under crop, and the general tendency at present seems, to be not to break up griss land if it can be improved without ing so. There is no doubt whatever that pasture lands can be improved in many ways without breaking up the surface, and in the course of this paper I shall endeavor to- try to deal with a j few of the modes generally adopted for doing so. The term pasture land is no doubt generally meant to convey the meanLig that the land is grazed with sto.'k. However, certain portions of grazing land are set aside from time to time for mowing.'but as the latter are gent-r----olly grazed at some season throughout the year, we may assume that all lands

growing grass are pasture lands. Tin treatment of pasture, may be termed il most a new matter in tins country, am so far we have only a few records o experience gained in the management o pastures, it being but a few years sinu the question of pasture improvement wa mooted. Pastures can be renovated and in proved in several ways, such as draining .limeing, harrowing, re-sowing, manui ing, and also by the consumption o artificial and other foods by stock gra< ing on the pastures. The latter methui is not likely to be adopted in this Dc minion to any extent for some time I 1 come. Before any scheme is adopted for thei improvement the fullest considerate should be given te the subject. If th scheme is to be a large and costly one it will always be advisable to bcsu operations' on' a small scale and mak certain that they are to be benefieia before entering into any scheme of cos or magnitude. •In making this statement there is no thing further from my thoughts th.u to suggest that farmers should go int< experimenting largely on their own ac count to sea what would be applicil>i< in their own particular circumstance's I am fully aware that it is out of th: question to suppose that the rank ui. file of the farming community can i'.t anything of the kind. All any farmci inthe ordinary way can be expected u do is to' conduct few simple experiment t mainly to ascertain in what form snuu of the common fertilisers can be best applied to his own soil. Before gom; further say that there aoe farm e'rs and, farmers, a number of whom have' been brought up on farms and nave . a good knowledge of the requirements and" management of soils. While this is so, in this country we have a large number of men on the land who nevei had an »pportunity of gaining knowledge on the subject. To these men 1 would say get all the information you can gather before going into costly undertakings, and above all study local circumstances and conditions. Be progressive, but avoid fads which are genenerally advocated by men of no practical experience. Suppose you intend going in for manuring and are doubtful as to the best manure to adopt, it is an easy matter to procure a small quantity of any of the manures I intend referring to laLcr on and try them on your own soil. The same thing with liming, draining, and harrowing.

DRAINING. The first essential is to see that yonr soils are properly drained. Although no vegetation can thrive without a sufficient supply of water, nevertheless, :' superabundance of moisture has injurious effects on many soils; therefore it is essential that the excess of water be removed. This allows plant roots to penetrate deeper into, the soil by mining it porous, drier, looser and more friable. ' Although at first sight it seems otherwise, well-drained soils will withstand the drought much better than undrained soils. 3fter a heavy rainlall an undrained soil become sodden with moisture, and when dried by evaporation becomes baked and hard, whereas a well-drained soil is aerated and retentive of moisture. Of the different modes ef draining,! the mole plough is perhaps the chewiest,, but it can only be practised on r.till clay soils of a tenacious nature. Open ditches or furrows are largely used 'or removing surplus water in some countries, while in this country we will doubtless have to depend largely on the tile drain. This method, although coi:!y, is thoroughly effectual. Tile drains are almost always preferable to sto'ie or tree drains. The influence of draining on the temperature of the soil will be at all times noticeable, more especially in the spring of the year. The large amount of water percolating through the drains and removed from the soil raise* its temperature, and makes it in a fit conditon to be worked at an earlier period. The advance 0/ vegetation will also be noticeable upon .1 drained soil, and the r apid growth ol crops generally. The main question »i drainage is altogether too large for nir to deal with in this paper, and I have no intention of going into it further than point out the advantage" of a welldrained soil over on undrained one. LDIEIXC.

Another means of improving pasture lands is by an application of lime, although not in itself a fertiliser, lime is very essential in all plant foods; in fact, without lime plants cannot gr-.v. It converts the insoluble plant food in to soluble, corrects the damp and sour conditions se common in many of our clay soils. It also assists largely iu the pulverising or breaking up of the sod, and is one of the greatest factors -n the preparation of a good tilth, which is of so great importance in the growing of all crops, and especially in the germination of fine Seeds, such as clovers, rape, turnips and mangolds. The old method of applying four to live tons per acre of lime in one dressing has now been abandoned. Xow sel-

. dom more than ton hundredweight arc ' applied in one dressing, and often n>>*. more than five hundredweight. The most effectual way is to apply the lime 'n the form of ground agricultural liim-. This Is limestone burned in a "kiln, then ground to a very fine powder, which is filled into sacks, making it much easier to handle than the old form of applying slaked life. As already mentioned, ground lime U generally applied at the rate of from five to ten hundredweight per acre. Its apidiration to sour, wet. or elay soils will show wonderful results; while on the other hand, if applied to a dry. nowdcrv soil no great benefits may accrue from its application. It should also lie kept in m ; nd that onlv a very email quantity of lime is required for the immediate use of any plant. Large areas of country are composed largely of limestone and wide ranges of soils are largely calcareous, that is, containing chalk or lime. It is a well-known fact that in seve-.tl cpunties ip Knsland the effect* of chalk on soils will he seen for many years after it has once been chalked. In the wheat-growing experiments at Woburn Experimental Farm, in Bedfordshire. England, where vhcot has been grown nn the same soil for over twenty years,

ten years B go part of the unmamired plot "got a liberal dressing of lime. The limed part of the plot is growing light crops and not decreasing, while on the balance of the same plot "" "in is a

complete failure. When applied to grass „ land lime favors the growth of Ie luminous plants) has a powerful effect in '■> , J renovating the sward, and also helps io ,„' decompose decaying matter. It is gij 'claimed that the poor soils in West- «.' morelnnd, in the North of Enelnml have lT> 'Jboen largely improved b\ the appli 1 llii'tf o ' 1 °' ' lme to *''* ***** ,! ""' H *' j§ig<yjL his booffc on the Kothamstead expoii"i draping of lime is with.

most soils in erdcr to neutralise the acidity produced by decaying vegetuliou, and also to enable the oilier manures to exercise their full effect." The main difficulty in applying lime in t'i's country is the cost of freight and handling and the difficulty of applying it in windy weather. The Government ul.viute the cost.of freight considerably bv the free carriage by rail of agricultural lime for 100 miles. The cost of application can also be considerably reduced by applying the lime to the soil with a distributor. Several of the force-feed broadcast sowing machines will distribute ground lime at the rate of about live hundredweight per acre. Later in this paper I will refer to the effects ot lime on the pasture experiments at JIoI niabaki.

HARROWING OF PASTURES. The custom of harrowing pasture lands is one which has received attention from almost time iinmcniorai; nevertheless, it is a custom that by no means gets the attention it deserves. in all grass pastures which have beco no overrun with moss and fog it will lie found advantageous to harrow them. On pasturcg which have been lamc.v grazed with cattle, they naturally camp on the drier and more sheltered situa- [ tions, and in time their droppings „ct accumulated in parts of the field. For breaking up cattle droppings, removing I moss and renovating the surface of olil ! pastures, I know of nothing better j than the grass o r tripod harrow, aiul j their use cannot be too strongly recomi mended on all pastures. j THE RE-SOWIXU OF PASTURES.

Very little re-sowing of pasture.-: u ' practised in open country without .. . ploughing up the surface, and on .1 main I am doubtful if it would be wist 1 : to attempt much re-sowing of pasture ! lands without ploughing. However, in ! some soils that have become mossy or ' fo ggy> the surface is well pulled about ' with grass harrows, then a light dress- ' ing of seed sown and the field again : harrowed, an inferior pasture might be largely improved. The question of seeds to be sown is hardly one which comes within the scope of this paper, and at almost all times it is a question that should be largely decided by the farmer hinisdf. The best nay to find out what grass is adapted for certain soils and situations is to let a small plot go to seed and you will at once see what good grasses and clovers are doing best in that particular soil, and it would be always wise to sow whatever good grasses you see that particular soil retains.' There is no doubt whatever that in the laying down of pastures there is altogether too much attention given to grasses that are not suitable for the soil and situation, for it is doubtless worse than useless to sow costly seeds on soils where they are to be of no permanent value. The selection of suitable seeds is often a difficult matter, and no mixture can be considered suitable for general application; therefore I will not attempt to put forward the claim of any particular one, for, after all, as I have said, the farmer should be the best

judge of what grasses will suit his own soil and situation. On good soils 'or permanent pastures there are only a few grasses that can be recommended. On soils where rye grass will hold there is no doubt wTiatever but it is one of the best grasses that can bs sown. On , the other hand there are large areas of grazing country in this Dominion where rye grass will not hold, a»d on these . soils it is only a waste of money to sow large quantities of this seed, -where , there is no possible hope of it succeeding. In the sowing down of any pasture it is advisable to sow a mixture of seeds, and that mixture should tie largely composed of the best grasses that will hold on that particular soil. In this country, where our live stock depend , almost entirely on pastures, it is always advisable to Try to include grasses that will grow at almost all seasons of the year. Rye grass comes , away very early in the spring, grows very little in midsummer, but shoots ' away again in the fall. Cocksfoot does not come so early in the spring, but , grows better in midsummer, especially . if the season is a dry one. Meadoiv , fescue is also a better summer pasture : thin rye-grass, but will not come away ,*.-■, i>. iy in flie spring of the yea'. '. l'o:-ks;.iot. doubtless, is one of thebest j gra.-re- tor a permanent pasture in -bis \ part d~ the Dominion. It is a grass of L high feeding value when kept in order. , and thrives on almost all our best so'is| , hut grows rougli and coarse on some , good soils. For pasture.-! that are to be , mowed it is not suitable, as the hay . is rather coarse and rough. On stiff . clay soils inclined to be damp time i,. [ will be found to be a superior grasr ',l l this purpose, although it canuc

eiaiined to be very suitable for soijt • . loose, powdery nature. Meadow K... tail is also good grass on heavy clay soils, but has iittle to commend" it on the lighter class of soils. Dogstail holds well on almost all soils, but it makes no great amount o,f herbags, and runs fast to seed, while no sto'.it seem to care much for its seed stalk. Chewing's fescue is a grass which deserves more attention on the lighter class of soils than it gets. It is a splendid sheep feed, makes a very cloie

s.vard, which helps to keep down Yoikshire fog and other undesirable, grasjts. For catch crops and for pastures that are not to be in grass for any length of time Italian rye will be found to be one of the best grasses that can be chosen for this purpose, but with few exceptions there is no permanency about it. A small quantity of Italian rye is also very useful in a mixture, it comes away very early, helps to shelter the tender graiscs ;u«l cjovcrs, and makes a fresh bite for young stock before any of the other grasses are fit for feeding. However, ae I have said, the main aim shoald be to select seeds to suit the soil, requirements and situation, while it is more the intention of this paper to deal with the improvement of pastures already in existence than to discuss the making of new ones.

With regard to perennial rye, it should be kept in mind that this grass is such grower that it often exhausts itself during the first two Feasons of its growth. This is largely the cause of its not lasting on light soils, and the application of some artificial fertiliser would help to retain its vigf-r, and also its length of life. JIAXURIXG OF PASTURES.

I will now deal with the manuring of pastures, and in doing so will confine myself largely to the application of artificial manures. The main elements of manures are humus, phosphates, nitrates and petash. Humus can be added to the soil in many ways, such as the ploughing under 'of stubble, straw, weeds, green oats, lurley, wheat or rape. However, it is generally considered that "lie or other of the leguminous crops, siu-b as peas, beans, vetches, serade'la, or any of the clovers, arc better adapted for green manuring. Besides adding humus to the soil they extract nitrogen from the atmosphere and enrich the soil by so doing. The application of farmjard manure adds largely to the humus of the soil, also the carting out u-f straw and consuming it with cattle on the pastures. Unfortunately farmyard manure in this country is a very scarce commodity and one that can only be procured in very small quantities. On this account there i- no doubt whatever but in the near fulure we will have to adopt so.uc | method of green manuring, such as 1 have mentioned, to add humus to the -soil ami take the place of farmyard manure. It is much the same thing to suppose that a man will do hard manual labor and be fed with concentrated 'oods, as to suppose that a soil will go J on from year to year growing crops] without a bulk manure in some form. ■

liefore advocating the ploughingin of green crops it would be wise to adopt some form of rotation of crips, but as this can h.irdlv be said to come within the compass of this paper I need not touch further on it in the meantime.

With regard to artificial manures, phosphates, at least in this Dominion, are by far the most important. Phosphates can be supplied in several forms, but is generally applied in the form of superphosphate, Wisic slag, guano, or bonedust.

Superphosphate supplies phosphate cf lime in the most soluble form that i>. can be obtained, and is what is generally termed as water-soluble phosphate. When phosphoric acid is applied to the soil in this form, the first rainfall 01 moisture in the soil dissolves the soluble phosphoric acid, when it is hmn.'diately available to the roots of rhe plants. The bulk of the superphosphate used is a mineral phosphate and con'

tains, generally speaking, about 35 per cent phosphate of dime. For nearly '.ll j light soils which are not deficient in I lime superphosphate will invariably be found to be one of the best means of applying phosphates; while on stiff clay or peaty soils that are what is termed "sour,'' and not entirely void of vegetable matter, basic slag will be found preferable. Basic stag contains from 30 to 40 per cent, phosphate of lime, but it is not in what is termed a watersoluble form; consequently it is advisable to apply slag in the winter or very early in the spring. This allocs the winter rains to wash it down into the soil., where it gets dissolved and is available for the roots of the plants. All authorities maintain that basic slag is only suitable for soils of the above nature, aud it is a mistake to suppose, as several people do, that slag can be profitably applied to all soils". Slag should not be mixed with superphosphate or sulphate of ammonia unless it is applied to the soil immediately after it is mixed; neither should it be mixed with manure of any description. Bonedust may be applied to almost any soil. Speaking generally, it is considered most suitable for a poor liung-y soil. Orcen or steamer bonedust are much slower in their action than superphosphate or dissolved bones, and, like basic slan. should be applied some time previous to sowing the crop. (luano, dissolved bones, or superphosphate are best applied in the sprin<* when sowing the crop. As will be seen from the plot manured with guano .: Alomahaki, it has not proved a suitaole manure for the top-dressing of pastuics in this experiment. Nitrates.—Artificial nitrates are generally applied to the soil in the form of .■:: :;ite of soda, sulphate of ammonia, or dried blood. The former should only be used in very small quantities and it is generally found preferable to apply it on good land, rich in humus, and to a growing crop. Sulpliate of ammonia acts much slower and should be applied earlier in the season and only in very small quantities. It will be noted in our fertiliser experiments that the addition of sulphate of ammonia to superphosphate gave an increase in gain for the first season, but a slightly declined increase afterwards.

■Potash.— There are three generally recognised forms of applying potash to the soil. These are by sulphate, muriate of potash and kainit. When applying potash to a root crop such as mangolds or potatoes, sulphate or muriate is generally applied, while for grass land kainit is generally applied, that is if it can bo applied during the winter. I Kainit contains generally about 12 per cent, of <■ 'ash and from 25 per cent to 30 pp. Ml. of salt:, which is effectual in correcting the acidity of the soil. Potash also plays an important part in the ripening of maturing of root crops, such as mangolds, carrots and sugar beets. It will be noted that the small application of potash on plot No. 8 gave an increase in weight on the sheep. While its benefits might be directly beneficial, indirectly it might have a considerable influence on the value of several crops. MANURING OF PASTURES. ■

In this country, as you arc all aware, the agricultural pursuits are largely of a pastoral nature, so mueh so that on this coast we admost entirely depend tq, the grazing of stock. Therefore any experiments for the improvement of pasture land must naturally be held in hi"h esteem, for, after all, there is no doubt whatever bat the cheapest food for stock is grass. The benefits to be derived from the manuring of pastures may be said to be more indirect than otherwise. ' [n the first instance, the manures stimulate the growth of the pastures, m/>::o especially the finer grasses and clovers. This not only produces a larger amount of food for stock, hut it also helps lo make a close sward which eventually displaces the coarser and infcr\i'r grasses. That the pasture of any field tan be largely changed by the application of manure and judicious treatment is now a well-established fact. It is now over forty years since the late Sir John 13. Lawes commenced his great experimental. work at Rotham-

stead. Amongst the other valuable work which was instituted is an cxp-ii-ment with manures on pasture lands. The records on this particular experiment extend to over fifty-years, close 011 five times longer than any available records of nny other experiments of the same nature. The plots have been cut fo r hay continuously for the time mentioned. The average crop for 47 years from the uninanured plot was 21.9 cwt. of hay per acre. From the plot manured with mineral superphosphate plus i■'». rate of soda for the same period 61.7 ■-.. In the former plot weeds form 2C '■•'■ cent, of the herbage, while in the

.alter plot J per cent., while on the b-i k of *'.-■ manured plots the herbage was eou;;...li'iv changed from Us original nalure, and from what is to lie seen on the ; iiMiiamral plot. It i- ji'ten claimed that the grazing oj s.uck takes su littlu out of the soil that it is not necessary to put anything back into it. Ihis is a mistaken idea, and one which i« very misleading. I have just shown you that by the application of phosphates and nitrogen at Rothamstcad the average crop of hay for 47 years was three tons, while on the umnaiiured plot for the same period the average was one ton; also that there was 4 per cent, of weeds in the one crop and 20 per cent, in the other. Later on this evening I will sliow you the increase in live weight from the unmnnured I>H&lure plot at Momohaki, and also the increase fiom several plots manured with phosphate and other manures; ami you will at once see that there is something in the manuring of even pasture lands.

As I have said, phosphoric acid, nitro. gan and potash from the three mam elements in any fertiliser. The former of these is by far th& most important. In fact, the application of phosphatic manure on many soils that will give next to no crop without manure, .iroduces very fair yields of both cereals, roots and grasses. Lawes and Gilbert give the amount of phosphoric acid removed from the soil by various crops to be as follows:

Phosphoric acid. 30 Bushels wheat removes .. 14.2 lbs. 40 Bushels barley .. .. 10.0 lbs. 41 Bushels oats .., ~ 13.0 lbs. 14 tons swede turnips .. IB.D Its, 6 tons potatoes .. .. 21.5 lbs. 1 sheep of lodlb live weight 4.7 lb?.

Thus allowing three sheep to graze I an acre, they would remove k.l lb phosphoric acid, or practically the same amount as a 30 bushel crop of wheat. If course, on the one hand the wheat puts little or nothing back to the soil 111 the way of phosphates, while the sheep grazing on the pastures returns a certain amount of both phosphate and nitrogen to the soil. As phospliunc acid seems to be the dominant ingredient wanted on our soils in this domiuiwi, 1 have dealt largely with this commodity, i will next refer to the experiments we have been conducting at Moumahaki on pasture land. In speaking of the principles of experimental work, the main point is to try to get beyond the doubtful stage and deal only with facts'. In saying this, I have no doubt whatever that fanners cannot devote the time, thought and attention which it is necessary to give to experiments of this nature, essential to tho attainments of just conclusion. Therefore I am taking this opportunity of laying before yoji the mature of the. experiments referred to a«d the results obtained from them. 1 will in a few words try to explain the method of conducting the experiments', which is doubtless one of the strongest points in connection with the work. The plots have been fenced off. The manures have been applied. From time to time stock has been weighed and put on to consume the pastures. A single season or a single experiment is worth very little, so many things may interfore witli it and lepd to wrong conclusions. For the same reason a single year is insufficient, while in this particular instance we already have records from three summer seasons) grazing and one winter season, and the results 1 am to refer to are up to the 24th April last. While, no doubt, farmers present will find something to interest them m the records and remarks 1 am referring to, there is no doubt whatever but an inspection of the experiments' in progress is the best method of appreciating the nature of the undertaking, and will be best understood by a visit to the farm. The experiment is on the same lines, but a modification of the original pub designed by. Dr. Sommcrvillc at Cockle Park, Xorth-

uniberland, where the effects of the manures were gauged by the gains hi weight of sheep fed on the various plots. You will see that I am making no claim a* to tlie origin of the experiment, but I think I can safely say that it is the first on record of the same nature in tlie southern hemisphere. The previous history of the Moumahaki Held is as follows:

The Department took possession in 181)3. The field was in grass' mid had been grazed for some time previously. It was ploughed and put iu oats the following year. These were harvested in the usual maimer. Jt •was men put in turnips, which were fed oil during the following winter, and in the spring of laou it was again sown down in grass. The field was then grazed until I'JOO, when it was sown in oats. In the spring of the following year it was put in turnips. These were fed oil' on the ground during the winter of 1002. In the early spring it was sown in barley and was harvested in the autumn. It was then sown down with the following mixture per acre:— Perennial live, IS lb; Italian Rye, 7 lb; Cocksfoot, 2 lb; Timothy, 2 lb; Chewings Feseue, 2 lb; Meadow Foxtail, 2 lb; Crested Dogstail, '/, lb; Cow Grass', 2'/, lb; Red Clovrr, V/, lb; White Clover, 1 lb. One and a half cwt. per acre of Kcmptnume, Vrosser anil C'o.'s grass manure was applied at the time of sowing the seed. The field was then grazed until tlliii 12th September, 15)00, when it was fenced oil' into 10 plots ui iy. ; acres cacli. The manures were applied in the form of a top-dressing on the 12th and 13th September. The ground was' then well harrowed with a heavy tripod havvow. During the first two seasons of the experiment the gains in weight of the sheep feeding on tile plots were only recorded during the summer season; but for the third period the gains were recorded for the whole year. The first grazing period commenced on the 12th November, MOfi, and finished on the 12th April, 1907. The second period commenced on the Bth November, 1007, and finished on the 15th April, 1008.' The third or last period wc have "ist recorded commenced On the 24Lh A"r:l, 1008, and finished on the same date of 1900. The records' for the last period are thus for twelve months, the plots having been grazed for 321 days out of 305. During the balance of the time, 44 days, the stock was removed from the plots to allow them to clean and freshen.

I would like here to contradict an | idea which I know exist amongst a good many farmers who have "been in the habit of visiting Moumahaki, that is, since the inauguration of this experiment. That is. that owing to the constitution of individual sheep Some will always do better than others, and that where the best thriving sheep are glazing the largest gains-will be made. This, to a certain extent, is no doubt true, but this influence cannot affect the result but to a very limited extent. Five sheep is the smallest number that has been grazed on one plot at Me time, and tliirtecn is the largest. The sheep are weighed every four or five weeks, and any sheep not doing are taken out. I'ne line of sheep are not kept on for more than four or r "e months at the most. Therefore, with three changes of

sheep in twelve months, and their weights checked every four or five weeks, there can he no chance of any great irregularities existing in the gains; any inequalities that would occur in the gains 011 individual sheep would largely eorrect themselves. I may also say that the gains made by individual sheep from month'to month vary considerably, but when the gains are taken for sever-

al months the variations do not as a rule amount to much. There is no system of gauging the effects of manures infallible, and it cannot be expected that this one is absolutely perfect, nevertheless' it is generally admitted that it is one of the best systems that has yet been tried, and when we have one plot dealing with from eighteen to twentyfour sheep in one season the discrepancies on good and bad thriving sheep are largely equalised. Apart from the gains made by the sheep feeding on the plots, a small area of each plot has been s'imt up during the summer season to enable the amount of green fodder to be arrived at. These sub-plots were cut and the cuttings weighed green, and the figures I am to give you show the average amount of green' fodder from each plot for the three seasons.

In arriving at the cash value gain from each plot, two-thirds of the live weight gains of the sheep has been reckoned ns wool and mutton, and this' increase has been estimated at 3d per )\i. In the feeding of animals it is customary to allow from 80 to 82 per cent, of the live weight increases on the animals to he meat, and the balance offal. However, in this experiment, as the intention is hardly to fatten the sheep, it will be nearer the mark to reckon two-thirds of the live-weight increase to be wool and mutton.

I will now give you the manorial treatment and the livo weight increases from each plot, and the estimated yield of green fodder per acre from each plot for the three s'easons:

l'lot No. I.—Dres.-vd September, l!K)ll, with 24 cwt. ground lime, ill a cost of £1 13s per acre. This Hindu a gan in woo] and mutton for the three seasons of 1,240 lbs, an increase over the immamircd plot of 147 lbs at a cost of 3.30(1 per 11> of gain, and showing a loss of 13s sd' per acre, by manuring. Tlie average 'number of sheep carried for the three seasons was 7.14. The mean yield of green fodder per acre was (i tons 1 cwt. 3 (]rs. 7 Hi. l'lot No. 2.—This plot was uninamired throughout the whole period. Tile gain in'wool and mutton for the three seasons was 1003 His. The average number of sheen carried for the three seasons was (i.«2, and tko mean yield of green fodder per acre .") tons 8 cwt. 1 (jr. 11 lb. l'lot No. 3.—Dressed with Maiden Island guano, lewt. 2qr. 21b, at a cost of 8s 7d per acre. This plot made a gain in wool and mutton for the three seasons of 1,222 lbs, an increase over the unmamired plot of 120 lbs, at a cost of Id per lb of gain, and showing a gain of 8s 7d per acre by manuring. The average number of sheep carried per 'plot for the throe seasons was 0.88. The menu yield of green fodder per acre, was ti tons 13 cwt. 2 qr. 1 lb. Plot No. 4 Dressed with basic slag, 2c\vt. 2nr. Kill), at a i-«.,L o.' lis «d per acre. This plot made a gain in wool and mutton for the three seasons of 13113 lbs, an increase of 30(1 lbs over the unmannreil plot, at a cost of 0.58(1 per lh of gain, and showing a gain of 28s 3d per acre by manuring. The average number of sheep carried for the t'nvee seasons was 7.71. The mean yield of green fodder per acre was 7 tons' 2 cwt. 2 qr. 7 lb. l'lot No. 5 Dressed with basic ;iag, sc\vt. Iqr. 41b, at a cost of 23s lid per acre. The gain in wool and mutton lor the three seasons was 140(1 lbs, an increase over tlie uiiinaiiureil plot of 313 lb at a cost of 1.2 d per lb of gain, and showing a, gain of 18s 2d per acre by manuring. The average number or aiieep carried for the three seasons' was 7.02, and the mean yield of green fodder per acre 7 tons 17 cwt. 3 qr. l'lot No. u.-Drcssed with superphosphate, 3c\vt., at a cost of 1.i.-, per acre. This plot made a gain in wool and mutton for the three seasons of 1,457 lb, an increase over the iininamired plot of 304 lb, at a cost of O.lild ,pcr Hi of gain, and showing a gain of 3'is Oil per acre by manuring. The average number of sheep carried for the three seasons was 7.01). The mean yield of green fodder per acre was 7 tons 14 cwt. 2 qr. 14 lb.

Plot No. 7.—Dressed with superphos- [ [jliati; 3 cwt. and sulphate of aminonia I ]i|r.. at a cost of 10s 2d pec acre. This plot made a, gain in wool and mutton for the three seasons of 1330 lb, an increase over the unmanured plot of 243 lb, at a cost of I.lßd per lb of gain, and showing a gain of 13s 2d per acre by manuring. The average number ')' sheep carried for the three seasons was 8.10, and the mean yield of greed fodder per acre 8 tons 15 cwt. 0 qr. 25 lb. Plot Xo. B.—Dressed with superp'.iospliate 3cwt. and sulphate of potash lqr., at a cost of Ills per acre. This plot made a gain in wool and mutton for the three seasons of 1528 lb, an increase over tlie uninanured plot of 435 lb, at a cost of O.liad per lb of gain, and showing a gain of 3!)s per acre by ing. The average number of slieep carried per |ildt for the three seasons was 8.07. The mean yield of green fodder per acre was 8 tons 13 cwt. 1 qr. 13 lb, j

Plot No. '.(.--Dressed with steamed ■boncdust, lewt. 3tjr. lUlb, at u. cost of 14s Id per acre. This plot made a gain in wool and mutton for the three, seasons of 1235 lb, an increase over th miimuvured plot of 142 lb, at a cost of 1.48 d per lb of gain, and showing a gain of 4s lOd per aero by manuring. The average number of sheep carried pel-

plot for the three seasons' was 7.7!). The mean vield of green fodder per acre was 7 tons' 10 cwt. 3 qr. 14 lb. Plot No. 10--Dressed with superphos-

phate 3 cwt. and tlcssiealed blood 2 qr., at a cost of 18s 3d per acre. This plot made a gain in wool and mutton for the three seasons of 1350 lb, an increajsil over the nnmanurrd plot of 257 lb, at a cost of l.Ob'd per lb of gain, and showing a gain of 10s' per acre by manuring. The average number of slieep carried per plot for the three seasons was 7.01, and the mean yield of green fodder per awe 8 to»a 8 cwt. 3 qr, 7 lb.

Note—The gains by manuring are worked out at two-thirds of the liveweight increase, that is taking the unmauured plot as a minimum; two-thirds of the gain over this amount is considered wool and mutton; the value of fchia gain, is calculated at 3d per lb, less coat of manure. Suppose we take plot No. 8, which made a gain of 435 lb over the unmanmed plot: Two-thirds of 435 lb is 280 111. and this at M \W &> \* .a 12s (id from the total plot, which is ."> roods; 4 roods or 1 acre would thus be £2 18s, less cost of manure IDs, I leaving a net gain of 38s per acre.

QUESTION'S. In reply to Mr. S. W. Shaw, Mr. Gil-1 landers said that in a wei climate such 1 as' North Taranaki, where the rainfall I was heavier than at Moumahaki, he was j inclined to favor basic slag us the most, suitable manure for top-dressing. Mr. Gillanders informed another questioner that Mr. 11. C. Aston, the Govern-1 ment agricultural chemist,, would analyse samples of soils submitted. To Mr. S. J. Smith: 111 narrowing old pastures he would recommend harrowin" after distributing the manure. I To Mr. K. Webster; In wet climates . the soils took more manures than in ' dry climates, for the rains washed some of'it out. When quantities of manure were unduly raised the greater results were gaincil at too great expense. He preferred dissolved bone-dust to cither steamed or green bone. Uoiieiliisl of the bitter classes fostered long necks in turnips. He would not recommend using large quantities of lime for top-dressing. Mr. (inlanders 11 U> explained that the basic slag experiments were being conducted with 11 view of ascertaining now the results of small dressings annually would compare with one heavy dressing, ille was inclined to think that *ad the land been used for grazing dairy cattle the comparative results would have been still more -noticeable. The product in that case would be milk, I whose weight and value was regularly 1 and easily obtained.

Mr. S. W. Shaw moved a very hearty I vote of thanks to Mr. Gillanders for giving his very instructive and very interesting paper. Whilst he did not think that we could obtain the same results here as had been , secured at Moumahaki, the figures of Mr. Gillanders' experiments were most conclusive evidence of the value of manuring. Mr. H. J. Gilbert seconded, and expressed the opinion that every farmer would do well to conduct experiments in manures for his own soil.

Mr. Bromley, a visitor to the district, emphasised the value of farmers' experiments on a small scale, hut deprecated any extensive experimenting. Mr. Amlniry explained to those not acquainted with the recent work of th" Society that twelve samples' of soils from various parts of North Taranaki had been analysed at its instanc, and the secretary had the results printed for the information of inquirers. He complimented Mr. Gillanders on the eminently practical and useful nature of his address. Whilst the soils were not the same locally as' at Moumahaki, the farmers could safely use the experiments there as the basis' of manuring operations here. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation.

Mr. Gillanders, in acknowledging the compliment, pointed out that a farmer might easily have his hay paddock subdivided into equal-sized plots and tried with different manures. In every case aplot should be left uninanured, so that the results could be compared, lie pro-

posed a vote of thanks to the chairman, and this being carried, the meeting terminated.

The summary of the lessons to be derived from the Moumahaki experiments alluded to by Mr. Gillanders will be published to-morrow.