FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 69, 11 August 1914, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

BASIC' SLAG AND LAMB BREEDING. ! A correspondent, writing to the North i British Agriculturist, says:—For s-oine j time back I lhave been wondering if any i lamb breeds, who have been in the habit! of dressing their grazing pastures wi-ti basic slag, have noticed any increase in their crops of lambs. For several years past I have used basic slag very extensively on my farm, and although: 1 have no; kept any record. I fancy that lately there has been more double and treble lambs than there were prior to the application of the slag.. I would like to know if any of vour slieep breeding readers have observed anything of the kind The veterinary editor of the paper writes in reply:—"Referring to this very interesting query, we may state that ai- ' though we are not in the sheep-breed-ing line, we are daily in touch witili farmers Who are extensive users of basic j slag; in fact-, it is well known to us that [ basic slag in this locality is fast superseding superphosphate of lime for gen- | iral agricultural purposes, and for crops ' of every description.Witlh reference to the query, we may add that for three or four years back we lhave heard some of out sheep-breeding clients remark that they were having a great many more double and treble lambs than tlhey used to have formerly, and it is wel! known to us that these men are large iter's of basic slag for general cropping. Seeing that basic slag is rich in phosphates and lime, and that these two agents enter largely in the formation of bone, brain, wool, hoof and horn, it, is just possible that the application of 'basic slag lo the land mav, in turn, lhave some peculiar action on the fecundity of the offspring."