INTENSIVE FARMING IN TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 314, 14 June 1915, Page 6

INTENSIVE FARMING IN TARANAKI.

LECTURE BY MR. McTAGGART. That tlie Taranaki farmer is every year taking more and more interest in the farming of his land on scientific principles was evidenced by the large' gathering that assembled, despite the unfavorable weather, at the Town Hall, New Plymouth, on Saturday to hear a paper read by Mr. McTaggart, agriculturist to the Agricultural Department, on "Intensive Farming in Taranaki." The lecture was arranged under the auspices of the Taranaki A. and P. Soj ciety, and, in introducing the speaker, Mr. J. iS. Connett (president) referred to the efforts that the Society had made to advance farming interests, notably by the introduction o'f the acreage competitions. He instanced the demonstra-1 tion plots at the Winter Show, wliicli showed an actual portion of some of the paddocks of swedes and mangolds as grown. At the present time, when land was very dear, it was necessary that every farmer should get the most out of it possible. This could only be done by more cropping. Mr. McTaggart then read his paper, which was as fol-

lows:— "H there is one consolation that will arise irom this great struggle in which • the Empire is engaged it will be that of the war giving an impetus to the | development of the resources of the : land. [Production from the soil will be the theme of our statesmen and our writers more than it has been in the pasC Dame Necessity will tiring those of us who own or occupy land to a sense cf our responsibility. FARMING ON AREA. The 'rich province of Taranaki has hitherto been largely farmed on area, the soil in many parts being seldom, if ever, broken up, and,hence it is not producing as it should be producing. There are, I understand, lands in Taranaki that have never been broken up for twenty-five years, and, indeed, land that has "never "been broken up at all. /How much more could such soil produce . by periodic laying down with good Eng-1 lish grasses, and the practice of diversified farming on a modified scale! How i much more would the mineral wealth I (phosphorus and potash) of the soil be conserved and rendered fully effective by a judicious system of more intensive Jfarnjmg! In "many parts the productiveness of the province and tic prosperity of the individual farmer being retarded by inferior pasture and lack of proper cultural treatment; —the latter to give the soil body or retentiveness; to encourage bacteria', activ-. ity; and to utilise the reserves of plant food by a diversity of crops, each varying in its feeding habits; to conserve and accumulate certain mineral constituents that .are being depleted by continuous grazing and the fostering of one form of vegetation encouraged by nitrogen to the detriment of other forms encouraged by phosphates and potash, in which substances the -manure from dairy cattle is particularly low. THE NECESSARY FACTORS. Tlte factors embraced in a system of intensive cultivation for Taranaki are bound up in the treatment of the soil from the physical and chemical standpoints, as follows:—Treating the soil

horn tlie physical standpoint first, the I correct order; drainage. T&is is the | first requisite in the improvement •of j any soil. Land that is insufficiently | drained will not make proper use of lime or fertilisers. In fact, their use thefe>J on is largely a waste of money and time. As most Taranaki soils are porous, and are therefore naturally drained, I shall not go deeply into this sub. ject. But where drainage is required the first principle to observe is to secure sufficient outlet for the water, then construct your main drain in the lowest part of the fields or farm and i conduct into this laterals at various points on the herringbone principle. ' Where tiles (pipes) are used, use a large tile for the main drain, (1 to 12 incites ] in diameter, depending upon the grade, ■' and lead into this .'Sin or -Jin tiles, and . in the case of sub-laterals a 3in into a I •lin. The next best to tile is perhaps j good vigorous growth of manuka cut j when the sap is down. This should last in the soil for at least a dozen years. In the ell'ective draining of a ilat or depression it is first necessary to cut the seepage by a deep ditch at base of hill.

LIMING.

The next step in the treatment of soils is that of liming—to correct acidity, in which our soils are well supplied, to encourage the production of available plant food in the form of nitrates by 'bacteria, to liberate potash and phosphates and thereby encourage the finer grassi-s and clovers, to warm tTie soil, to prevent the loss of phosphoric acid, to improve the ease of working the soil, to utilise the reserves of past manuring and of incorporated organic matter by promoting increased crop growth, etc. For most Taranaki soils of the light order the carbonate (finelyground limestone) is the form to use. Apply at the rate of at least one ton per acre. There is no danger of using too much of this form. For heavier soils or those containing an abundance of humus burnt lime could be used ait the rate of one-half to one ton per acre. On soils deficient in humus care has to be exercised with its use, as it attacks the humus if used in anything but small quantities and exhaustiftn results. Al! Taranaki soils, while they could be improved I)}' lime, are not urgently in need of lime. The clays, clay loams, drained swamp soils, and cold, sour soils generally, also soils upon which superphosphate has been continuously used are in special need of lime. Sorrel, spurrcy or van- and clubfoot are plants and organisms indicating much acidity, hence the need for much lime.

The next factor in the improvement of a soil is to attend to the humus content; and here is a factor that should be made the most of on the porous nonretentive soils of Ta'ranaki. Humus will give body to such soils, enabling them to retain moisture, supplying them with a reserve of nitrogen, enabling them to matce greater use of the fertilisers applied, increasing the availability or solubility of cheap slowly-soluble phosphates, such as finely-ground rock phosphate, and ameliorating refractory clay soils and consolidating loose soils. Your light porous soils can be "built'' or made retentive by a system of constructive agriculture which improves the land, yet at the same time does not interfere with production therefrom. Leguminous, or pod-bearing, crops, such as clovers, vetches, peas, beans, serradella and lupins are of course, most to be desired for green-manuring, on account of the power legumes have of extracting th« nitrogen from the soil air by means of the hacteria associated with their roots. Quick-growing non-legumes, such as white mustard, rape, ryecorn, Cape barley and oats are of value for this purpose, but not to the. same extent as legumes. SUPPLYING HUMUS.

A commendable method of supplying humus to the soil is to prow one of the above-mentioned Crops, legume in preference, on a comparatively small area ... ..«. M .i. year for this purpose.

crably improved in body. At Moumahaki tlie effect on subsequent crops ol ploughing under a legume, such as vetches, was most marked, and so it will be in any part of Taranaki.

Another commendable economical method is to make use of stubblo land for "catch" cropping. 'By merely discing the stubble, scattering .broadcast the seed and harrowing in, useful quickgrowing crops can be utilised for improving the land and rendering it in a fit physical condition to make full use of subsequent applications of phosphates. White mustard, crimson clover or rape are of special value for "catch" cropping on stubble lands. Lands that had just ■ previously grown maize, potatoes, manI golds or swedes could be utilised for the I growth —in spring, summer or winter—of green feed mixtures which could be cut or fed off to great advantage to your stock, and the subsequent growth of ryecorn or Cape barley turned under as green manure. Should the first growth of such crops be notJ required for teed they could be turned under to great benefit of 'the soil. When turning under green crops do it when the weather is slightly moist, | for if turned under during a dry spell, the decaying vegetation tends jo dry out the soil. A heavy chain attached | to tlie beami of the plough will draw under all green material. Green-manur-ing is specially wanted to give body to I Taranaki soils, especially those of the j lighter order. This practice, therefore, t should become a constant factor in the j svstem of farming on most farms in ; the province. With systematic green- ', manuring there will be less need for ex- , pensive, fertilisers, especially those of the j nitrogenous order —nitrate of soda, sulr pha-tc of ammonia, blood manures, nitrori lira, etc. CULTIVATION.

Cultivation, the next important factor ; in the improvement of a soil, is one that Taranaki is specially in need of. As pointed out previously, how much more could be produced from your farms were cultivation adopted to a greater extent and used in connection with a suitable rotation of crops. Cultivation properly handled promotes the formation of nitrates by aerating and wanning the soil, thereby encouraging the activity of the soil bacteria. It destroys weeds, and this is of first importance to Taranaki.

More universal and systematic cultivation will reduce the weed pest considerably, and clear the way for crops of economic value, as, for instance, that greatest of all forage plants, lucerne. Cultivation also conserves moisture in a dry period or season, by creating a mulch on the surface of the ground, thereby preventing evaporation. Rolling light land after thoroughly working it up and dust mulching "subsequently with light tripod, chain, or brush harrows greatly conserves moisture and directs it to a point where it is most required —to the roots of the young plant. Cultivation also distributes and renders fully effective fertilisers. It also enlarges the root system, hence feeding power of the plant. It ameliorates or improves the texture and ease of working of the soil, and so conserves energy. Thorough cultivation promotes that important factor, a fine seed'bed. The finer the seed, the finer the l)ed.

FROM THE CHEMICAL STANDPOINT.

Having thus treated the soil first from the physical standpoint, and this is as it should be, one is in a position to treat it from the chemical standpoint, and can rest assured that one is getting the fullest results from such chemical treatment. This opens up the question of the science of manuring. It is largely a study of soil fertility, and also of the habit of growth of plants. Time will not permit me to go into this deep and important subject on this occasion; suffice it for me to but touch upon certain points. I would say know your soil and the habit of growth of the crop being manured; know whether your soil contains sufficient lime or not, whether it is retentive or non-retentive, whether it contains sufficient humus or docs not, whether it is heavy or light, and so is supplied with potash, or Inclined to lack in that respect; whether it lacks phosphorus, and why so; Mo also with a crop—-know whether it is naturally deep-rooting or not, what are the most abundant elements' of which it is composed and what substances are used most to produce these. Knowing these factors, also something of the climate and rainfall, one can then intelligently treat the soil from the chemical standpoint. Manures can then be J used best suited to the soil, the crop and I the climate. (Briefly, the following arc the classes of manures required for different crops:— Legumes (lucerne, clover, vetches, I peas, beans, etc.): Phosphates and pot- ; ash manures, suited to the soil and ! climate. I Cereals: Oats, manures in which no constituent predominates, but if any I nitrogen—blood and hones; barley, phos- ! phatcs—sulphate of ammonia, where nij trogen is necessary; wheat —phosphates and nitrogen where necessary, Swedes: Phosphates, suited to the soil . and climate and a little nitrogen if soil I be not well supplied with the. latter. I Turnips: Beadilv available phosphates. I On light soils, a little potash is of value I in addition.

Rape: Phosphates and nitrogen, if the soil is not well supplied (rape is suited best to strong soils).

Mangolds: Potash, a. phospliate and a little readily available nitrogenous manure, suited to the soil.

Potatoes: In order of importance, potash, superphosphate, and a little fairly available nitrogenous fertiliser. Kale, cabbage etc.: A nitrogenous phosphate, such as blood and bone. Grass land: Lime, basic slag, or basic phosphate or basic superphosphate. If the soil is light, kainit in addition. iCi'ass for hay: A nitrogenous phosphate, such as blood and bona manure. The balance of the paper will be published to-morrow. At the conclusion of the address, which was listened to very attentively, the lecturer was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation.