VALUE OF MANURES.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1920, Page 8

VALUE OF MANURES.

. AN INSTRUCTIVE ADDRESSTESTS AT STRATFORD MODEL FARM. A Very valuable address, emtiodyinu the results of experiments in manuring, made at the Startford Model Dairy Farm during the past three years, was delivered by Jl'r. J. \Y. Eeera, Government suiferivisor of model farms in Taranaki, and chairman of the Stratford Model Dairy Farm and Etperimental Area Society, at the annual meeting on Saturday afternoon. In opening his remarks, Mr. Deem stated that manurial trials of different sorts hud been conducted during the past threo years, and some of the results were of considerable iaterest. In connection with the tests as to the growing of swedes during the three years H was found that basic super gave the best average of 38 tons 12 cwt., bone slag and Super being next with 38 tons 10 cwt. If tliey took the cost of the manure, they found that basle super ran out at B%d per ton of swedes against lid for the bone slag and basic super, or 2>,id per ton in favor of tlie basic super. Taking the last iwo years tliey found that bone slag and super gave the heaviest yield with 39 tons 18 cwt., against basic super, the neit best, with 37 tons 15 cwt,, and bone slag and basic super third with 37 tons 8 cwt. Ephos was tested in 1917-18, and, again this year, and gave an average of 37 tons at a cots of approximately per ton of roots. This manure was very valuable in the Stratford district, especially in a moist season like the last, when' ephos, and super and ephos, gave the heaviest weighing. Ephos alone was a good manure, but mixed with super at the rate of two to one it was very useful. As emphasising the necessity of liberal Manuring it should b& noted that for tlio three years under review the no-manure plot gave an annual yield of only tons per ncje against the best manure return of 38 tons 12 cwt., a reduction of 2!r tons 2 cwt per acre, and it must be recognised that the roots grown were very small and of poor feeding value. A further fact demonstrated by these tests was that the use of nitrogen was not beneficial to the swede crops at Strat ford. Mr, Deem illustrated his point with particulars of weights recorded. I'rom these instances it could bo seen that Superlative had given the best average weight viz., 44 tons 14cwt 7211i5; Best of All being second with 40 tons 10 cwt; and Magnum Bonum next with 3D tons 10 cwt. Although Superlative gave the heaviest weight It was one of the worst for dry-rot, and where this was prevalent, farmers would be well advised to sow a portion in Superlative for early feeding and the balance in a better keeper such as Magnum Bonum or Master. -During the past year 32 varieties of swedes werfe grown at tlie farm to test them for dry-rot purposes. They were again examined in August, when many,of the varieties showed almost the wliole crops affected. The outstanding varieties were Vilmoran's Early Purple Top White. Harton's Master and Acme, and Hurst and Sutton's Magnum Bonum. Jhe former was a new introduction, and in addition to being almost free from blight, it. was very n.uch relished by stock, being preferred before all the other varieties. This work would be further continued with a view to selecting the varieties most immune from blight.

SOFT TURNIPS. The testing of several varieties ot soft turnips had bean continued The tests showed that Early American J'urple Top, Lincolnshire Red Globe,. Red Paragon, Hardy and Imperial flreen Globe, and Purple Top Mammoth and Greystone were among the best. MANGOLDS. I Several new varieties of mangolds have been tested, but Prizewinner, White Sugar, Jersey Queen and Lone: lied were the best. The weights for the year were: Prizewinner, 45 tons 15 cwt; White Sugar 44 tons 8 cwt; Jersey Queen 43 tons 19 cwt; and Long Red 41 tons 9 cwt , while the average for the past three years was as follows: Prizewinner 4P tons; Long Red 45 tons 1 cwt; White Sugar (2 years) 42 tons 14 cwt; Jersey Queen, 39 tons 14 cwt per acre. In the test to determine the value of salt, the average for tie salted area for tiie three years was 43 tons 1 cwt. per acre, against 33 tons 17 cwt. for the unsalted, an increase in favor of salt of 9 tons 4 cwt per acre per year. TOP DRESSING. ' Field No ; 5 at the farm was top-dressed in August, 191 i, as follows: One-third basic super, o cwt. per acre; one-third Ephos, 4 cwt. ptr acre; nne-th'.i'd basic slag, 4 cwt. per acre. Right through the cattle had eaten it evenly, and to the eye there was no differE,i spring a portion of the field was closed up for hay, and the latter cut and neighed Before cutting, the pasture was examined and no noticeable difference could be observed, and this was confirmed by the weighings which were as follows: Basic super ai<w, y#3 tons per acre; basic sine, 600 tons; ophos, 6.04 tons. to*",™, 'dressed partly with slag and partly with ephos in August, 1917, tile horses continued to show a preference for the slag aiea over the ephos area. Weighings from this field gave 4.12 tons for the and 3.R2 foy the ephos area. In the bush paddock nine areas wore tondtessed on August 12th and 13th, 1919 with ( four tons to each plot, as follows: plot l .rnclc phosphate; plot 2, basic sine: plot 3' plot 4, two parts guano, 1 part super ■ plot Surprise Island gunno; plot 0, control, no manure; plot 7, one part carbonate 01 lime, one pan'rock phosphate; plot 8 one part burnt lime, 011 c part super; plot 9 basic super. ' At the present time, plots 8 and 9 were the best, with plot 2 close up; then came 3 and 4. while plots 1, 5 and 7 show little, If any improvement over the control plot No. 0. In addition to the improved pasture the effect of che manures was very marked on plots 8, 9 and s}, in Ihc earlier growth, thev ! celng quite green m July, while the other plots were shown. A visit to tho field should amply repay any farmer interested in DasCure improvements. ENSILAGE. oiing to the weather condii:ion» making It difficult to grow hay at Stratford, the committee decided to make ensilage this ykr. and tiie following special crops were sown on October 20 and cut on February loth, at which date the grain waa In the full stage, the peas podding, and tho tares In bloum Plot 1 : Bobs wheat 2 bushels, tares one bushel per acre; green weight when cut J3V. tons per acre. Plot 2: Algerian oats 2 bushels, partridge Tii J bu * 1 I)< ' r acre: sreen w « lsht whe » cut, 11 tons per acre. Plot JJ: Algerian oats 2 bushels, tares 1 bushel per acre; green weight lift tons per acre. Plot 4: Algerian oats 2 bushels, tares %- -"re per acre; weight !) tons per The area sown was 8% acres, and the approximate weight of material put into the silitgo stack was 95 tons . The ground (Measurement of the stack was 17ft by 18ft wliieli finally settled to 18ft bv 20ft by 7V, Tort, equalling 27U11 cubic feet The stack was opened on July 19, and produced good silage, giving an average weight of 441bs per cubic foot, which worked out at 53 tons for Hie stack, and allowing a ration of 30Ibs of ensilngo per cow per day, .this would feed 40 cows for 9(1 days. At tiie conclusion of his address, Mr. Deem answered n mimb?r of questions. Mr. H. Trimble moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr, Deem for his able address, ami this was carried by acclamation.