The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3045, 21 January 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 1892.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

In advocating the establishment of a model farm and agricultural training school in Waikato, where we have already a block of suitable* and partly-improved land set apart for the purpose, we have ever borne in mind the great advantages to bo obtained by the careful examination and analysis of the seeds, manures, &c, purchased and used by farmers in this part of the colony, advantages which, we believe, if fairly estimated, would more than counterbalance the whole cost of such an institution. It is from the soil that the colony's wealth springs, and it is practically impossible to say where the damage and loss caused by the sale and use of inferior seedu aud manures may end. This question underlies the snecees of the agriculturist, and through him of the whole community. As an instance of the necessity for closer and more frequent investigations into the character of the seeds and manures sold in the markets of the colony, wo have only to turn to the valuable work done at Lincoln College.Ganterbury. Samples of manures, seeds ond plants, from one end of New Zealand to the other, have been examined and reported upon and their results tabulated. How important it is to farmers, that they should be able to obtain analyses of manures is shown by the wide dif-; ferences in the value of some manures sold under the same designation and presumably at about the same price. Thus the intrinsic value of the samples of N"ew Zealand bonedust analysed, ranged from j>3 Is to £G 10s 9d per ton. Several J samples being adulterated with as much as 17, 21, and 26 per cent, respectively of valueless silica— san d.—The phosphate guanos are just as irregular, varying in value from £2 os 6d from one of the samples of Adelaide product to £6 4s 3d for a Maiden Island sample, while different samples of the same brand varied widely. Port Adelaide from £2 5s Gd to £3 4s 6d a .d Rowland Island from £4 17s to £6. Akaroa guano ha'l the widest range of all, from £1 11s 6d to £9 11s. That is to say, a buyer, sending an order for Akaroa guano, might be supplied with an almost valueless article, or one equal to tho bost Peruvian guano. Imported superphosphates vary in value from £4 7s lo£lo Is 6d per ton and it is stated that the selling price of the former and that of a sample which proved to be worth £8 per ton were about the same. New Zealand superphosphates varied from £3 12s 3d to £8 10s a wide enough difference in all conscience and some very inferior samples— stuff which should never have been offered as manure—wore valued as low as 13s per ton. Nitrogenous and special manures also ranged widely in values, more than the difference iu the selling price justified. Adulteration in many other manures are disclosed, and in the case of one preparation, the actual proportions were found to be very different to those advertised. Nearly two hundred samples of seeds were examined for puricy and identification and the result should afford a usoful lesson to the farmer. Of all the named samples that were examined, only thirty-live were found to be pure. What was called Alsike contained, in nearly every case, sorrel plan f ain, Californian thistle, and other objectionable mixtures. Clover contained sorrel, plantain chickweed, and various other inferior grasses and weeds. Cocksfoot contained fog, goose-grass, tfca, the impurities varying from very slight up to 16 per cent. Ryegrass contained up to 13 per cent, of impurities, meadow fescue up to 20 per cent., and one sample from the North Island actually 84 per cent,, 50 per cent, of the samplo being sorrel. A few of the samples were entirely mis-named. The germinating tests showed that a great deal of the seed sold is infertile. Crested dogstail grass had germinating power as low as 10 per cent. \ poas from 3 to 10 per cent. ; meadow foxtail, 10 per cent. Leaving these very bad samples out of account, the germinating power of the other samples tested is very good, though individual cases of less than 50 per cent, germinating power were met with. Some of the samples tested were old seed, and, of course, of little value. The report shows the paramount importance of farmers obtaining pure seed. Californian thistle, chickweed, and other noxious and not easily-eradicated weeds are known to have baen introduced through the medium of impure seed, and while these impurities continue to be tliß rule rather than tho exception, it is certainly worth flio farmers' while to have every lot of seed tested boforo sowing. Some of the colonial-grown seeds have been found to contain very dangerous admixtures, so that there is no more safety in their use than iu using the imported seed. The result of the investigations at, Lincoln f!ollr>gß show how necessary is strict i.:autio;i in the purchase of

stiui.ls ami niniiures. But it is ««|in\lly clear that until greater tVicili'.it's are :ivailal)le at this end of the colony for lifivit.!,' these important requisites cheaply and promptly examined, either at a local agricultural school or hy a.n appointed analyst, as provided for in Mr McKenzic's Act, the majority of our farmers will have to trust, as hitherto, to the good reputation and honesty of the dealers for the purity of their seeds and manures.