CROPS AND STOCK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 611, 14 September 1909, Page 8

CROPS AND STOCK.

AND'. TOl'-DJRESSING:. OF 1 PASTURES.• ?: In. connccHon with 'the. great' increase • of arable :farming: reported,-in botli ,tho .North and../ South-' Islands, it is interesting. to:. hear also: that the, top-dressing of ,has, ;been a* much more general : practice this wintor than u'siinl'.: The.-results should bo, seoh .'in' an improvement- of : pastures.xorresponding with the increases of, the, other crops:grown. Tho present weather is .facilitating au'cultivation, and much activity is ' apparent on', tho';fnrms.„ The sunshine -is welcomed . by . 'sheep-owners, as 'cbnducivo-'to.heavy/lambing/returns, and even in ! : the south,' in. spite ■ of ; the ■ drier winter experienced there, the ; mildz weather, for .'lambing will:be acceptable.: 'Good percentages oi lambs are reported in Wnirarapa. .. . . / .One/of : the chief manures being, used'for old pastures' is.:basic; slag. been mentioned ' favourably; by / tho, Government Chemist in'various, lectures. Formerly it wiis held that 'as:'basic, slag; is f an insolnblo, material,: it.'is relatively ' ineffective for' top-dressing.'Tho Governmont 'Ghomist,/ liowevor, has explained that on the surface ,of the soil the atmospheric elements have considerable dissolving effect on the ;slag, and render it more available, for plant food..'; Iho'chief;', ingredients of /slag, are phosphorus, lime,' and; iron. -