MANGELS AT MOUMAHAKI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1233, 15 September 1911, Page 8

MANGELS AT MOUMAHAKI.

VARIETY AND MANURIAL TESTS. Nearly 20 acres of mangels were grown nt tho Moumahalii Experiment Farm during the past season and, taking the dry nature of tbo season inlo consideration, tile crop was n successful one: The main crop, savs Mr. Primrose M'Connell, in tho "Journal of the Department of Agriculture," was grown in ' No. 1 paddock, which. tho previous season grew a crop of swedes. In following swedes, with mai(gt>ls Mr. .M'Connell had two objects iji view. Tirstlj", the' mangels following swedes leave tho soil'in a less acid stal?, and thus less likely to encourage "clubroot" in the next crop of turnips. Secondly, it was his indention to sow 'lucerne in iso. 1 paddock and two root crops fed on tho land in succession leave it in a fertile condition, practically free from weeds. Preparing the Ground, Immediately tho swede crop was consumed the land was ploughed -with a donble-furrow digger to a depth of seven inches. It was then rolled with the Cambridge roller, hrico' doublc-disced, and again rolled.. The seeds and manure were sown ut ouo operation by the double-row ridgcr, the rows being 2G inches apart, ancl the plants were hanel-tioed to a distance, of nino inches to 12 inches apart in tlie rows. Tho dates of sowing were October 17 t'o 21. Six pound of seed per acre was sown, and, Mr. M'Connell adds,' "my own experience has proved that a less quantity should never be •used."plot J, which was imnianured, yielded at the rate of four-ton roots per acre of sugar mangel rose, 3i tons prize-winner glob?, and 21 tons golden tankard. Plot 2—Basic slag.2cwt, kainit; 3qr., at a cost of 13s. 9d. The. yield was at tho rate of 40 tons per acre of sugar mangel rose, 42 tons prize-winner globe, and 39 tons golden tankard. - This gave -.ail average gain per acre over unmatured plot of 37 tons at a cost of 4j-d. per ton gain. Plot 3—Basic superphosphate 2cwt., kainit 3qr., at a cost of Its. 9d. The yield was at the rate of 50 tons per aero of sugar mangel rose, 52 lons prize-winner globe, and 15 tons golden tankard. This gavo an average yield of 45 tons per aero over the numanured plot, at' a cost of 3jd. per ton gain. Plot 4—Superphosphate 2cwt., kainit 3 qr„ at a cost of 14s. The yield was at tho rate of '48 tons per acre of sugar mangel Tpse, 50 tons prize-winner globe, and 41 tons golden tankard. This gave an average yield of 43 tons. per acre over the unmanured lot at a cost of 3Jd. per ton gain. , Plot 5 was cross-dressed with 2qr. sulphate ammonia, but this had no effect on 'any of the plots. ~ A Triple Test. Tho paddock was divided into t'hree nianurial plots, each plot containing three varieties of mangels, so that each fertiliser had a triple test. On tho whole the seed germination was good, particularly the sugar mangel rose.' Previous to singling out the plants, the rows were twice horsehoed, and threo times afterwards. The paddock is now particularly free from weeds. -j

The State farms are often charged with growing crops regardless of expense. In this instanco such a charge cannot ho fairly made—in fact, a slightly heavier dressing of fertilisers would have paid handsomely. The cost of hand-hoeing, Mr. M'Conn?ir estimates at 18s. per acre, so thai, oven if this is added to the cost of fertilisers, the cost' per ton of mangels is still low. As to the horse-hooing, with modern implements it is a mere nothing. With a triple-horse-hoe, a man with a pair of horses will easily go over 10 acres .daily. In horse-hoeing, a mistake is ofion made by allowing the weeds to get 100 far ahead before a.start is made: the hoeing should commence, as soon as the wesds appear above ground. The basic superphosphate is again at the top, and Mr. Jl'Connell considers that this fertiliser is well worth the attention of farmers generally. In No. 2 paddock, two new varieties of mangels were grown, viz., Jersey King and Jersey Queen. These are varieties of very great promise. The.v are Tankard in shane, orange in colour, and, having a single tap-Toot, they* are easily pulled and bring away a minimum of soil. With a dressing per acre of 2Jcwt. basic superphosphate ant! licwt. kainit, the yield was 00 tons per acre in the case of*' Jersey Queen and 58 tons in the case of Jersey King.