DETERIORATED LANDS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 262, 1 August 1929, Page 12

DETERIORATED LANDS

COST OF TOP-DRESSING EXPERIENCE OF FARMERS “Under lhe heading of ‘Deteriorated Lands,”’ writes “F.W.,” “reference is made in your Saturday s issue to costs of top-dressing certain areas at £1 13s. per acre, and understanding that even pumice soils have been made productive at a cost only of 145., the present writer is most curious to have an explanation ns to why so high a cost for the former class of land. Can anyone enlighten? Please understand this to be an honest inquiry, not a criticism.” The estimate of £1 13s. per acre was given by Mr. J. Cocker, of Lltham, as his personal experience of top-dressing his own property. The best way in which to answer “F.W.” is to quote a summary of individual areas treated where stocking records were available. These were included in an article by Mr. W. J. McCulloch, instructor in agriculture for Palmerston North, which appeared in the “N.Z. Journal of Agriculture” of June 21, 1926, and are as follow: — A. Tomlinson, liongomai. Eketaliuna: The area of this block is 40 acres, and it was top-dressed with 3cwt. of super per acre towards the end of June, 1925. The stocking of the area was with breeding ewes. During the period July 4, 1925, to March 18, 1926, the carrying capacity was 2} ewes with lambs at foot. (No records of fat lambs produced.) The normal carrying capacity is estimated at 14 ewes per acre. The composition of this pasture is mainly brown-top and Danthonia pilosa. The cost of transport of manure from rail to farm was 15s. per ton; sledging and packing, Is. per cwt.; and distributing by hand, 10 acres per day per man, Is. sd. per acre. The cost of application of 3cwt. per acre, including all handling from rail, was 6s. Bd. per acre. Allowing super at £7 per ton, the total cost of the top-dressing was £1 7s. Bd. per acre. i A. K. Grieves, Aokautere, Kairanga: This block of 63 acres was top-dressed with 3cwt. super per acre about the middle of September, 1925. A control block was used for comparison. During the period November 8, 1925, to March 31. 1926, the top-dressed block carried 2$ ewes with lambs at foot and 1-6 cattlebeast per acre. In the same period the control carried 1 ewe with lamb and 1-3 cattle-beast per aere. In the previous season the top-dressed block produced only thirty-seven fat lambs off the ewes. The composition of this pasture shows considerable elements of rye-grass, cocksfoot, dogstail, and white clover, with some browri-top and danthonia, the whole in suitable condition to give good response. Cost of transport of manure from rail to farm was 10s. per ton; sledging. etc., to hill, 2s. 4d. per cwt.; distributing by hand, 6 acres per day per man, 2s. 7d. per acre. The cdst of application of 3cwt. per acre, including all handling from rail, was Ils. Id. per acre. Allowing super at £7 per ton, the total cost of the top-dressing was £1 12s. Id. per acre. Frank W. Parry, Mount Bruce, Masterton.—ln this case the appearance of the area indicated a pasture, composed almost entirely of stunted, harsh browntop, with a little danthonia. No clover or trefoil was showing, but there was a fair amount of Nertera depressa weed, which always indicates lack of vigour and a poor sward. Recent examination showed clover and trefoil beginning to appear. From the records kept the carrying capacity for the period July 15, 1925, to April 30, 1926, was 2| sheep per acre, while the adjoining areas are reckoned as li sheep country. Super was applied at 3cwt. per acre early in July, 1925. Cost of transport from rail to farm was £1 per ton; from farm to hill, ss. lOd. per ton; distribution by hand, 41 acres ner day per man, 3s. Id. per acre. Cost of handling, including dis-

tribution, was. 6s. 11 Jd. ner acre. Total cost of top-dressing, including super at £7 per ton, was £1 7s. 11 Jd. per acre G. H. Hadfield, Paraparaumu. —The area treated in this case was 65 acres, which was top-dressed with 2icwt. of Ephos phosphate per aere about the middle of July, 1925. The pasture composition was principally danthonia, mixed in places, with brown-top. On a small area of one face ryegrass, cocksfoot, etc., were showing. Bracken fern had been troublesome on some of the steeper faces, but had been well worked with cattle some time previously. The actual stocking records since top-dressing show that the area carried between July 25. 1920, and March 18, 1926, at the rate of three breeding ewes and 1-3 cattle _ beast per acre. Unfortunately, the previous stocking records for the block are not. complete, and therefore a comparison is not possible for a corresponding period. The cost of transport of manure from rail to farm was 13s. Gd. per ton: farm to hill, £1 Is. per ton. Cost of application. at 7 2-9 acres per 'lay per man, including all handling, was 6s. 2Jd. per acre. Allow Ephos phosphate at £6 10s. per ton, the total cost of top-dressing was £1 2s. Gd. per acre. Clifford Adkin, Levin,.— According to the owner, this block had carried well over 14 sheep per acre i£ntil about three years, ago, when the carrying capacity decreased very fast, coming down to less than one sheep per acre; but since topdressing it has been carrying three sheep per acre (hoggets and ewes mixed), also a small line of yearling heifers.. The cost of handling of manure in this case works out at 4s. Bd. per acre., including transport from rail ar.d application at the rate of 3cwt. per acre. The total cost of ton-dressing, allowing super at £7 per ton. was £1 ss. Bd. tier acre. Costs of fertilisers to-day are nearer £5 than £7 a ton, which would still further reduce the cost of top-dressing.

Minnie Walsh, aged 57, who admitted her fifth offence ot drunkenness within the last six months, was yesterday convicted bv Mr. E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court and ordered to come up tor sentence if called upon within twelve months. During that time she was ordered to stay at the Mount Magdala Home, Christchurch.