POTASH FOR POTATOES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3138, 9 October 1922, Page 2

POTASH FOR POTATOES.

Any system of manuring the potato crops which fails to furnish the plant with an ample supply of potash in a suitable form is based on a neglect' of its chief requirements. A crop of 10 tons of potatoes extracts -from the soil 781b of nitrogen, 361b of phosphoric acid, equal to about 701b' of phosphate of lime, and as much as 1281b of potash.

The old custom of applying very heavy dressings of farmyard manure, often 20 tons to the acre, furnished 1 the crop with all the requisite nourishment, but that system is out of date, being too extravagant. The modern system of a, moderate dressing of farmyard manure. 10 tons to the acre, applied to the land in the autumn or winter, supplemented by a suitable dressing of artificials at time of planting, gives results quite as good, and is far less costly, and by this system the adequate supply of potash can be assured.

If no farmyard manure or a small dressing of farmyard manure is given the grower would! be wise to apply -i good organic fertiliser —a dressing of high-class Peruvian Guano would then be in place. Peruvian Guano used to be looked upon as the ideal manure for the crop, and was generally applied, even in addition to liberal dressings of farmyard manure. SKIMMINGS. There is no way of taking dirt out of milk equal to keep it out. Do you know which of your cows pay and which do not? Maybe you have some boarders). Horses, having small stomachs, muse eat at short intervals. If they undergo long fasts they have to make up for lost lime, and therefore overgorge the stomach and intestines, which cannot do their work, and consequently become deranged.' The United States Department of Agriculture reports that the honey crop beginning with the crop of 1916. reached 180,000,0001b, or 90,000 shorttons. The total production for 1917 was estimated at 75,000 short tons; for 1918, at 90,000 short tons, for 1919, at 105,000 short tons; and for 1920, at 150,00 short tons.

Kohl-rabi is not subject, lik-2 most crops, to serious insect depredations, although the turnip flea beetle pays attention to it from time to time. It is good lor cow-feeding, and is prized by the flockinaster. It does not impart an unpleasant flavor to the milk. There is very little waste in eating off. It produces from 20 lo 2o tons to the acre.

Skilful farming means sowing extra, good seed on a well-prepare seed-bed, and cultivating thoroughly where sultiration is permitted by the nature of the crop; it means weeding out the unprofitable cows and keeping a herd of ical producers; it but no iess important! (says an English means a judicial use of labor; and last, authority) it means a study of the available nuulicts and use of the best marketing methods. As the name denotes, the American Association of Organisations lor the Prevention of Livestock Shipping Losses exists primarily lor improving, method's of handling livestock. At the convention held' in Chicago in December it was shown that losses from bruises bare already been reduced to one-sixth of their former volume, hut for all that it was decided to uo on trying lo get them lower still. Daniiage to beef for (be first 11 months of 1921 was reported to amount of 2.000.0001b, as compared with 3,000,0001b for all 1919, and for pigs to less than :),- 000.00011) compared with 15.000.00011) in 191!).

To prevent sore shoulders in horses. bothing with cold wafer in which a little salt has been dissolved is as good as anything. Tins should lie done immediately the collar has been taken oil', and, the bathing is particularly needed in Ibe case of animals which have been turned out for a rest until the skin becomes hardened. Tn summer it is of great importance to see that collars and saddles in regular use are kept clean from perspiration and the linings are kept dry. Hanging fhem in the sun as soon as taken off It is considered by a good feiv successful farmers in sheep-breeding (recently remarked Live Stock Journal), that it is a harmful custom to allow the ram to run with the sheep during the whole 24 hours. He should' be shut up and well fed during the day, and! only let out to the ewes during the night. A study of their habits during tupping time will give credence to this theory, as has been done by those who have successfully practised it. A good method to use on the farm for the treatment of bones is to disintegrate them by the use of wood ashes. Dig a trench three of four feet deep and place therein alternate layers of ashes' and hones; both bottom'and top layers should be ashes. Bach laver of

ash should' hr moistened with voter ;is it is liiid. Before the commeneemeiit of <)|ier:itions upright poles should he. set ill the trench ;it intervals ot threefeet. 'they should he ot sntlieient length to emihle them to he pulled out ot the tilled trench. ;md they should he removed at the end of ten diiy.s or so. Then pour down the empty post holes enough water to moisten the layers ot wood ashes. Xo further action is necessary tor two months or so, hy which time the hones should have softened. The heap may then he. turned over, moistened afresh with water and allowed to ferment lor another two months. This operation of turning over the contents ol the head l should he performed at least threetimes. when the material should he litfor use as a fertiliser. Ihe procedure when using lime is the same as in the ease of wood ashes.