SWEDE CROPS

Evening Star, Issue 22413, 10 August 1936, Page 7

SWEDE CROPS

CONTROL OF BROWN HEART AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT'S TRIALS Trials carried out by the Department of Agriculture earlier in the year have resulted in excellent control of brown heart (mottled heart) in swedes by the use of borax. This material was applied at the rate of IX3I b to the acre, being mixed with fertiliser usually applied by the co-operating farmer and sown by the drill. Unfortunately, in a few of the trials germination injury or seedling mortality was experienced by the use of borax, and the department, therefore, deems it desirable to advocate warning in the use of the material. This is particularly the case when special “ berated ” fertilisers are sold, as farmers are in the habit of applying different amounts of fertiliser, and those who, normally apply heavy dressings may be in ‘danger of introducing toxic amounts of boron into the soil. It was recently decided that special “berated” fertilisers should conform to the following conditions: — 1. That the boron in the mixture be in the form of sodium-biborate (commercial borax) or any other approved source of boron. 2. That the percentage of sodium-bi-borate in the mixture be not greater than at the rate of 2}lb of borax to 1001 b of fertiliser. 3. That no free lime- or any other incompatible substance be mixed with the fertiliser.

4. That the advocacy of more than 3cwt an acre of a berated fertiliser be discountenanced when such fertiliser is being drilled in immediate contact with seed. 5. That the borax used in the fertiliser mixture be finely ground and adequately mixed, so as to ensure even distribution when applied to the crop. In cases where farmers put up their own mixture it is suggested that an effective method of supplying borax is to broadcast 201 b of material mixed with dry sand before sowing the crop. If the material is to be applied with fertiliser and sown with the seed the quantity should not be _ more than 81b an acre. As lime applications appear to be incompatible with brown lieart control, liming immediately prior to sowing a swede crop is not recommended in districts where brown heart is prevalent, nor should fertiliser mixtures, including borax, contain free lime. , This recommendation does not preclude the use of a properly reverted superphosphate in which no free lime is present.