VALUE OF TOP-DRESSING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 31 July 1926, Page 16

VALUE OF TOP-DRESSING.

Figures describing the results of topdressing the land on Mr Arthur Morton's 30-acre farm at Egmont Village are well worth the careful study of every farmer (says an exchange). The land is of second-rate quality, but Mr Morton carried -1 cows on the 30 acres, and they produced during the present season 51171 b of butter-fat, valued at £344, with a further bonus to come. Ten of tho cows were first or second calvers, and six of them came in late in the season, so that the results would have been even better from mature cows. - It must be admitted that the cows were of first-class strain, as ten of them produced well over 3001 b of butter-fat, and one went close to 4001 b. Probably the average farmer would not have cows of this type until ho had done a good deal of culling, but the point to be made is that average Taranaki land which has been adequately top-dressed will carry practically a cow to the acre, winter and summer, without any more food than the grass, provided hay is supplied at the rate of one-third of an acre to each cow. There aVe hundreds of farmers in Taranaki who are getting little more revenue from farms of 100 to 150 acres than Mr Morton has received from his 30 acres. So far as one can see there are great possibilities for a man with some capital who acquires a farm of 200 or 300 acres suitable for subdivision, treats it as Hr Morton has treated, his land, builds the necessary buildings, and cuts the land up for sale. Such a man should get an excellent return for his money, and, provided he did not put the price of the small farms too high, do excellent service to the district.