FARM AND DAIRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 7047, 8 October 1900, Page 2

FARM AND DAIRY.

[Conducted by Winnower.l

CHEMISTRY OF THE SOIL.

LECTURE BY MR DICK.

Though Saturday was by no means a promising day, over fifty farmers attended at the Borough Chambers in the afternoon, when Mr Dick delivered a most interesting and instructive address, under the auspices of the Egmont A. and P. Association.

Mr Sutton proposed that in the absence of the president and vicepresident, Mr Foreman, a fonmer president, take the chair. Mr Livingston seconded. Mr Foreman acceded, and, in introducing Mr Dick, said the subject to be spoken upon was a most important one, if farmers intended keeping their land in good heart and competing with the outside markets of the world. He took occasion to remark that the Association had often been blamed for not arranging more of these gatherings, but in the efforts that had been made little appreciation had been shown. The chairman then introduced Mr Dick.

Mr Dick, who was received with ap- < plause, said that, before taking up his J subjeot, he would have liked to have seen f more young men agriculturists present, < whose lives were before them, and who might gain benefit by hearing something j about the subjeot he was going to speak i upon. His subject was, " Manures, < their origin, composition and use." ' At the last lecture he gave in Hawera, he was forced to introduce a number of < technical terms, but in this one he < would only use suoh terms as were most familiar, and within the under- ' standing of all. Manures had engaged I the attention of agriculturists for many centuries past. In far away times the Romans went so far as to trace the art , of manuring, and Pliny, Virgil, and others, by their writings, attempted to improve the condition of the soil. It was not until 1840 that Baron Liebig reduced the chemistry of agriculture from an art to a science ; he was the father of the science of agriculture, and one of his laws was "the minimum element of fertility manure that dominated the crop." The speaker went on to say that the four principal elements necessary generally supplied in manuring were: Potash, phosphoric acid, nitrogen, and lime. What was wanted most, as in many other thing 3, they often had the least of. Any of these chemicals in excess would not prove beneficial. Potash, for instance, would hinder if not obstruct the growth of seed. The object of manuring was to supply the elements that are wanting. As to the uniformity of the soils in this part, they were fairly even. Mr Dick then detailed how analyses of the soil were made, giving the analyses of soil obtained from the farms of Mr J. Livingston, Waipapa, and the late Mr Wilkie, at Waitara. The following are ? the results : — from mb Livingston's. Percentage composition, lbs p. acre Silica *352 7,040 Alumina and iron oxide 1540 30,800 Lime "260 5,200 Magnesia .. .. -074 1,480 Soda '021 240 Potash -035 700 Phosphoric acid . . -037 740 Sulphuric acid .. 014 280 ♦Organic matter .. 17*250 345,000 Insoluble matter .. 80-426 1,608,520 100 2,000,000 -Containing nitrogen equal to ammonia 0712, 14,2401bs per acre. The sample as received contained water 25*25 per cent. The analysts (Messrs Pond and McLaurin) added the following foot-note : — The results given above are calculated on the dried soil. These constituents are estimated upon the amount soluble in a solution of citric acid of a strength corresponding to the acidity of root sap, and therefore directly available in the nutriment of plants. The soil contained, as shewn, 25-25 per cent of water when received, and was dealt with in this condition to guard against alteration by drying, but the results are calculated, as stated, on the dried soil. The analysis shows this soil to be in excellent heart, and, showing no deficiency, it requires to be kept in this condition by normal manuring. FROM THE LATE MR WILKIE'S FABM, WAITARA. Percentage lb p. acre Alumina and iron oxide 1-860 37,200 Silica soluble . . . . -425 8,500 Lime carbonate .. '272 5,440 Magnesia carbonate . . -023 460 Soda carbonate .. -029 580 Potash carbonate . . -013 200 Sulphuric acid (sO3) .. -014 280 Phosphoric acid (p205) -072 1,440 •Organic matter .. 9-500 190,000 Water 11-900 238,000 Insoluble .. .. 75-892 1,517,840 100 2,000,000 y prior to aaaJj'sJs, bat dealt wJth fa the / \ condltiQa in. vAiiahAli was taceivftcL T.\i& \

) results bJsd sbow tY>is sdjl Id h& }/? exee))enk heart, the on)y deficiency being in, the $otasl\, vthktv vs. low, ttae phosphoric acid, nitrogen, lime, and soluble i silica being high, and immediately I u.va\\ab\e.

Mr Dick then dealt in a general way with soils, saying that the condition of the soil had a great deal to do with its fertility, and land should be kept in good order. All plant food must be soluble before the plant can assimilate it. Dealing with the form in which manure ingredients could be present, the speaker said that nitrogen could be found in twenty different ways. Mr Dick nest spoke upon organic matter. Speaking of the action of manures, the climate had a wonderful effect, and in respect of what would be a good manure in one district would, by the chemical constituents in the soil, be of little value in another, comparing the heavy clay lands of Canterbury, and the kind of manure that suited that locality best, and the lighter lands of the North, and their special clas9 of manure. Mr Dick instanced the effect of different chemicals on the soil — nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and phosphate of lime. As this district was a grazing one, the lecturer said he would like to quote a few figures showing how much was taken out of tho soil by cattle and sheep grazing, and dairying. Loss by grazing :— Ox. Sheep. Pig. Mineral constituents . . 4-6 3-4 1-4 Nitrogen .. .. 15- 11-5 10*5 In 100 lbs. fasted live weight : — Nitrogen .. ..23- 20 17Phosphoric acid .. 15*5 10 6-2 Total minerals ..39 27 26 100 parts increase in weight while fattening : — Minerals .. .. T5 2-0 0-5 Nitrogen .. ..7-7 7-2 7 8 Loss from milking : — Minerals, 7*o per 100 lbs. Nitrogen, 40 per 100 lbs. Where clover is grown largely, the soil will not require nitrogen, tho plants supplying this in the form of manure. With regard to farm yard manure, it comes less forcibly here than at Home, and its value is regulated by the nature of the food the stock have. All the elements are in a form that is rapidly soluble, and this manure has the capacity of helping to form runners, winch tend to retain the moisture. The speaker then outlined " green manuring," — ploughing in green crops. Of the various green crops that could be growa for manuring, clover was one of the best for ploughing in, but few farmers would care to plough in a nice field of clover for the purpose of enriching tho soil. With regard to lime, it has a threefold action : first as a manure contributing to the nourishment of the plants, second as a chemical agent, decomposing insoluble forms of plant food, and third as a physical agent, altering the forms of the particles of clay and rendering the sqil more friable. As to quantity, one ton per acre would be sufficient for this soil. In heavy land in a cold* country, seven or eight tons would be required. Sulphate of ammonia is chiefly formed from the ammonia evolved in the distillation of coal for gas making. Tt is the richest form of nitrogenous manure, containing 24 per cent of ammonia. Nitrate of soda comes next to sulphate of ammonia in nitrogen contents, and is even more readily assimilable by plants. Unfortunately, however, it is very readily leeched through in drainage. £ Dried blood contained 14 to 15 per cent of nitrogen in a form soon renders J

available for the plant. Bonedust, green, and not steamed, was not easily soluble ; steamed, it was deprived of the greasy matter, and the action was quicker. Guanos were next spoken upon ; the quality of the Peruvian guano was now a thing of the past, and the quality from the Eastern Hemisphere, where we now draw from, was not so good, owing to such a large element of the animal matter being washed out and the- nitrogen gone owing to tho wet climate from whence they were brought. Potash salts next received attention, Mr Dick outlining the value of the various forms. With regard to what ingredient was lacking in the soil, the plants would always tell what was wanting. If the leaves were pale looking, nitrogen was lacking; weak, phosphoric acid, and potash was the best for fruit-growing ; and j nitrogen was a necessary chemical for fruit. The speaker then gave an example of how manure value could be calculated by farmers. Bonedust containing 50 per cent phosphate of lime equalled a value of 2s, and 4^- per cent of nitrogen in the same manure was worth 12s 6d per unit. This gave a total value of the manure as £1 16s 3d per ton. At tho close of his lecture Mr Dick said he would be pleased to answer any questions, and resumed his seat amidst loud applause. Mr Owen asked if Mr Dick did not think that in taking a sample of soil it should be taken from a greater depth than within six inches of the surface ?

Mr Dick said it should. In the analysis he had read, both of the samples had been taken at a depth of 12 inches. The soil was taken by driving a piece of pipe into the ground to a depth of 12in, and then digging round it, plugging the pipe top and bottom. Thus the soil was obtained just as it stood in the paddock. Mr Sowerby asked the best method to treat land that had become mossy, the ground not being ploughable ; also the cause of the presence of the moss ? Mr Dick replied that the best course to adopt would be to give the land a good dressing with lime. As to the cause of moss, the growth was often promoted by grasses not suitable to the soil being sown. A bare place occurred, aad, failing the growth of weeds, moss would, in a wet ground, assert itself. Mr Fantham proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Dick for his able and instructive lecture, and he thought the subject a most important onn. It was only by hearing able addresses such as I they had heard, and by experiments, that they could bring their lands to perfection, and thus be better able to pay rates and taxes.

Mr Sutton seconded. Carried unanl mously.

Mr Dick briefly returned thanks, saying that if ac any time he could be of any assistance, he would be only too willing to do what he could in the interest of farmers.

A vots of thanks to the chair closed a lecture that was enjoyed by all.