MANURES ON WHEAT LANDS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2642, 14 January 1908, Page 5

MANURES ON WHEAT LANDS.

Some interesting calculations have been made by the Victorian Government Statist, to ascertain the actual value of manures in regard to wheat yields. The returns cover a period of three years, and appear to have been compiled from reports furnished by representative growers in each important wheat growing district. It is shown that at last harvest, for the whole of the State, the average yield for manured acres was 11.03 bushels, against 7.92 bushels for unmanured land, or an advantage in favour of manure of more than three bushels per acre, which, with wheat at 4s, means roughly 12s 6d per acre. And as the estimated cost of manuring is about 3s per acre, the net value added to the yield would appear to be about 9s 6d per acre. In 1904-5 particulars were obtained from 245,128 acres of manured land, showing an average yield of 11.47 bushels ; and from 225,106 acres of unmanured, returning an average of 7.52 bushels. During 1905-6 information was ..obtained showing an average of 12.10 bushels from 284,462 acres of manured land, and an average of 8.68 bushels from 198,098 acres unmanured. This year the 11.03 buihels was averaged over 99,102 acres of manured, and the 7.92 bushels over 93,094 acres of unmanured. The advantage derived from manuring therefore in 1904-5 was an increased yield of almost four bushels, as against 3.V bushels the following season and 3 11 last harvest.