TURNIP GROWING IN WAIKAKA VALLEY.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 15, Issue 1295, 9 June 1893, Page 4

TURNIP GROWING IN WAIKAKA VALLEY.

-♦■ - In a season like this when turnip crops are lightly spoken of, it is a positive pleasure to examine and report the existence of some splendid specimens. The old tim 9 benefactor to his country who was lauded for producing the two blades of grass in lieu of one, was no doubt one of the right sort, but he must take a back seat when the man steps along who can grow two neeps — and whoppers at that — in place of none at all. Both deserve credit, though both doubtless work for profit much more than popularity. In the fertile district referred to in the above heading there are numerous fine crops, but in the course of a recent run on a short day a glance waß all that could be bestowed on the most of them, As a specimen of drill husbandry the crop of Mr James Hay shows the handiwork of a master tradesman in every particular ; in drilling, thinning, cleaning, drill harrowing and regularity of crop nothing prettier could be wished | for, and though the grower every year indulges his well-known taste, wiih the drill plough he has rarely gone the length that he has done this season, viz,, 30 to 40 acres ; and in addition to the beauty of the crop it is Batiefactory to note that the field has baen sold for eating off by sheep at a good round payable price per acre. Thorough as the drill plough, hoe and harrow system is, it ia just too laborious and expensive for modern notions, and a comparison between it and that of the Duncan machine drilling on the flat will go a long way to convince anyone that the quickest and cheapest is the best. The work of the Duncan drill can be seen to perfection on the farm of Mr Hugh Paterson and that of his neighbor Mr Adam Fleming, and the results in each case are worth going a long way to see. Bath crops are after pasture, which kept stock right on through spring and till November month, when the Howard digging plough appeared on the scene, 'at d after the disc and other harrows the work was finished by Duncan putting in the artificial manure and seed at one operation. It is unnecessary to say that the land is in each case of the very finest for turnip growing, a fine deep friable loam which Bhows marka of good management for a long series of years. Mr Paterson'a crop was treated with two cwt. per acre of Sydney bones, and sown with equal quantities of Sutton's purple top and green top yellow supplied through their Gore BgeatP, Tothill, Watson and Co. The regularity with which the seed has been deposited shows nofc a single blank in 40 acres. The quality and symmetry of the bulbs could not be excelled, and if the owner would just measure a sample portion, weigh the produce and tot out results he would discover a yield of some twenty tonß an acre. The chief feature of the day's inspection was that of Mr Fleming's experimental plot with Feven different manures. The working of the soil was on the same principle as above described, the land waa uniform, and the sensible plan was adopted of applying each stuff at the senva value pet acre, viz., 14a 2d. Four practical men were put on the j->b to adjudicate on i the relative positions of the lot?, the manures mcd not being declared till after the decisions were given in; the results of first and second were unanimously agreed on, and the otfcera nearly so, and with Mr Fleming's sanction the manures are mentioned below in the order of merit : — 1. LawfV tv nip manure 2. Sydney bones. , 3. Dunedin turnip fertilizer i. Indian bones (Ward) 5. Dunedin tough bones ; 6. Maiden Island guano, and Last. Common ealt. The whole of the other 60 acres had about If cwt. per acre ot bones and Coral Queen guano half and half, and this mixture held its own well with the best of them. To the bones and Coral Queen guano an addition cf common salt was made which was not considered to be o£ any benefit. The chief result goes in favor of the well established rule that 3olable phosphate is the first constituent in a turnip manure j and it would be safe to

assume that imported manufactured manures with. \ their . trustworthy analysea given are the cheapest for the purpose. ' •-.---■<--, Ia an old settled district, such as tha Galley,, where land management jsjmort? considered than land jobbing, we naturally expect to find the necessary time and trouble expended m experiments of the above nature ; and should the idea recently mooted of competition in growing crops under the auspices of, the Gore A. and P. Association be carried out, there can be little doubl bub Waikaka Valley and neighborhood will give our best corners a warm jacket in the race.