RURAL MATTERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9539, 16 June 1911, Page 6

RURAL MATTERS.

— SOMETHING ABOUT FERTILISERS,

ADVICE TO FARMERS,

Calling at the West Coast Steamship and Trading Company's wholesale stow to inquire what truth there was in an extract item concerning bonedust, a "Standard" reporter had-an interesting chat with Mr J. Davidson, on® cf tjio staff, concerning various matters of interest to the farming community. In rcplv to a question, Mr Davidflo* said 1m had hoard nothing about a marked riso in Wellington in the price of bonedust. So far us his firm was concerned the pnoe of bonedust had not) ud\ anccfl. I-Ie was not aware that prices of bon«dust in Sydney had advanced by nearly £1 per ton, as was stated, nor had lie heard, as montioned in the paragraph shown to him, that advices had been received from India that prices had risen all round, no mattor to what country the manure is exported, unsteamcd bonodust boing statod to bo 36 per cent higher i* value than at the corresponding period of last year, while bonedust steamed, as required bv t-ho New Zealand Government, is only 25" per cent higher. His company sold a good deal of bonedust, though he did not think it was quite as popular a manure as it was some years ago. A great deal of bonedust was manufactured within the Dominion at the various freezing works, and as they have not advance their wholesale quotations ho was i ncll "« l to think that the paragraph shown him was incorrect and misleading. Other maaures were taking the place of bonodust to some extent, but it was a very good ingredient in a n., ed manure. .Bonedu. t depended greatly for its fertilising quali ties, In h'is opinion, on the condition ot the bones from which it was made. Ho did not think that bonedust made from long dead and decayed bones could posses much stimulating power on tho growth of 4 The average farmer hadn't anj' considerable experience in tho choice of manure, or whether it would suit. .'^u l^® He generally asked for this or tj at manure without any specific knowledge, o whether it would suit his requirements or nof He may ask for basic slag, or sunerohosphato. or Kamit, with only a vorv superficial knowledge of their palticular uses and qualities. Very, often, too, a farmer is guided by price. Ho It thinks that all manures are of similar utility, but that one merchant s prices may b e a, little lower than to of another Now,' there is basic slag, for instance which is a very valuablo fertiliser. It may contain a percentage of acid, which may range from 17 to, sa , 22 per cent. And yet tho larmer may bo induced to purchase at a su S^. of price, a quantity ot- that fertiliser which may have a low percentage of phosphoric acid, which Is its most potent and necessary ingredient. Every farmer sliou d have" his soil analysed lie can do so at a very slight expense by senidling a small quantity to the Agricultural Department in Wellington, and then lie will learn what special fertiliser will _ puno

most serviceable. For root crops, lu» company generally recommended a mixture in certain proportions, of sulphate of potash, guano, Kainit bonedust and superphosnhafe. That has been found to yield Jitiiiactory results. But the mam questions to be considered are tho chemical naturo of tho soil, and what crop wa« last taken off the land. A great deal dopends on tho latter, for as every farmer is, doubtless, aware, each crop takes eomo particular constituents out of the sou, ana theso require to bo returned m eomo dc : gree, and thoro has also to bo considoreti tho crop that is proposed to follow', if due consideration is given to these three features tho intelligent farmer will not go far astray. But, as a. rule,.it is not advisable to rely 011 his own judgment, but rattier to abide by the advice of an expert, if one is available, and if not discuss (he question with tho merchant before he makes bis final selection. Ihe time has como now when manuring must bo resorted to, and it mav make a deal 0 tliffere':"o to tho f|imntily ami qua.ity ot the crop, and to the cash returns .herefrom if tho proper fertiliser is employed. costly fertiliser—nitrate of soda, winch is meet excellent as a top dressing. lately used as a spray in Scotland fni* tliat purpose, when iho crop is a n I Sotothe found, and-it is aston•l*o- tho erowtl. that follows its use. S5 I™ Co b« t »il»fc nf soda, for that parl.cu ar purpose. \,l-ed as to whether. ho had heard of AJkcu .in r„,|, , ]cpr I hat, ni sides any .PP r ' 1 rov ; t h of feed li»s also jlTefi Of stimulating .the i.roducfion n 5-' Mr Davidson caul ho nad not. °[ miiiv iu , , l!K | r ..,|| ton f!l | {o , B "l tan mcpl I lift-- -V& sr*

be of a nifcrogonoua charaotor, and should then hare tho offoot ascribed. • Molasses is ooming into pretty general two now that food is protty scarce in consequence of the rooent prolonged drought. Hay, or even straw, s.prinkletl with diluted molasses, as rolish'ed by hungry stock, and would tide them over ft season of scarcity of grass. Ensilage was also a Yory good stand-by, but it was not to bo compared with maize in its green state. Slock got to like ensilage and will fairly well maintain their condition on it, Phnlnris commutata is, in Mr Davidson's opinion, the king of all winter grasses, It combines tho good qualities of cocksfoot, prairie grass and paspalnm, and resists well tho extremes of both heat and cold. Phalaris would, lie fancied, bo in great domand before long. It has been tried in the forn land in the Auckland district, and tho indications at the. present time aro highly satisfactory, as it has proved in Australia, Lucerne is another valuable clover plant. A ICarcrt settler has harvested some that he grew,' find it sells well in bales. Lucerne is a comparatively new fodder in this district, but farmers are beginning to realise its good qualities. Potato blight is a very difficult problem. Farmers purchasing seed should examine it very closely. Indications ol the fungus growth will bo found in the eyes of the tuber, being in a dormant stale until the heat and moisture of spring cause them to develop, mand spread at an alarming rate. The moths have marvellous vitality. They have proved _ that neither limo nor koroscno will injure them. A trial with formalin might bo desirable, but a strong solution will be fount! necessary to be effectual. There will be no potatoes from Australia this season, and tho Now Zealand market is not too abundantly supplied.