GARDEN CIRCLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 284, 29 October 1934, Page 4

GARDEN CIRCLE

ADDRESS ON FERTILISERS,

Members of the Palmerston North Garden and Flower Circle, at their meeting in tlie Baptist Church schoolroom on Friday night, were entertained to an address on the uses and abuses of manures by Mr A. ML Hudson, of the Plant Research Station, Palmerston North. Mr H. L. Hartog presided. The use of artificial fertlisers was based on soil deficiencies, said Mr Hudson, and a manure should be applied with this in view. There were 10 to 13 elemental substances which entered into the food of plants, most of which were in sufficient supply in the soil, with the exception of phosphorus,.nitrogen, and potassium, while there was also likely to be a deficiency of calcium. Most soils liad a deficiency, more a less, in phosphates, and the most commonly used fertiliser to remedy this was superphosphate. This liad the advantages of being soluble, and readily available.—the efficacy of fertilisers naturally depended upon their availability. He advised that soluble fertilisers be used with care,

since they were likely to injure germination. The addition of lime to superhosphate increased its efficiency. The efficiency of fertliser depended on its proximity and concentration to the seeds or seedlings, and if this fact was remembered when applying it, the fertiliser would prove more efficient than when broadcast through the soil. The idea that superhosphates increased acidity of soil had been disproved, said the speaker. Nitrogenous fertilisers, of which nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia were prominent, should be applied sparingly and with observance of the season, since it was often lost through leeching. Sulphate of potash was probably the most commonly used of potassium sulphates, this,'section being also interestingly dealt with by the speaker. Lantern slides illustrating his points were shown by Mr Hudson in conclusion, and questions were answered. Mr A. ML Just expressed appreciation of tlie address, his remarks being endorsed by acclamation.

The competition for the best vase of flowers, any one variety, decided by popular vote, resulted as follows :—Mr T. H. Stockdale 1, Mr G. J. Erenstrom 2, Mrs J. B. Speedy 3. Of particular interest was a bloom exhibited by Mr A. ML Just, the Strelitzia Regina (commonly called bird-of-paradise), of the spatulata variety. At the rext meeting Mr J. Muggeridge, of the Plant Research Station, will lecture on insect pests. The white butterfly pest and pests affecting chrysanthemums will be dealt with.