VALUE OF SOIL ANALYSES.
Sir,—l read the Hebalp's article under) the above heading with !; much interest., Some weeks ago I put up four samples of soil from a farm in. --which I am interested! in the King Country with the! object o£ ■ getting them .analysed; by the Deparfcmenb of Agriculture. I applied to ; the Department to know how I was to proceed, and was furnished with, a form embodying some fifty questions if I answered it ; seemed to me I. should myself, have-sup- L '/. plied all the informatioa I "required. „ -The form states in black letter that -no-sample of soil should he sent unless at thei' request cf a Departmental officer. So 'faiths: Tie* partment of Agriculture form- agrees with. the first part of Mr. A. D HalTs article of which the Heeald gives an ~ abstract viz., that an analysis to give a- practical result, and which would be a safe guide, is a complicated matter, Mr. Hairs sum-: " ming up of the position at the close of his : .■i.ii article ! however, would indicate that, an . analysis of a sample of soil would supply the farmer with the information, he ..»; specially needs, viz., in what ingredients necessary for general farming operations his soil'is deficient. Haying this,information, the farmer's own "iritelligence / would! enable him to supply tis9_ deficiency inrsUch a manner from time to time as the various ~ crops .he ~intends raising, require. :. I might suggest to the Department .that, inn stead of discouraging , the ' forwarding of specimens of soil if "they were to makeanalyses their chief- .-point, and '■•when! sending them to -the; farmers were to give - in a practical form the names of manures which contain the constituents deficient in the specimens of soil submitted, the quan- \ tities required, and the niefchods'of apply- ! "" ing them, they would be doing good 'and useful work. R, Miars &a*k- ' •' *7™" , ~*sr* -,S-M"t3s*»'."i£» -
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15518, 28 January 1914, Page 11
Word Count
310VALUE OF SOIL ANALYSES. New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15518, 28 January 1914, Page 11
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