VALUE OF SOIL ANALYSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15518, 28 January 1914, Page 11

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£» -