TOPDRESSING AT MAIROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19779, 28 October 1927, Page 14

TOPDRESSING AT MAIROA.

Sir, —It is pleasing to learn from the letters of "Fertiliser" and Mr. John Francis, both settlers at Mairoa, that topdressing is effective and does give results. My main reason for commenting on tbo article by your special commissioner was to correct the impression that topdressing was ineffective at Mairoa and that in this instance we had an exception to the rule. The letters referred to certainly confirm the facts I presented. Mr. Francis has, however, two complaints. One is that the results from phosphatic manures "fall a long way short of what they ought to be, and that the results do not warrant the expenditure. We must obtain better results for less money." His" complaint sounds familiar these days. The results at Mairoa, I contend, are up to the average of hill lands generally, and, as I stated recently, the response, because of the quality of the limestone lands, is better than on the lighter lands of the King Country. As to the economics of topdressing hill lands with phosphatic fertilisers, that is still a question to be worked out, where grazing of sheep and cattle is the chief source of income. On this point much conflict of opinion exists amongst settlers who have taken np topdressing during the past three or four years. Generaily speaking the balance is tending in favour of topdressing, especially where settlers have continued the practice for the second and third season. Like all other farm practices, the success of topdressing on the business side depends on the employment of other successful management methods on the farm. Where the holding is well subdivided, well watered and the stock well managed, in short, where the farm is well run, topdressing will naturally give the best results. The second complaint made by Mr. Francis tte in regard to the health of the stock on topdressed as compared with untopdressed land. Where stock are suffering from malnutrition and they are seen chewing bones, etc., topdressing with phosphates will ameliorate trouble and in most cases completely correct it. Bui. where stock have some specific disease, whether it be due to invasion of parasites or bacteria, then topdressing will not cure the trouble. It will in general improve the condition of sheep and cattle and make them better able to resist attack, but any specific trouble of the nature Hist mentioned requires other treatment. It may be possible that such is the case in this instance A veterinary inspection would be the best course to take, if such were suspected. Tt is too mnch to exnect that topdressing will cure all. Regarding the value of chemical analysis as a practical means of determining the manurial requirements of a soil, this opens np too big a field for discussion here. "Research workers still analyse soils and quite rightlv so. As a subject of further research it warrants close study. Tn New Zealand, as well as America and England as quoted by Mr. Francis, soil analysis is an important feature of soil survey work. As a practical guide to manuring the data elucidated by soil analysis are too unreliable to depend upon. Field experiment i* a slower but safer method of finding out the requirements of a soil and the crops grown thereon. Other Counsel.