TESTING THE SOIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 9

TESTING THE SOIL.

An important point, emphasised by Hie barley-manuring experiments carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, is the ' necessity of every farmer testing his own land by small experiments, and ascertaining for himself its immediate requirements, before purchasing and applying artificial manures. The trials were conducted at three centres on soils as diversified as possible — namely, drift loam, strong loam, and 'sandy loam. Although some of the differences in the results may be accounted for by the previous treatment on the land afrd its fertility at the time of experimenting, the need for individual investigation is clearly illustrated. In the case of one farm, where the soil was in a high state of fertility, the sulphate of ammonia was the only manure which gave a remunerative On the second farm, on the other hand, mineral manures, and especially kainit, were effective; while on the third a loss resulted in each instance, the smallest deficit being sustained on the sulphate of ammonia plot followed by the kainit plot, i