NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 6

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

chemists tell us that a- wheat crop averaging 30 bushels removes from each acre of land 28.81 b potash pure, 21.11 b phosphoric acid, 501 b nitrogen.' These three substances constitute the essential plant foods. The potash^and; phosphoric acid are entirely supplied irom the soil, whereas the nitrogen is absorbed by the plant. The New South Wales Department of Agriculture has for many years been carrying out most valuable work along these lines, and it is to the good of that State and individual growers that approved methods of production should be adopted;. By the courtesy of the department, the Potash Syndicate, Sydney, is now enabled to give the appended results of a number of experiments on the manuring of wheat carried out by prominent growers in almost, every wheat centre of Australia, and under the supervision of the inspector of agriculture. The results are with various wheats, of which Federation shows the most pronounced success. The experiments were conduct-ad tc sea if the addition of a small quantity of potash was profitable to mix with the superphosphate, and the results speak for themselves. The plan of experiment was as follows: —No. 1 plot received no manure; No. 2 plot received 561 b superphosphate per acre, costing 2s 3d; No. 3 plot received 421 b superphosphate and 14ib sulphate of potash per acre, costing 3s 6d. The manures were drilled in with the seed, and the quantity of superphosphate was reduced on Plot 3, so that the *eed of the drill need not altered. Taking the average of a number of the results, the yields from the respective plots are: —(1) No manure, 20 bushels 101 b; (2) superphosphate, 22 bushels 361 b, an increase of 2 bushels 261 b, costing 2s 3d per acre, value being 9s 8d per acre; (3) superphosphate and sulphate of potash. 25 bushels 21b. an increase of 4 bushels 521 b, costing 3s 6d per acre, value being 19s 6dl per acre. Again, after deducting the cost of manures, the net value of the increase from Plot 3 is 16s per acre, and the net value of the increase from Plot 2 is 7s 5d per acre; therefore the net profit in favour of potash is 8s 7d per acre. At the request of .the German National ■Society of pig-breeders a series of experiments, scientific and practical, have been carried out in that country by the Department of Agriculture, the object being to afford more complete information than had previously existed on certain questions in connection with the feeding of pigs. In these investigations 17 institutions in different parts of Germany took part, the chief object being to give precise information as to the effect of potatoes for fattening pigs, and the amount of albuminoids that should be given with them. The principal results of the investigations are as follows: —(11 It has been proved in the experiments that, in accordance with general experience, steamed potatoes are an excellent food for fattening ipigs. In all stages of the fattening process 50 to 60 per cent, of the digestible carbo-hydrates can be fed in the form of potatoes with good results. (2) An increase of the albuminoid proportion of the ration is not desirable. (3) Especially favourable or unfavourable effects from the usual different: foods and food mixtures on the quality of

Wheat in arts.

Potatops ns Pigs’ Food.

the flesh have not been observed. The quality of the flesh is more dependent upon the breed of the animal than upon the nature of the food. (4) In the experiments in which powdered chalk has been added to the ration of potato, meal, and skim milk in order to apply lime in the fodder, weakness or disease of bone formation has not been noticed. (5) The cost-of the production of 2001 b live weight has worked out at an average of 745, taking the foodstuffs at moderate prices. Assuming a cost cf 40s to 50s for young pigs of 1001 b weight, and with an increase of weight of 1501 b per pig, the cost of the fattening is ju6it covered when 1001 b of live weight can be sold at 38s to 525. This does not allow anything for risk which in pig fattening is an important item.

The principal of the School of Horticulture, Burnley, in writing to the Victorian Journal of Agriculture, gives amongst other valuable information some seasonable hints with regard to the vegetable garden. Asparagus beds, for instance, should be attended to by the end of this month, and the tops cut off before the seeds have a chance to drop on the ground, because if they are allowed to do so they will germinate and grow, and the seedlings will become a nuisance in the later season and the worst weed in the bed. The tops should be removed as soon as the seeds are ripening; the ground should then receive a good manorial dressing of well-rotted stable manure, or if near the sea coast a good tcip-dressing of seaweed is valuable. Formerly a heavy dressing of salt was given on all asparagus beds; but experience has shown that the presence of salt is not at all necessary to the development and growth of the plant; and later analyses of asparagus show that of all ingredients’ in tbs composition of this plant salt is in the lowest peroentaige. The most perfect fertiliser for asparagus is a mixture of 2£cwt sulphate of ammonia, 2cwt sulphate of potash, and from 4cwt to scwt bonedust per acre. This will supply a fair amount of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid in the proportion required by the plants. Asparagus, states the same authority, is a gross feeder, and the plant requires abundant food in an available form, and within easy reach during its growing period. The most successful • practice in manuring asparagus is to tcpdrcss with stable manure in the autumn, and then to feed with chemical fertilisers in early spring. In preparing new asparagus beds the ground should be very dcenly dug, a depth of from 2ft to 3ft beinv not at all excessive. A good rich friable soil is required, and a good mixture of well-rotted stable manure should be thoroughly worked into the bed. which must be well drained. It is not essential to place large quantities of manure in the bottom of the bed oir of the trenches. This is a wasteful practice: and' the plant will thrive far better in a fairly compact soil, which has been well worked with manure, and fertility and productiveness will be maintained by the regular top-dressings. Before planting out such kitchen plants as rhubarb, horse radish, etc., the ground should be deeply stirred and well mixed with old decomposed manure. The deeper the working the more profitable will be the results. Topp’s Winter, Stone’s Ever-bearing Ruby, and Early Albert rhubarbs are popular and profitable varieties to grow.

Tlif Yesetab'e Garden.

It is not generally known that the O-over ment of Victoria, with a view to assisting its agricultural societies, makes annual grants on certain defined conditions. According to the Victorian Journal of Agriculture the following are the main conditions to he carried l out during 1910 by the agricultural societies receiving a grant for that year : (a.) That the- awards of prizes in all classes of stallions three years old and over .at the society’s show must be subject to the possession by the exhibit of a Government certificate of soundness, and in this connection it is stated l that the examination of stallions for Government certificate of soundness will not be made at shows in the buture, but at horse parades, which will be held at different centres prior to the commencement of the show season. (b) That the society arrange for the holding of agricultural students’ classes, or the holding of a series of at least four lectures or demonstrations on agricultural or live stock matters, certain conditions being clearly laid down by the Department of Agriculture. The lectures and demonstrations are on the principles of agriculture, veterinary science, and live stock subjects, sheembreeding and management, dairyfarming, poultry-breeding and management, and orchard and garden work. (c) That the society arrange for the carrying out of field experiments on .an area and in a locality to be approved by the department, or provide and offer a substantial prize (the amount to be approved by the Minister of Agriculture, but not less than, £5) for improvements in farm practice and management, or the cultivation of special crops in the district. The plot of land to be about five acres in extent, so that the amount of produce may be of value to the society. The preparations of the land to be whollv carried out by the experimenter, and if not considered in

Govern net® Grants to Jlprriruttu! al Societies.

proper order' at the time of sowing any further work required shall be done promptly. Each society has to appoint a sub-committee to consult with the departmental officer as to the class of experiment and the best means of carrying out the same'. Each society has also to arrange for regular visitation of the experimental plot during growth and for a "field day " and lecture upon the plot towards its maturity. Not less than four entries to constitute a competition. Very good work is being done in Victoria with the assistance of the Government in the directions just stated, end this Dominion might well follow on the same lines, and the Agricultural Department by following the example of our sister State- of Victoria would help the leading agricultural societies of New Zealand to considerably extend their sphere of usefulness. AGRICOLA.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. "Interested" forwards the report of prosecutions at-Waimate for working horses with sore shoulders, and adds:—"The oonterition of the defence that it was necessary to work the horses thus to harden the skin seems unlikely, but it is commonly believed in the neighbourhood. My practice is to have the collars removed at feeding time, and when the shoulders get vsore put" on trace collars. Even then I find it difficult to keep the horse with proper unbroken skin. I should be glad if you could give a few words on this subject." I have carefully read the report of the recent prosecutions a± Waimate. and cannot endorse the contention of the defence. From the evidence the cases seem to have been bid ones, and the fines that were inflicted fully justified. A good practice for sore shoulders is. as you say, to remove tb? cellars at feeding time, and also to bathe the shoulders' every evening with a solution extracted from bluegum leaves. In the spring and autumn in dry seasons horses are very liable to sore shoulders no matter how' well the collars fit. A careful teamster will, as soon as he discovers a raw olace, on any of his bosses, remove the wadding of the collar exactly over the sore (thus oreventing pressure on the raw place) and if further trouble is experienced rait en trace cellars and eive the horse lighter work. There is no doubt that work that [S not too heavy, orovided wressure is kept off anv raw tilace on a shoulder, will harden the skin. Rut from tbp. evidence of the recent cases 1 have little hesitation in saying that the "punishment inflicted did not more than fit the crime." In other words, the fines imposed were fully deserved.