EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN THE SOUTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 17

EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN THE SOUTH ISLAND.

By A. Macphehson, in the Journal of Agriculture. CO OPERATIVE FIELD EXPERIMENTS. Greatly increased interest and most gratifying support must bo recorded in connection with the co-operative field experimental campaign in tho South Island in the official year 1912-13. That tho great educational value of tho experiments, especially from the locality point of view, is being more generally appreciated is proved by the great increase in correspondence which took place during the year, inquiries being received in regard to tho experiments from a largo number of farmers in tho respective districts. Experiments were conducted on 230 farms, the total number of experimental plots being 3712. Prominent Fodder Crops.—

Among the plants experimented with, lucerne and silver beet stand out as deserving of more than special mention. There can bo no doubt that the lucerne tests initiated under the direction of Mr E. Clifton, Director of the Fields and Experimental Farms Division, and so readily taken advantage of by farmers during the post year, will have a far reaching effect in the future economy of farming in this country. The incalculable benefit which will bo derived ;n future years from the growing of this forage plant cannot at present bo estimated. The introduction of silver beet (hitherto a ‘‘garden vegetable”) as a fodder for stock has so far proved that it is likely in the near future to be recognised as one of the foremost fodder plants ler all classes of farm animals. In order to test the capability of this plant on different soils under different climatic conditions, and on account of the advisability of further testing its feeding and carrying capacity, experimental areas were secured in districts throughout the island as far apart as possible. To make the test complete the size of the experimental areas was increased in some cast's io one acre. This will allow of the acre being divided into four parts for feeding-off purposes, so that the feeding qualities of the plant can be the better determined. Sowings were made in both spring and autumn. Following are tin' most important crops experimented with by co-operating farmers: Lucerne (for the testing of which the department supplied seed for ono y acre and lime and inoculated soil for half an acre free of charge) wos tried on 143 farms, under a great variety of soil and climatic conditions. Variety tests were conducted on eight farms. Silver beet was tested over an equally wide area, of country, experiments being carried cut on 24 farms, with 35 manurial plots and 20 variety and other tests plots Other fodder crops tested were: Maize (67 plots on nine farms), millet (three plots on three farms),- helianthi (six plots on six farms], kohlrabi (two plots on two farms', oats and tares (one plot), thousand-headed kale (three plots on three farms), broad-leayed rape (10 plots on four farms), green Buda kale (15 plots on 15 farms), chon moellier (28 plots on 27 farms'. Wilson’s white cattle-cabbage (one plot). Carton’s marrow-stem kale (seven plots on seven farms). Root Crops.—

Varieties of root crops wero well rested. Mangels were tested from variety and mammal points of view in 542 plots on 19 farms. Swede's were tested in 767 variety and mammal plots on 32 farms; fellow and white-fleehod turnips in 812 plots on 28 farms; carrots in 119 plots on 12 farms; parenips in 10 plots on five farms: sujrar beet, one plot Experiments -were also con-

ducted with peas, 55 nlots on four farmaf Soya, beans, one plot; horse beans, on* plot. Sixteen farmers conducted potato trials._ which included 78 manurial teats, til spraying tests, and 15 variety tests Pumpkins were tested in six plots on two farm* f marrows in six plots on two farmi| squashes, two plots on two farms; hipin% two plots on two farms; grasses and cloven* 17 plots on six farms. Grains.— In the grain experiments the sowing* hod to be done in the spring, owing to ih* weather conditions being unfavourable throughout the winter. There were 168 tests, manurial and variety, on nine farm* in connection with wheat; 181 on 13 {arm* in connection with oats; two on two farms in connection with barley. HIGH SCHOOL CO-OPERATION.

' Again a number of high schools oo- | operated, in an altogether admirable manner j with the department in the conduct of ox- ! perimcntal plots, the value of which work was very far-reaching, by reason of tha greater prominence to it than in the case of the individual farmer’# experiments. A very large community of farmers no doubt profited by the carefully-con-ducted, experiments at many of the district high schools. The experiments* covered a wide range of subjects. The schools cooperating were: Waitaki Boys’High School, Oamaru, 251 plots; Boys’ High School, Rangiora, 251 plots; Ashburton District High School, 209; District High School, Tapanui, 205; District High School, Tokomairiro, 129; District High School, Palmerston South, 98; District High School. Mosgiel, 92; District High School, Bxlclutha, 59; District High School. Alexandra, 4; —in all, 1298 plots. GENERAL EXPERIMENTAL WORK. Apart from the co-operative experiments, a considerable amount of revegetatiou experimental work, designed to discover means of elucidating special local problems, are under progress in this island. In tha work of revegetating depleted country oa the Mackenzie Plains and in Central Otago there are 403 plots of grasses, clovers, and deep-rooted plants. Since the initiation of these experiments three years ago, five sowings have been made, at Sawdon, Haldon, and Earnvcleugh. At Whalesback, where an experimental area was laid off a year ago, two sowings wore made. In the Mackenzie Country spring sowings have done better, while in Central Otago autumn sowings have done better. The experiments so far go to show that surface sowings of these lands would be n. waste of money; that surface sowing and harrowing would give results very little better, and that even cultivating the land with a cultivator, harrowing, rolling, sowing the seed broadcast, and burrowing afterwards does not give nearly as good results as when the seed with the same cultivation and work is drilled in. The grasses, clovers, and deop-rooted plants which have given the best results so far arc tall oatgrass, awn less bromc grass, cocksfoot. prairie grass, Agropyron repens, Pbalaris commntata, Fcstuca dumetorum, rib grass, Bokhara olover, white clover, underground clover, lucerne, sheep’s burnet, chicory, sainfoin, and yarrow.

Regrassing Work on Morvon Hills.— The experimental area at Morvon Hills, Run J 233, was taken over during the year. A portion, about 150 acres, was fenced in with a rabbit-proof fence, and 120 acres of the area was ploughed and cultivated and dealt with as follows: —Sown with grasses, etc. (two sowings, autumn and spring), 80 plots. 37 acres; sown with rape to bo ploughed in for green-manuring, 72 acres; sown with white mustard to be ploughed in for green-manuring, six acres; sown with oats for- chaffing, 15 acres; —total, 130 acres. Reclamation of Sand Areas. — The successful demonstrations carried out the previous year to show' that these vast areas should no longer remain unproductive and were capable of being brought to produce payable crops ' were further extended. four areas being dealt with in Canterbury and one in Otago. A large number of letters wore received from settlors in different localities asking for advice in regard to such areas. When tuna admitted the localities were visited and advice given. When this could not bo don* advie*! was given by letter. Experimental Areas, West Coast. —

Koto Manu: Five acres, part of rescrvs IX, Te Kinga survey district, swamp land, was drained, ploughed, limed, and fenced in, preparatory to comprehensive experiments being initiated next spring. Poeruai One acre, part of reserve 26 block XIV, Te Kinga survey district, hush land, wa! cleared, ploughed, and fenced, preparatory to a complete scheme of experiments being carried out next season, Moann: Five acres of bush, part of section 2891, block V, Brunner survey district, bush land, was felled and burnt, to be sown this auutmn with various grasses. Pakihis, Westport: One aero, Puller Recreation Reserve, pakihl formation, was drained with explosives, ths timber removed, ploughed. ' limed, and fenced in, and made ready for experiment! to be initiated next snring. Four acres on -» the south side of the Buller River was ploughed, and is to be limed, preparatory to experiments being carried out thereon. —Manuka Scrub Lands between the Eyre and Waimakariri Rivers. — Five acres, typical of 70,000 acre* o|