PASTURE IMPROVEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3674, 12 August 1924, Page 13

PASTURE IMPROVEMENT.

It is admitted that our pastoral and arable acres will respond to phosphatic manuring. It has not yet been determined how best to apply the top-dressing fertiliser, and no doubt it will be found that different soils will require different treatment, that some lands can make use of more or less insoluble manures whereas other soils call for fertilisers which dissolve quickly in water. In this connection it is of interest to note what Victoria is doing. In their Journal of Agriculture Dr Richardson (Agricultural Superintendent) recounts some of the top-dressing experiments carried on throughout Victoria during 1923 under the auspices of the Chamber of Agriculture, with the co-operation of local agricultural societies. Over 30 grass improvement experiment plots were laid out in different parts of the State on a uniform plan, as follows: • (a) No manure. (b) lewt superphosphate. (c) 2cwt superphosphate. Ml districts. Mfitb one exception (Euroa), recorded a substantial improvement in the pastufe as a result of top-dressing with superphosphate. The annual rainfall o the districts in which experiments were conducted varied from 18m to 40m. No official top dressing tests were macie on the lighter rainfall countrv. Experiments on private farms in the Wimmera have shown that substantial improvement in the carryince capacity of the grass lands resin, s from top-dressing. Dr Richardson says there is every reason to believe that dressings of water-soluble phosphates would o-ive a nrontablo response on the natural pastures' of the Wimmera and northern areas of Victoria. He gives detads of the actual yields secured from the Kylieton plots, where results for two years are available. The plots were cut with a mower, and the grass hay weighed over the municipal weighbridge. In this way a fairly accurate estimate of the value of the ton dressing was obtained, f or the season 1922 with 51in annual rainfall, the plots yielded dry grass as follows: No manure, tent per acre; lcvvt super. 15.87 cwt per acre; 2ewt super, 26cwt per acre. For the season 1923 with a 30 26in rainfall, the recorded yields wore: No manure, 19 25c\vt per acre; lewt super 27.5 cwt per acre; 2cwt super, 44cwt per acre. The plots were sown on separate paddocks each year, and the soil was representative of the average land of the district. The value of the grass hay, which was sold at £3 per ton on the unmanured plot averaged for the two \eai» £~ 0s lOd per acre, while that on the heavily manured plot was worth £5 5s per acre-an increased yield of grass hay valued at £3 4s 2rl per acre for an expenditure ot this being the cost of the fertiliser and its application. There was a remarkable growth of clover and trefoil on the manured sections of these plots. . . The time of application tor artificial manures (states Dalgety’s. Review) depends upon the type of fertiliser and the climatic conditions of the locality. Phosphates are best applied when the growth of grass commences. For Southern Australia this corresponds with autumn. If applied in the autumn, root development is favoured, early growth is stimulated, and the grass makes good headway before the cold of winter. It is held by some that there is a danger of losing a good deal of the phosphatic fertiliser, especially a water soluble phosphate like superphosphate, by

spreading it in autumn and allowing it to receive the full force of the heavy winter rains. There is little in this theory, and there need be no anxiety as to the fate of the soluble phosphates. Watersoluble phosphate is rapidly fixed by the finely divided colloidal matter of the soil within a few inches of the surface. Scientists have shown that phosphates do not leech out from soils. Superphosphate may, therefore, be applied early in the autumn without any risk of loss by leeching. Superphosphate gives such a decided stimulus to root growth, and plays such an important nart in the nutrition of the crop in the early stages, it might well be applied .with the first autumn rains. 'Hie rate at which fertilisers may be applied to grass lands depends largely on the amount of rainfall and the nature of the soil. In legions of heavy rainfall, where heavier and more continuous nrodnet ion of grass is possible, liberal dressings should be used. Similarly, while poor land will show a greater relative response to fertiliser than rich land, the rich land can better bear a heavier application than the lighter land. Much work is necessary to determine the quantity of various fertilisers required for grass lands in the different climatic regions. It may he said, however, that the recent experiments of the Department and of the Chamber of Agriculture show that at least lewt of superphosphate per acre should be applied, and that in many cases an initial application of 2cwt per acre is advisable. The amount should he determined on each farm by sowing a few trial plots. 11 ith regard to frequency of application, it has been shown that the effects of one application of phosphate persists for at least four years, but the greatest improvement is observed the same year as the phosphate is applied. After the initial application, dressing of, say, lewt per acre may be repeated every two or three years. This is a matter that each farmer must work out for himself on a strict financial basis. There is no reason why the grass crops should not be treated the same way as a wheat or hay crop —i.e., be given a dressing each year of an amounts of phosphate at least equal to that removed by the crop. The fertilisers may be applied with a seed-drill or a fertiliser distributor, or they may be broadcast. For grass lands the fertiliser distributor is a convenient mol find of anplyirxr the manure. It covers a strip of 9ft to 10ft wide, and requires but one horse. It will sow small quantities (lewt to 2cwt), and, If required, larger quantities, up to one ton or two tons per acre. It is therefore usefl for spreading artificial manures and also for the of lime and gyr.sum. 1 hrough the use of soluble phosphates, combined with improved cultural methods, a remarkable transformation has been effected in the wheat belt of Northern A ictoria. With the aid of soluble phosphates, the use of suitable grasses and clovers, and the rational treatment of grass lands an even more remarkable change may be effected in pasture lands, which will result in a great increase in the numbers of stock carried and a maferial improvement in the fertility of the so l. TARANAKI DAIRY COMPANY. MODERNISED FACTORY OPENED. DANNEVIRKE, August 5. Mr A. D. M'Leod (Minister of Lands) participated in the ceremony of opening a modernised factory at Terehanga built by the Tamaki Dairy Company. In the course of his speech he congratulated the district on its enterprise, and indicated that the primary producer would benefit under the forthcoming revision of the railway tariff. The Minister also referred to what he described as an unjust attack on his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, by a certain section of the Auckland press and the Auckland Fairmara’ Fertiliser Company. Mr M'Leod declared that the Government’s attitude right through, since taking over a portion of the Nauru phosphates, lias been to see that the farmers were not exploited. CANTERBURY CRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 8. Auckland merchants have now entered upon the Canterbury markets as keen purchasers of potatoes to fill their orders. The available space on the Wanaka to leave Lyttelton this evening has been filled up, and trade is proceeding apace in respect to the shipment in the Wingatui. The market rate for prompt shipment is £G a ton, f.0.b., s.i., while a small lot changed hands yesterday at £6 10s. Advice had just been received of the withdrawal of a vessel or so from the Melbourne market, and it looked as though the inflow of Australian supplies had been closed for a month at least. Over-sellers immediately became as busy as bsavere, and under the pressure the market rates shot upwards. Then came a, sudden reaction, rumours were circulated that the Australian was not cut off Horn the New Zealand maiket, and prices sagged to £5 15s a ton, f.0.b., s.i., but in the main the original shipping advice was correct. The Karori is able to load at Tasmania, but Tasmanian potatoes are dearer than Victorian, and the quantity being brought to the dominion is only 100 tons or so. On Tuesday buying orders began to come to hand from Auckland, and they have continued steadily although no deluge has taken place. The market, which reflects in its rate the improved demand is now on a better footing than it has been for weeks. All the same, operators are affected by no spirit of exaltation. They are keeping a weather eye open to detect any signs of gathering squalls. The track of navigators this season has been beset by storms and reefs, although smoother waters have been entered upon, merchants are pro-

ceeding -with caution. _ The August and i neniber price is the same as for prompt rates, having dropped a few shillings from last week's. Now that Auckland is looking to Carterburv for her stocks of potatoes attention turns to the possible size of stocks held by growers. Merchants still are finding growers firm sellers. A state of affairs which doe 3 not suggest that they are holding large supplies, larger, that is, than is held normally at this period. They are being subjected to offers of £4 7s 6d to £4 10s a ton, at country stations. Now that a demand for seed oats has set in the effects of the deficit in the yield are becoming apparent. 3 grade Gartons are commanding 6s a bushel, and A’s 63 6d, f.0.b., s.i. These are famine prices, of course. It not only is the genuine demand which has forced them to this level, but the speculative interest. Forward operators have been real friends to the farmers this season. At present no large number of over-sellers are on the market, there being odd inquiries. So difficult is it to secure.A grade Gartons for seed that B’s are changing hands for the purpose. Oatshc-af chaff is fairly firm at late rates. Interest in Partridge peas has flagged. Prices have receded from 7s a bushel, f.0.b., s.i., to Cs IOJd, and there are said to be lower quotes about than this. Eyes are cocked up on the ryegrass market, where 27-Q3lb seed is quoted from 8s 3d to 8s 6d, but business in the grass seeds and clover markets is hut slight, and there are no changes to report.