CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENTAL FARMING.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 17 July 1914, Page 1

CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENTAL FARMING.

Experiment with Mangels.— Variety v Manurial Test. (Supervised by Mr J. De H Bayhss); The experiment with nitrate of soda was earned but at the request of the | Chilian Nitrate Propaganda, Sydney, New South Wales. The previous crop was barley fed off as forage. The ground was ploughed on August loth and disced three times, tho ground leii g badly infested with chewings fescue, which in this laud is ns bad »s couch. ' After .several harrowing* six varieties of mangels were drilled on September 16th m rows 24 inches apart. The manure drilled with the seed was 336 lbs of super and 108-ibs sulphate of potash to the acre. The plot was divided into three equal parts, Plot 1 receivtd no dressing of nitrate of soda. Plot 2 was top dressed with 168 lbs nitrate of soda t)tbe acre on Nov.embtr Bth. Plot 3 wrs tbp dressed with 168 lbs nitrate of soda to the acre twice, on November Bth and December 5 th. The mangels were singled on November sih an I t ie ph n t put the- ugh bit.vem the drills on November Bth. D> cember Gth. March sth and April 3 d. The crop vv. s pulled May 19th. The yield of th** diff-rt i t vamtns in .each of the thr.e plots was us foil >\vs : Ph t No 1. no nitrate; Arundell’s Long Bed, 45tons 7cwt ohlbs. Plot 2, one dressing nitrate; 52 tons 18 cwt 541bs per acre. Plot 3 two dressings nitrate.' 59 tons 9cwt 52lfcs ner acre. Plot 1, no nitrate; Arundell’s White Sugtr, IStons 12cwt 36Ps per acre. Plot 2 one dressing nitrate; 52tons 7cwt 7Glbs prr acre. Plot 3. two drrssiugs nitrate: 58tons 6cwt 831bs per acre. Plot 1, no nitrate; Jersey Queen 36tons 14cwt 72lbs per acre. Plot 2, one dressing nitrate; 55tons llcwt 108.bs p-r acre. Plot 3, two dressings nitrate; oGtona 3cwt 84lbs per aero. * Plot 1. no nitrate; Garten’s New Sugar, 28tona lowt BSlhs prr acre. Plot 2, one drrssiag nitrate; 39:ons lOewt GOlbs per ac e. Plot 3, two dressings nitrate' 45 ons 7cwt £6lbs per acre. Plot one, no nitra'e; Sutton's White Sugar, colons llcwt IOSIb* per acre. Plot 2, one dressing nitrate ; GOtenslOcwl per aorp. Plot 3, two dnsdugs nitrate.’ oStons scwt 88lba per acre. Plot 1, no nitrate' Devon Yellow Globe, 49tons 23owt !C4lbs per acre, ■ Plot 2, one dressing nitrate'. 54tons Ocwt 40lbs per acre. Plot 3, two dressings nitrate: 69tons p’lcwt KMlhsper aero. The season throughout was unfavourable for root crops owing to the cold f winds and a dry period followed by very heavy rains. The nitrate of soda had a

marked <ff ct, more eipi cially after the application. The Long Red and Qarton’s Now Sugar were very I ard to pull, Jersey Queen and Dev u Yellow belog lha best in this resp-ct