TOPDRESSING PASTURES.

Putaruru Press, Volume V, Issue 175, 10 March 1927, Page 6

TOPDRESSING PASTURES.

WIDER EXPERIMENTS DESIRED. An interesting discussion on top-dress-ing of pastures took place recently at a meeting of the Victorian Chamber of Agriculture, and several members representing various portions of the State sj>oke of the advantages and benefits which had followed the practice. In a report on top-dressing plots established by agricultural societies under arrangements with the Chamber, Mr. J. J. Pascoe said that the average results excelled any obtained since 1922, when the movement was initiated. Oustanding improvements had been shown in wheat districts and districts bordering On wheat belts. In 1925, an abnormally dry season, the trials were disappointing, but that could be explained in a measure by the fact that the applications of manure were made too late in the season. In many instances less than an inch of rain fell in the growing period of the pasture after the manure was spread. This season earlier applications of manure were made, and the rainfall was so well distributed, though not heavy, that growth was almost continuous throughout the winter and spring. At. Goorambat three plots, each of nine square yards, were conducted. The first received no manure, the second received superphosphate at the rate of one cwt. to the acre, and the third two cwt. to the acre. The returns from the plots were 141 b., 251 b., and sGlb. of grass respectively.

Mr. Hancock said that remarkable results had followed experiments at Colac. From three plots, one of which received no manure, another one cwt., and the third two cwt. of superphosphate to the acre, the returns of grass were 3 cwt.. 16 cwt., and 26 cwt. respectively.

Mr. Rodgers said that experiments which would definitely indicate the increased carrying capacity of dairying land and first, second, and third class pasture land should be conducted in order that the commercial value of topdressing might be established. The chamber should carry the movement into the field of practical application, and demonstrate bv how much large areas, instead of plots, benefited by top-dressing. Mr. J. McGalliard (Yarram) reported having experimented o n rich river flats, on medium quality land, and on very poor land. From the medium quality , land he obtained the best results.