VALUE OF TOP-DRESSING

Southland Times, Issue 20487, 15 May 1928, Page 8

VALUE OF TOP-DRESSING

STRIKING FIGURES. WHAT GORE FARM HAS DONE. WAIKAIA CASE CITED ALSO. The following appeared in the Pastoral Review, Melbourne, of recent date: — The area of land top-dressed in New Zealand with artificial manures last year totalled 1,521,259 acres, and of this 1,286,938 acres were in the North Island and 234.321 acres in the South Island. Most of the land in the North Island has never been cultivated, but is cleared bush land surface thrown. The best, success in top-dressing in the South Island is obtained in the moister climate ot Otago and Southland, and the greater rainfall in the North Island has to do with its success there. Some striking instances were lately recorded of results that have been obtained in Southland, where 175,000 more sheep are being carried than was the case a few years ago. A 350-acre farm in the Gore district, mostly hill faces with tablelands on top. five years ago had a carrying capacity of 200 ewes and 160 lambs. As a result of top-dressing this property is carrying this year 1150 head of sheep, 550 ewes, 150 wethers and 450 lambs. The lambs were dropped in September, and the first draft of fats off their mothers went to the freezing works early in January and averaged 39.801 b without a reject. In the Waikaia district, on an area of 3000 acres of fairly light country, topdressing was started three years ago. This season 6000 sheep were shorn, and * the wool sold up to 20d.