TOPDRESSING

Southland Times, Issue 22157, 27 October 1933, Page 3

TOPDRESSING

DECREASE SHOWN. DROP OF 91,000 TONS. (From Our Press Representative.) Wellington October 24. Concern at the decreased use of fertilizers for top-dressing is expressed by the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Dr C. J. Reakes, in his annual report to Parliament. Compared with 1929, the 1933 season showed a decrease of 91,000 tons. With the subsidy scheme in operation, the position appeared to be improving, states Dr Reakes, but it is. significant of the narrow margin of working capital under farmers’ control that the failure in recovery of the price trend of dairy produce in November, 1932, was followed by a marked falling-off in the use of fertilizers, despite the Government subsidy. Fortunately, climatic conditions were favourable to grass growth and no serious effects are noticeable in the present stock-feed position, but should less favourable conditions be experienced during the ensuing season, depletion of fertility may be expected to make itself manifest.

The figures for artificial fertilizers for all purposes delivered during the period January-June for the past five years are as follows:—

“The drastic reduction portrayed becomes even more significant when it is remembered that dairy cows have increased from 1,371,063 in January, 1929, to approximately 1,840,000 in January, 1933,” he adds. “Thus, the effective use of fertilizer per cow has fallen greatly

and the continued increase in production noted this season can only be accounted for by improved pastures, improved cows and improved farm management generally, all of which reflect the policy adopted by the Department in improving pasture strains, in the dissemination of knowledge generally and in its encouragement of herd-test-ing.”

Decrease from 1929 Tons 228,000 1929 Tons 1930 212,000 16,000 1931 152,000 76,000 1932 222,000 6,000 1933 137,000 91,000