Page 15 Advertisements Column 1

Southland Times, Issue 24106, 20 April 1940, Page 15

RL wEJffiS 1 vpfja/ SiiulwJ —jfiSSUHI f I I Book. I* l N.Z., Basic Slag, ■BWliF* W II Exports in Cwt. of Guano and other mM W “ I SEASON. I Butter, Casein, phosphates m torn. ■■ ■■ll ■ ZTli rfSln I I Cheese, Beef, Mutton, Figures supplied by 1/ * | l “” “ J p "' k ‘ TS'Sk 1928- 6,852,804 I 356,864 1929- 7,056,685 I 358,896 1930- 7,565,573 I 287,179 1931- 7,897,462 263,825 1932- 9,084,620 338,971 1933- 9,659,574 280,854 I 1934- 9,574,367 326,197 | I 1935-36 8,888,829 370,000 || 1936-37 9,302,484 459,000 Wfcy met oit tOnss 1937-38 9,583,480 556,000 •for faittire reference ? z...? 1 1938-39 9,325,121 539,000 Mow! Do f&aaißs fa solution to increased WM&stEfita as Artificial Fertiliser?

THIS table is certainly an eye-opener, isn’t it? We think you will agree, that, during the depression, when farmers had less money to spend on artificial fertilisers they harrowed more. Also, as we came out of the slump, having more money, more fertiliser was used and because of this, and possibly a shortage of labour, harrowing was relegated to a secondary position. So it would appear from the above table that harrowing is all-important to our production, because surely it is more than coincidence that generally speaking, our production has not increased in proportion to the increase in fertiliser. As a matter of fact, it has sometimes actually decreased. Although fertiliser used in the last two or three years is _ practically double that used during the depression years — production has shown no appreciable increase. Peculiarly enough, it has decreased when compared with our peak production of the slump period when the quantity of fertiliser was about half that used recently. Now, just have another look at the table of figures and we think you will come to the conclusion that plenty of HARROWING, plus fertiliser in moderation, gives maximum production—not fertiliser alone! If you are fully awake to the pounds, shillings and pence of increased production at lower cost, then you will realize why there is a rapidly increasing demand for “BEVIN” HARROWS. From the rapidly increasing demand for “Bevin” Harrows it is obvious that farmers are again waking up to the fact that artificial fertiliser alone is not the solution to increased production and more net profit through decreased costs. We know from the experiences and results of nearly 3000 users of the “Bevin” Harrow, some hundreds of whom have written us appreciative letters and enthusiastic reports—that farmers generally would be well advised to devote more time to harrowing. Most farmers will agree that efficient harrowing, besides eradicating weeds and increasing the fertility of the soil by cultivation, will actually make artificials do far more work—because harrowing opens up the ground and lets the fertiliser into the neighbourhood of the plant roots, where it is wanted. What is the Origin "Manure" ? Read this interesting article from the Auckland Star Week-end Pictorial, 20/1/40, keeping in mind that the same laws of nature apply to plants whether they be in a garden or in a pasture:— “Summer cultivation is no mere bit of scientific or faddish gardening. It existed long before what we now call ‘scientific culture’ was introduced. It was practised by the ancients, and was the origin of the word manure, which is derived from ‘manoeuvre,’ which simply means ‘handwork.’ “To manure (or manoeuvre) a soil really meant in the earlier days to ‘handwork’ it, to tickle it with a hoe. Nowadays to manure a soil is to give it a dose of some fertiliser. It is a poor substitute in comparison. Let a summer crop, that is treated with fertilisers, and no hoeing, try to compete with one well worked with the hoe or harrows; the crop that has been worked with the hoe will come out on top every time. On an ordinary soil, tillage is always more powerful. “The world over, great stress is laid upon experiments with fertilisers, but little is said about tillage. “The two combined are no doubt worthy of all attention and praise, but tillage should receive equal attention, for it is equally important. “Many cannot afford quantities of manure, and many more cannot make head nor tail of the results of the comparative tests of different qualities and brands of manure that are published. “The same cannot be said of cultivation. There are no elaborate tabulated details necessary. The whole problem is work—plenty of it. If fertilisers are worth three times their cost, cultivation is worth its cost 30 times.”