TOP-DRESSING PASTURES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 27

TOP-DRESSING PASTURES

DOMINION RESULTS The area of land top-dressed in New Zealand with artificial manures last year totalled 1,521,259 acres, and of this 1,256,938 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 gained in the moister climate of 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. On a 350-acre farm in the Gore district, mostly hill faces with tablelands on top, live years ago it had a carrying capacity of 200 ewes and 160 lambs. As a result of top-dressing, this property was carrying this year 1,150 head of sheep, 550 ewes, 150 wethers, and 450 lambs. The lambs were dropped in September, and the first draft of fats oh their mothers went to the freezing works early in January, and averaged 39.501 b without a reject. In the Waikaia district, on an area of 3.000 acres of fairly light country, top-dressing was started three years ago. This season 6,000 sheep were shorn, and the wool sold up to 20d.