NOTES FOR FARMERS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12497, 25 March 1909, Page 3

NOTES FOR FARMERS.

TOP DRESSING PASTURE ..LAND.

Some interesting notes on this subject are contributed _by Mr .James Runuio, of South Australia, who has been -.-.^.orimenting with superphosphate 1 and potash at Tarrawattai ."[Certain plots were tried with super 1; alone at the rate of 401 b and 301 b respectively, and still other plots were untreated. Little difference could be observed 'in the treated plots, but as compared with the untreated they showed an , appreciably iucreaso in carryingtppwer. Potash costs £14 per tori^ and super £7 7s 6d, so -Mr-Rundle does not, think he .was justified in using the , former. The manures were applied- in' the. winter, and by the end of September the 25 acres treated showed ten times the growth of the untreated. At the beginning of October 50 sheep, and two weeks later 100, besides six horses arid three milking cows and their calves, were pastured on the paddock. As the grass did not present signs of falling off the cows were taken .out and wore replaced by 16 two and a half year old steers and two old cows- ■■■ All tho stock put on condition remarkably. Trefoil, English white clover, dandelion and native grasses were, in the pasture Mr Rundle manured one acre with super alone, one with super and potash, and ono was left without any, his intention being to watch this, either cutting the grass or stocking each plot with sheep, and then ascertaining the amount in grass hay cut or the number of sheep the land will carry. An unknown insect is causing considerable damage in the' -gardens and orchards of Rochester' (Vie). It is about a third of an inch long, and resembles an ant. Its colour is grey, the extremeties ending in black points. At an earlier stage it is a small red insect. An prchardist who has suffered, from its depredations states that he is of opinion'the insect develops into a moth. : Specimens of the insect have been identified by Mr C. French, junr., assistant Government entomologist, as the Rutherglen bug. ~