TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14409, 10 May 1917, Page 3

TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY

The fertility of the soil can only be maintained by continuous and thorough cultivation, and by. keeping lip a well-balanced supply of the mamirial elements that are required by plants for their normal growth (writes "Aotea" in. tho Christchurch "Sun"). The principal of these are nitrogen, phosphates, potash, and lime.'. Where a plentiful supply of stable or farmyard manure can be obtained, it will practically '"supply a sufficiency of the first three, but unless the soil naturally ■ contains the necessary quantity of lime, a periodical explication either of ground limestone or that which is known as quicklime, (should be given about every third year to neutralise the acid that may form from an excess of humus. It also makes soluble the mineral phosphate and potash of the soil, and fits them for the -use of plants. It also combines with any iree ammoira, forming nitrates, tho only f orm j n ' which plants can absorb nitrogen. Where there is a shortage of manure, other means must be taken to supply the soil with the necessary plant■ foods. The most useful of those supplying nitrogen are: Blood manure and sulphate of ammonia, phosphates, bonedvtst. basic slag and superphosphate, potash, kainitj and j sulphate of potash. At the present time potash manures are hardly obtainable, as they nearly all come, from ! Germany. In 1914 there was imported into the Dominion 2-172 tons of kainit, 152,9 tons of sulphate of potash, and other potash manures totalling* 1238 tons. Since 1914 there has been practically none imported. There is in most soils a sufficiency of potash in an insoluble form that slowly becomes available for plant food, but in highly cultivated ground, where nitrates and ammonia salts are iised, it is necessary to keep up an even balance, that potash should be given too. The most easily available form of potash is contained in wood ashes, so that hedge clippings, primings, and any woody refuse should bo burnt, and the ashes carefully conserved. As the potash they contain is very soluble and easily -washed out, they should be kept perfectly dry imtil they are spread on the soil. Seaweed, where obtainable, is also a valuable source of potash.

Another means of. increasing the productivity and fertility is deep cultivation. Ground worked two spades deep will contain twice the amount of plant food than that which lias only been turned over one spade deep, and if will hold and retain very much more of the rainfall. It is warmer, as- the air can percolate deeper into it, and it is very much easier to work in early spring, as the rain soaking deeper down leaves the surface in a much more workable condition. To get the !>est cut.of garden ground, the gardener should not be satisfied until there is three feet of well-cultivated and manured soil. It will then take a very dry season to do him much harm.

A campaign in aid of the funds for 1.M.0.A. war work, which has. been gomg on m Auckland for the, past three weeks, had -realised- over: £35 000 up till Saturday night last.

POSTAL OFFICIALS AND BANKS. Mail room sorters run considerable risk from disease bacilli. Many of them, also many Bank tellers, gargle and sniff up Fluenzol as a safeguard.*