MANURES AND CROPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1921, Page 8

MANURES AND CROPS.

ADDRESS BY MR. J. W. DEEM. There was a very good attendance at the Frankleigh Park Methodist Sunday School c-n Wednesday evening, when Mr. J. W. Deem, of the Agricultural Department, delivered an address on "Manures and Cropping.” The meeting was held under the auspices of the Settlers' Association, and Mr. H. J. Hall (president) occupied the chair. At the outset of his address Mr. Deem stressed the absolute necessity for the proper feeding of the cow if she was to produce the maximum of butter-fat. Grass was the best and cheapest food they could get, but it did not grow all the year round, and consequently they had to make provision for supplementary feed during the winter period, and also to provide against drought. If sufficiently supplementary feed was grown to carrjthe present herds projlerly through these periods he ventured to say that the production per cow would be very considerably increased. There was no question at all about it, the average cow /as underfed because the average farmer tried to carry too many cows. It was much more profitable to run a smaller number of cows and see to it that they weie fed right up to the maximum than it was to try and squeeze a few extra head of stock on to the farm. Dealing with the question of manures Mr. Deem particularly stressed the importance In country like that of North Taranaki for green manuring. It was essential both for the building up of the plant food in the soil and for increasing humus. Wherever it could be done, a green crop should be turned in. Apart from green manuring they had to depend upon artificial (manures, which could be classified under three heads—phosphatic, potash and nitrogenous. So far as the latter was concerned, it could very well be cut out as a general rule because the land was fairly well supplied with nitrogen. A little was beneficial at times, but for root crops and things of that sort there was sufficient in the ground for all ordinary requirements. Phosphates were really our greatest need, all the land being deficient in phosphatic acid. It was really the basis of all our manuring, and encouraged con-

siderable growth. Potash was also very beneficial in a good deal of this country. He did not recommend superphosphate by itself. It was better In combination with other manures or to make what was known as basic super —super plus 15 per cent, of burnt lime—whifch was possibly the best form in which to use it at the present time. It was a manure which would carry right through until the ripening of the crop. It could not be made with carbonate of lime; they should see to it that it was made with burnt lime or not use it at all. Another good recipe for general use was 13cwt. super, 4cwt. ephos, and 3 cwt. burnt lime. Basic slag was extremely useful in this district; probably there was nothing ns good for top-dressing. In regard to the question of cropping Mr. Deem particularly stressed the importance of thorough cultivation. The land should be deeply ploughed early and thoroughly worked, especially new land. Results were never sc, satisfactory with the man who ploughed his land one day and sowed his seed the next. Il a farmer was in the unfortunate position that lie was not able to plough early and had no alternative but to follow on immediately with his sowing, then he must not plough deep, only about three Inches. The preparation of tiie seed bed was very important, it should be made as firm as possible, and seed should not be sown more Ilian half an inch deep. Having the ground too soft and sowing the seed too deeply resulted in failures. He was strongly of opinion that it was necessary to manure, and manure fairly heavily In this district; turnips, swedes and sc on should not be sown with less than 3cwt., and mangolds with 5 cwt. or 6cwt. Mr. Deem answered many questions, having purposely only briefly touched upon the different points in the hope that his remarks would be followed by a more or less general discussion. About 4 cwt. of basic slag to the acre was advisable for top-dressing; certainly not less than 3cwt., unless the paddock had been well top-dressed the year previously. Basic slag he considered tte most suitable for top-

dressing in this district, and if they could not get basic slag then they should use basic super. It gave almost as good results. He did not advocate the use of rock phosphates by themselves for top-dressing. Bonedust and super was a very good manure for turnips, but expensive. Never allow a pasture to go back once they had it in good order. It was far more economical to give it a reasonable dressing every two or three years. Whilst advocating deep ploughing he did not mean by that that they should bring up a lot of the sub-soil each year, but by bringing up a little each year they would improve | (lr« soil. The best method of getting rid of I cooch was to plough deep in the spring and I put in a heavy quick-growing crop; plough I again in the autumn and again put back into : crO j>—oats and tares for preference. This would give it a big check, and if it e could be followed by a crop of peas the following season, would just about settle it. Ploughing very deep and following with two or three heavy crops was an effective way of dealing with blackberry. He did not advocate Italian rye for temporary pasture. Manure was advantageous at the time of sowing lucerne. At the close Mr. Deem was accorded a veryhearty vote of thanks.