FERTILISER TEST

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1939, Page 4

FERTILISER TEST

SLAG PASTURE LEADING WAIMATE WEST RESULT Twenty pounds more butterfat was produced by the herd feeding from basic siag fertilised pastures in comparison with those feeding on pastures dressed with superphosphate during August, it vas reported to the monthly meeting of the Waimate V/est dernonstration farm committee at Manaia. Tne comparison was enabled through an experiment initiated some time ago, in which the herd ot about 70 cows was divided into two herds and separately pastured on paddocks fertilised with the two manures. During August the cows grazed on the basic slag pastures yielded 787.11b of butterfat, while tlw-re on superphosphate pastures yielded 767.11b. An increase of 158.71b was shown in the total butterfat yield for* the months of July and August, compared with the same months last year. During July 201.21b was yielded, followed by 1554.21b in August. making a total of 1755.41b. In 1938 216.11b was the yield in July and 1380.6 lb in August, totalling 1596.71b for the two months. Owing to so mi-ch rain and cold weather the pastures had made little growth, stated the 'eport of the manager, Mr. T. Paterson. hevertheless; the pastures were looking well and would make rapid growth when fine and warm weather arrived. Sixty-two cows were being milked but the returns were not good because of the weather. There were eight more cows t.o come in. It was resolved to purchase shrubs to complete the beautification of the entrance drive.