IMPROVING DAIRY PASTURES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13728, 18 August 1908, Page 8

IMPROVING DAIRY PASTURES.

Some timt ago we referred to an important experiment conducted !n Taranaki under the direction of Mr J M Hattrick, F.H.A.S., of Sydney, inconl nection with the top-dressing -of dairy pastures. The experiment is to be repeated at the Ruakura Experiment Station. The Taranaki experiment was conducted as follows: — Two uniform blocks of land, each four acres in area, were fenced in, and on each of these two cows, known to be about the same milk producing capacity, were depastured. Cows 1 and 2 were on the manured plot for six weeks, while 3 and 4 were on the unmanured land. At the end of this time they were interchanged, the object being to eliminate, what is scientifically known as idiosyncrasy of the cow. The milk from each cow was carefully weighed morning and evening throughout the period of the experiment, and periodically tested for its butter-fat percentage. The result of the experiment was a revelation as showing how quickly dairy cows respond to the better quality' of feed induced by judicious topdressing of the land. Throughout the whole period the cows on the manured land gave more milk and of a richer quality than did those on the untreated pasture. The manure mixture used was 3cwt of basic slag and a 30 per cent, potash manure per acre. The effects of this dressing will, it is expected, last for at least three years. The cost works out at from 6s to 8s per aci'e p.er. annum, according to the situation of the farm. Experiments such as these are what the farmers of the country demand, and it is to be hoped the Ruakura test will bo repeated at other experimental centres. The nature of this test suggests, however, the importance" of the co-operative experiment idea, for it is not on such lands as those of Weraroa, or even Moumohaki, where a test of this character would show striking result^, but rather on worn-out' pastures which are in need of manurial treatment. It would be, therefore, more to the point were the Department to arrange for a series of experiments, with similar manures, or combination of manures, throughout Taranaki, such as they are initiating in the Feilding district. The great need of ' Taranaki is improved pasturage, but the lessons the milk producer and the province require is not the experiments on dissimilar soils to their own, but 'tests on the varying scales in their own districts. ;