FERTILISERS ARE PROVING VALUABLE IN TOP-DRESSING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18787, 17 June 1929, Page 16

FERTILISERS ARE PROVING VALUABLE IN TOP-DRESSING.

From the farmers’ viewpoint, the autumn and winter to date have been very good, with the result that farm work is well up to schedule and stock is in good condition. This, along with the very good season which has just passed, finds farmers looking forward with greater confidence than has been the case for some years. And in this connection it is interesting to note a distinct movement towards more scientific farming, and the movement is spreading while those who at first tried to improve their methods are exploiting the tried ways and also exploring new avenues. In the Staveley and surrounding districts, previous to last year, it was only an odd farmer who was reaching out towards a better utilisation of the land at his disposal, but last year saw a fair proportion of farmers take up the matter of top-dress-ing pastures with fertilisers. Though, of course, not miraculous the results from top-dressing at the end of the first season are quite up to expectations. Superphosphate at the rate of about two cwt per acre and lime up to ten cwt have been the most widely used, and where these, especially the former, have been applied there has been a pronounced growth of clover, while stock, especially dairy cows, have shown a great relish for the top-dressed areas, as against the untreated. One Staveley dairy farmer states that the only way in which he could keep his herd off the treated pasture was to shut them off. Previously he had noticed in his herd the “depraved taste” of bone chew ing. But the most outstanding fact in connection with his year’s experi ence was the increase in his milk sup ply. His herd was substantially the same as-for the previous year, yet his highest supply for one day went up from 15001 b in 1927-28 to 20001 b last year, and this while many neighbours were experiencing a decrease. The most noticeable result from topdressing was in a neighbouring foot hills district. Here the land-owner had, last August, top-dressed with one and three-quarter cwt of superphosphate a pasture—his cow paddock—that was in its fourth year and just about exhausted. lie left two control strips which at present show a rank growth of uneaten grass of poor quality. Wherever the fertiliser has fallen is well grazed succulent fodder. The paddock was drilled round and round, so that small patches were missed at the cor ners, and even these are plainly marked. Sheep also seem to show discrimination, and sheep farmers are apparent ly satisfied with the year’s workings So top-dressing is being used as a step ping-stone to a general improvement in methods.. So far rotational grazing has not been carried out to any extent, but last year one dairy farmer kept rank growth mown off his pastures. As yet sulphate of ammonia is being used only in experiments, but it is possible that, though a costly fertiliser, it may be used for starting spring growth earlier, for in the foothills district there is often a gap between the time the turnips are done or become unpalatable and the time the spring growth starts. One of the matters in which the district seems backward is herd-testing, but, on the other hand, several sheep farmers arc taking up the breeding of their own flocks ___ B