TREATMENT OF THE SOIL

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVII, Issue 5609, 5 May 1919, Page 2

TREATMENT OF THE SOIL

VALUE OF LIMB, After the stubbie is ploughed is a good time to apply lime to arable sod (writes Mr Primrose M‘Connell in the New Zealand Fanner. In New Zealand ;t is chstomary to sow pasture seeds after a cereal crop, but although it is advisable to do* so under certain circumstances, as a general rule it is not considered to be good farming. As a matter op fact, the poor condition of many of the New Zealand permanent pastures is the result of sowing the pasture seeds after a succession of grain crops. If at all possible, pasture seeds should be sown after a fallow crop has been eaten on the land. But whether the intention is to follow, the cereals with pasture or fallow crops, liming the stubble .furrow is good practice. Liming has become fashionable in New Zealand, and llong may the fashion last provided that it is not overdone. Since the introduction of tho raw ground limestone for agricultural purposes there is not so much danger of over liming, as in bygone days, when burnt lime only was applied. Like many other valuable aids to agriculture, the disc >vory of the agricultural value of the raw limestone was the result o' the observation of practical men. Oh the other hand, it may he permissible to cite an authentic case, among many, which shows how a number of our agricultural scientists have ignored, and do ignore, many practical facts that stare them in the face. A visitor ii the Rothampstcad Experimental Farm was shown by the scientist in charge what was considered to be one of the puzzling objects of interest, viz the luxuriant" growth of clover in a portion of the soil in a garden close to an old cvall, while other parts of the farm were clover sick. The visitor was informed that, although many chemical and physical examination of the clover sick soil had been made, the scientific staff had failed to discover the cause o[ the clover sickness, and the question was puzzling them very much. But the visitor, who was well acquainted with the beneficial effects of lime, diagnosed the case at once, and propounded tho solution that the Avail had fallen cloAvn at that part, of which there was evidence, and the slime thus applied to the soil had been the cause of tho luxuriant groAvth of clover, Avhile the clover sick soil Avas suffering from the lack of lime. It is a matter of congratulation that the Rothampstcad Expermentai Firm is nc\v being conducted frit common sense lines, Avhicli Avas not the ease only a few years ago. It was not until 1903 that the director of that station declared “that it is absolutely necessary to keep up a regular supply of lime in the surface soil for the use of he nitrifying and other advantageous soil bacteria, and that the application of an annual dressing of ground lime at the rate of ScAvt per acre is an allimportant operation in the routine of farming.” It is much to be regretted that the .-apply of lime available iii New Zealand •Is not equal to the demand, although the deposits are plentiful and ricn. It has to be remembered that the application of time to tho soil is mahdy the moans ofi exploiting its natural fertility, or tho fertility which may have been artificially applied, and that continuous liming Avithout manure •will lead to soil exhaustion sooner or later. Rich swamp soils, hoAvevter/Avill give good results for a number of years from repeated dressings of lime only, ns it liberates the great storey of plant -food which such soils contain.