THE FARMING WORLD.

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20635, 22 October 1938, Page 25 (Supplement)

THE FARMING WORLD.

Value In Seedling Stage There is also the point that phosphate is particularly valuable to many crops in their seedling stage. To bury the whole of the phosphate fertiliser deep in the soil might lead to a rather inadequate supply for the seedling, and to consequent slow growth in the early stages with the attendant risk of prolonged exposure to the attack of insect pests. Though this difficulty could be overcome by ploughing in only a portion of the phosphate fertiliser, few farmers would welcome the idea of splitting the dressing in this way until very definite advantages have been shown. In the comparison of the merits of broadcasting and of the sowing with a combined seed and manure drill, it must be remembered that the latter can concentrate the fertiliser near the seed, and also save traversing the same ground twice over—once with a fertiliser distributor and again with the seed drill. On the other hand, however, there is the possibility that injury may result to the germinating seed from the too close proximity of an unsuitable fertiliser, this risk being most serious under prolonged dry coil conditions. Whether or not it

is Always possible to increase yields, or, alternately, to obtain the same yield from a smaller quantity of fertiliser by placing the fertiliser in some particular position in the soil must depend on a variety of circumstances. That it is possible to do so under some conditions has already been shown in Britain and some other countries. There is also, however, the wider question of the effect on subsequent crops and on the plant food reserves in the soil. Even if by correct placement the yield of the first crop can be maintained with a reduced amount of fertiliser, it may be necessary to increase the usual application to the succeeding crop, since presumably there will be a smaller residue left from the first application. Hence the saving in fertiliser may be less than seems probable at first sight. American experiments suggest that the fertiliser should be separated from the seed by two or three inches of soil, a result that can be achieved with certain types of drill. This view has not yet been confirmed by actual experiments in this country, though it docs seem probable that a thin layer of soil between seed and

fertiliser may reduce the risk of injury to germination, if nothing else. The Cow’s Mouth , ♦ • i i r % Look into the cow’s mouth and you will see some long, teat-like objects (papillae) project from the inner surface of the cheeks, especially on a level with the grinding surface of the molar teeth, and - the ridges of the palate are also rough, with saw-like edges pointing backward. The papillae and points of the palate ridges or “bars,” together with the roughness of the tongue, are intended to help the cow to retain the food in her mouth while chewing her cud. The incisor teeth of the cow normally or naturally are somewhat loose in their sockets. The wearing away of the cutting parts of the incisor teeth occurs when the cow is ageing, so that when she is 12 years old, and sometimes when she is younger, one may find little rounded stubs, like collar buttons, projecting from the gums, instead of large, broad, shovel-shaped teeth. The broad parts quickly wear off, and the slim necks remain. In the horse, however, the incisors, above and below, last the animal until It Is 20 or more years old. The pig roots below the surface to obtain minerals, clc., and, therefore, Is fitted

with & special bone in its snout and a ring or strong gristle as well, to make rooting possible. A moment of thought will enable the reader to understand, when such facts are noted about domestic animals, why the giraffe has such a long neck, the elephant Its trunk, the ant-eater Its elongated proboscis, the carnivorous or flesh-eating animals their fangs and bone-crushing molars, and the feline animals their claws, which have special muscles to keep them hidden or spring them into savage action.