ROOT CROPS AT RUAKURA.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 5, 15 May 1913, Page 519

ROOT CROPS AT RUAKURA.

With the absence of sufficient moisture the root crops at Ruakura Farm of Instruction are not bulbing as well as they otherwise would have done, but on the whole are very creditable. In the mangel crop the subsoiled portion of the field is giving better results than either the late or early ploughing at the ordinary depth of 7 in. In the swede manurial experiments the plots manured with a double dressing of basic slag and kainit carry at the present time the heaviest crops of roots, and present a great contrast to the plots receiving half the quantity of the same mixture. The plots dressed with basic superphosphate and sulphur, superphosphate and bones, guano and sulphur, and basic superphosphate and basic slag stand well to the front, the last named being the most even and healthy plot in the whole paddock. The no-manure plot can be classed only as an absolute failure; the crop will not be sufficient to pay for even a half of the cultivation. Plots dressed with phosphates and potash alone are better than those dressed with nitrate of soda in addition at an increased cost of Ils. per acre. Cross-dressings of lime have as yet shown little result. This field is of great interest to the numerous visitors.