MINERAL CONTENT OF PASTURES RESEARCH.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1, 20 July 1929, Page 18

MINERAL CONTENT OF PASTURES RESEARCH.

REPORT ON WORK IN NEW ZEALAND FOR YEAR 1928-29.

B. C. ASTON,

Chief Chemist, Department of Agriculture.

Introduction.

The following matter is the substance of an official report made by the writer in his capacity of Director of the New Zealand section of the research, supported by grants from the Empire Marketing Board, into the mineral content of pastures.

The work for the past year has provided additional evidence that where deficiency diseases in stock occur it is not possible to tell by mere inspection of the pasture whether it will or will not support stock in a healthy condition over lengthy periods, although stock may be kept healthy and even, under certain conditions, fattened if the period of grazing is restricted to a few months.

The three outstanding instances of this deceptive nature of the pasture are (a) “ bush sickness,” or iron starvation in sheep and cattle ; (&) “ dopiness ” in sheep, or calcium starvation ; (c) “ Waihi ” disease in cattle, or phosphorus starvation. (It is possible that this phosphorus deficiency may occur in sheep also in some localities.)

The “ bush-sick ” pasture has not only misled hundreds of practical farmers by its apparent normality and luxuriance of growth, but quite recently two eminent British authorities have failed to see anything abnormal in the appearance of the pasture.

The Mairoa “ dopiness ” pasture after treatment with a calcium salt is still a poor-looking feed, yet the addition of calcium has enabled a flock of young sheep to be maintained in health for eighteen months where previously the mortality would have been heavy.

Some cow-pastures in the upper Wairarapa district carrying a fair proportion of clovers and having good lime percentages are yet extremely deficient in phosphorus— worse, indeed, has yet been found in New Zealand. Other areas are affording similar evidence, but sufficient work has not been done to enable much to be said on the composition of their soils or pastures.

The remedy for each of the three troubles in stock mentioned is different, but it may be at once said that as all North Island soils are deficient in phosphate and give a liberal growth - response ...to phosphatic treatment; each of these deficiency diseases is benefited to a certain extent by phosphate dressings. Indeed, it would be an extraordinary thing if it were not so, seeing that phosphates have such a stimulating action on all plant-lifeincreasing the rootdevelopment and the consequent ability of the plant to search further afield for plant-food, and increasing the proportion of clovers in the pasture, thereby increasing the calcium content. Also it must not be forgotten that in the case of superphosphate other mineral foods besides phosphorus are supplied, chiefly calcium sulphate (supplying Ca and S), while in the case of basic slag there are supplied iron, manganese, silicon, calcium, and magnesium. All deficiency areas are therefore likely to respond to liberal phosphatic manuring, and

especially to treatment with a basic slag and superphosphate mixture in equal amounts. It may be noted that basic slag is the only commercial phosphate which contains iron in appreciable quantity.

There can be no.’doubt*, as to the correct method of combating deficiency disease under New Zealand conditions, where the deficient element would benefit both the yield or feeding-value of pasture and the health of the stock. In Waihi disease, therefore, undoubtedly treatment of the pasture by top-dressing with phosphates is indicated as sound policy, although to obtain quick results superphosphate in drinking-water, unsteamed bone-licks, and syrup of phosphate-of-iron drenches are for cattle undoubtedly efficacious remedies. In regard to calcium deficiency, there are cases where the application of lime or calcium salts does not increase to the same extent as phosphates the carrying-capacity of the pasture Wallace experiments gave evidence to the contrary), yet it undoubtedly makes it more palatable and has a great influence in rendering stock more resistant to disease ; therefore calcium salts or lime may well be advocated as a pasture - dressing. The administration of a lick to combat calcium deficiency is still in the experimental stage.

With regard to elements lack of which is responsible for malnutrition or deficiency diseases in stock, and which do not increase the yield and carrying-capacity of the pasture, such as sodium, iron, chlorine, and iodine, it seems probable that it will generally be found economic in cases where any such element is deficient for animal life to give it to the stock direct as a lick or drench, or dissolved in the drinking-water. It is doubted by some plant physiologists whether chlorine is essential to plant-growth, and the doubt about iodine must be greater still, seeing that all the elements known to be essential to plants have low atomic weights ranging from 1 (hydrogen) to 56 (iron), whereas the atomic weight of iodine is 127. Iron is required in such small amounts for plants that all soils, with very rare exceptions, contain sufficient, but the animal requires iron in much greater amount. It is an established practice in agriculture to give sodium and chlorine to the animal direct as a lick. It will, therefore be both economical and logical to give iodine and iron as a lick in cases where it is desirable to supplement that of the food-supply. Indirect methods such as increasing the humus, thus reducing leaching and loss of plant foods, and supplying phosphates and nitrates containing the deficient element as an impurity, may when practicable be found effective.

One of the greatest difficulties met with in the progress of this investigation has been that of obtaining samples of pasture which adequately represent what the animal is actually eating. The most misleading results may be obtained from pasture gathered in the field on which stock are actually grazing. The tendency in the inexpert sampler is to obtain samples of what the animal is not eating, for it is precisely that portion which is the most easy to obtain. Instructions have therefore been given to exercise the utmost care to collect only portions of pasture which shows signs of having been bitten by the grazing animals. While this task is likely to be satisfactorily accomplished ■ with care in the case of cow pastures, it will probably be extremely difficult in the case of sheep pastures where the animals have the range over a large area of broken country and have reduced the area grazed to a very closely cropped lawn.

The writer hopes to evolve a system eventually that will enable proper samples to 'be obtained with certainty, but one of the first steps in attaining a reasonable degree of accuracy in this important part of the work is the delegation of the duty of all pasture-sampling to one officer and his assistant. Mr. R. E. R. Grimmett, of the writer's staff, has devised a special instrument for obtaining samples from short lawn-like pasture. This is merely a pair of horse-clippers with the alternate prongs removed, the sample being cut by applying the reverse side of the clippers to the surface of the soil. Some of the pastures in Central Otago are so bare in spring that even this device may fail and other methods have to be adopted.

It will be convenient to report the work undertaken during the year in the order given, disposing first of the investigations more recently taken up and which have at present only reached an initial stage, although it is possible that any one may develop into something much more important than the amount of work done would suggest.

Mortality among Sheep in Canterbury.

Mr. Grimmett visited various localities in Canterbury in September, 1928, and collected samples and information on an unusual mortality in sheep which had occurred there. The abnormal nature of the season —a warm and exceptionally moist autumnhad induced a copious growth of green rank pasture upon which the hoggets failed to thrive. A sample from Kowhai Bush was first received in June from the district Stock Inspector, and proved to be separable into two fractions(l) a brown, long dead, and apparently inedible portion when collected, and (2) a portion which was green, not long dead, and edible. The amount of portion (1) equalled 75 per cent., and that of portion (2) 25 per cent, of the whole. The analysis of the portions was done in duplicate, and the duplicates closely agreed as shown in Table 1.

It will be seen that the calcium is comparatively high in both fractions, but there is a great disparity between the phosphoric acid content of the brown fraction * compared with that of the green fraction. The brown fraction represents probably old dead leaves which had lived sufficiently long to have accumulated a large store of earthy contamination, hence the high manganese, iron, silica, and alumina content as compared with the green sample. The nitrogen in the brown portion makes a very poor showing for protein-supply. Altogether it was very much doubted whether the sample was a fair one of what the sheep were eating. It will, also be noted that the dry dead portion contained less than one-half the phosphoric acid that the green portion contained, although the calcium content was little altered.

Mr. Grimmett reported as follows :

It appears that mortality from parasitic gastritis and lungworm was fairly prevalent over most of Canterbury among hoggets and lambs during the autumn (1928), and that medicinal treatment had very little effect.

Districts specially affected were Springfield, Ashburton, Cheviot, and Methven, including both hill and plain country, heavy and light, and manured as well as unmanured land. The lower foothills and damp ground beneath them were, however, the worst. Nothing similar has

been said to have occurred for twenty years. It was generally stated that the past autumn was marked by an absence of drying north-west winds, and by a prevalence of drizzling rain and damp days, although rainfall was not above normal. In consequence, from March onwards there was an unusual lush growth of grass of a sappy nature, which went rank and to seed quickly. Lambs which had been grazing on high country in many cases during the summer were brought down to winter on this pasture, which included an unusual proportion of dead or dying growth of low nutritive value. Their condition was thereby weakened and they were an easy prey for parasites. In other cases the sheep had been on the place all the time, but it rapidly became understocked in relation to this rank autumn growth. In other cases, again, sheep were affected on turnips. The most effective treatment was a change to hard feed, such as feeding crushed oats on a bare paddock.

There is no doubt that the sheep did eat this rank growth, as the ground on F.’s property where M.’s sample was obtained is now bare and very hard grazed. No cattle have been grazing there, nor has it been burned.

In the Springfield district the three largest farmers who had trouble were F., J., and D. D. commenced feeding iodized salt liberally, and says it has cured the trouble. Nevertheless the trouble has now disappeared, with the exception of an odd case, on other farms where no iodine has been given. D. is very keen on the improvement caused by the iodized salt. F.’s sheep were brought down in the autumn from his station at Bealey, while J.’s were running on the lower slopes of Mount Torlesse before being brought in to turnips and the adjacent flats where the rank pasture was growing. F.’s property was originally southern-beech (Nothofagus) forest, and was felled and grassed thirty-five years ago. Since then it has been continuously stocked, and on the hill slopes has had no manure.

I R. by baffe2tsd exceptionally little better, samples shows that they were contaminated by earthy matter.' It b ? forgotten that, excepting Z above Spring paZureZ ° f

Yet the grass still keeps a fairly good heart, and F. states carries two sheep to the acre all the year with the help of hay and turnips. Both F.’s and J.’s properties are partly on alluvial terraces and partly on hill slopes of residual soil from greywacke rock, which outcrops, forming screes. The soil is loamy, with a loamy, clayey, or rocky subsoil. he pasture is mixed, and varies from place to place. Tussocks are abundant, but between is a good sole of cocksfoot, brown-top, fog, fescue, &c. . White clover is present, and is said to be fairly abundant during the summer. There is moss in places, but the property is 1,200 ft. above sea-level. The results of the analyses of Mr. Grimmett's samples are presented in Table 2. Readers in the Northern Hemisphere must remember that in New Zealand, where the seasons are reversed, June, is midwinter.

Temporary Sterility in Dairy Cows, Waikato District.

Mr. Grimmett visited the Waikato in October, 1928, and in company with Mr. C. M. Wright, Country Analyst, and Mr. C. V. Dayus, Veterinarian, collected samples of pasture from typical farms upon which temporary sterility in dairy cattle, occurred, and also from farms apparently similarly circumstanced upon which no sterility occurred. The results (Table 3) do not show any constant chemical difference in the pasture of the two types of farms. The high protein content of the pasture of all the farms is notable. These Waikato samples seem to indicate that low lime content follows low legume composition. The protein content is generally high, and in some cases very high. The majority of the samples are obviously contaminated by soil, as shown by the high alumina content, the only samples showing any approach to freedom from this impurity being Nos. 6192 and 6195. The iron determination must therefore not be accepted as representing the analysis of the pasture tissue.

Malnutrition on certain Poverty Bay Back-country Pastures.

The few analyses made of the Poverty Bay back-country pastures (Table 4) give evidence of both iron and calcium shortage for these early spring pastures; summer pastures would contain more calcium. Mr. Grimmett, who has paid two visits to this area, which is remote from headquarters and difficult of approach, has put forward a very ingenious explanation to account for the occurrence of this type of malnutrition under conditions' which do not accord with past experience. It appears that on the same farm there are two types of country —flat tablelands overlain . by pumice showers, and steep papa slopes and gullies from which the pumice has been washed, or, at any rate, so mixed with, clay that a loamy soil results. When cattle and sheep were grazed together the cattle' kept the steep slopes and gullies free from scrub, fern, and “ second growth,” and enabled the sheep to graze on land with the cattle and thus balance their mineral diet. Grazing by cattle becoming unprofitable, it was discontinued, with the result that the gullies became blocked by tall woody growth or bracken-fern, the sheep were excluded, and thus, the means of balancing their mineral ration denied them, the malnutrition appeared. A scheme of experiments has now been laid down which will determine whether top-dressing will overcome, as seems probable, the difficulty, which is one that does not occasion any anxiety as to the ultimate successful utilization of this fine country.

I I I J R. by (To

—'Explanatory details of procedure and technique followed in connection with analyses of pastures will be found in the issues of this Journal for January and February, 1928.

. Constituents. Portion i. Portion 2. No. 6148, Dry A. . No. 6148, Dry B. No. 6148, Green A. No. 6148, Green B. Total ash 9-88 n-34 Crude silica . . ' . . .. • • 5-66 5-65 3-57 3-56 Pure silica (SiO a ) 5-54 5-52 3-51 3-51 Calcic oxide (CaO) o-8o o-8o 0-67 0-67 Phosphoric anhydride (P 2 O 5 ) 0-28 0-28 60-72 0-720-72 0-72 Ferric sesquioxide (Fe 2 0 3 ) 0-044 0-042 0-028 0-029 Magnesic oxide (MgO) . . 0-31 0-32 0-40 0-44 Manganoso manganic oxide (Mn 3 0 4 ) 0-070 0-066 0-036 0-041 Alumina sesquioxide (A1 2 0 3 ) 0-043 0-046 0-016 0-025 Nitrogen 1-30 1-30 2-95 2-96 Sulphur trioxide —present in crude silica . . 0-26 0-26 0-48 o-54 Ferric sesquioxide 0-0016 0-0014 0-0014 O-OOI I Alumina sesquioxide .. .. . . 0-045 0-048 0-016 0-016 Calcic oxide . . .. .. 0-003 0-004 o-ooi 0-002

Table I-Analyses of Pasture, Kowhai Bush. The figures are percentages on the moisture-free sample.

No. Lab Ash. Crude Silic (SiO 2 ). Pure Silica (SiO 2 ). •go" 0.3 01 M <D CTi C co Phosphoric ■ Acid (P a 0 6 ). Calcic Oxide (CaO). c7 <L ti Ct s <U -2, ■g 0 5* O ?g. Manganese Oxide (Mg 3 O 4 ). Nitrogen. J Proteins. Sulphur as S0 3 . <L J Zc CJ Date collected. Manurial Treatment. Locality. Remarks. £ 6148 Ash. Crude Silic (SiO 2 ). 1 Pure Silica | (Si0 2 ). £0 O -in 01 ‘FltfCD £< co <3. Phosphoric Acid (P a 0 6 ). Calcic Oxide (CaO). Magnesic Oxide (MgO).Manganese Oxide (Mg 3 O 4 ). Nitrogen. Proteins. Sulphur as S0 3 . Chlorine. Date collected. Manurial Treatment. Locality. Remarks. 6148 6: 65 6166 9-98 10-07 5'74 4'70 5’32 4-15 0-042 0-035 0-1x8 0-065 0'44 o-77 0-70 o-8x 0-31 0-049 0-041 2-87 17-94 o-68 10/6/28 6/9/28 Kowhai Bush Sheep affected. Short feed, eaten 8-57 5'74 4’7o 3’o8 5’32 4'15 2-88 0-042 0-035 0-033 o-n8 0-065 0-054 0-44 o-77 0-85 0-70 o-8i 0'79 0-31 o-39 0-049 0-041 0-052 3-17-94 24-13 0-64 o-68 0-64 - 10/6/28 6/9/28 7/9/28 Unmanured Kowhai Bush >> 9f Sheep affected. Short ■ feed, eaten hard down. Sheep affected on old pasture • green new growth where grazed. Mostly fog, cocksfoot, and creep6166 6167 8-57 3-08 2-88 0-033 0-054 0-85 0'79 o-39 0-052 3-86 24-13 0-64 0-64 7/9/28 Unmanured hard down. Sheep affected on old pasture • 6167 6168 green new growth where grazed. Mostly fog, cocksfoot, and creep-5-89 3-Sx 3’54 0-024 0-033 o-37 0-52 0-19 0-063 x-35 8’44 0-18 7/9/28 ing-fog ; fair amount of red clover. Sheep affected ; rank grass. Mostly 9-63 3-Si 3'66 3’54 3’20 0-024 0-082 0-033 o-i35 0-37 0-94 0-52 -0-77 0-19 o*37 0-063 0-050 i;35 4-20 8’44 26-25 o-r8 0-58 7/9/28 7/9/28 » ■ >> ing-fog ; fair amount of red clover. Sheep affected ; rank grass. Mostly fog, &c., as No. 6166. Mortality not noticed. Short green pasture, well grazed with cattle and horses as well as sheep. Contaminated with dirt by heavy 6168 6169 9-63 8-38 3-66 6-47 3‘2O 5'13 0-082 0-041 0-135 0-054 0'94 0-22 o-77 0-29 0-37 0-20 0-050 0-030 4-20 1-24 26-25 7-75 0-58 0-28 7/9/28 ■ fog, &c., as No. 6166. Mortality not noticed. Short green pasture, well grazed with cattle and horses as well as sheep. Contaminated with dirt by heavy stocking. Worm-casts very plentiNear Burnham stocking. Worm-casts very plentiful. Cocksfoot and fog dominant. Old stubble field where hoggets took ill after three months. Poor pasture —nearly all hair-grass twitch, brown-top, and fescue; no clovers; s Scotch thistles. 6169 6170 Poor, dry, stony soil. Hoggets 8-38 8-58 6'47 5-n 5-13 4’51 0-041 0-038 0-054 0-048 0-22 0-42 0-29 0-51 0-20 0'32 0-030 0-092 1-24 2'43 7'75 15-19 0-28 0'43 7/9/28 Near Burnham ful. Cocksfoot and fog dominant. Old stubble field where hoggets took ill after three months. Poor Unmanured Between Darfield and Springfield still grazing. Mortality among hoggets. Swamp paddock; fair sole of grass; alluvial flats near stream ; mostly 6170 6171 pasture —nearly all hair-grass twitch, brown-top, and fescue ; no clovers; Scotch thistles. Poor, dry, stony soil. Hoggets 8-58 9’76 5-xx 3’19 4’5i 2’93 0-038 0-071 0-048 0*42 0-51 0'32 0-092 2'43 15-19 0-43 7/9/28 Unmanured Between Darstill grazing. Mortality among hoggets. Swamp field and paddock; fair sole of grass*Springfield alluvial flats near stream ; mostly • 1 0-098 o-8o o-75 0-50 1 0-066 3'53 22-06 0-90 7/9/28 2 cwt. super in 1927 Ditto brown-top and twitch. Mortality. Swamp paddock, well grazed; mostly young fresh growth —brown-top, white clover, &c. 6171 9'76 3’19 2’93 0-071 0-098 o-8o o-75 0'50 0-066 3'53 i 22-06 0-90 7/9/28 2 cwt. super in 1927 Ditto brown-top and twitch. Mortality. Swamp paddock, well grazed ; mostly young fresh growth —brown-top, white clover, &c.

Table 2.- Analyses ofPasture Samples from Canterbury (Sheep Mortality Investigation). The figures are percentage on the moisture-free sample.

Lab. No. Ash. o2 T3 C/) SilicaCrude Pure Silica (SiC>2). a> 'To OO .2 S' <D Uh Alumina (AI2O3). Phosphoric Acid (P2O5). Calcic Oxide (CgO). Magnesic Oxide. (MgO). so 0 co d a a3 o3 s Nitrogen. Pro teins. Grasses. Legumes. Weeds. Date collected. Manurial Treatment. Locality. Remarks. (SiO 2 ). Pure Silica (SiO 2 ). 00 <D Alumina (AI2O3). Phosphoric Acid (P2O5). Calcic Oxide (CgO). 6 33 O oO ss. bJj <D ’h DCS SO <D CO d d bXJ’S d s Nitrogen. Pro teins. Grasses. Legumes. 1 Weeds. Date collected. Manurial Treatment. Locality. Remarks. 6186 io-74 2-24 2-07 0-035 0-122 1-03 1-20 o-53 0-032 4-7i 29-4 7i-3 24-8 3’9 5/10/28 years, Hairini, Te Sterility 40-50 per cent, of herd 1927, 4 Hairini, Te Awamutu Old grass paddock ; short feed. Awamutu Sterility 40-50 per cent, of herd. Old grass paddock ; short feed. 1928, 4 Undulating country. Subtersulphate ammonia r Undulating Subter- country. ranean and white clover 6187 11’22 2-51 2’34 0-046 0-156 o-95 1-20 o-49 0-030 4’23 26-4 64-4 25-0 ro-6 5/10/28 Manured annually for last six Hairini, Te trefoil and rye-grass dominant. No sterility. Good short pasture years with 2 cwt. super, Awamutu —white clover and trefoil 2 cwt. lime, and a little dominant. Grazed by cows. potash salts Fifteen years in pasture. Un28 Manured annually for last six Hairini, Te trefoil and rye-grass dominant. No sterility. Good short pasture years with 2 cwt. super, 2 cwt. lime, and a little potash salts Awamutu —white clover and trefoil dominant. Grazed by cows. Fifteen years in pasture. Uh6188 11-17 2-57 2-35 0-060 0-201 0-89 i-i8 0-51 0-023 4-33 27-0 63-1 30-2 6-7 5/10/28 June, Clark’s cwt. Hautapu.. dulating country. Good deal of sterility. Old grass paddock. Subterranean and cwt. white clover, trefoil, cocksfoot, 1928, and rye-grass, and timothy dominHautapu.. dulating country. Good deal of sterility. Old grass paddock. Subterranean and white clover, trefoil, cocksfoot, rye-grass, and timothy domin6189 11-07 2-05 r-88 0-049 0-184 1-05 0-91' 0-36 0-019 4M9 28-1 78-1 15-0 6-9 5/10/28 4 cwt. 2}- cwt. super and guano, equal Hautapu . . ant. Practically no sterility. Long parts, for some years. Febgrass grazed by cattie. Rye6190 11-07 10-48 2-06 1-89 0-134 0-323 0-82 0-98 0-48 0-045 3'76 23-5 82-8 15-9 1 3 5/10/28 ruary, 1928, 4 cwt. lime March, 1928, 21- cwt. super. Koromatua grass dominant. Great deal of sterility. Unlimea, March, 1927, 3 cwt. super. low, swampy paddock ; four March, 1926, 2J cwt. slag, | cwt. kainit years old. Long growth ; grazed by cows ; rve - grass 10-48 2-05 2-06 r-88 1-89 0-049 0-134 0-184 0-323 1-05 0-82 0-91* 0-98 0-36 0-48 0-019 0-045 4'49 3-76 28-1 23-5 78-r 82-8 15-0 15-9 6-9 1 3 5/10/28 5/10/28 2 J- cwt. super and guano, equal parts, for some years. February, rp28, 4 cwt. lime March, 1928, 2| cwt. super. Hautapu .. Koromatua. ant. Practically no sterilitv. Long grass grazed by cattle. Ryegrass dominant. Great deal of sterility. Unlimea, 6191 12-17 3-04 2-80 0-062 0’344 0'99 1-16 0-41 0-034 3'62 22-6 85-1 12-6 2-3 4/ro/28 March, cwt. super. Super and slag Koromatua dominant. Limed paddock, low-1 vine - and March, cwt. slag, alternate 3 August, 1928, 1 ton ground i cwt. limestone swampy; ten years old. Cows grazing. Close cropped, and dirtier than No. 6190 Super and lime, slag and kainit, Koromatua low, swampy paddock; four years old. Long growth; grazed by cows ; rye - grass dominant. Limed paddock, ldw-lving and 6192 12-15 2-53 2-44 0-030 0-043 -02 1-08 0-48 0-026 4’34 27-1 81-2 14-9 4'0 4/10/28 alternate cwt. 3 Recent years slag, super, August, ton ground kainit, 1928, cwt. 3 3 Matangi .. Rye-grass dominant. Little sterility. Unlimed. Ten years in grass; cocksfoot super and some White Island dominan t. limestone Recent years slag, super, and kainit, 3 cwt. 1928, 3 cwt. super and some White Island Matangi .. swampy; ten years old. Cows grazing. Close cropped, and dirtier than No. 6T90. Rye-grass dominant. Little sterility. Unlimed. Ten years in grass; cocksfoot dominant. 6193 n-57 2-38 2-25 0-042 0-080 1-00 I-I4 o-45 o-oi8 4-26 26-6 77'4 20-2 2'3 0/28 r product Similar limed to Matangi paddock ; 1 ous growth ; cocksfoot, ryegrass, trefoil, and white clover dominant. ■ ous growth ; cocksfoot, ryegrass, trefoil, and white clover dominant. ■■

Table 3.- Analyses of PastureSamples fromŴaikato District (Temporary Sterility Investigation). The figures are percentages on the moisture-free sample

6194 10-54 2-52 2'33 0-082 0-198 o-77 0-71 o-45 0-073 4-n 25-7 89-9 6-2 4-0 6/10/28 Top-dressed 3 cwt. and 4 No Tau-Orini, piri vaginitis, deal chewing. and - abortion, soil Swampy Fog, rye-grass, Six dominant. timothy in grass. 6195 ii-5° 3-n . 2-83 0-029 0-066 0-96 0'55 o-6o 0-042 4'43 27-7 92-1 5-i 2-8 6/10/28 top-dressed Orini abortion. sterility, short-grazed soil, growth between heavy sheep rye-grass, cocksfoot, timothy, dominant. 6196 12*10 3'i6 2’94 0-048 0-108 1-06 o-8 0-40 0-036 4-33 27-0 90-9 7'2 i-9 6/10/28 lime cwt; last slag cwt. (on Morrinsville road) 1928. pasture years. dominant. lating country. 6197 io-oi 2-12 1-06 0-65 0-037 3'48 21-7 98-0-9 c-3 6/10/28 and super, basic super Last and White 1 autumn, cwt. basic super Tauhei Cropped country. Mostly five floweringmeadow-foxtail stages. 6198 12-99 3-61 3'42 0-063 0-215 1-16 0-56 0-46 0-032 4-01 25-1 98-8 o-7 o-6 6/10/28 dressed Top and lime years Tauhei Eclampsia experienced. In grass eighteen years. Long rank super Tauhei Eclampsia experienced. In grass eighteen years. Long rank growth, grazed by cows. Mostly rye-grass, meadow'foxtail, timothy, cocksfoot, fog, Poa pratensis, and browntop. - super growth, grazed by cows. Mostly rye-grass, meadowfoxtail, timothy, cocksfoot, fog, Poa pratensis, and browntop. 6199 12-75 2’33 2-26 0-037 0-073 i-45 1-06 0'49 0-023 4-87 3°'4 74'0 18-8 7-2 6/10/28 plus1927, cwt. 3 super Waharoa Downs moderate ; Sterility cocks-downs. dominant. foot, heath 6200 11-50 2-30 2-18 0-049 0-113 .1-21 1-24 o-53 0-035 4-63 28-9 69-7 5-i 6/10/28 Manured annually, 3 cwt. super. 1926, 4 cwt. lime. October, 1928, 3 cwt. super W a h a r oa Downs No sterility. Low, flat country. Good short feed. Rye-erass dominant. Down six years. 25-2 6/10/28 Manured annually, 3 cwt. super. 1926, 4 cwt. lime. October, 1928, 3 cwt. super W a h a r oa Downs No sterility. Low, flat country. Good short feed. Rye-grass dominant. Down six years. R. by Cunningham. J.

1 No. Lab. < 0 ■89 0 Pure Silica (SiO 2 ). X co 00 0 •fH Q QJ ' rt • a co § <*. Phosphoric 1 Acid 1 (P 2 0 S ). *X zA OO .0 83 O bJD X <D <U d cd bj ■ a rt s tS O 3 * a °| Chlorine. Nitrogen. Proteins. Grasses. Legumes. Weeds. Date collected. Manorial Treatment. Remarks. £ 6215 0 (75 ■S9 Pure Silica (SiO 2 ). 'O 00 0 t; <D 03 • £ co ■go § « 1 Phosphoric - Acid I (P2O5). ,0 00 0 1 Magnesic 1 Oxide (MgO). 0 bJO S « s - Chlorine. Nitrogen. cn ’S 0 £ Grasses. Legumes. Weeds. Date collected. Manorial Treatment. Remarks. 44-96 1-87 0-050 0-157 1-13 r-87 o-oc6 0-82 4'72 29’5 43’6 49'4 7-o 23/40/28 Medium growth ; weedy pasture ; alluvial flats. No deficiency disease. 6215 6216 11-96 11-00 1-87 3'93 0-050 0-157 1-13 i-87 0-006 0-82 4'72 29-5 43’6 49'4 7-o 23/10/28 Medium growth ; weedy pasture ; alluvial flats. No deficiency disease. 3’76 0’022 0-092 0-85 1-20 0-025 o-79 3’44 21-5 24-3 4'5 25/40/28 Un manured .. Old pasture ; deep pumice soil on terrace above papa slopes. Hairlessness in calves (not hereditary). Iodine deficiency • suggested (sample showed 587 iodine per roo grammes dry matter ; below average in iodine content). 6216 6217 11-00 io-97 3'93 2-71 3'76 2-63 0*022 0-017 0-092 0-034 0-85 0'93 1-20 0-68 0-025 o-79 3’44 21-5 71-2 24-3 4'5 25/10/28 Un manured .. Old pasture; deep pumice soil on terrace above papa slopes. Hairlessness in calves (not hereditary). Iodine deficiency suggested (sample showed 58-y iodine per 100 grammes dry matter ; below average in iodine content). 0-48 0-019 o-94 4’9 1 30-7 89-3 8-8' i'9 26/40/28 Not top-dressed Cocksfoot and fog dominant. New bush-burn, seven years old. Best country on the place. Sick sheep recovered on here. 6217 6218 10-97 10-28 2-71 3-10 2-63 3'03 0-017 0-017 0-034 0-022 0'93 o-8r o-68 o-74 0-48 c-45 0-019 0-024 0'94 r-r8 4-91 3'71 30-7 23-2 89'3 94'1 8-8 5-0 i-9 3'9 26/10/28 26/10/28 Bush burned twelve to fourteen years ago ; pasture beginning to run out. Cocksfoot, fog, and ryegrass dominant. No sickness yet, but sheep do not recover quickly here. Not top-dressed Cocksfoot and fog dominant. New bush-burn, seven years old. Best country on the place. Sick sheep recovered on here. 6218 6219 10-28 9-92 3-10 3-98 3'03 3’86 0-017 0-016 0-022 0-067 o-8i o-66 0-74 o-75 c-45 0-38 0-024 0-018 i-i8 0-85 3’7i 3’27 23-2 20’4 94'i 94'9 2-0 2-0 3’9 3'1 26/10/28 28/10/28 Bush burned twelve to fourteen years ago ; pasture beginning to run out. Cocksfoot, fog, and ryegrass dominant. No sickness yet, but sheep do not recover quickly here. Unmanured .. Most sick paddock on the farm. Well watered with streams and gullies, but these are full of second growth scrub, rushes, piripiri, &c. Cocksfoot dominant, white clover- plentiful, and piripiri common. 6219 6220 9’92 9-06 3’98 2-94 3-86 .2-84 0-016 0-015 0-067 0-089 o-66 0-67 o-75 o-77 0-38 0-41 0-018 0-032 0-85 0-85 3'27 3'54 20-4 22-1 94'9 94’4 2-0 4-r 3’1 i-4 28/10/28 28/10/28 Felled and. grassed eighteen years. English grasses nearly 7 all replaced by Chewings fescue. Very sick for sheep. Lower gentle slopes and flats near river deeply • covered by pumice ; swamps and creeks filled with rushes, &c. Unmanured . . Most sick paddock on the farm. Well watered with streams and gullies, but these are full of second growth scrub, rushes, piripiri, &c. Cocksfoot dominant, white clover plentiful, and piripiri common. 6220 6221 9-06 12-83 2’94 4-36 2-84 4'25 0’0i5 0-018 0-089 0-045 0-67 -i’O4 o-77 0-87 0-41 0-51-0-032 0-032 0-85 o-97 3'54 4'15 22’1 25-9 94'4 94'7 4’1 3'4 1-4 i-8 28/10/28 28/40/28 eighteen and years. pumice- slopes, nearly re- grasses covered, outcrops Very fescue. by creeping and gentle for fescue deeply healthy ; covered ; pumice forest. creeks filled with rushes, &c. 6221 6222 12-83 u-8o 4'36 3’57 4'25 3-46 0-018 0-018 0-045 0-064 -1-04 ■ 0-92 0-87 r-o6 0-028 4-08 3’8o 23'8 87-8 7-6 4'6 28/40/28 Possibly sick. Down twenty years. Cocksfoot, rye-grass, and fog dominant. Originally rimu-tawa forest. o-5i-0-032 0-97 4’15 25-9 94'7 3'4 i-8 28/10/28 From faces and slopes, pumicecovered, outcrops of sandstone. Fog, creeping fog, and Chewings fescue dominant in that order. healthy paddock; originally southern-beech forest. 6222 xi-8o 3'57 3'46 0-018 0-064 0-92 1-06 0-028 i-o8 3-80 23'8 87-8 7-6 4’6 28/10/28 Possibly sick. Down twenty years. Cocksfoot, rye-grass, and fog dominant. Originally rimu-tawa forest.

Table 4.- Analyses of pasture Sample frompoverty BAy Back-country (Malnutrition).