Jan. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W . 31 



On many maize farms stable or animal manure is the most valuable form 

 of organic matter which is readily procurable ; it is not made so much use of 

 as it deserves for maize-growing. (The value of green manures in supplying 

 organic matter to the soil will be discussed later.) 



In some of the wheat districts of the State where maize is alsc/ grown, the 

 application of straw (which is often burnt after being saved for a few years) 

 should also be considered for supplying organic matter to the soil. Compared 

 with animal manure, straw contains about tlie same amounts of nitroiren 

 and phos[>horus and is much richer in potash. Though the plant food 

 materials are not in soluble form and straw does not give as immediate 

 results as animal manure, it is even more lasting in effect. In districts 

 where it is likely to be available, large quantities should not be used per 

 acre, for it is preferable as a top-dressing, as it saves more moisture when 

 used in this way. In these districts moisture is most often the limiting 

 factor, and much undecomposed vegetable matter in the soil interferes seriously 

 with the plants' supph' of it. For this reason also, the use of straw as a 

 top-dressing might be more advisable in these districts than the growing of 

 green manuring crops unless the land is subsequently fallowed, as such crops 

 make a considerable demand upon the soil's supply of moisture. The same 

 precautions apply to the application of stable or animal manure in dry 

 districts. In America, straw and manure spreading machines are regularly 

 in use in many States. The method usually employed with straw is a light 

 application or top-dressing on the young wheat crop during the winter, or 

 on the young maize crop during the spring. This also does good service as 

 a mulch for preventing evaporation. 



In those districts where wheat and maize are grown, the practice of seeding 

 wheat directly after the maize crop without burning or ploughing the maize 

 stalks under, but by simply fitting the land with a disc cultivation and 

 keeping the^e stalks on the surface, is one that should be given consideration. 

 If the season turns out dry the maize stalks will be of more benefit and do 

 less harm on top of the soil than underneath, where they do not rot and 

 where they create large air spaces which dry out the soil very quickly. 



Stable or Animal Manure. 



This term may be taken to include all forms of animal excreta (from 

 horses, cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry). Visitors to a comparatively new 

 country like Australia from some of the older settled countries are surprised 

 a^ the tremendous waste of animal manure which they see going on here. 

 Of course, we do not winter-house our stock here as is done in colder coun- 

 tries ; but it has to be conceded that these animals are kept during some part 

 of the day in a confined space from which the manure has to be shifted or 

 handled in some way at least, for the sake of cleanliness. It is calculated 

 that on the coast alone, if only .5 per cent, of the total manure produced 

 annually could be recovered, there would be over .300,000 tons which could 

 be used directly ! This would enable an application of 8 tons per acre every 

 four years to be given on 1-50,000 acres — the approximate area cropped to 

 maize in New South Wales. 



