254 



Agricultural Gazette of X.S.W. 



[April 3, 1920. 



The fertiliser mixtures were dusted along the drills immediately prior to 



the dropping of the sets. The composition of the mixtures is as follows : — 



P7, equal parts of superphosphate and bonedust ; P8, equal parts of 



superphosphate and blood and bone ; P5, -i parts of superphosphate and 



1 part sulphate of potash. 



Results of Manurial Trials. 



The varieties used in these tests were — Satisfaction at Brooklana, Queen 

 of the Valley at Dorrigo, and Manhattan at Coramba and Coraki. 



50D 



POlATOti 



Pitting Potatoes. 



The usual method of pitting potatoes for winter storage is to select a level 

 piece of land, which should be so situated as to ensure drainage. Two poles 

 or saplings are placed on the surface, parallel to one another and 4 feet 



apart, and the potatoes are emptied 

 in between these so as to form a 

 well-ridged heap. The potatoes are 

 then covered with a thatch of straw 

 or other suitable material, and this 

 again is covered with sods of earth. 

 It is important that the sodding 

 should be done from the ground 

 y^ upwards (as in shingling a roof). 

 When completed, the whole is 

 beaten well down with the back of a spade, and a drain is cut round 

 the pit to run off the water in case of rain. 



If weather permits, it is well to let a fortnight or so elapse before earthing 

 up — that is, to leave the potates with only their straw covering so that 

 sweated moisture may be carried out. For a small pit (say a ton) the best 

 shape is a cone. — A. J. Finn, Inspector of Agriculture. 



SAfLiMGS 



Molasses eor Calf Feeding. 



Replying to a correspondent who had been impressed by the benefit 

 appaiently derived from a ration of skim milk and molasses by his neigh- 

 bour's calves, the Herdniaster wrote : " The food value of molasses is in the 

 nature of carbohydrates, and does not replace the fats removed from milk 

 during separating. It i.s, however, successfully used in calf feeding, but must 

 not be ^iven in exce.ss, especially at the start, as it tends to scour the calves. 

 AVwut one teaspoonful to the quart is sufficient to give in the early stages, 

 and the amount may be increased or decreased at the feeder's discretion." 



