324 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [May 3, 1920. 



depth at planting. This is presumably done by setting the maize drill 

 verv deep and sowing the fertiliser alone first. Experiments are now in 

 progress to determine the value of this method in New South Wales. 



In some parts of America the fertiliser practice whicli has given the 

 best results is that of applying the fertiliser to the crop that is grown 

 •especially for soil improvement. The application of 200 to 300 lb. super- 

 phosphate to the fodder crop or green manure crop preceding the maize 

 •crop has given much better returns than the f-ame amount applied directly 

 to the maize crop. This piactice has not yet been tried in this State as 

 far as maize is concerned, but should be worth testing. It; may be men- 

 tioned that this method of fertilising has not proved a success here with 

 wheat, but wheat is a crop for which soil improvement ci'ops are not usually 

 grown as they are for maize. The writer has observed the undoubted 

 stimulating effect fertilisers have had on the growth of peas, vetches, tfec, 

 which have been grown for soil improvement on the coast ; this, with the 

 results of the fertiliser tests with superphosphate on lucerne during the past 

 few years on the alluvial flats of the coast, may point to a new and efficient 

 method of fertilising land for maize. The increased growth of the leguminous 

 fodder crop adds more organic matter and nitrogen to the soil, and the maize 

 crop depends for phosphates Ux-gely on the i-e-sidual value of the phosphatic 

 fertiliser applied to the fodder crop. 



Vary the Ration when H^nd-feeding Sheep. 



" Which of the feeds I have on hand would you advise me to use to hand-feed to 

 Merino ewes due to lamb early in April, and to Merino lambs dropfted in 

 April and May of last year?" asked a Walla Walla pastoralist recently. "T 

 have prime green wheaten hay with good grain in some sheaves, prime oaten 

 hay cut fairly ripe with plenty of grain in it, and Algerian oats. The sheej) 

 have hay stubble and other cultivation with a little dry grass to run on, and 

 plenty of good water and salt. To keep up their strength and condition for 

 lambing, I commenced to feed on the wheaten hay (about I, lb. hay per head) a 

 fortnight ago, but neither ewes nor lambs are doing well. Their bellies 

 appear full, and they are weak in their limbs, fall easily, and have difficulty 

 in getting up. A few ewes and landis have died during the last week." 



'• The ewes should have done fairly well on the food supply mentioned, 

 provifled the hay was of good quality, ' replied the Slieep and Wool Ex))ert. " I 

 would advise bringing the ration up to 1 .i lb. of chaff" per head per day and adding 

 ■4 lb. bran; the ewes may be sufft-iing from imi)action from being on dry feed 

 so long. You miirht add 6 per cent. Epsom salt to the salt lick. In the 

 event of it being necessary to continue hand-feeding, a ration consisting of 

 1^ lb. chaff (wheaten or oaten) and 1 lb. lucerne hay may l)e supplied as a 

 change of feed. 



" It would be better to have the hay chaffed than to feed it whole to the 

 sheep. The secret in hand-feed ini"; is to change tlu' lation as frecjuently as 

 possible. Sheep seem to sicken if left too long on the same class oi food, and 

 by alternating the lucerne with the bran and chaff they may be carried along 

 in good health for a longer period." 



