466 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [July 2, 1920. 



Fattening Store Cattle on Fertilised Pasture. 



Experiments were recently conducted by the Irish Department of Agri- 

 culture with the object of determining the effect upon the live weight of 

 cattle of dressing pasture with basic slag. A 10-acre field was divided into 

 two equal parts, and having first been grazed over by the same number of 

 cattle for a period to ensure equality, one of the plots was dressed with 2 

 tons of 30 per cent, basic slag at a total cost of £9 5s. Dairy cows were 

 kept on the plots for the following two seasons, and four 1 ^-year-old store 

 crossbred Shorthorn bullocks of average type were then put on each plot. 

 The experiment under notice was, therefore, more to determine the residual 

 effect of the basic slag on store cattle. 



One lot of bullocks was placed on each plot, and at the close of six weeks 

 the animals were weighed and transferred to the other plot, this being done 

 four times until twentv-fout" weeks had been covered. As it is essential in 

 such an experiment that the pasture l>e kept equally eaten down, other 

 bullocks were used to do this as required. 



The results showed that the plot treated with basic slag gave 302 days 

 more grazing than the untreated, and that the bullocks grazed thereon made 

 a total increase in live weight of 19 cwt., while those on the untreated plot 

 made only 10 cwt. 



To Infect Lucerne Seed with Nodule Organisms. 



The best way oi infecting lucerne seed with nodule organisms is by the us'i 

 of soil from an old lucerne patch where the plant has grown well. The soil 

 should be in a dry dusty state, and the seed should be mixed with it 

 thoroughly so that there is no doubt about infection taking place. The seed 

 should then be sown with a drill or broadcasted in the ordinary way. The 

 soil should be dried in the shade and the sowing of the seed carried out during 

 the afternoon. Sunlight will kill the organisms — hence these precautions. 



It is sometimes advisable to use very thin glue, pp.ssing the seed through 

 it and then dusting with soil obtained from the old lucerne patch. The 

 glue should be very thin and the seed only lightly coated. 



The Department supplies artificial cultures, but culturing weakens the 

 organisms, and a natural infection from the soil is always preferable. — 

 C. O. HvMBLiN, Assistant Biologist. 



How TO Store Seed Potatoes. 



Potatoes will keep for seed in bags, but other methods of storing are much 

 to be preferred. The best method is to place the seed in shallow boxes, rose 

 end up, and store in a shed — preferably open on one side to allow of the 

 entrance of plenty of light. This treatment will cause a greening of the 

 tubers and the development of short sturdy green shoots, will reduce loss to 

 a minimum, and will give the crop an early start. Failing " boxing," the 

 seed should be spread out on shelves or on the floor. — A. H. E. McDonald, 

 Chief Inspector of Agriculture. 



