614 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



[Sept. 2, 1920. 



found impossible to obtain the weights of more than one growth. Owing to 

 the dry conditions and scarcity of cattle feed, the other growths were 

 grazed. The top-dressed sections were conspicuous with their increased and 

 richer-coloured growth. 



Ban don Grove. 

 Soil, deep rich light loam ; stand established about four years, and still 

 good; Held used for hay and green fodder; after removal of winter growth, 

 field harrowed and cultivated ; top-dressing applied in mid-August. The 

 object of the experiment was to obtain increased yields. 



The increase due to the top-dressing was 1 ton 9 cwt. 1 qr. 12 lb. 



The first growth was not weighed owing to the field having been unevenly 

 cut previously ; this also influenced the second growth. It was particularly 

 noticeable on the.se plots that the treated sections matured earlier than the 

 untreated. The third cutting benefited by the most consistent rainfall, and 

 the top-dressed plot in consequence showed the greatest increase for this 

 period . 



Some Comments on Top-dressing. 



In addition to the results detailed above, the following points may also be 

 worthy of consideration by farmers who contemplate carrying out this 

 valuable treatment of their lucerne stands. 



\. T' e Successful Trials Conduc ed at Glen Innes. — Tn these comparatively 

 poftr, heavy black soils — barely 6 inches deep and overlying a stiff, retentive 

 subsoil — the following increases in yield were obtained in the .seasons 

 1916-17-18 from applications of fertiliser : — 



1 cwt. superphosphate ... ... ... 3 tons 19 cwt. 



o 7 1 •■) 



-'■>■> » • ' • • • • • • • ' )) ^ -" " J 



These results were obtained with a growing period of 214 days and a 

 30-inch rainfall, and represented a monetary profit of £2 14s. hi one case and 

 £!) 4s. in the other, estimating green fodder at 15s. per ton and super- 

 phosphate at 5s. .3d. per cwt. It seems only reasonal^le to believe that on 

 soils more suitable for lucerne culture, and in districts with a greater and 

 more certain rainfall, the results would be quite as satisfactory. 



2. Profitab'c Lenglheninr/ of the Life of Certain Fields. — Many stands of 



lucerne are hardly profitable enough to maintain after a certain number of 



ears though quite good enough to be persevered with for a small monetary 



