694 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Oct. 2, 1920. 



The outstanding feature of these experiments is the increased yield due to 

 the application of artiticial fertilisers. In every case the manured plots have 

 shown an increased yield over the unmanured plots. The increase is appar- 

 ently due to the application of phosphoric acid in the form of superphosphate. 



In a normal season, with a satisfactoiy rainfall, it is more than probable 

 that best results would be obtained by applying a mixture of superphosphate 

 and bonedust in equal proportions (P7 mixture) at the rate of 3 cwt. per acre. 



The advisability of applying nitrogenous and potassic fertilisers is not 

 evident, and results to date do not justify the expense of using these manures 

 in the New England district, though, of course, individual farmers may find 

 their land benefit by their use. 



Most of the growers in New England will admit that manuring pays, yet 

 how few there are who make use of this knowledge ! The advisability of 

 applying artiticial fertilisers has passed the speculative stage ; it has been 

 demonstrated in every part of the State, even on the rich soils of the North 

 Coast. One grower, who has the pick of the rich red soil at Guyra, has 

 manured his potato crop for a number of years past, and this year he has 

 already spent several hundreds of pounds in pui'chasing fertilisers for next 

 season's planting. His neighbours are following his example. Farmers 

 should ask themselves, if manuring pays, why plant without manure % 



Compressed Eoddee. 



A RECENT inquiry from Western Australia on the subject of compressed 

 fodder led to information being collected on the subject. It was ascertained 

 that a fairly extensive trade is at jjresent being done by Victorian tirms with 

 Java, Singapore, and other eastern parts. The fodder as made up there is 

 composed of mixed wheaten or oaten chaff with a good percentage of grain 

 and lucerne chaff; a little bran is added to improve the appearance and 

 quality of the fodder. It is made up in bundles running 70 to 80 lb. in 

 weight, approximately 18 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 12 inches deep, 

 and at each end are placed two half-inch hardwood battens about 15 inches 

 long and 6 inches wide, and covering consequently the whole of the two ends. 

 Each Vjundle is secured with three No. 8 wires, and with the ordinary bundle 

 there is a loss by shedding, as the pressure alone is relied on to keep the 

 bundle together. A hessian cover may be applied to the bundle in the press 

 at an additional cost of about 7s. 6d. per ton. The cost of pressing the 

 fodder, over and above the cost of the ingredients, is about 30s. per ton. 

 The machine used is very similar in action to a power straw press set on 

 end, and the chaff is fed to an overhead hopper by an ordinary belt box 

 conveyor, and falls down into the machine by gravity. Two men operate 

 the compressor, and they put through about 1 ton an hour, and a little less 

 when the fodder is covered with the hessian. The machines u.sed are made 

 Vjy two different firms and cost from £2,300 to £2,600. They are driven by 

 hydraulic power. In some places, with an ordinary press three full bags of 

 chaff are being compressed into a little more than the size of one, and they 

 are secured with two battens at each end, and two wires. 



