REPORT OF MR. R. ROBERTSON 



263 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTS WITH EUN-OUT LAND. 



With a view to determine the practicability of restoring land badly run-out, 

 where a very limited amount of manure is available, this experiment was commenced 

 in the season of 1906, on a field of 8 acres of heavy clay, with some little loam, 

 particularly deficient in hmnus. This field had grown grain and been sown to 

 grass sixteen years ago, since when it had been lying in so-called pasture, growing 

 extremely little after the first few years. This field was practically a square block, 

 and had been used for pasture, where animals had been getting the better part of their 

 feed in the stables. Consequently the corner nearest the buildings received consider- 

 ably more droppings from the cattle during this time than the opposite corner, at 

 least they showed the two extremes in condition. With a view to making each plot as 

 nearly equal in fertility as possible, the field was divided into eight parts of 1 acre each, 

 and numbered 1 to 8. Nos. 1 and 8 being designated plot 1 (2 acres) ; Nos. 2 and 7 

 plot 2 (2 acres); Nos. 3 and 6 plot 3 (2 acres), and Nos. 4 and 5 plot 4 (2 acres). 



On plot 1 no fertilizer was used, on plot 2, 300 lbs. complete fertilizer per acre 

 was used. On plot 3, 600 lbs. complete fertilizer (Bowker's Square Brand) per acre 

 was used, and on plot 4, 10 one-horse cart-loads of manure were used. 



In the season of 1906, this field was sown with peas, oats and vetches mixed together 

 and sown at the rate of 3 bushels per acre. They were allowed to grow until about 

 August 1, when the entire crop was ploughed under. This was repeated in 1907. 

 In 1908 (this season) it was sown with Waverley oats, Odessa barley and Prussian 

 Blue peas, mixed together and sown at the rate of 3 bushels per acre, together with 

 clover and timothy at the rate of 10 lbs. clover and 12 lbs. timothy seed per acre. 

 This field has now the appearance of being in a fairly good condition for crop growing. 

 The take of clover and timothy is quite good, and will be left for clover hay this 

 following season, the intention being to continue growing crops of grain and clover 

 hay alternately for a term of years, without any addition of fertilizer of any kind. 



The yield obtained this season was as follows : — 



EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON MARSH. 



The land used for these experiments was the ordinary marsh (or dyke) soil on 

 which hay (timothy and June grass) had been grown for at least ten years. It was 

 ploughed the fall previous, well worked up and sown June 9, with oats, the variety 

 used being ' Sensation,' at the rate of 3 bushels per acre. Two acres were used and 

 numbered No. 1 and No. 2. On each acre was a series of 36 plots of one-thirty-sixth 

 acre each. 



On both acres the lime was used alike, air slaked, sown on the surface and harrowed 

 in. On acre No. 1 all the fertilizers were sown separately on the surface and 

 harrowed in. On acre No. 2, all fertilizers (excepting lime) were sown on the surface 

 after seeding and not harrowed in. 



