314 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



tlie section wliert' the three ingredients have been applied ; but the 

 yields on the section, generally speakings are only slightly in excess 

 of the yields where phosphoric acid and nitrogen oidy have been 

 applied. In the case of the remaining four crops the yields from the 

 complete manure aire either equal to or lower than those of the 

 adjoining plot. A comparison of the first two columns of figures — 

 the returns from the unmauured sections — and the returns from the 

 section supplied with phosphoric acid — will show that in ever}' case 

 the yield is appreciably larger in the manured section than the 

 unmanured, and that the increase due to the application of phosphoric 

 acid is in every instance greater than the increase due to either 

 nitrogen or potash. An examination further of the third column of 

 figures will disclose the fact that in nine cases out of the eleven, the 

 addition of nitrogen to the phosphoric acid has resulted in still 

 further increases to the yield. 



The returns generally then appear to support the results of the 

 preceding experiments. Seasonal differences may introduce slight 

 variations into the operative effect of the various manures, but as far 

 as the tests of one year will allow of the expression of opinion, it 

 seems certain that large increases in yield will follow the application 

 of phosphatic and nitrogenous manures only to most of the crops 

 ff])ecified, but that on certain areas the maximum results can only be 

 obtained by the further addition of potash. The solution of the soil 

 re(]uirements for the whole of the South depends upon the sup])ort 

 given by the farmer to the further experimental work of the Branch^ 

 The more immediate investigations should deal witli tlie fei'tilization 

 of the grain cro]js grown in that area. 



1''he Economic Aspects of thk Results. 



Tlie economic aspects of the results have barely been referred to. 

 Attention was certainly directed to the large profits resulting from 

 the manuring of hay crops. But the result of such experiments have 

 a far wider application, for they point to a large possible improvement 

 of pasture lands, and a marked increase in carrying capacity. They 

 mean as well a sweeter herbage, a more nutritious herbage, and a 

 healthier beast, free probably from the vitiated a])petites that can 

 only be accepted as signs of some deficiency. They mean a greater 

 production of beef, a larger output of milk, butter, cheese and wool, 

 and an increase in the productive power of the land generalh'. The 

 manuring of the southern soils is a subject certainly deserving both 

 the attention of the farmer and the cousideration of the Department. 



