176 Journal of the Department op Agriculture. 



with maize or potatoes. It is much too open auJ saudy for the wheat 

 crop, which requires a rather heavy loam. Tlie chemical composition 

 of this class of soil and the results of the nianurial experiments point 

 to th(; fact that the soils are so poor that it is hardly possible to grow 

 a profitable crop in the first year, even with the help of artificial 

 fertilizers. During the first couple of years the object of the farmer 

 should be to improve the texture of his soil and to gradually strengthen 

 it as regards plant food constituents. This can only be done by 

 proper cultivation, crop rotation, and the judicious use of artificial 

 fertilizers. The manui'ial experinuuits have given a clue as to the 

 manner in which the soil should be dealt with and tlie following 

 treatment is suggested for this class of soil: — 



F'irsl. Y ear. — After having ploughed up the land apply agricub 

 tural lime at the rate of about 1000 lb. per acre, then put 

 in a leguminous crop like cowpeas, velvet beans, or kafiir 

 beans. This crop may be harvested or ploughed under. 

 The cowpeas mature in about seventy-seven days from 

 sowing, so that it may be possible to reap two crops in one 

 season provided, however, that there has been a good rain- 

 fall. 



Second Year. — Apply 300 lb. superphosphate per acre. Then 

 l)ut in maize. 



Third Year. — Apply a dressing of well-rotted kraal manure, 

 about 10 tons per acre, and plant potatoes. 



Fourtli Year. — Sow cowpeas without manure. 



Fifth Year. — Apply 300 lb. basic slag per acre. If necessary, 

 a small dressing of sulphate of potash may also be used, 

 say, about 100 lb. per acre. Plant maize. 



Or the following four-course rotation may be tried: — 

 Mixnurial Truatmeiit. Crop. 



1st year 1000 lb. lime ... ... Leguminous ci'op like cowpeas or 



velvet beans. 

 2nd year 1)00 lb. bonemeal ... Potatoes. 



8rd year 10 tons kraal manure ... Cotton or mai/e. 

 4th year 300 lb. superphosphate ... Maize. 



The above rotations are only suggestions of how this class of poor 

 soil should be built up. If the farmer experimented for himself by 

 trying both these rotations he would probably soon be able to work out 

 a more suitable rotation for his particular soil. There are many 

 other factors, such as the depth of the soil, the nature of the sub- 

 soil, the situation of the land, the rainfall and climatic conditions 

 generally, which may modify the treatment of a particular soil, and 

 these should be taken into consideration by the farmer himself in 

 order to discover the best and cheapest way by which first of all to 

 improve his soil and finally to grow profitable crops. 



Refeeences. 



(1) Watt, P. D., Transvaal Agricultural Journal, VI, 24, p. 551, 



and VII, 28, 628. 



(2) Annual Report, Division of Chemistry, 1910-11, p. 404. 



