Wheat and its Cultivation. 331 



Rate of Ap'plicationi. — " Many farmers apply as little as 30 to 

 40 lb. per acre, and consider the dressing quite sufficient; whilst 

 there are many who use relatively heavy dressing's, namely, 1 to 2 cwt. 

 per acre. Now, it is a well-established fact that relatively heavy 

 dressings of superphosphate produce in Australian wheat soils a 

 remarkable effect on the pastures. A marked stimulation of the 

 leguminous growth on the stubble and pasture succeeding the wheat 

 crop invariably results from heavy dressings of soluble phosphates, 

 and the stock-carrying capacity of the pasture is greatly increased." 

 In the Sduth-west wheat areas ut' the Cape, owing to the lack of in(ligcn(nis leguminous 

 growth on the stubble, superphosphate does not produce such an obvious efifect. Basic slag 

 however, does produce noticeably better grazing, according to the experience of many farmers. 



" In soils deficient in lime the continual application of heavy 

 dressings of superphosphate may cause the soil to become acid or 

 sour in character, thus impairing vegetation. In such cases, how- 

 ever, this acidity may be corrected by suitable applications of lime. 



Time and Mode of Application. — " In the majority of seasons 

 the best results are obtained with superphosphate when the seed and 

 manure are drilled in together in the normal seeding season." 



Basic Slag. — " In the wheat areas it is used at present only in 

 relatively small quantities, and experience proves that, though a 

 valuable manure, it is less effective than an equivalent amount of 

 phosphoric acid in the form of superphosphate. • On sour peaty lands, 

 however, it will be found a most useful and valuable manure. By 

 reason of the lime it contains, it tends to correct the acid conditions. 

 The rate of application to wheat lands is similar to that of super- 

 phosphate." 



These remarks apply directly to wheat growing in the south-west wheat areas of the 

 Cape. As mentioned above, basic slag noticeably improves the stubljle grazing. 



Bone-dust. — " The value of bone-dust will depend on its com- 

 position and its fineness of sub-division. It gives best results on 

 soils rich in organic matter, for with these there is a possibility of 

 the insoluble phosphate being slowly made available." 



Potash Manures. — " Potash is not likely to be of value in the 

 wheat areas, except in the case of certain sandy soils deficient in this 

 ingredient." 



Stable Manure. — " The average wheat holding at the present 

 time is so large, and the amount of stable manure produced in a year 

 so small, that the effect of the stable manure on the fertility of the 

 farm will, for all practical purposes, be inappreciable. This state of 

 affairs will not, however, continue indefinitely. With the rapidly 

 increasing population, and the inevitable increase in land values 

 ahead of us, individual holdings must gradually become much smaller 

 in size, and the system of farming more diversified. Live stock will 

 become more and more prominent, and ultimately the amount of 

 farmyard manure produced on the farm will be sufficient to have a 

 distinct effect on the fertility of the farm. On the dairy farm, how- 

 ever, as contrasted with the wheat farm, farmyard manure is of great 

 importance. Generally speaking', a good sample will contain about 

 13 lb. of nitrogen, 7 lb. of phosphorus, and 13 lb. of potash per 

 2000 lb. Losses may be reduced to a minimum by (a) controlling 

 the fermentation of the manure, and (b) by prevention of leaching. 

 The fermentation may be controlled by keeping the manure heap 

 well compacted, and keeping it moist. Losses by leaching may be 

 avoided by building the manure heap on a raised cemented floor, with 



