332 Journal op the Department of Agriculture. 



sloping- sides. The liquid manure drains towards the side of the 

 floor and collects in a pit, and is periodically pumped over the manure 

 heap. 



" Green Manuring. — The object of green manuring is to increase 

 the organic content of the soil, which we have already seen is a 

 dominating factor in soil fertility. There can be no doubt that many 

 of the soils in the wheat-growing areas, which have been under 

 cultivation for a comparatively long period, have lost a considerable 

 amount of the organic matter they formerly contained. The 

 turning-in of green crops is one of the most rapid methods of 

 increasing the organic reserves in the soil. 



" The important point to bear in mind is that crops which pro- 

 duce a maximum weight of green stuft' that can be turned under in 

 early spring, before the soil becomes too hard and dry to plough, 

 should be grown rather than crops which give a relatively small 

 yield of green stuff of high quality." 



In tests of various crtips for green manure at Elsenlmrg, the lx>st results have heei: ol)- 

 taiued from field peas and English mustard. The yields of oats in 191.6, and of wlieat in 

 1918, where field peas and mustard had been ploughed in the previous season, were double 

 the returns normally oljtained from that class of soil. 



Feediyig Donm< of Forage Crops. — " As the feeding value of a 

 green crop is usually greater than its manurial value, the practice of 

 raising green crops and converting them into mutton, beef, or milk, 

 instead of ploughing them under, will be preferred to the practice 

 of green manuring. For this purpose rape, mustard, peas, rye, 

 vetches, etc., will be found extremely useful." 



In this connection it may be stated that according to New Zealand figures 60 per cent, of 

 the total organic matter in the crop is left in the ground as root and other debris, and the 

 drojipings of feeding-off stock. Experiments at Elsenburg have lent support to this practice 

 of feeding-off crops'as a means of increasing the soil fertility, and it is anticipated that the 

 growing of fodder crops fed off on the land will before long become an integral part of 

 farming practice in the grain areas of the Western Province. Some farmers are already 

 adopting this system with beneficial results, and once the remainder aie convinced of the 

 value of the practice, it may be expected that the objection now raised, viz.. that these crops 

 interfere with the cultivation of the cereal crops, will disappear. 



According to Mr. Richardson, the following is the summary of essential factors on 

 successful wheat cultivation : — 



(1) Early fallowing ; 



(2) thorough cultivation ; 



(3) systematic rotation with some means of maintaining the amount of organic matter 



in the soil— and this can be done most practicably on wheat farms by the 

 pasturing and feeding down of forage crops with stock. " Not only is it possible 

 to extract higher returns per acre by the growing of forage crops instead of relying 

 on the pasture following the wheat stubbles, but the organic content of the soil is 

 increased, and, what is more important, the yield of wheat grown in such rotation 

 will be raised" ; 



(4) rational manuring ; 



(5) systematic seed selection. 



Marketable Peaches. 



The Trade Commissioner in London draws attention to the fact 

 that some growers this year packed a considerable number of boxes 

 with small peaches, which are not easily disposed of, and points out 

 that the larger fruits are always in better demand and are more 

 readily sold. 



