■^38 Joitnial of Agriculture , Y'lcioria. [10 Nov., 1911. 



grown with a mixture of nitrate of soda, superphosphate and kainit. The 

 use of kainit has also been found to increase the proportion, of seed to 

 straw in peas, beans, oats and rye. 



It has also been chiimed that kainit is useful both as an insecticide 

 and as a fungicide. It is doubtful whether it has any sufficiently power- 

 ful action to- be of any direct u.se, either as an insecticide or fungicide. 

 It does, however, appear tO' render the plants to which it is applied more 

 resistant to certain diseases ; and, according to recent work, this effect 

 is best shown when it is used in the form of a spray applied to the 

 foliage. Applied tO' potatoes in the form of a 2 per cent, solutmn, it 

 appeared tO' make them more resistant to leaf curl disease and to increase 

 the yield without producing any pronounced decrea.se in the percentage 

 of starch in the tubers. On the other hand, when applied to the soil in 

 the usual manner, it had no perceptible effect on the disease of celery 

 known as "Black Heart"; and, wherever it has been tried as a pre- 

 \'enti\-e for rust and smut, it appears tO' ha\'e been almost, if not entirely, 

 a failure. This mineral has also been used to add to farmyard manure 

 in order to preser\e it and diminish the loss of nitrogen. It has not, 

 liowever, been found to be particularly effective, and the addition of 

 kainit ito manure does not preserve it as well as does packing it closely and 

 covering it with a layer of soil. 



The practice sometimes followed of strewing kainit on the bedding 

 of domestic animals is a bad one. It exercises an injurious action on 

 their feet, and it has been fcimd that, when swallowed, it is irritant 01 

 even toxic to chickens. 



One curious action of kainit is worthy of note. It appears that, when 

 applied tO' the soil in large amounts, it increases the conductive power of 

 tile soil for heat and hence keeps its temperature more uniform. Exactly 

 how it acts is not quite certain, but the application of kainit at the rate 

 of 100 to 300 lbs. per acre was found in Germany to reduce the forma- 

 tion of frost. VVlien applied in still greater amounts, it form.s a crust on 

 the surface of the soil and appears to render it liable to a greater varia- 

 tion of temperature than before any was applied. These facts are of 

 interest because they show how complicated may be the action of any 

 manurial substance when applied to the soil. 



Artificial Manures Act No. 2274. Section 14. 



Notice to Manufacturers and Importer.s of Artificial Manures. 



Applications for registration of brands of ali manure-; which are in- 

 tended for sale during the ensuing season should, with declarations and 

 regulation fees, be lodged with the Secretary for Agriculture on or before 

 the I St November. 



S. S. CAMERON, 

 Acting Secretary for Agriculture. 

 I 1 h October, 191 1. 



