8 June, 1908.] The Heath Land at Portland. 331 



An Experimental Field Established. 

 In order to demonstrate the possibilities of the heath land to produce 

 crops with the aid of artificial manures, an area of 6 acres on the Bridge- 

 water Road was placed at the disposal of the Department by ^lessrs. 

 Edwards Bros. The site is typical of the heath land. About 20 chains 

 of drains were opened up to a depth of 2 feet, into which tea-tree poles 

 were placed, then covered with heath tops and the sand filled in again. 

 The drains acted splendidly and the discharge of water throughout the 

 winter months was most satisfactory. A ton of lime per acre was also 

 applied to the land, two or three months prior to the seed being sown. 

 In October, 1907, an acre each of rape, potatoes, sugar beet, maize, 

 sorghum and Japanese millet, was planted. The area was divided into 

 four equal sized sections at right angles to the direction of the crops and 

 the following manure applied : — 



Section A. — \\ cwt. superphosphate per acre. 



B. — -\\ cwt. superphosphate and f cwt. sulphate of 



ammonia. 

 C. — No manure. 

 D. — bame as B with the addition of 45 lbs. potash 



sulphate. 



GENERAL VIEW OF 1 ilK KX TKRl M KM Al, Jlhl.D, SHOWIaG SURROUNDING 

 SCRUB AND SAND DUNES WITH MARRAM GRASS PLANTATIONS IN THE 

 BACKGROUND. 



The Objectives of the Experiment. — The constitution of the field 

 was designed to serve the interests of the sheep owner, dairy farmer, and 

 general farmer by demonstrating that the crops necessary for the success- 

 ful carrying out of these industries could be profitably grown. A definite 

 scheme of rotation is also provided for, and as the experiment progresses, 

 the crops will be alternated and new classes of crops introduced. As 

 far as can, at present, be judged the end to which land of this character 

 can most profitably be put is — dairying, fattening stock and mixed farm- 

 ing. The restoration of the necessary vegetable material tO' the soil can 

 only economically come about through the agencies of stock and crop 

 residues. Cereal cultivation is not likely to be permanently profitable on 



