394 



Journal of Ai^r/i/f/l//rc. 



[lo June. 1909. 



its entire length. If manure is necessary it should be dug in over the 

 whole of the worked area. No holes should be dug deeper than the rest 

 of the strip for the reception of the trees. 



MANURIAL VALUE OF BATTERY SAND. 



Considerable interest has recently been created in the Stawell district 

 bv the announcement that the battery and cyanide tailings from the gold 

 mines have been found to pos.sess wonderful fertilizing properties. So 

 that definite information could be supplied to inquirers, samples tor 

 analysis were collected at the local mines by an officer of the Chemist's 

 Branch. The results are published herewith. 



The analytical examination shows that as far as phosphoric acid and 

 potash are concerned, the tailings are comparable with a good soil, whilst 

 thev are very poor as regards nitrogen. The latter is what one would 

 expect from material taken from such depths. It will, therefore, be seen 

 that a dressing of 56 lbs. per acre would be quite useless. Improved 

 conditions of soil, and consequently improved returns, would probably 

 follow the application of a few tons of the sand per acre on stiff clays; 

 but it would not be reasonable to expect an increased yield from small 

 dressings on ordinary .soils. 



Analysis of Battery and Cyanide Tailings from Stawell Mines. 



All are a mixtm-e of sand with finely divifled slate (mullock), with lumps also of the 

 latter. Several, especially 3 and 4, contain lmii])s of what appears to be lime. 



Government Laboratory. 



^ . Melboiu-ne, 4th May, 1909. 



P. RANKIN SCOTT, 



Government Analyst for N'ictoria. 



