] ouriial of Agriculture. [lo P'eb., 1910. 



for instance, while most soils may respond to an application of ordinary 

 superphosphate practically no benefit may be obtained on others. The same 

 effect is noticeable with regard to other fertilizers. As a general rule, 

 however, the application of a phosphatic manure is more or less effectixe 

 on all soils, due, in a great measure, to a deficiency in the average soil of 

 pho-sphoric acid. Xo attempt can therefore be made to place an agricul- 

 tural \alue on anv of the fertilizers submitted, further than to state that 

 thev all contain certain elements necessary for plant life. Some soils re- 

 fjuire, perhaps, only one of these elements, while others require more. 

 Some .soils contain the elements in a more soluble or available state than 

 others. Fertilizers containing the plant foods in an in.soluble or unavail- 

 al>le form are, of course, slow in action, and should not be used with 

 quick-growing crops. 



Section 3 of the Artificial Manures Act 1905 prescribes that the Unit 

 Values shall lie fixed from the constituents ha\ing a commercial value in 

 each sample, and this has been done accordingh . 



Xo rule can be laid down as a guide to farmers as to which fertilizer 

 is most suitable for any particular soil. It should, however, be remem- 

 bered that as there is no danger of the loss of phosphoric acid by leaching 

 from the soil, it is advisable to buv that ingredient in its soluble or readily 

 available form. Phosi)horic acid appears in three forms — water soluble, 

 citrate soluble, and insoluble. The first two forms are known to be readily 

 available as plant foods, while the insoluble is slow in acting, and one 

 would not expect satisfactorv results from this form of phosphoric acid if 

 used for a quick-growing crop. 



A special feature of the Victorian Artificial ^Manures Acts is the re- 

 quirement of a label or tag attached to the bags declaring the guaranteed 

 <:ompo.sition b\ analysis of anv manure sold in the State in quantities 

 exceeding 56 lbs. at one sale. Tliis is provided l)v section 7 of the prin- 

 cipal Act, and, as a further measure of protection to farmers, it is made 

 c(imj)ulsory, under section 5, for vendors to deliver to all purchasers of 

 manures, an invoice certificate declaring the guaranteed analysis of th'^ 

 manure sold. Xo farmer in Victoria should take deliverv of manure unless 

 the above conditions of sale are complied with. Substantial assistance would 

 be rendered in the enforcement of the Act if farmers would immediately 

 report any irregularity observed in the sale of manures to the Chemist for 

 Agriculture. Additional control of the sale of manures has been provided 

 In- the amended Act of roth October, 1905. Under section 4, sub-section 

 I, officers of the Chemist's Branch may collect samples of manures through- 

 out the State. The results of the analysis as to the percentage for fertilizing 

 con.stituents found in a manure, and the percentage claimed by the 

 guarantee on tag and invoice certificate, are published side by side along 

 with the calculated value. These analyses are published in the Journal of 

 the Defartinent uf Agriculture from time to time, and should be read bv 

 all users of manures. 



It is necessary in order to carry cut the Act, for the Chemist to occa- 

 sionally require j^urchasers of manures to forward copies of the invoice 

 certificates sup}>lied to them for his inspection. It has frequently been 

 found that purchasers do not retain the invoice certificates in their posses- 

 sion. Everv purchaser of manure is required bv section 24 of the Act to 

 keep any invoice certificate supplied bv the vendor of manure, for failure 

 to produce the invoice certificate when required to do so by the Chemist for 

 Agriculture, renders purchasers of manures liable to a penalty not exceed- 

 ing ^1 for the first offence, and not exceeding ^^5 for any subsequent 

 offence. 



