Journal of Agriculture. [lo Nov.. 1910. 



The experiments on the three fields under re\ie\v are designed to throw 

 some light on the causes leading up to the failure of two of the staple 

 crops. Answers are sought to the following questions: — 



1. What influence has pasture on the renovation of these soils? 



2. What part can artificial manures play in restoring their fertility? 



3. Is their action favourably influenced by pasture in the rotation? 



With regard to the failure of the pea crops the answer by some is, 

 ^' want of rain.'' Doubtless, with abundant .seasonable rains, the crops 

 would be much better than they are. In the case of potatoes, the light 

 yields of Brown's River and other old varieties are ascribed to deterioration 

 or running out, brought al)Out by continuous production by the vegetati\e 

 method. But careful experiment and observation go to prove that it 

 lies more with the condition of the soil than the seed as the following 

 experiments will show. 



In 1902, a parcel of Brov.n's River seed, which had been grown con- 

 rinuouslv for over twenty vears, on the same farm, was divided into three 

 lots. Xo. f was planted in a field which had been cropped for 40 

 years without manure, No. 2 was planted on part of a well-manured field, 

 and No. 3 on a plot which had been under grass for upwards of twenty 

 years. All the sections were prepared in the same manner. The returns 

 Avere as follow : — 



Plot. Yield. 



No. I ... ... ... ... 3 tons per acre. 



No. 2 ... ... ... ... 4 tons per acre. 



No. 3 ... ... ... ... 10 tons per acre. 



A further test was carried out in 1907 by sending a parcel of seed to 

 Tasmania, where it gave a yield of 13 tons 18 cwt. per acre, whilst that 

 planted on the farm where it had Ijeen grown for over twenty years re- 

 turned onlv 3 tons. 



Pasture Rotation. 

 If satisfactory yields are to be obtained and a payable crop assured 

 in adverse .sea.sons, it can only be done by adopting a proper system of 

 rotation embracing pasture. Professor Storer, in his work Agriculture in 

 sofuc of its relations wit/i C Iicrnistrv. when dealing with this subject 

 says : — 



It may be conceived that, as i)opulation and the conse<|uent demand for grain 

 increased, the pastures in fertile districts were gradually ploughed up and con- 

 verted into arable lands, and that, as a consequence, comparatively few cattle 

 could be supported. Hence, so little manure was obtained that the crops suffered ; 

 the land was after a while run out, and emigration was necessary. But, on being 

 left to itself, the land reverted to the state of pasture. Cattle were again kept, 

 and dung was again produceil. To maintain the cattle, the significance of which 

 as producers of dung and flesh was now apparent, regular fields of sown grass 

 were established. 



The rotation of crops is acknowledged to be die fundamental jirinciple 

 tmderlying the maintenance of soil fertility and ihe renovation of ex- 

 hausted lands. The continuous growth of anv one crop, especiallv cereals, 

 has a xexy exhausting effect on the most fertile soils and has produced 

 the same results in every country, inclufling the rich volcanic soils of 

 this State. In the pioneering days the practice was. in these areas, to 

 plant potatoes under virgin .soil, followed bv wheat and cats alternatively, 

 until there was no more virgin land to break up. Then followed potatoes 

 in fallow. This course ultimately reduced the yields of grain and 

 potatoes to such a degree that many of the best farms were regarded as 

 worn out. 



