160 



./ourmil of .{(jriculturc. ]' ichirid. | 10 March, JUJi). 



The results of tlie six years' test deuLOustrate the striking value on 

 these soils of phosphatic mainiros of the water-soluble type. Superphos- 

 phate appears to stand alone. 



Xo other manure, either by itself or in combination with super- 

 phosphate, has succeeded in producing as high an average return as 

 superphosphate. Indeed, the whole of the manures other than [dios- 

 phatic appear to have either 'no effect at all, <>r even to depress the 

 yields somewhat. 



The real test is, of course, the net profit per acre obtained in each 

 case after deducting the cost of the manurial application. 



Table showing "Net Profit per Acre obtained fkojc Heavy and 

 Light Dressings of Phosphatic Mamkes. 



Average Results for Six Years. 



The table illustrates the remarkable efficiency of the small dressings 

 of superphosphate that are in general use in the Wimmera to-day. It 

 shows that the application of the first ^ cwt. returned an average net 

 profit of 19s. Id. per acre, and, further, that for each additional -\ cwt., 

 up to a total of 2 cwt., a net profit of approximately 2s. per acre was 

 .secured. Further, the results appear to indicate that even 2 cwt. of 

 superphosphate may not be the maximum amount that may be profitably 

 applied to well- worked falloAv on the black soils of the Wimmera. 



The figures can certainly be accepted as proving that the usual quan- 

 tity, viz., 56 lbs., can with financial gain be increased, at any rate, up to 

 at least 1 cwt. to the acre. In support of this quantity, corroborative 

 evidence has been secui'ed from Werribce, Kntherglen, and Warrack- 

 nabeal. 



It is interesting to note, in this connexion, that 342 acres of wheat 

 grown in bulk at the Longereuong College Farm were dressed this year 

 with 112 lbs. super, per acre, and, notwithstanding the dry season, an 

 average vield of 36| bushels to the acre was obtained. 



3. Permanent Manurial Trials at Warracknabeal. 



During the past seven years a number of experimental plots have 

 been conducted at Warracknabeal on the farm of Mr. George Coutts, 

 and the average results closely approximate to those obtained at Longere- 

 uong. 



