10 April, 1916.] Rcchni.ation of I'hun Lnnd m S. (H ppxlinid . 233 



This land, upon appearance, is most uninviting; but, on close 

 inspection, reveals the fact that there is soil present capable of being 

 profitably cccupied if the right means were adopted to sweeten and 

 fertilise it. 



With this object in view, the matter was taken in hand, and, in 

 October, 1912, the secretary of the Great Southern Agricultural Society 

 wrote to the Minister of Agriculture, requesting that a series of experi- 

 ments be carried out by the Agricultural Department upon the so-called 

 waste lands in the Foster district. At the same time, a letter was sent 

 from the same source, asking Hon. T. Livingston, M.L.A., member for 

 the district, to support the request. 



In September, 1914, the Agricultural Superintendent (Mr. A. E. V. 

 Richardson) visited Foster, and arranged for a variety of exjoeriments 

 to be carried out on 85 acres of land, which had been placed at the 

 disposal of the Department bv Mr. Hugh McDonald, wlio undertook to 

 drain, clear, and plougli the land ready for treatment. 



Samples of the soil were taken for analysis, which showed the 

 following : — 



Parts in 100,000. 



Nitrogen ... ... ... ... 1,246 



Phosphoric acid ... ... ... 41 



Potash ... ... ... ... 59 



Lime ... ... ... ... 60 



Magnesia ... ... ... ... 57 



Chlorine ... ... ... ... 30 



Reaction : Slightly acid. 



These figures indicated that the soil was rich in nitrogen, and low in 

 all other food constituents. 



Tiie nitrogen content, though abundant in quantity, was probably 

 small in availability, and consequently treatments with lime would be 

 necessary to sweeten the soil and liberate the nitrogen. Phosphates were 

 also required to supply the natural deficiency. The chlorine content 

 was higli, indicating a larger amount of salt than usual. 



The 8^ acres was laid off into seven plots, and lime and manure 

 applied in the following quantities, in May, 1915: — 



No. 1. — Ground limestone, 15 cwt. ; superphosphate, 150 lbs. 



No. 2. — Ground limestone, 15 cwt.; basic slag, 150 lbs. 



No. 3. — Ground limestone, 15 cwt; basic slag, 150 lbs.; sul])hate 



of potash, 40 lbs. 

 No. 4. — No manure; no lime. 



No. 5. — Lime, 10 cwt. ; su])erphoephate. 150 llis. 

 No. 6. — Lime, 10 cwt.; basic slag, 150 lbs. 

 No. 7. — Lime, 10 cwt. ; basic slag, 150 lbs. ; sulphate of 



potash, 40 lbs. 



On this area, the following mixture of grasses was sown across the 

 plots ])er acre: — 



Rye ... ... ... 20 lbs. 



CiK'ksfoot ... 

 White Clover 

 Cow Grass . . . 

 Lucerne 



■I lbs. 



1 lb. 



1 lb. 



2 lbs. 



